All you gamers out there!

[Apokalipse]

Personally I think you're better off with a 5870 and a cheaper CPU.
Also, what programs are you using for rendering?
You may be able to use the GPU to boost rendering performance anyway.

Also, the difference between an i7 in socket 1366 and a cheaper CPU (such as one in 1156 or AM3) generally isn't going to be large, though it depends on the particular programs.

The 5870 is a great card. I have one in my system. Not only is it very fast, it's also low on power.
If you're talking about the Asus card in particular (rather than 5870's in general), you could go for a reference design.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103084
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129140
http://www.amazon.com/Diamond-Radeo...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1276186098&sr=1-8
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name...MI-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-Video-Card-w-Dirt2
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name...-2DVI-HDMI-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-Video-Card
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch_v3.asp?px=PW&scriteria=3005532

 

[Beckman44]

I will be using some 3ds max, some sony vegas, gaming, capturing video, etc. I don't think a cheap ant to multitask all of this and CPU will do it. Im really not comfortable paying $500 dollars for a video card, when Im just now starting gaming, and don't even know if Im gunna stick with it. If you think a cheaper processor will work, thats fine, I just wont have to pay the full $1,000

 

[Beckman44]

Newegg.com - Once You Know, You Newegg


Would that work? I mean, I would be willing to go i5 if I must, but would that still be better than i7? and could I upgrade to i7 in future?


Then I would get the recommended mouse and a new PSU and CPU Cooler which would come out to $1,003

 

[Muffin Man]

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
Newegg.com - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite RC-310-BWN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

totals $948 + shipping on the gfx card.

 

[Beckman44]

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
Newegg.com - XFX HD-577X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8T-6GBRM
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Elite RC-310-BWN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

totals $948 + shipping on the gfx card.

I <3 you Muffin! All looks great! How will that vid card fair in games? What if I got the mobo that was first recommended, and upgrade the vid card? Would you recommend it? I would get USB 3.0 and it would be cheaper, but IDK when usb 3.0 will be big, or what other advantages the mobo listed has over it.

 

[Muffin Man]

if you're talking about the mobo that Apokalipse listed in his first post, then no that won't work. you can't interchange parts from amd and intel.

i did find this combo though, with the mobo you had listed in your wishlist.
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
you can swap the cpu/mobo combo i listed with this one, it'll cost you around $8 more.

i think you'll be content with the 5770 because you said yourself that you're not a hardcore gamer, but you want to be able to play games at smooth fps even if you have to turn the eye candy down a bit which this card should handle fine. if you want something more specific like hard numbers, google will be your friend, but i think you'll be happy with it.

 

[Apokalipse]

If you do want more CPU power, you could get a Phenom II X6
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

*edit*
There is a GPU renderer for 3ds max called RTSquare

 

[Beckman44]

Would the x6 be better than the i7?

 

[Apokalipse]

When the 6 cores are being used, yes. Except for the 980X (6 core).

http://www.behardware.com/medias/photos_news/00/28/IMG0028836.png

Sony Vegas Pro and 3DS max will benefit from 6 cores.

The 1090T is easier to overclock, with an unlocked multiplier. It's $299 vs the $199 of the 1055T
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103849
If you're just running at stock, the 1055T is a better deal.

 

[Beckman44]

When the 6 cores are being used, yes. Except for the 980X (6 core).

http://www.behardware.com/medias/photos_news/00/28/IMG0028836.png

Sony Vegas Pro and 3DS max will benefit from 6 cores.

The 1090T is easier to overclock, with an unlocked multiplier. It's $299 vs the $199 of the 1055T
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor
If you're just running at stock, the 1055T is a better deal.

Hey man thanks for all the help on my thread, sadly Muffin Man has helped me in the past so this is a hard decision. :/

Its pretty much AMD vs. Intel.....Haha

If you can throw together a build that is comparable in price and better in performance on the AMD side I'll go with that I've always heard that when you buy Intel your paying for the brand, but the new i7's look pretty awesome.