Need help building a gaming pc - $900 budget

Pollux

Member

​

Joined

Nov 29, 2003

• Nov 28, 2009

• #1

I want to build a gaming rig and was wondering if I could get some recommendations on components since I've been out of the loop for a while.

Here's an overview of my requirements:

- ~$900 budget
- Dual booting Windows 7 (gaming) and Ubuntu (work - need to be able to run multiple virtual machines of windows)
- I have a 1920x1200 resolution monitor
- Want to play Modern Warfare 2, Dragon Age, etc.
- Already have monitor/mouse/kb
- No overclocking

 

Last edited: Nov 28, 2009

MattNo5ss

5up3r m0d3r4t0r

​

Joined

Aug 11, 2008

• Nov 28, 2009

• #2

Here's an i5 setup to look at:

$70 - Antec 300 Illusion
$200 - Intel i5-750
$140 - GA-P55-UD3R
$75 - WD Caviar Black 640GB
$90 - Corsair CMPSU-650TX
$80 - G.Skill Ripjaw 2x2GB DDR3-1600
$30 - CD/DVD Burner
$195 - ATI HD4890
or
$165 - ATI HD5770

Comes out to around $850-880.

 

OP

Pollux

Member

​

Joined

Nov 29, 2003

• Nov 28, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #3

Is there any real performance to be gained from an i5/7 for gaming? Or would I be better off saving some money and getting a C2D?

 

D

doz

Member

​

Joined

Nov 30, 2002

Location

Las Vegas, NV

• Nov 28, 2009

• #4

I5/C2Duo (e8400) is closely priced still. Id grab the i5 (it should be within about $50 for mobo/cpu).

 

WayOut

Member

​

Joined

Nov 21, 2009

Location

Seattle, WA

• Nov 28, 2009

• #5

If you're on a budget, I'd go with an AMD so you can splurge on a nice GPU later, but I think that first Intel build looks pretty good..

 

MattNo5ss

5up3r m0d3r4t0r

​

Joined

Aug 11, 2008

• Nov 28, 2009

• #6

Pollux said:

Is there any real performance to be gained from an i5/7 for gaming? Or would I be better off saving some money and getting a C2D?

Click to expand...

For gaming there won't really be a difference unless you use 3xGPUs. The problem with C2D/Q is that there will be no more CPUs made on LGA775. So, the i5/i7 is more future proof.

If you want a C2D/Q build that's fine, and it will still be good for a while. But when you do feel the need to upgrade you'll need to buy CPU/Mobo/RAM again.

We can list some C2D/Q stuff if you'd like.

EDIT:
$165 - Intel E8400
$230 - Intel Q9550
$91 - G.Skill 2x2GB DDR2-1066
$130 - GA-EP45-UD3P

$390 for C2D CPU/Mobo/RAM.
$455 for C2Q CPU/Mobo/RAM.
$420 for i5 CPU/Mobo/RAM.

 

Last edited: Nov 28, 2009

Marluce

Member

​

Joined

Jul 27, 2009

Location

Missouri

• Nov 29, 2009

• #7

Or the AMD Solution.

CASE: Antec Nine Hundred - 60$ (with 40$ MIR)
CPU: 965 Black Edition Deneb - 186$
MB: GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H - 100$ (With 15$ MIR)
RAM: G.Skill 4GB DDR3 1333 - 95$
HS: XIGMATEK Dark Knight - 40$
GPU: Radeon HD 5770 - 180$
PSU: CORSAIR 750W - 88$ (With 20$ MIR)
HDD: Seagate 1TB - 90$
DVD: Samsung DVD Burner - 32$

871$ With MIR Without Shipping
946$ Without MIR Without Shipping

Thats a top of the line system, it will slash its way through anything you throw at it.

 

WayOut

Member

​

Joined

Nov 21, 2009

Location

Seattle, WA

• Nov 29, 2009

• #8

^That is a damn good setup. If I were you, I'd totally spring on that.

 

SuperDave1685

Member

​

Joined

Jul 22, 2002

Location

USMC.. OoRah!!

• Nov 29, 2009

• #9

Marluce, that is a great setup! The only other suggestion I could make to maybe save a couple dollars to go with a Phenom II 955 Black Edition. Just my $0.02 To Pollux, if your budget is $900, I'd definitely spring for that. That system should overclock fairly well and should provide an overall enjoyable experience. Plus, you can always throw in an extra 5770 down the line for some cross fire action if you want.

 

Last edited: Nov 29, 2009

J

jgv115

Member

​

Joined

Jun 15, 2009

Location

Australia

• Nov 29, 2009

• #10

+1 to that build.

and +1 to 955

that is all.

 

OP

Pollux

Member

​

Joined

Nov 29, 2003

• Nov 29, 2009

• Thread Starter
• #11

I'm a little wary of ATI for the video card due to needing it for Ubuntu. Honestly, I haven't been keeping up with ATI, but Nvidia has always had excellent linux driver support. Has this changed?

 

ratbuddy

Member

​

Joined

Aug 24, 2007

• Nov 30, 2009

• #12

The OP says clearly 'no overclocking' so there's absolutely no need for an aftermarket heatsink. Also, I don't see any of those builds including Windows. OP, do you already own a retail version of W7 you'll be tranferring over to the new computer?

 

psionic98

Member

​

Joined

Jun 22, 2009

• Nov 30, 2009

• #13

+1 to the 955.. no need to get the extra factory OC into it.. even if OP wanted to OC it to the 965 specs they could do so on stock cooling..save the few extra in case the OS needs to be purchased.. though thats a solid build by far.. waiting for christmas to be over so I can purchase something in the 900 ballpark myself!

 

Brando

Member

​

Joined

Jan 9, 2006

• Nov 30, 2009

• #14

i'd go with the i5 setup