Friend wants "Top of the line" gaming system

[KAMAZON]

So my friend has gone crazy and wants to blow lots of cash on a great gaming rigg, and he plays WoW mostly, and wants to play the best games coming out.

I have been out of the 'omg get me this computer when I dream' game for about 3 years, and have fell far far behind what the cutting edge is in terms of price/performance ratio.

So....what would you build?

AMD/Intel still running neck and neck in terms of performance? What's a great gaming CPU? I have noticed that Dual/Quad cores STILL aren't being taken advantage of in terms of programming by gaming companies...which kind of sucks.

I was thinking of getting him a new Nvidia DX10 8800 with a SLi mobo, and let them buy the 2nd video card when the newer games come out.

I was thinking of 4gb ram, is that "very good" or "excellent" for Vista gaming? Yea i Know, vista sucks for gaming ATM, XP smokes it from what I've seen, but how are they going to get DX 10 support? (Shrug)

Ok well thank you for your time, all responses are welcome.

 

[PurdueRy]

You don't need that much of a gaming computer to max out WoW. You can build a computer that can more than handle WoW on max settings for $1200(EASILY)

Tell him he's wasting his money and you won't help him with that.

A quick build that would should satisfy him for 1/4 the money:

E6600
eVGA 8800GTS 320 or 640
2gigs of DDR800
Gigabyte 965P
320GB Seagate 7200.10
Corsair 520HX
Samsung 183L DVD-RW

 

[bX510]

He said, "and wants to play the best games coming out."

$4000 budget, lets start spending and less saving.

edit:

I would suggest getting a mother board that can handle SLI, quad core, sata cables and lots of ram. Then just buy 1 8800GTX 640, and a quad core cpu. For all future games, if that can't handle it, then he can just buy another card and put it in SLI or upgrade SLI and etc... Basically, just get a good mobo so he can further expand.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: bX510
He said, "and wants to play the best games coming out."

$4000 budget, lets start spending and less saving.

edit:

I would suggest getting a mother board that can handle SLI, quad core, sata cables and lots of ram. Then just buy 1 8800GTX 640, and a quad core cpu. For all future games, if that can't handle it, then he can just buy another card and put it in SLI or upgrade SLI and etc... Basically, just get a good mobo so he can further expand.

I guarantee that computer for $1000ish could handle the games coming out...and when it doesn't...upgrade. Still a lot less than the waste-of-money $4000 rig

* Yes I realize it is his money to spend but that doesn't mean I personally would help someone waste their money. If they have $4000 they can either do the research themselves or buy a alienware(or whatever)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Stick a 30" LCD in and a nice sound system and what's left will be about right :evil:

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Stick a 30" LCD in and a nice sound system and what's left will be about right :evil:

Now THAT I can agree with :evil:

 

[xSkyDrAx]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Stick a 30" LCD in and a nice sound system and what's left will be about right :evil:

Now THAT I can agree with :evil:

agreed otherwise he's just trashing his money. Law of diminishing returns ftl.

 

[soydios]

Originally posted by: bX510
For all future games, if that can't handle it, then he can just buy another card and put it in SLI or upgrade SLI and etc... Basically, just get a good mobo so he can further expand.

Yeah...I thought that about getting a single X1900XT. Well, all the X1900 CrossFire master cards are ~$400 if you can find them at all these days. Be careful with that upgrade path, it might not stay open for more than a few months.

 

[bX510]

30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: soydios

Originally posted by: bX510
For all future games, if that can't handle it, then he can just buy another card and put it in SLI or upgrade SLI and etc... Basically, just get a good mobo so he can further expand.

Yeah...I thought that about getting a single X1900XT. Well, all the X1900 CrossFire master cards are ~$400 if you can find them at all these days. Be careful with that upgrade path, it might not stay open for more than a few months.

Not much point in X1900 crossfire, giving that for the money you'd spend on it you can get DX10 single-card instead.

OP: You want some basic ideas such as:
Q6600 CPU
SLI Motherboard
8800GTX 768MB graphics card
750W Seasonic/OCZ/Corsair/Enermax PSU
2x500GB SATA hard drive
30" TFT
7.1 surround system
4x 1GB DDR-800 (Cheap on offer at newegg)

 

[newb54]

Pick up this: http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5199896 - $2300

Grad some nice 5.1 speakers

And go with Purdue's rec with a GTX:

E6600
8800GTX
2gigs of DDR800
Gigabyte 965P
320GB Seagate 7200.10
Corsair 520HX
Samsung 183L DVD-RW

There, now you bulit a complete (and awesome) entertainment system without wasting $4000 on a comp that will see no noticable improvment in WoW then the one above.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

 

[AVP]

If you want more than 3gigs of ram make sure you get 64-bit vista...and I second what Newb is suggesting. An e6600 will be great for him now, though if he wants to go quad core, tell him to wait for the july 22nd price cuts.

