Time for a new PC build, suggestions?

[MetalMat]

Well its time to upgrade from my old 2.8 ghz P4 with 1 gb of ram and the Radeon 9800 pro that I bought years back.

Im looking to spend under a grand. Want something that would play crysis with decent graphic settings (so obviously I will be gaming). Besides that, pretty much just listening to music and surfing the net.

Here is what I will need: Case, Power Supply, Ram, Motherboard, Video Card, Computer Speakers, Mouse, Keyboard, CPU, Operating System, DVD ROM/ Burner. Also want something that wont run too loud (My computer fans are makin me go crazy right now).

I have no brand preference, looking to build within the next month. I will be using my hard drives ( 120 gig internal plus 250 gig external), monitor and sound card. I have not researched any other threads yet, but will do so. I will be buying parts within US

I heard intel had some recent price cuts btw. I know you guys are better at this that I could ever be, thanks for the help :beer:


EDIT:

SO my desktop computer finally died, so I will be building myself a new system this week. Anyone have any other recommendations other than what was posted in thread?

 

[Dashel]

Yah check out some other threads. Lots of good gaming PC's around that price range for you. I think you'll find most people seem to be building fairly similar rigs.

 

[Indus]

www.newegg.com is where you want to shop from

Case: RAIDMAX Smilodon ATX-612WBP (with 500W PSU) - $90
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 $199
Cooling: included Retail HSF - $0
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (P35) - $87
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Quad Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5Q-4GBNQ - $105
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB SATA 3.0 Gb/s - $65
Video Card: GeForce 8800 GTS 256MB (PCIe) - $225
Sound Card: 8-Channel Integrated - $0
Speakers: Logitech X-530 6-Piece Speaker System - $55
CD/DVD-ROM: LG GSA-H62NK 18X SATA DVD Writer - $29
Communications: Onboard LAN - $0
Mouse: Logitech MX310 - $24
Keyboard: Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard - $15
Operating System: Windows XP Home or Vista Home Basic- $80

Total: $999

 

[DSF]

A couple things I would change from Indus's build. I have a class coming in in just a few minutes, but I'll elaborate after that.

 

[Dashel]

Well he said he will re-use the hard drive so a bit more money to play with there. Save some more on ram going with this: http://www.newegg.com/product/...x?item=N82E16820231122 that has been reccommended to me. Video card I'd go for 8800 GTS 512 G92 like this MSI: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127325 or the EVGA one or whichever brand you like.

 

[MetalMat]

thanks for the help so far, looking into it more tonight

 

[MetalMat]

bump

 

[DSF]

Originally posted by: Indus
www.newegg.com is where you want to shop from

Case: RAIDMAX Smilodon ATX-612WBP (with 500W PSU) - $90
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 $199
Cooling: included Retail HSF - $0
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L (P35) - $87
Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Quad Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5Q-4GBNQ - $105
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 250GB SATA 3.0 Gb/s - $65
Video Card: GeForce 8800 GTS 256MB (PCIe) - $225
Sound Card: 8-Channel Integrated - $0
Speakers: Logitech X-530 6-Piece Speaker System - $55
CD/DVD-ROM: LG GSA-H62NK 18X SATA DVD Writer - $29
Communications: Onboard LAN - $0
Mouse: Logitech MX310 - $24
Keyboard: Microsoft Digital Media Pro Keyboard - $15
Operating System: Windows XP Home or Vista Home Basic- $80

Total: $999

Sorry that I never got back to elaborating, it slipped my mind.

First, I wouldn't trust the PSU included in the Smilodon any farther than I can throw it. Buy a name-brand PSU. Second, get a 2x2GB memory kit instead of 2x1 GB. Third, that Seagate hard drive is a generation old. Get a newer drive like the Western Digital Caviar 640GB or Samsung Spinpoint 750GB for at or slightly above $100.

I also wouldn't get a 256MB graphics card these days. Go with the 512MB 8800GTS or 8800GT.

 

[chinaman1472]

There are plenty of other places to shop besides Newegg.
For instance, Buy.com offers the Corsair power supplies and Antec Sonata III (case/psu combo) at lower price thanks to a MIR.

If you shop around you can probably knock off close to $100 saving $10 here and there.