helping a friend build a rig

[glockjs]

basically he wants a beefed up rig for gaming and he doesn't know what the hell he's doing. no OC i wouldn't wanna go through the hassle anyways. this is what i put together from newegg so far without looking too deeply into it. suggestions?

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129043
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$55.00 Instant



$214.99
$159.99

1

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136260
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy


$30.00 Mail-in Rebate


$229.99

1

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive) - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148337
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy




$139.99

2

EVGA 01G-P3-1286-AR GeForce GTX 280 FTW Edition 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

EVGA 01G-P3-1286-AR GeForce GTX 280 FTW Edition 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814130366
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

-$50.00 Instant
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate


$1,009.98
$909.98
($454.99 each)

1

Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series

Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series - Retail
Item #: N82E16829102005
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy




$135.99

1

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139007
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$20.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate


$279.99
$259.99

2

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1800C8DF

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1800 (PC3 14400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1800C8DF - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145206
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy




$658.00
($329.00 each)

1

EVGA 132-CK-NF79-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA 132-CK-NF79-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813188025
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy


$30.00 Mail-in Rebate


$335.99

1

Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601940

Intel Core i7 940 Nehalem 2.93GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601940 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115201
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy




$569.99

1

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116493
Return Policy: Software Return Policy




$179.99

1

LITE-ON Black 6X Blu-Ray DVD ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model iHES106-29

LITE-ON Black 6X Blu-Ray DVD ROM & 16X DVD±R DVD Burner SATA Model iHES106-29 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106270
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy




$104.99

1

LG Black 6X Blu-ray Disc Burner & HD DVD-ROM Drive SATA Model GGW-H20LK

LG Black 6X Blu-ray Disc Burner & HD DVD-ROM Drive SATA Model GGW-H20LK - OEM
Item #: N82E16827136155
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy




$229.99

Subtotal: $3,914.88

 

[Niku-Sama]

the blueray/dvd burner and then another blue ray burner seems kinda redundant.
$100 sound card? why?
a raptor AND a 1.5tb seagate? the seagate has good seek read and write times any way.
i would lose the raptor, if hes not into this sort of thing and your doing most of the work it seems it really wont matter to them and when they fill the raptor they'll only be as fast as the seagate.

 

[glockjs]

the blueray/dvd burner and then another blue ray burner seems kinda redundant.
$100 sound card? why?
a raptor AND a 1.5tb seagate? the seagate has good seek read and write times any way.
i would lose the raptor, if hes not into this sort of thing and your doing most of the work it seems it really wont matter to them and when they fill the raptor they'll only be as fast as the seagate.

its nice to have a cheaper reader to put all the hours on and also copy on the fly as far as the blu ray goes.

a nice sound card isnt such a bad thing for gaming :/

he wanted the best for gaming and a 10k drive does make a dif...i was thinking of SSD but it seems those arent quite reliable yet :/

he wants something built that he wont have to upgrade for a long time :/

 

[glockjs]

yeah looking at it again there's really no reason to dump that much money. he's got money to burn but not super rich or anything. i think im gonna more recommend something along these lines...opinions?

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827136153
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy




$25.99

1

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129021
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

-$30.00 Instant



$139.99
$109.99

1

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive)

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive) - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148337
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy

-$10.00 Instant



$139.99
$129.99

1

ASUS EAH4870X2/HTDI/2G/A Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

ASUS EAH4870X2/HTDI/2G/A Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB 512-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814121294
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy


$30.00 Mail-in Rebate


$519.99

1

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817139006
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

-$60.00 Instant
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate


$179.99
$119.99

1

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ - Retail
Item #: N82E16820231225
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

-$20.00 Instant



$209.99
$189.99

1

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813188039
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy




$299.99

1

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy

-$19.99 Saving



$299.99
$280.00

1

Intel Drawstring Backpack Gift - OEM

Intel Drawstring Backpack Gift - OEM
Item #: N82E16800995064
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy




$19.99

1

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit English 1pk DSP OEI DVD for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116493
Return Policy: Software Return Policy




$179.99

Subtotal: $1,875.91

 

[Essenar]

Haha, you picked the wrong socket motherboard the first time.

Honestly, why an EVGA motherboard? I'm getting into it in another thread because people keep picking EVGA boards for these high end builds.

EVGA makes great video-cards but I've had nothing but headaches using their motherboards from every generation since their 570 Ultra. I had a 650i, 680i (2 versions), 780i and reviewed a 790i and I had problems on EACH one. Problems other people had too.

Get either the Gigabyte X58-UD5 or the ASUS P6T-Deluxe. Xtreme Systems members use them, and honestly, when you're building a high end rig, always start by cherry picking parts Xtreme Systems members use.

 

[glockjs]

heh. yeah its all pretty much a rough draft but the price point is relevant on the mobo's thats good input i'll go with another brand then i honestly havent researched it all too well and thats the point of asking

 

[Essenar]

I know.

