Could You build a better $1500 Rig?

BillOhio

BillOhio

New Member
You guys see a million of these, I know. Maybe I can mix it up just a little and put it out there as a challenge to improve on a $1500 list? I'd enjoy some input from people much more savvy than myself.

As far as usage I'm looking to get into the art department of an entertainment studio (animation/game/toy) so I'd like something that'll get me started with gaming, possibly animation/video, and of course Photoshop. This will be my first desktop.

I'm considering Monitor, Speakers, Keyboard, and Mouse to be seperate from the rig. That said I do already have a Samsung T240 and a pair of Logitech bookshelf speakers to get started.

Anyway,

i7-930: $200
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0331303

Gigabyte X58A-UD3R: $210
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128423

Corsair Dominator 6Gb Memory: $215
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...287&cm_re=corsair_ddr3-_-20-145-287-_-Product

Daimond 5870 GPU: $390
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10011252&prodlist=search]

Antec CP-850 Watt PSU bundled with Antec P183 Case: $220
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.359987]

Western Digital Caviar Black 500Gb 7200 HDD: $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...rn_digital_black_500gb-_-22-136-320-_-Product

Sony Optiarc DVD drive: $20
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch_v3.asp?px=FO&scriteria=AA75236

Noctua U12P SE: $65
http://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NH-U12P-Special-1366-1156/dp/B002N2JVEE

Windows 7 Home Premium Full OS: $110
http://cgi.ebay.com/MICROSOFT-WINDO...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item483a292ac3

All together that's $1500 almost exactly.



I'm sure there are less expensive motherboards that would do the job for now, but I'd like this thing to be current as long as possible and want something set up for USB 3.0 I hear that almost all intel boards are going to be having some bottlenecking issues as USB 3.0 becomes more prevelant.


I'm guessing also that I could get by on less of a PSU but I'd like to be able to do some upgrades and not have to worry about power for awhile. I'm sure I'll eventually add more/faster storage (SSD) , a blue-ray, and possibly a second 5870. Also, I like that this PSU was bundled with a solid case that has a 3-speed control for the fans.

If the list checks out, will the performance be respectable?

Anyway, I've been looking around the forum and it's a really solid resource. Thanks for checking this out and any input is much appreciated.

-Bill
 
That much money for memory is a waste, not to mention thats only a 4gb kit. I'd go with this memory/mobo combo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.379668

Windows 7 HP can be had for $99 shipped from egg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

PSU/Case area, you could go with one of these cases:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517004
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811517006
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103026
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103027
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119216 (One of my personal favorites)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119215 (Same as above, but without some of the extras)

And this PSU:
http://www.svc.com/s75q-b.html

Overall saving money, and the 750W silencer will easily handle two 5870's (And arguably one of the better units on the market, yes it is a recertified unit, but the cost savings is well worth it considering new these units are ~$120).

I'd go with this heatsink, better than the noctua and cheaper:
http://www.svc.com/u120e-rt-775.html

$10 more for this gpu, but a much better (non reference) heatsink:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125316

Same price will net you a 750gb seagate 7200.12:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148445

Or $15 less and get a samsung HD502HJ(one of the fastest drives available) or 500gb seagate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

Spend the few extra bucks for a sata optical drive, less clutter in the case and once you factor in shipping will cost similar, dont forget to use promo code BHDAPR14 for 10% off the drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118032
 
What you just did there, with all the info... cool as hell and much appreciated. Thank You very much.

I wasn't sure if the "System Builders" version of Win 7 was fair game, but apparently it is.

I thought 850 might have been a little heavy, but I wasn't sure how much space I'd need moving forward and I do like that case the Antec is bundled with. That said, I have a pretty good hunch that your suggestions are going to be the more effective options. That board and memory combo you suggest also looks great. Thanks also for catching my 4gb/6Gb mistake. I shuffled through a lot of sets before I posted the list. (Wouldn't want to look like a Noob after all... ... ahem..)

I'll be checking out all the product you've listed thoroughly. Again, thanks for taking the time.

Appreciated,
-Bill
 
BillOhio said:
What you just did there, with all the info... cool as hell and much appreciated. Thank You very much.

I wasn't sure if the "System Builders" version of Win 7 was fair game, but apparently it is.

I thought 850 might have been a little heavy, but I wasn't sure how much space I'd need moving forward and I do like that case the Antec is bundled with. That said, I have a pretty good hunch that your suggestions are going to be the more effective options. That board and memory combo you suggest also looks great. Thanks also for catching my 4gb/6Gb mistake. I shuffled through a lot of sets before I posted the list. (Wouldn't want to look like a Noob after all... ... ahem..)

I'll be checking out all the product you've listed thoroughly. Again, thanks for taking the time.

Appreciated,
-Bill
Click to expand...

No problem,FYI that ebay link is an OEM version as well:
Q: Is this item a retail box version?
A: No, It is a Genuine OEM System Builder Pack
Click to expand...

By building your own pc you qualify for use of the OEM/system builders operating systems.
 
in my opinion coolermaster offer nice quality casses and that psu bomberboysk suggested looks a winner, something i would buy

that noctua heatsink/fan you linked has a rough finnish on the bottom plate so extra thermal paste is needed to gain good heat transfer (the pea method failed me)
 
As I'm not into the LED's I went with the CM690 case. Priced out, you saved me $125(ish) and with components that'll probably make for better gaming/usage. It crossed my mind to upgrade back to the beefier case but instead I'll pick up $60 in peripherals and put the remainder towards some of the shipping costs I'd been ignoring.

Apparently I did at least get the CPU right. I can tell you're impressed :)

funkysnair, thanks also for the comment on the components.

I think I'll end up pretty happy with what I end up with, working off of bomberboysk's list.

Thanks Again!

Peace,
-Bill
 
Showing my Noob here, but what is the advantage of SATA?


And Thanks again for the feedback, this thread has saved me $100's.
 
Well, from the date on the first post it looks like I took my sweet time buying my components. The good thing about it, though, was that I wasn't buying anything unless I fealt like I was getting a pretty good price. Anyway, I've linked the products so that I might get some feedback on how I did with my first build list, but also listed the prices of what I actually paid at the time (with tax and shipping). So:

i7-930: $215 (Microcenter)

Antec 902 with Seagate 500GB 7200 HD: $135 (Newegg Combo)

6GB Corsair 1600 RAM $135 (Newegg)

GA UD3r : $200 (NewEgg)

Sony Optiarc DVD : $20 (Newegg)

Venomous X Heatsink with Fan : $65 (ZipZoomFly)

Asus eah5870v2 : $406 (Ebay/New)

PC P&C Silencer 750 : $80 recertified (SVC.com)

I really thought about spending more on the Asus P6X58D-E and RAM with tighter timings... but as a noob I figure I won't know what I'm missing anyway and the price difference helped me to feel better about splurging on the 5870. If all works out well, and adding $100 for an OS, I'd like to think I did pretty well for my $1350 but am asking you guys what you think, and is there anything I should be keeping in mind as the last of the parts arrive and I get ready to build?

Thanks for any feedback.
 
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