Gaming Rig For $3K

[OSX]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Try this AM2 build. Posted a screenshot from an Excel sheet.

All prices are from Newegg (checked it 5 mins ago) and BEFORE shipping and BEFORE Mail-In Rebates. Shipping all this would prob add about $120), bringing the whole amount to ~$2750. If you look around on ZZF or other sites, might reduce a few dollars.

This setup SHOULD help you attain a decent overclock.

For $200 more, you can upgrade to a 7950GX2. However, that X1900XT should be good enough for the 1680x1050 monitor I recommended.

This is what I would suggest today. But if you got a little time, I would suggest getting an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 for the same price as the CPU I recommended (X2 4000+), and spring an extra $100 for a premium-quality motherboard (like the upcoming Gigabyte 6-Quad or the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe).

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Nouman

My head just went through the wall after reading this post.

 

[Crescent13]

Originally posted by: OSX
No, no, no.

CPU: Core 2 Extreme X6800
Motherboard: Intel 'Bad Axe 2'
RAM: 2 GB DDR2-800
PSU- PCP&C TurboCool 510, or whatever else you like
Case: I like the P180, though a Lian Li or something else would be good.
Video: GeForce 7950GX2, though a 7900GTX SLI would be better.
Audio: Whatever he wants
Monitor: ViewSonic VX2025 is always good.

I agree except for the fact that only Crossfire works with intel chipsets, not SLI. I'd go with the 590SLI, and 2 7950GX2's FTW. If that's too much money then drop the X6800 to a E6700 and oc madly.

 

[OSX]

Fine, just get an X1900XT XFire then, because I'd rather use the Intel chipset.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: OSX
Fine, just get an X1900XT XFire then, because I'd rather use the Intel chipset.

Something wrong with NVIDIA's chipsets?

 

[forbin]

he definitely HAS to go with a large hi-res monitor, or else the ****** aint worth it. 24" dell is pretty cheap now <800$. or he could get a 37" 1080p LCD for around 1400 that is nice. why would he get all that firepower to play games at 16x10.

if i had to blow 3k on a dedicated gaming rig:

westy 37" 1080p LCD: 1400
that leaves 1600 for cpu, which could easily cover a gtx7950, an FX amd (or conroe), 2gb OC ram, a big raptor (or whatever) and accessories.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

Originally posted by: OSX

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Try this AM2 build. Posted a screenshot from an Excel sheet.

All prices are from Newegg (checked it 5 mins ago) and BEFORE shipping and BEFORE Mail-In Rebates. Shipping all this would prob add about $120), bringing the whole amount to ~$2750. If you look around on ZZF or other sites, might reduce a few dollars.

This setup SHOULD help you attain a decent overclock.

For $200 more, you can upgrade to a 7950GX2. However, that X1900XT should be good enough for the 1680x1050 monitor I recommended.

This is what I would suggest today. But if you got a little time, I would suggest getting an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 for the same price as the CPU I recommended (X2 4000+), and spring an extra $100 for a premium-quality motherboard (like the upcoming Gigabyte 6-Quad or the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe).

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Nouman

My head just went through the wall after reading this post.

You mean in a good way or a bad way?

 

[alimoalem]

Originally posted by: Howard
Intel C2D E6600 - ~$350
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 - $150
Corsair VS 2x1GB DDR2-667 - $150
XFX 7950GX2 - $580
CL X-Fi XtremeMusic - $115
WD WD5000KS - $215
Pioneer DVR-111D or NEC ND-3550A - $40
Seasonic S12-500 - $115
Viewsonic VX2025WM - $340
Case - tbd (I prefer simple, cheap, effective cases - the Armor is overkill)
Logitech G15 - $70
Logitech G5 - $50
Logitech X-530 - $60

So far, including shipping - ~$2235

i think this looks very nice for the budget. with a case, it should come to around an even $2300. i would tell him to save the rest of the money for future upgrades in a year or something...

 

[skooma]

Originally posted by: forbin
he definitely HAS to go with a large hi-res monitor, or else the ****** aint worth it. 24" dell is pretty cheap now <800$. or he could get a 37" 1080p LCD for around 1400 that is nice. why would he get all that firepower to play games at 16x10.

if i had to blow 3k on a dedicated gaming rig:

westy 37" 1080p LCD: 1400
that leaves 1600 for cpu, which could easily cover a gtx7950, an FX amd (or conroe), 2gb OC ram, a big raptor (or whatever) and accessories.

 

[Howard]

Well, see what he wants. I don't think it's worth it, but he might.

 

[OSX]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel

Originally posted by: OSX

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Try this AM2 build. Posted a screenshot from an Excel sheet.

All prices are from Newegg (checked it 5 mins ago) and BEFORE shipping and BEFORE Mail-In Rebates. Shipping all this would prob add about $120), bringing the whole amount to ~$2750. If you look around on ZZF or other sites, might reduce a few dollars.

This setup SHOULD help you attain a decent overclock.

For $200 more, you can upgrade to a 7950GX2. However, that X1900XT should be good enough for the 1680x1050 monitor I recommended.

This is what I would suggest today. But if you got a little time, I would suggest getting an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 for the same price as the CPU I recommended (X2 4000+), and spring an extra $100 for a premium-quality motherboard (like the upcoming Gigabyte 6-Quad or the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe).

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Nouman

My head just went through the wall after reading this post.

You mean in a good way or a bad way?

In a bad way.

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: OSX
Fine, just get an X1900XT XFire then, because I'd rather use the Intel chipset.

Something wrong with NVIDIA's chipsets?

No, it's just that when buying an Intel setup, you usually get an Intel chipset too.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: OSX

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel

Originally posted by: OSX

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Try this AM2 build. Posted a screenshot from an Excel sheet.

All prices are from Newegg (checked it 5 mins ago) and BEFORE shipping and BEFORE Mail-In Rebates. Shipping all this would prob add about $120), bringing the whole amount to ~$2750. If you look around on ZZF or other sites, might reduce a few dollars.

This setup SHOULD help you attain a decent overclock.

For $200 more, you can upgrade to a 7950GX2. However, that X1900XT should be good enough for the 1680x1050 monitor I recommended.

This is what I would suggest today. But if you got a little time, I would suggest getting an Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 for the same price as the CPU I recommended (X2 4000+), and spring an extra $100 for a premium-quality motherboard (like the upcoming Gigabyte 6-Quad or the ASUS P5W DH Deluxe).

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Nouman

My head just went through the wall after reading this post.

You mean in a good way or a bad way?

In a bad way.

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: OSX
Fine, just get an X1900XT XFire then, because I'd rather use the Intel chipset.

Something wrong with NVIDIA's chipsets?

No, it's just that when buying an Intel setup, you usually get an Intel chipset too.

You can't use the 7950GX2 on an Intel board?

 

[EROEIone2one]

Originally posted by: Howard
Well, see what he wants. I don't think it's worth it, but he might.

What isn't worth it? Monitor?

We've elected to wait until the 24th and see prices and availability before deciding on conroe/AMD.

 

[Howard]

Yes, the monitor.