Lower This Build for the Same Performance?

Lockon02

Lockon02

New Member
I was trying to build this for a gamer friend, and he want a great gaming build. So I got him this build, but he wants to know if he can get it lower for the same performance. So I'm asking you people who are more expert about this.

CPU:
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor

Mobo:
Foxconn BloodRage LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

Video Card:
XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Memory:
OCZ Gold 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Low Voltage Desktop Memory Model OCZ3G1600LV6GK

OS:
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee

Power Supply:
OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply

Hard Drive:
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

DVD Drive:
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 22X DVD±R DVD Burner

Monitor:
ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers

Key Board & Mouse:
Saitek PZ30AU Black 104 Normal Keys 4 Function Keys USB Standard Eclipse Keyboard
Logitech MX518 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical 1800 dpi Gaming-Grade Mouse

Total after tax and shipping: $1,690.97
 
An AMD build will get you lower in cost, but what you have there is a killer build.

Tell your friend he won't regret it.
 
u can get a smaller scrren, just 2 nches less can save some money, get an asus or some better brand. also, you might just want to wait till windows 7 come out on the 22nd of october.

this looks good
 
How much do you want to axe?

Mobo - Foxconn Renaissance??, -$50

Video card- cheapest HIS 4890?? -$15

Case - Cheaper Antec 300?? -$40, but Antec 900 is a better case.

DVD burner - Free shipping, SATA interface!!
LITE-ON 24X CD/DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS324-08 - Retail

Monitor - Get smaller ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms -$40
 
My point:

Yes, you could save a couple hundred bucks by lowering the specs on
a few items, but at this price point, you might as well bite the bullet
and get what you want.
 
Well it seems my friend is in a budget, and he can only spend $1,200 USD. Now I have to get a new whole build which will be inferior.

If I go Core 2 Duo, can my friend play most games (Devil May Cry 4, Crysis, CoD, etc.) on high to max setting? And how long would the build last since I don't see many games or app. using Quad Cores right now.

Any suggestion for the new build is welcome/needed too.

I guess changing CPU/Memory and Mobo is the best way to go for him. Maybe the Video Card too?

EDIT: If I was going to go AMD, I want to know what is going to be expected (performance wise) so I can tell my friend. (Never have an AMD build before)
 
Last edited:
Yes, he could if he gets a high clocked 775 cpu and a quad core, but ppl here will say its not worth it because its a dead socket, so in this case go with an amd 955 build, it runs almost par with the 920 in gaming results.
 
Lockon02 said:
Well it seems my friend is in a budget, and he can only spend $1,200 USD. Now I have to get a new whole build which will be inferior.

If I go Core 2 Duo, can my friend play most games (Devil May Cry 4, Crysis, CoD, etc.) on high to max setting? And how long would the build last since I don't see many games or app. using Quad Cores right now.

Any suggestion for the new build is welcome/needed too.

I guess changing CPU/Memory and Mobo is the best way to go for him. Maybe the Video Card too?

EDIT: If I was going to go AMD, I want to know what is going to be expected (performance wise) so I can tell my friend. (Never have an AMD build before)
Click to expand...
Tell him, roughly to that of the Q9x50 series of intel cpu's. For gaming, there is pretty much no difference between amd and core i7 though:

CPU+Mobo combo: ($85 combo discount:eek:)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.212581

Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146828

GPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

Display:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236053

OS: (Windows vista, free copy of windows 7 release candidate as well;))
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.208025

ODD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151188

HSF:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

Total before rebates/shipping------------------$1,159.53
__________________________________
Also, i would recommend this case over the antec nine hundred, negligible difference in price due to free shipping. Put a nine hundred in the above list because that was in your original, but consider this case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
 
 
Last edited:
Err...Now my friend said he got more money from his dad so he can spend more. Sorry about that. Anyway, I figure I should build him my first build with some changes.

I'm looking at others mobo, and case.

I would get the Foxconn BloodRage, but I would like to know if there are other mobos with the same performance with the same price or cheaper.

And as for a case, I guess Full Tower would have a better air flow, but would a Mid Tower be more sufficient since I don't think my friend is going to do croosfire or anything. Just may be let me do a bit of OC.

If I get a heatsink, I guess a Full Tower would be better?
 
Pretty much all heatsinks fit in md-towers but then you do not have alot of clearence on the window panel.

Full tower is bigger obviously and would be better for Crossfire/SLI

May I suggest the Antec 902. It's pretty common and has nothing special but what may I say, it's a good case :):P
 
 
Lockon02 said:
Help me pick please!!

Full Towers:

COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case

Sunbeam Transformer IC-TR-US-BA-WOPSU Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
I like this one just because its cheap and have many fans + side-panel. I want to know if the quality is any good.

ENERMAX Uber Chakra ECA5001B Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
Never heard of this brand before o_O;

Mid-Towers:

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

This is all I looked at. Any other suggestions are welcome too. Thanks
Click to expand...
If all he is doing is gaming, money would be better spent on a phenom II system and two graphics cards in crossfire vs spending the extra on a core i7.
 
He is a musician so I don't know if he has some kind of audio softwares or whatever he used to use.

Also, I have never done crossfire before lol. I'm just a newb at building PC.
 
Last edited:
Lockon02 said:
He is a musician so I don't know if he has some kind of audio softwares or whatever he used to use.

Also, I have never done crossfire before lol. I'm just a newb at building PC.
Click to expand...
Well, in that case you would probably want a quiet case like any of the antec P series cases.
 
I just called him. He just want a gaming system it seems. Time to rebuild it.

Which Phenom II should I get?
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top