Legit Reviews

Another one of my friends wants to buy a new computer and he has 1000 to spend. We are basically wondering what is the BEST GAMING system for that budget ? The only reqs we want in the computer are Intel processor and Nvidia graphics card. If you had 1000$ What would you guys buy ? Whats the best way to go here ?

i thought maybe since new stuff was available you guys would choose different stuff ? New graphics cards, processors etc ? I knew i created a thread on this before but i know how quickly technology gets old and i havent kept up with it lately.

Better parts might have come out, but working to a budget it's still going to be pretty much what was recommended last time. Even this here is way over $1000 (but not so much if you include rebates).

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 ($31.99)

Sunbeam Quarterback IC-QB-SVBK Silver/ Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (-$10.00 Instant, $69.99, $59.99)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ($79.99)

ViewSonic Value Series VA1703wb Black 17" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor (-$10.00 Instant, $50.00 Mail-in Rebate, $189.99, $179.99)

XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card ($239.99)

CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply (-$15.00 Instant, $10.00 Mail-in Rebate, $139.99, $124.99)

ALTEC LANSING BXR1120 2.0 speaker system for PC and MP3 player ($19.99)

Logitech 967561-0403 Black USB + PS/2 Cordless Standard Desktop EX110 Mouse Included (-$3.00 Instant, $29.99, $26.99)

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 ($54.00)

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard ($89.99)

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750 ($189.99)

Subtotal: $1,097.90

Crap, just noticed this doesn't even include a copy of XP or Vista >_<
(Hopefully they have a licence?)

If overclocking is not an option, then you can skimp on the RAM and board. If it is, then get your friend to save up just a bit more for these parts/slightly better ones.

Dan

DMB2000uk wrote:LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1S-05 ($27.99)

Sunbeam Quarterback IC-QB-SVBK Silver/ Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (-$10.00 Instant, $69.99, $59.99)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ($79.99)

ViewSonic Value Series VA1703wb Black 17" 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor (-$10.00 Instant, $50.00 Mail-in Rebate, $189.99, $179.99)

XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card ($239.99)

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W Power Supply (-$5.00 Instant, $20.00 Mail-in Rebate, $104.99, $99.99)

ALTEC LANSING BXR1120 2.0 speaker system for PC and MP3 player ($19.99)

Logitech 967561-0403 Black USB + PS/2 Cordless Standard Desktop EX110 Mouse Included (-$3.00 Instant, $29.99, $26.99)

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 ($54.00)

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard ($89.99)

Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750 ($189.99)

Subtotal: $1,068.90

I changed the PSU to Corsair 550VX. It's not modular but it works as good as the HX. Since you're not doing SLI, you can even opt for the 450VX which is $20 cheaper. I also changed the optical drive, to the cheapest reviewed SATA DVD burner. It's highly unlikely that you'll make use of LightScribe anyway.

Other thoughts:

Have you considered getting a Pentium Dual-Core E2160 and overclocking it as a temporary measure? That's what I'm doing for my new rig while waiting for the more mainstream Penryn quads to be released. If you don't need/want quad, then the E8000 series has been released and the E8400 is supposed to be at the same price point as the E6750 while giving you 3.0GHz stock speed and higher overclocking potential. Right now, street prices are still high because the market hasn't been saturated yet, but that should change in the near future.

Another area you can scrimp on is the hard drive. If you don't need 320GB, then you can opt for a smaller hard drive. Granted, you'd only be shaving at most $20 off of the price but if you're already pinching pennies... Not to mention you still need to add the cost of tax and shipping.

That's an interesting first post to jump on

Make sure to introduce yourself in the new members forum thing.

Dan

DMB2000uk wrote:That's an interesting first post to jump on

Make sure to introduce yourself in the new members forum thing.

Dan

That would be the new members forum there dan.

Thats not a point, nuh huh.

Dan

I totally agree with Dan's build above. I recommend keeping the Corsair 520HX. Modular cabling is much easier to work with, keeping the clutter and mess to a minimum, especially with first time builders. One of the points builders strive for is a neat and tidy case.

I to agree with the modular PS never used one till my last build and you wouldn't think it makes that much of a difference but boy does it clean up some unused cables. I used the Antec Neo-Power 550 runs quite and cool in a P-182 case. Using the Logitech 110 nice keyboard but upgraded to the LX7 mouse with more buttons, I used the Samsung 203b or n DVD drive they are nice looking and a littler quieter than the Lite-on. WD SE16 160 gig YS model with the 5 year warranty but beware there was a bad lot of then going around the web stores. New case fans to try are the Noctua NF-S12 and the Scythe/S-Flex or even the Antex tri-cool is my popular brand. I always use Kingson ram because of the value and lifetime warranty. Well good luck with your build.