Building a desktop

[sephir]

I am planning on building a desktop PC this summer, but as far as hardware goes, I don't know what I'm looking for.

I'm looking to spend about $1500 on the computer, and maybe another $500 on a screen to accompany it.

Minimum requirements:
-64-big Windows 7 compatible
-1TB Hard drive
-8 or more GB or RAM
-High end video card able to run games like MW2 at high graphic capabilities
-Screen must be HD compatible and be at least 20' (wide-screen preferred)

I'm hoping to use this PC to play XIV, MW2, Crysis, and several other high demand games as well as use it to record and edit music (I already have the equipment and software for this) and movies.

So any suggestions on parts or deals that can be found online? Also all prices are CDN which is about 90% of the USD.

[LiquidFriend]

8 gigs of ram really isn't necessary.

[Olo401]

The one question I have is related to your audio equipment - do you already have a high-end sound card that you plan to use, or do you need one?

...and before anyone says "oh you don't need a sound card it's built into the motherboards", yeah he does because he's doing recording & editing and the basic onboard HD audio processors won't do as good a job as the X-Fi cards would.

[sephir]

@liquid: I can make do with 4gb, but for the stuff I'm doing 8gb really helps out.

@olo: I should be fine with one that is built into the motherboard, as long as its relatively good

[Stromgarde]

Have you considered using a TV with HDMI input as your monitor? For $500 you could get a fairly nice 32" LCD; Even the nicest 20" monitor won't approach that price these days.

[nitsuj]

Check out the i5 750 processor with Gigabyte P55A-UD4P motherboard. So far I've had very good luck.

It's not as amazing as the i7 and higher end motherboard chipset, but it'll allow you to get all the other things you want and keep it under 1500 dollars.

Western Digital has a "green" series 1 TB drive for less than 95 USD. I recommend two mirrored in case one goes out.

It's gonna be rough getting everything you want with the monitor for under 1500 but I think you can do it. Monitor and video card alone can easily hit 800 dollars on their own.

[Clauz]

He said $1500 and an additional $500 for a monitor. i7 920/930(should be 930 by summer,socket 1366) or i7 860/i5 750(socket 1156) are both fine choices. I would suggest an SSD for the OS and main programs and a regular HDD for main storage. Nvidia just announced a release date for their next gen graphics cards for March 26th, so i don't have a recommendation for that until they come out.

[Lucavi]

Most of your money for that rig would be eaten up in buying a top-of-the-line processor and motherboard, especially the processor. Top-end ones can cost you around 1 grand alone, though that would be future-proofing your rig for years (at least in that area).

Check out newegg.com and start pricing.

[Clauz]

Processors past the base line of products(i7 920/i5 750/i7 860) are a waste of money. There is no need to spend $1,000 on a processor for home computing.

[Olo401]

Tried to do a i7-920/1366 build and it came out a lil high.. this should do the job tho. Prices are in CAD via Newegg.ca :

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...ter/system.png

[Clauz]

Does he need a copy of Win7? That would be another $100ish.

Edit: By summer graphics card prices should go down.

[Olo401]

Oh yes, good point. I knew there was something I had to leave room for..

Edit: If you don't have a CD/DVD burner that can be added in for like 30 bucks.

[#686578]

Just noticed the SSD in that build, for the OS right? I've never considered using a separate SSD for the OS and traditional for the storage

Does anyone have any external links or even anecdotes on performance gain?

[Isiolia]

Just noticed the SSD in that build, for the OS right? I've never considered using a separate SSD for the OS and traditional for the storage

Does anyone have any external links or even anecdotes on performance gain?

Anandtech has a few articles. Here may be part of a larger article from almost a year ago that may interest you. http://www.anandtech.com/storage/sho...spx?i=3531&p=3

Latest roundup/etc http://www.anandtech.com/storage/showdoc.aspx?i=3747


Basically, a SSD has far, far faster random access speeds than a HDD does. This makes them a particularly effective upgrade for things like a system drive, where your computer will be bouncing all over the disk to access this dll or that config file and so on. The difference at, say, startup, can turn literally minutes of disk-churning on-login processes into a matter of seconds.
It's not a drastic increase for everything, but for a boot/system drive it's particularly effective.

[#686578]

I'm on page 16/31 of the understanding SDDs, thank you.

[sephir]

I'm right now dual-booting my copy of Win 7 professional on my Macbook, so I would likely just do a complete copy-paste onto the new drive. I really like your ideas Olo & Isiolia, I may modify the specs a tiny bit by taking out one of the TB hard drives (pretty much all my backups fit on my 500GB as is). I can probably just buy another one at a later date and install it if I need it.

Also as far as processors go, would there be a big difference between i5 and i7?

I may use a TV as a monitor as suggested, I currently have a nice 32 inch lcd samsung, so I may use that as my monitor.

[shidobu]

Um hijacking your thread sorry! didnt want to start another one.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97...dobuxx/rig.jpg

This is some where in the ballpark of what i want to put in a new rig. I havent built my own PC in 6 years. So iv fallen completely off the gotdamn bandwagon of pc building. And im trying to get back into it. First off.
1. Cut backs are okay But i do have money to spend. (no kids, no rent) if any thing suggested should be Equal to or greater For around the same cost or less?

2. Plan on doing a Dual GPU setup eventually. But gonna start with 1 card then worry about another later. Kind of what HDMI support for my 40in TV

3. Water cooling kits. Yes or No? Horror stories or Triumphs ? I have never done water cooling. The Tower im getting supports it (enough space). Thinking about trying it for the first time. Because i Do plan on overclocking.

4. Gaming rigs general question. Do they always have to be so fucking loud? Will switching to a water based cooling help with Noise lvl? is it worth the "risk"


thx again in Advance

[Olo401]

Hell if you're able/willing to spend that much you should just get an i7-920 and a good EVGA board.

[shidobu]

Lol only reason im willing to is because, im not gonna upgrade for another 4-6 years just like last time lol. Unless something goes "boom" And What board u think i should take a look at?

[Clauz]

You don't need a 1000 Watt PSU, 750 will do for 2 5870.