Decent rig suggestions for $800 - $1100

[skele89]

I've never built a PC before and was wondering whether anyone could give me some recommendations. I'm not a hardcore gamer by anymeans but its main puposes would be gaming, video playing (in my room on my tv) and video/image editting, i also do a small amount of drafting on AutoCAD and have found that on larger drawings on my family PC that it laggs a fair bit on larger commands - this is frustrating! I also want to be able to play games while running other applications without any unexpected lag... (doesn't everybody?). I would like to run dual monitors at some point too.

I would also like to leave it open to future upgrades.

Im sure you've already realised i have no idea what im doing, im just after some build suggestions so i can research them and talk to people to find out what i really want.

Thanks in advance!

 

[gurusan]

Does this budget include a monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers?

 

[skele89]

No, I've already got surround sound ( 3 x 3.5mm standard headphone style connectors.. )mouse and keyboard and will make do with my LCD TV for the moment (it's 24" widescreen with analog, digital and s-video inputs...) but will soon buy a propper monitor of a smilar size.

 

[gurusan]

This setup will be VERY quick in both CAD and games...and the CPU should easily overclock to 3.6-4+ghz

Newegg.com - LG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech - CD / DVD Burners
20.99

Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
59.95

Newegg.com - SAMSUNG HD642JJ 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (Bare Drive) - Internal Hard Drives
79.99

Newegg.com - Palit AE=4870S+0452 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
269.99

Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
77.99

Newegg.com - ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
119.99

Newegg.com - Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120mm "Core Contact Freezer" CPU Cooler - CPU Fans & Heatsinks
39.99

COMBO DEAL
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
Newegg.com - Rosewill RX850-D-B 850W ATX12V v2.2 & EPS12V v2.91 SLI 8800GTX SLI CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies
428.98

Total = 1097.87 and 1022.87 after mail-in rebates

 

[skele89]

thanks for your reply.

One question - I have no real understanding of power consumption in pc's, but wouldn't 850watts be overkill for that system?

 

[Hussein19891]

thanks for your reply.

One question - I have no real understanding of power consumption in pc's, but wouldn't 850watts be overkill for that system?

Yeah it would be a little much. But if you ever decided to Crossfire in the fure then you wouldn't have to worry with that power supply. Oh and when it comes to PSU's having more then you need is always better then having too little.

 

[skele89]

ah, i see. that makes sense.

Does anyone else have any good suggestions?

 

[gurusan]

Yeah 850W is overkill but it comes as a combo deal with the Quad processor...and overkill doesn't really matter too much...just gives you some headroom

 

[skele89]

Haha yeah, i realised about the combo deal straight after i said it. And head rooms always great for future mods...

 

[gurusan]

tbh I'm not sure if anyone is going to come up with a better setup than that for the money....looking back at it it makes me feel quite proud! what an awesome build!

lol