Honestly, I love ATI right now and I can't stop recommending 4850/4830 Crossfire solutions, but right now your friend might be better off going with an EVGA video-card.

Here's why:
The ATI 4870x2 is $500 right now, but once the GTX 295 comes out, the price will lower. So in roughly 3-4 weeks, he'll have lost $100 value on his card.

The GTX 295 is going to be roughly 15-20% faster in certain games for the same price.

Clearly he wants a video-card now and doesn't want to wait, so this is what I recommend:
1) Get a single 260 Core 216 or GTX 280 and then use the step up program to get the GTX 295. That's the only way he can make sure he takes advantage of the January releases.

 

[glockjs]

only problem is that he's like a child and won't want to wait. he's the type of person that wont want to put any further work into the computer either. so that kinda leaves a dilemma :/

 

[diaz]

Few things IMO:

- I would get the P182, or the Cooler Master RC690 case. Seems he is not really the enthusiast and not very knowledgable in computer H/W. A P182 is covered everywhere and will protect from spilled drinks and such. He also does not care for OC'ing, which the 900 is originally created for.

- Also, I would get an additional HD. One for OS + programs, and one for storage/backup.

- Might want an aftermarket cooler of some kind, I know he wont want to OC, but why not get something nice in there to complete the gaming rig package? I suggest the TRUE 1366:
http://www.acousticpc.com/thermalri...66-rt_intel_socket_1366_quiet_cpu_cooler.html

Other than that, looks good! If he could wait the couple weeks for the GTX295, it would be awesome. But being the kid he is, Asus 4870x2 will do just fine (nice triple fan design too)!

-D

 

[Essenar]

Few things IMO:

- I would get the P182, or the Cooler Master RC690 case. Seems he is not really the enthusiast and not very knowledgable in computer H/W. A P182 is covered everywhere and will protect from spilled drinks and such. He also does not care for OC'ing, which the 900 is originally created for.

- Also, I would get an additional HD. One for OS + programs, and one for storage/backup.

- Might want an aftermarket cooler of some kind, I know he wont want to OC, but why not get something nice in there to complete the gaming rig package? I suggest the TRUE 1366:
http://www.acousticpc.com/thermalri...66-rt_intel_socket_1366_quiet_cpu_cooler.html

Other than that, looks good! If he could wait the couple weeks for the GTX295, it would be awesome. But being the kid he is, Asus 4870x2 will do just fine (nice triple fan design too)!

-D

I agree with what this guy's saying, with a few additions:

1) I agree about the case. Get him something covered so you can keep him away from the guts as much as possible. An Antec P182 or a Cooler Master CM690.

2) I think you should swap out the Western Digital Raptor for a G.Skill SSD MLC 128gb. It's $255 and even though it's half the capacity, it's WAY more than double the speed. Once you load your OS and games on it, you'll see just what I mean. A G.Skill SSD and a 1TB for storage or a couple 500's in Raid 1 will be a fast and practical set up.

3) I don't think an aftermarket cooler is necessary but you can get one just to keep things quiet and safe.

If he's so hellbent on getting his rig set up now, make sure he gets a Visiontek 4870x2. They have the best warranty and for the most part, the best built video-cards from ATI. You could also show him SLI GTX 280 or SLI GTX 260 benchmarks so he knows for sure what the better set up is. A pair of GTX 260's blows a 4870x2 out of the water and he could use the step up program.

 

[diaz]

3) I don't think an aftermarket cooler is necessary but you can get one just to keep things quiet and safe.

I forgot to mention the quiet part

If he's so hellbent on getting his rig set up now, make sure he gets a Visiontek 4870x2. They have the best warranty and for the most part, the best built video-cards from ATI. You could also show him SLI GTX 280 or SLI GTX 260 benchmarks so he knows for sure what the better set up is. A pair of GTX 260's blows a 4870x2 out of the water and he could use the step up program.

The 2x GTX260 is a great idea, if he can afford it, go for it man.

-D

 

[glockjs]

actually looking at it atm 2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150330 is about the same price point. looking at the benchies yeah thats probably a better way to go.

yeah the case i thought he would like because it has pretty lights and moving parts...he's a grown up child lol.

i thought there was a plague of problems(hanging, doesnt hand multi task very well, etc) with the ssd's besides intel's because of the controllers...

 

[Essenar]

actually looking at it atm 2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150330 is about the same price point. looking at the benchies yeah thats probably a better way to go.

yeah the case i thought he would like because it has pretty lights and moving parts...he's a grown up child lol.

i thought there was a plague of problems(hanging, doesnt hand multi task very well, etc) with the ssd's besides intel's because of the controllers...

You don't need a controller for an SSD hard drive. It uses a standard SATA controller. The G.Skill is one of the most highest rated and fastest hard drives you can get.