Under $1000 Gaming Build

[GeneralB]

Trying to build a bad butt gaming rig, and I've got less than a thousand to spend... What do you guys think of these components?

Case: RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP $70 Newegg.com - RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply - Computer Cases

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor $190
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Memory $50
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Hard Drive: Western Digital VelociRaptor 150GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive) $160
Newegg.com - Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (bare drive) - Internal Hard Drives

Optical Drive: SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F $25
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 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 SATA 22X DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners

Motherboard: Recertified: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-RX ATX Intel Motherboard $135
Newegg.com - Recertified: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-RX LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard

Video Card: Recertified: EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512-P3-N871-RX Video Card $130
Newegg.com - Recertified: EVGA 512-P3-N871-RX GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Total: $800

I still have a couple hundred bucks to spend. I just don't know on what...

 

[H4x3r]

Re: attempting under $1000 gaming build

remember you wont be able to use all of that 4gbs of ram with a 32bit OS, you also might want to add another hard disk for storage, that 150gbs will fill up fast with today's games being 4gb+. Also might consider a name brand PSU as it will last longer and be more stable, 500w is a little low as well

 

[GeneralB]

Good call on the HD. I'll upgrade to the 300Gig for $80 more. What PSU do you think would be better?

 

[Gabb]

I thought everyone hated RAIDMAX PSUs

and how come no one screams at him like they did to me when he wants to get a WD Raptor ( mine was 175 back in the days )

Lastly if I was you I would probably go with the 4850 since ricanflow said it was $160 after MIR and it is at the very least 20% faster then a 9800 GTX in virtually all games ( prob should get a diff mobo if you go with this )

 

[Evolv]

Don't get a Velociraptor, for the price it isn't worth it and plus they aren't that much faster than a normal hdd. This will be just as fast:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

And you can get better ram for that price with better timings as well:
Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
$36 after MIR

I would suggest getting a HD 4850 instead of the 9800GTX. For like an extra ten bucks the 4850 beats 9800GTX in almost all games.

 

[H4x3r]

Yeah, the 4850 is better

 

[GeneralB]

What Motherboard should I get if I go with the HD 4850? Also is my PSU and cooling sufficient?

 

[Evolv]

Either one of these mobo's are good:
Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TPower I45 LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Newegg.com - BIOSTAR TForce TP45HP LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

I wouldn't stick with the Raidmax psu, my cousin had one that overheated and fried his motherboard. This would be a good one:

Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies

 

[GeneralB]

Should I go with a motherboard that supports crossfire? If so, which one? And is my cooling sufficient? Thanks guys

 

[NightSurge]

The Biostar ones he posted support crossfire. Get an aftermarket CPU cooler like the Sunbeam "Core Contact" cooler. Then, like everyone else has mentioned, ditch the Raptor HDD.

Oh and Newegg has a deal right now for an Asus dual-slotted HD 4850 with great cooling for $130 after MIR.