What makes a gaming PC?

[Groovebox]

So with my tax rebate and stimulus otw, I'm going to build a PC. I'm savvy enough to buy the parts from Newegg and put it together. Am I wrong to think that I can build an awesome gaming rig for under $1000? I see all these companies sell ultimate gaming computers for like $2500. Is it just overpriced? Or is there something about gaming rigs that I don't know about. This is what I'm about to order.

Case-
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6811119068

Motherboard-
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6813188026

CPU- I figure I can just upgrade to a quad core when needed.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6819115029

CPU Fan-
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6835118223

Video Card-
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6814130334

Power Supply-
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6817371007

RAM-
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.a ... 6820145034

Now, I already have an awesome monitor that's only 6 months old. I also have 2 GB of ram (so a total of 4GB) and a 250GB Hard Drive that I bought opened at Best Buy a few weeks ago for $40.00, and I also own a copy of Windows Vista Premium or w/e. The total cost is $820 w/o shipping. Any insights or suggestions would be more than welcome.

[GSDragoon]

Is it just overpriced? Or is there something about gaming rigs that I don't know about.

Yup, that's marketing for you. The less of a difference something is, the more they need to advertise it. (ie. coke vs pepsi)

[jkim1162]

One thing I would change is the CPU.
From the e6750 to the e8200.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115038

It is only $5 more.

They are both at the same clock speed, except the e8200 is based on 45nm technology instead of 65nm (e6750).
Basically the difference is that it uses less power, produces less heat, and is faster per clock.

For a few more dollars, you can get the e8400 which is clocked at 3.0GHz and based on the 45nm architecture.

I also noticed that you are getting a CPU fan/heatsink. Just as a reminder, not all CPU fan/heatsink comes with thermal paste pre-applied. Just make sure if it doesn't, that you have some laying around or you can purchase some for few dollars. Honestly though, you can get better fan/heatsink for performance/price. Technically you should be fine though on stock cooler if you don't plan on overclocking.

However, if you are really wanting to replace the stock cooler, I'd recommend the following: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm is a very good replacement for the stock cooler. It also comes with MX-2 (good thermal paste) pre-applied to it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835186134

Also noticed the RAM you posted is overpriced for a 2x1 PC6400.

Here is a good one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820148076

Biggest tip: Don't be lazy with those rebates =P.

[Killgannon]

Biggest tip: Don't be lazy with those rebates =P.

so true... imma have like 4 or 5 to fill out and mail back or do online or whatever lol >.<;

[levish]

Gaming PC's are 70% video card 15% ram and 15% processor if I had to put a value on the components not counting the actual human interface devices (kyb, mouse) and monitor / speakers

[Shuemue]

Agree with jkim on the E8400, it's a really solid cpu.

[Cephius]

Gaming PC's are 70% video card 15% ram and 15% processor if I had to put a value on the components not counting the actual human interface devices (kyb, mouse) and monitor / speakers

Mostly agree, but I'd probably say more like 55% GPU, 30% CPU and 15% RAM. An old processor can bottleneck your GPU and make all that rendering power go to waste.

[Groovebox]

Ordered this a couple hours ago, bye bye Stimulus payment!. Thanks for advice, and I did upgrade the processor to the e8400 and got the tracer RAM. I kind of wish I didn't order such a boring case, but oh well. I like the idea of getting a unique case mod or something. Anyways, I ditched the CPU fan because I don't plan on overclocking... at least for now. Now I'll have to get some games to put this to the test >.> I'm going to buy Crysis this weekend and Age of Conan next weekend.

[Cephius]

Just so you know, the Intel stock heatsinks really blow. Even if you don't overclock it's not a bad idea to shell out 50 bucks for a decent cooler.

[Avanarius]

I personally like the way the case looks, mostly because once you go from basic case you immediately hit awful gaudy as shit case 90% of the time.

[Shuemue]

Buy some cooling. You're doing the equivalent of building a racing car and then putting in a shitty stock exhaust. It's just illogical. A machine is only as strong as its weakest component.

[Groovebox]

Just so you know, the Intel stock heatsinks really blow. Even if you don't overclock it's not a bad idea to shell out 50 bucks for a decent cooler.

I'm going to order the one Jkim mentioned, I really can't pass up something that affordable and highly rated.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6835186134

[Shuemue]

That'll do fine.

[Stromgarde]

Fuck those plastic 'snap in' cooler mounting brackets. They never stick right and half the time they jar loose when putting your tower back in position. Or maybe the ones I've gotten have just been pieces of shit. Either way, something you might want to consider.

[mootsfox]

Why did you just spend $200 on a motherboard if you're not going to overclock?

Any E8400 with a SLIGHT voltage jump (1.30-1.35) can do 4.0GHz.

DO NOT run over 1.4v with the E8400, you will destroy it.

[jkim1162]

Any E8400 with a SLIGHT voltage jump (1.30-1.35) can do 4.0GHz.

DO NOT run over 1.4v with the E8400, you will destroy it.

Both statements are very unaccurate.

It would be better to have said "majority" of e8400 can reach 4GHz with a bump in actual vCore not exceeding ~1.35v (however BIOS vCore depends on vdroop/vdrop of the motherboard) and dependant on the chip batch.

Running over 1.4v in vCore will not destroy your chip (but obviously will in many years as it does with any chip that is overclocked). However the point is moot since very little have the need to exceed 1.4 vCore unless they were very heavy PC enthusiast going for a benchmark goal.

If you are interested though, here is the thread that shows why degredation myth has been busted.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... p?t=179965

[mootsfox]

Any E8400 with a SLIGHT voltage jump (1.30-1.35) can do 4.0GHz.

DO NOT run over 1.4v with the E8400, you will destroy it.

Both statements are very unaccurate.

It would be better to have said "majority" of e8400 can reach 4GHz with a bump in actual vCore not exceeding ~1.35v (however BIOS vCore depends on vdroop/vdrop of the motherboard) and dependant on the chip batch.

Running over 1.4v in vCore will not destroy your chip (but obviously will in many years as it does with any chip that is overclocked). However the point is moot since very little have the need to exceed 1.4 vCore unless they were very heavy PC enthusiast going for a benchmark goal.

If you are interested though, here is the thread that shows why degredation myth has been busted.
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/sho ... p?t=179965

I shouldn't have said any, but yes, the majority will overclock that far.

I only said that it shouldn't be run above 1.4v because the OP is inexperienced. I've seen more than one person play around in their BIOS, doing basic overclocking and fuck up. Normally it's when they come and say "my OC isn't stable" and someone tells them to up the Vcore. Then they raise it to 1.7v on their stock Intel cooler and it fries.

1.45v is the absolute highest voltage spec'd by Intel. Based on what I've seen with the 45nm process, I wouldn't run over that number for any decent length of time.

The OP from that XS thread to be seems to be talking out of his ass; I don't believe him.

[spaghetti_monster]

I always like to use these when building PC for myself. Granted you have to stay on top maintenance and keep them clean, but they can save you some bucks later down the road, by preventing your cooling system from getting gunked up with dust bunnies.

http://www.directron.com/80alufanfilter.html