PC Build: Gaming/HTPC

[Tdotshopper]

This will be my first build. Looking at using this as my primary system for CAD (solidworks/inventor)/Gaming (fallout3 type gaming)/HTPC (movies)/Internet surfing.

looking to spend approx. $600-700cdn with tax. (just the computer)
Looking at fast processor and ram (ie: minimum bottleneck)
64Bit
relatively silent system
long term use (5-6yrs) (ie: must be adaptable/upgradable within these yrs or more)

Casing: interested in a mid tower with media card readers incorporated.

Alternative: suggestions on a barebones system that has the casing i want, and motherboard.

For parts im looking at local pickup (primary) or online (secondary)

Appreciate everyones suggestions/recommendations.

[Silver Bullet]

Come back when you have more money. I don't think you'll be happy with an $650 (b4 tax) computer. You won't be able to play Fallout 3 on such a low end machine and you won't be able to get a very good CPU to go along with it.

If you want something that's going to be able to play games and run CAD programs with any sort longevity you're going to want around $1k - $1.2k before tax.

[Nethervue]

Just to give you a point of reference, I ordered this from NCIX a few weeks back for $597 (doing price matches, etc) and that included tax (13%), shipping to NB, and the $50 build\test fee.

• Antec Three Hundred Mini Tower Gaming Case 300 ATX 3X5.25 6X3.5INT No PS Front USB & Audio
• Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB Dual Proc 3.5IN SATA Hard Drive OEM 5YR Mfg Warranty
• Gigabyte Radeon HD 4350 650MHZ 512MB 800MHZ GDDR2 PCI-E16 VGA HDMI DVI-I HDCP Low Profile Video Card
• Samsung SH-S223Q/BEBS 22X DVD+-RW SATA DVD Writer Black Lightscribe OEM
• AMD Athlon X2 7750 Black Edition Dual Core Processor Socket AM2+ 2.7GHZ 3MB 65NM 95W Retail Box
• Coolermaster Extreme Power Plus 500W ATX 12V V2.3 Silent Power Supply 20/24PIN 120MM Fan
  
• OCZ Gold XTC OCZ2G10664GK 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1066 CL5-6-6-18 240PIN Dual Channel Memory Kit
  
• Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H AMD780G mATX AM2+/AM3 PCI-E DDR2 SATA2 Video Sound GBLAN HDMI Motherboard
  

Not a gaming PC, but if you got a better video card. Really happy with the setup. I also added 2 fans to the front and one on the side. Again, with price matching, they were only $5 a piece. Overclocks super easy, had mine at 3.2 GHZ...put it back to defaults after a day, no need for me to OC.

Anyway, thats just to give you an idea of what you can get at that price point. Remember, my bill was $597 and that was 13% tax, $40 to ship, and $50 to build & test. I think NCIX has (or had) free shipping if you buy the WD Black TB drive.

[attonbitusira]

Like Silverbullet said, you won't meet your goals with that budget.

Either redefine your goals (i.e. no longevity, no gaming), or increase your budget.

[Tdotshopper]

Alright, after viewing some prebuilt systems online i'll adjust my price to 1500.00 cdn taxes in. (but if you guys can reduce realistically reduce that amount, all the better!)

[evanx]

a $1000 budget will get you a really good setup for price/performance. you don't have to use all $1500.

[elton5354]

You can't go wrong with a $1500 computer setup with an Intel core i7 =)

[Tdotshopper]

bump

[elton5354]

bump?


aren't you going to do some research yourself before buying? or are you trying to ask others to do your hw for you? =S

ok this is what i can come up with on top of my head.

i7 920
asus p6t OR asus p6t se (crossxfire only)
6gb 1600 ram
hd 4890
Thermal right ultra extreme
coolermaster haf 932
700w psu
WD 1 tb hdd
dvd rw/cd rom

that will prob cost you less than 1500$

there you go!

[Silver Bullet]

I think this should be a good start ...

$58.25 - Antec Three Hundred
$134.99 - Corsair CMPSU-620HX
$309.79 - Inte i7 920
$70.62 - Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366-RT w/120mm Fan
$204.65 - Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R
$123.99 - CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
$285.71 - MSI N275GTX Twin Frozr (best of the current GTX275 generation - IMO)
$99.99 - WD 1TB Black
$25.00 - Samsung SH-S223F 22X DVD-Writer SATA (SH-S223F/BEBS)
--------
$1312.99 + 5% tax and 2% shipping (average cost) = $1400

Price are from pricecanada.com, so you can price match from NCIX (best solution personally) or look for a local place that can come close (good luck )

[firetrainer]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366177

[TheFuteballer]

I think this should be a good start ...

$58.25 - Antec Three Hundred
$134.99 - Corsair CMPSU-620HX
$309.79 - Inte i7 920
$70.62 - Thermalright Ultra-120 eXtreme 1366-RT w/120mm Fan
$204.65 - Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD3R
$123.99 - CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
$285.71 - MSI N275GTX Twin Frozr (best of the current GTX275 generation - IMO)
$99.99 - WD 1TB Black
$25.00 - Samsung SH-S223F 22X DVD-Writer SATA (SH-S223F/BEBS)
--------
$1312.99 + 5% tax and 2% shipping (average cost) = $1400

Price are from pricecanada.com, so you can price match from NCIX (best solution personally) or look for a local place that can come close (good luck )

Why would you get a GTX 275 when you can get a 4890 which is better for a lesser price? There's a couple threads now about 4890 hot deals around $200!!

[attonbitusira]

Why would you get a GTX 275 when you can get a 4890 which is far superior for a lesser price? There's a couple threads now about 4890 hot deals around $200!!

Don't you think the 4890 vs. 275 battle is too close to call?

[TheFuteballer]

Don't you think the 4890 vs. 275 battle is too close to call?

Maybe.. I'd personally compare the 4890 with the GTX 280/285 but even still.. the 4890 is cheaper than most of the GTX 275's out there.. even if it does underperform in some cases, it's much more bang for the buck IMO. Especially since frame rates tend to fluctuate with NVIDIA cards.. ATI cards seem to keep some steady frame rates throughout even though they might not max out as high as other cards

I guess it depends on what games you're most likely to play.. reworded my previous too

[Silver Bullet]

Maybe.. I'd personally compare the 4890 with the GTX 280/285 but even still.. the 4890 is cheaper than most of the GTX 275's out there.. even if it does underperform in some cases, it's much more bang for the buck IMO. Especially since frame rates tend to fluctuate with NVIDIA cards.. ATI cards seem to keep some steady frame rates throughout even though they might not max out as high as other cards

I guess it depends on what games you're most likely to play.. reworded my previous too

It is really really close, I picked the GTX275 more specifically the MSI model becuase it has a great cooler that is super quiet. The 4890/GTX275 stock coolers are not that quiet and keep the gpu at rather high temps. So add in the cost of an after market cooler to your 4890 price and the GTX275 looks like a pretty good deal