Hi DLPers! I'm planning on building a new computer within the next month or so and could use some suggestions on what parts to get. I've done some research online, but it doesn't hurt to ask around.

My budget is $1000, though I wouldn't mind shelling out an extra $100 or so if I could get a huge performance upgrade.

I would like to use the computer for mostly gaming purposes. I play a lot of Starcraft 2 and would like to be able to run that game on highest settings. I also play a fair number of MMO's such as Diablo 3. In addition, I enjoy playing strategy games such as Civ 5.

I need to buy the Windows 7 OS, but I'm not sure which version I need to get. I also need a keyboard and monitor as well.

 

i5 2310 - $180 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115089
asrock xtreme3 gen 3 - $120 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271
nvidia 560ti - $235 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130604
8gb gskill ram - $43 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231542
antec 300 case - $55 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
seasonic psu - $60 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093
windows 7 home premium - $99 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
1tb hard drive - $120 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136533

= $912

Leaving ~$200 for your monitor and keyboard of choice.

Also note that you can potentially cut another ~65 from costs by getting a nvidia gtx 560 instead of a gtx 560 ti.

 

Isn't 520w a little low for a gaming rig? I don't know very much about computers, but this is something i've been looking at because I have a 700w one.

 

no it is not

 

Are you a student at any university? Most universities will give you a discounted windows 7 ultimate CD (sometimes free sometimes $10-20). That would be the difference between a 19" and 23" monitor here. Also no warez talk but there are other ways of getting windows.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819103923
If you go AMD instead of intel for your processor, you can save quite a bit (this is 3.6ghz instead of 2.9ghz and you still save $30).

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814150549
Same here, slightly better for slightly less.

As for the harddrive, western digital has their blue and green lines for slower but more affordable options. And don't forget 20-40$ for a dvd drive so you can install your OS. I speak from experience here as I recently built my own computer (around 2 weeks ago in fact) and paid $999.19 for the entire set up from newegg only to realize I had no dvd drive.

And no, 520W is fine, I'm using 600W but only because it was on sale. Most of what KaiDASH linked is pretty similar to my setup and I can run anything on high atm.

 

intel cpu's crush the shit out of amd cpus, clock speed is irrelevant if you're comparing amd to intel.

AMD is really only for ultrabudget setups where you need a quad core for whatever reason.

Since you have the budget for it, there is zero reason to get such an inferior product for so little savings.

because he has to install windows onto the hard drive he buys, again, getting a slower one is really not worth the minor savings. If it was a storage drive only then getting a green drive would be preferable, but it is not.

And yes, get a cd drive (oops!)

 

Thanks for all your suggestions! I have a few more questions:

1. I've heard that getting a SSD vs an RPM hard drive would be worth the extra money for the potential upgrade. Is it true?

2. I've found an intel i5 2500k for $170 at Microcenter. I'm assuming it's a better model than the more expensive i5 2310, so should I get that instead?

3. I just graduated from a big ten university, and I'm planning on attending a small conservatory. I'll probably end up calling them and asking...but I doubt they'll have a deal for Windows 7 . Should've gotten it last year or something.

4. I know that the psu comes with a cooler on it, but I've noticed that a lot of other builds have an additional cpu cooler installed as well...do I need one?

5. Found a 650w psu for $55. I don't know if the brand is a reliable one though. Thoughts? http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...ffiliateID=iFudSkud_Rc-1XuCKK4nhfI4U5CIziyOTw

Also, I don't have any Windows OS atm since I'm running a mac. I can't buy something like http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/pd/productID.216644200?Icid=Student_HUB_4up_Windows without getting the original Windows 7, am I right?

 

They typically come with one already, or at least mine did. That should suffice.

 

1. If your willing to buy a SSD with much less memory for your OS(for better speeds) and a larger HDD, like the one that KaiDash recommended, for storage, then yes, definitely. I'd recommend the SAMSUNG 830 Series MZ-7PC128GB for $144.99. Of course, this pushes the cost to ~ $1027, leaving you only $73 for the monitor and keyboard.

2. Does the Microcenter not have a 2310 or 2300 model for an even cheaper price? If not, then yeah, buy the 2500.

5. Not sure. I don't know much about different power supply brands, but from what I've heard, Ultra has a history of making terrible products.

 

ssd is nice, but with only $1100 for everything I didn't really think you had the budget for one.

yeah the 2500k for 170 is good.

Don't buy a shit psu. For PSU, always buy a good quality one that has good reviews, like the seasonic i suggest. Regular builds don't need larger than ~500w anyway.

 

I usually get an aftermarket CPU cooler because I can never get Intel's installed. Last one I tried just wouldn't get that 4th pin to stay, and I was afraid if I added any more torque or pressure it would break the motherboard. Without that 4th pin, the cooler didn't have enough contact with the CPU and it ended up overheating as soon as I did anything CPU intensive. Like install Windows. >.>

 

Awesome, I'll take all of your opinions into consideration.

Right now, this is the list of parts that I have written down:

Power Supply: Seasonic PSU-$60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151093

Case: Antec 300 Case-$50 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0283272

Graphics Card: Nvidia 560 Ti-$225 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0365382

CPU: Intel i5 2500k-$170 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354589

Motherboard: AsRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3-$120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157271

RAM: 8gb gskill ares series-$43 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231542

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium-$99 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0361170

Hard Drive: Sandisk 120GB SSD-$120 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382699

Western Digital Caviar Green 2TB-$120 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0378062

After-market cooler (maybe): Hyper 212 Evo-$37 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0373900

CD drive: Samsung 22x-$16 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0382892

Keyboard: Logitech Wireless-$20 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0365602

Monitor: Acer 20''-$100 http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0371557

Total: $1170. And that's without tax...shit. Well, ramen for a few more weeks won't hurt, will it?

Let me know if you guys see anything missing or if I'm just doing anything retarded. More suggestions are also welcome!

 

You could always try to find a friend or family member willing to loan you the OS cd to save a $100.

 

I thought that you could only install Windows 7 on one computer though?

 

You can install it, but you need a different license to "unlock it" or some shit.

 

The GTX 660 is literally around the corner(launch date june 25th) and should vastly outperform a 560 Ti for only a little bit more money.