1600$ Rig Help Please

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carson1931

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Hello,
So my budget fell through for my build a couple months ago, but I am back and within a couple weeks of being able to make my computer. Since then I have been convinced to go with an Intel i7 over the AMD 1090t. This will be my first build, and I am unsure how to best distribute my budget. I have aprox 1600 dollors to spend, I would prefer to come out under, but if the price is right I could be convinced to go a bit closer to 1700. I have never overclocked, and I'm not planning on doing so any time soon. I would like to have an i7 processor, and a descent graphics card. My computer will be mainly for gaming (D3, FF14, etc...). But as an Engineering student, I would also like to have the ability to process large data files. I already have the OS and a mouse, but thats all I have. So that means I need everything else within my budget. Including keyboard, Monitor, tower etc... One of my friends is all about his new SSD, but im not sure if its worth it in my budget? Please Help get me started on the best rig I can get for my money! (newegg please)

Thanks!
-Carson

Edit: Include Blue-Ray Burner please.
 
Case: $50
NZXT M59
Newegg.com - NZXT M59 - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Mother Board: $180
MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58
Newegg.com - MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

processor: $295
Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor BX80601920

GPU: $420
XFX HD-587X-ZNDC Radeon HD 5870
Newegg.com - XFX HD-587X-ZNDC Radeon HD 5870 (Cypress XT) XXX Edition 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity

RAM: $85
G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-3GBNQ

PSU: $140
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750
Newegg.com - CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

HDD: $140
Western Digital AV-GP WD20EVDS 2TB
Newegg.com - Western Digital AV-GP WD20EVDS 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal AV Hard Drive -Bare Drive

blu ray burner: $110
LG WH10LS30K 10X Blu-ray Burner
Newegg.com - LG WH10LS30K 10X Blu-ray Burner - LightScribe Support - Bulk - Blu-Ray Burners

Monitor: $160
SAMSUNG B2030 Glossy Black 20"
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG B2030 Glossy Black 20" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 DC 50000:1(1000:1)

speakers: $90
Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speakers
Newegg.com - Logitech X-540 70 watts 5.1 Speakers

total: $1670
 
Like Sean W. build but I would change the CPU to i7 930 which is faster at stock, and $5 cheaper

I would also change the video card to HD5850 or GTX 460 1GB, and upgrade the ram to 6GB (3x2GB)
 
oh dang, good catch, i thought that was a 6 gig kit of ram.

and the reason i went with a 920 is because people have found they over clock better, but you are right, he said he's not going to be overclocking.
 
Thanks a lot for your help so far guys, you've given me a great starting point. Especially Sean.

I think downgrading the graphics card to a 5850 is in my best interest, and I really love the XFX brand, but on newegg, there are 4 different XFX 5850 cards. Can somebody please explain the difference and tell me which one is the best value?

Would you still recommend G.Skill when upgrading to 6gb of ram?

Does a Modular PSU make any real diff? Or would I still be well-off if I saved 40$ and went with the non-modular version?

A couple of the reviews for that motherboard say it has some overheating issues. Can you explain why you picked it? Could I avoid such a problem if i spent a bit more?

There was no keyboard in the set-up you made, but i actually do have speakers, and I want a G15 keyboard, so the price about works out the same.

Thanks again,
-Carson
 
cant go wrong with XFX, just get a 1gig 5850

sorry, i should have fixed the RAM

RAM: $150
G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ

Modular power supplies allow you to use only the cables you need, so you don't have all these loose wires that don't go to anything. it lets you keep the inside of your case looking better. it doesn't do anything as far as performance goes, just personal preference.

dont listen to the reviews on Newegg. people who report the over heating probably have a crap case with zero airflow. that mother board will be just fine. i went with that mother board because it has true surround sound blu ray quality audio, and you said you need a blu ray burner, so i assumed you were going to be watching blu ray on it, wanted to give you the full effect. i also went with those speakers because its a true surround sounds setup. i didnt include a key board or mouse because i can look between the couch cushions and find a mouse and a key board haha.
 
For $1600 you can fit a 5870 in there, I'd recommend a 5870 over an SSD any day if you're going to be doing any decent amount of gaming on the system. SSD makes it load a bit faster but if you leave your PC on 24/7 you'll rarely have to worry about load times. A regular SATA HDD loads games and apps fast enough in most cases, I guess if you're processing a lot of data then an SSD may help, but they're so small that you won't be able to fit much data on the SSD itself so that may render itself useless.

If you're using HDMI to connect your monitor/speakers you don't have to even worry about the onboard audio, the HD58xx series graphics cards have a digital surround sound audio processor built in. If you don't have an HDMI receiver then the onboard one will output 5.1 analog channels for other speakers. That said, most modern motherboards support full surround sound output, it's a common feature in the Realtek onboard audio chips and most boards even have optical and/or coaxial digital output connectors on the rear panel.
 
Okay, so based your your suggestions and some of my own preferences and research, here is where I am currently at...

Case: 100$
Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Motherboard 180$
Newegg.com - MSI X58 Pro-E LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor: 290$
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-930 Bloomfield 2.8GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80601930

GPU: 300$
Newegg.com - XFX HD-585X-ZAFC Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card w/ Eyefinity

RAM: 150$
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ

PSU: 110$
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

HDD: 75$
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Optical Drive: 110$
Newegg.com - LG WH10LS30K 10X Blu-ray Burner - LightScribe Support - Bulk - Blu-Ray Burners

Monitor: 190$
Newegg.com - ASUS VH242H Black 23.6" 5ms HDMI Full 1080P Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers

Keyboard: 80$
Newegg.com - Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard

Total: ~1595
I can drop the total to about 1500 if I buy the processor from Microcenter too...

Does everything look good? Any more suggestions? I would be excited I could get away with a beast system for 1500.

Thanks again,

-Carson
 
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