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

Totally agree, except I would say pixel instead of pixle.

In all seriousness though, I would start with the monitor and work backwards because whatever resolution he is planning on gaming at will dictate what hardware he needs.

Cheers,
KT

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

Exactly. Monitors > HDTVs. Big, high res monitors = drool.

 

[Noubourne]

I would agree with the 8800GTX/C2D builds being suggested here, and the sentiment that a bomb-ass LCD can eat up a big chunk of change and provide a quality front-end for an outstanding gaming rig.

If I had $4000, I'd blow $1200-1500 on a huge LCD that will last a good 5 years or more, $1200-1500 on the machine, and then use the leftover $1000+ for future upgrades.

$4000 spent over 3 years gives you better performance than $4000 spent all in one crack. Just keep buying new video cards every 9 months or so.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: KeithTalent

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

Totally agree, except I would say pixel instead of pixle.

In all seriousness though, I would start with the monitor and work backwards because whatever resolution he is planning on gaming at will dictate what hardware he needs.

Cheers,
KT

Ok, you got me

 

[newb54]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

Thats true the good thing about 2560 x 1600 is that you can put it at desk viewing distance, but if you have the space I prefer my 46" of 1920 × 1080.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: newb54

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

Thats true the good thing about 2560 x 1600 is that you can put it at desk viewing distance, but if you have the space I prefer my 46" of 1920 × 1080.

I think the only time a bigger screen really comes in handy (vs a smaller screen with the same or higher resolution that you can sit closer to) is when more than one person is trying to see the screen. Other than that, I don't really think there's much advantage to the actual screen being larger unless the other screen is so small that you have to be uncomfortably close to it to get the same viewing angle.

Guess it really depends on what he wants to do though. If it's going to be mainly single player games and regular computer use, I think a single high res computer monitor would be a solid bet. If this is going to be doing movie duty of he's going to be hooking up some gaming systems for multiplayer to the system, then I totally agree with you on getting a larger screen even if it means compromising the resolution a bit.

 

[Praytus]

Sharky 4000$ Guide from March, but still a good recommendation. Obviously a lot of room for personal preference.

 

[KAMAZON]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Stick a 30" LCD in and a nice sound system and what's left will be about right :evil:

Oddly enough I recommended that haha. There is a very nice Dell one for roughly $1000. Budget now:
$3000

lol



edit:
Is there a perticular mobo that you guys recommend? A good SLi w/ quad core possibility.

The last motherboards I got came from the Dell and AMD Promototions to retailers. Before that I spent my money on the gool ol' K7S5A the best budget motherboard I ever spent my money on, man that thing was great and only cost $60.

 

[KermitM42]

i work at a computer retail store (i wont say which) and we've built systems with the Q6700, dual 8800GTX's four gigs of patriot ddr2 800 and an eVGA 680i board in a CM Stacker case with i believe a 500gb WD drive and the galaxy kilowatt PSU for $4500. thats without monitor/speakers, but still, you can get a lot for 4g's.

 

[Penth]

I agree on picking up a BIG LCD with high resolution. I don't think it's really smart to blow $4k on a computer to play games, but if he has the money then it's his call. I've put something like that into mine.

Having said that, I would definetly recommend he puts his money into things that hold their value a little longer, like the screen, a nice sound system (I got my klipsch 5.1s Ultras for like $220 almsot 3 years ago, and they're still going for something close to that (last I checked anyway.)

I also recommend a nice keyboard/mouse setup and desk/chair. Granted, I don't play very many games (though Starcraft 2 has me excited), so I probably don't put as much value on top-end video cards as a gamer, but I think it's smart to put your money into things you can take advantage of when you're playing or surfing the web (lots of ram, quad core, video card don't do that much for this).

Even if you do spend the money on those things, it probably leaves you with well over $2000 that you could buy a cheap quad core (in July), plenty of ram, a big HD, and possibly SLI 8800s.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: PurdueRy
You don't need that much of a gaming computer to max out WoW. You can build a computer that can more than handle WoW on max settings for $1200(EASILY)

Tell him he's wasting his money and you won't help him with that.

A quick build that would should satisfy him for 1/4 the money:

E6600
eVGA 8800GTS 320 or 640
2gigs of DDR800
Gigabyte 965P
320GB Seagate 7200.10
Corsair 520HX
Samsung 183L DVD-RW

:thumbsup:

 

[bX510]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: bX510
30"??

Go get two 42" lcd hdtv and imagine playin games on that.

It's not just about inches, resolution should be a primary concern for a computer display. No "HDTV" out there is going to compare to the 2560x1600 resolution you can get with a 30" monitor and have the pixle density necessary to put it on a desk at a viewing distance a normal computer user would use.

True