Need help building a computer

[DaJackel]

I'm looking to build a computer for myself and I haven't been up to date on all the new hardware and such.

I'm looking to spend somewhere around $1,000.. no more than $1,500.
I don't need monitor or anything like that. Just the tower and the insides.
Don't need Optical Drives either.

(Note, if suggesting on where to buy as well, I'm in Canada)

Thanks guys!

[Insomniac]

You shouldn't have to spend that much.

What is the intended use of the PC?

[DaJackel]

That's good news.

Mostly Gaming and Game/App Development.

[Insomniac]

Bear in mind I have no idea of the exchange rate or looked it up.

Anyway, an AMD CPU with an nForce 4 chipset board would be ideal.

As far as gaming, do you play 3D games, or fairly simple games?

There is a huge price difference between video cards, and they are the costliest component, so you need to choose wisely for your needs.

[DaJackel]

I play new 3d games.
I'd like a damn good card...

Maybe $300-400 for the card?

Edit:
I also develop 3d games using DirectX/OpenGL using Shaders.
So I do need a pretty good card.

[Insomniac]

The best two mid-range chips are the nVidia 6600 GT (make sure it's a GT) and the ATI X800 GTO (newly released)

The next ones up would probably be the nVidia 6800 onwards.

Combined with an ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe or Premium motherboard (or an A8N32-SLI Deluxe) , an AMD 3500+ (upward) CPU and 1 GB of RAM, and you will have a very fast machine which will play any current game.

With SLI, you will also have the option of adding another card later if you find it's not coping with newer games.

(The fastest graphic chips currently are the nVidia 7800GTX)

[DaJackel]

Thank you, I will shop around for these and post you what I have made for a final system and see what you think.

[Insomniac]

You're welcome.

Try to get the best you can afford and post back before you take the plunge.

I'm sure others will also offer their opinions and recommendations.

[DaJackel]

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068

Heatsink:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185123

Mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131568

Chip:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103514

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820141211

Graphics Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16814122229R

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148111


$1,235.42
High, but worth it?
Should I cut down $150 or so and get a lower graphics card?


Edit:
If it's all good I gotta start finding places in Canada to buy it :P

[DaJackel]

I'm also missing a power supply.
Would need help picking one of those out.

[splitt3r]

This is just an outline the minimum for this setup would be $800 or so, so this is just the minimum

Mobo-Socket 939 ASUS with SLI
Cpu-Any socket 939 AMD athlon 64 or better
PSU-at least 400w choose from a good brand liek antec or OCz
Gpu-Nvidia 6600gt or better, 7800GTX is the best you can get, choose wisely
RAM-ddr400 at least 1gb
Case-Look at the brands aspire and coolermaster, tehy make great cases, be sure there is plenty of room for expansion and cooling
optical drive-Dvd RW dual layer, tehse are pretty cheap right now
Hard drive-SATA connection, 250gb is a sweet spot with hard drives, bigger is always better.
cooling-get some good quality fans, I wouldn't reccomend liquid cooling, but don't settle for junk on this one.

[splitt3r]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820141211

That ram is NOT compatable with that mobo, you need 184-pin if you are going AMD

[Wyatt_Earp]

If I were you, I'd go for this CPU. It has double the L2 cache and is only $20 more. Overall it's a better chip.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103539

Also, IMO, I'd save a little money and go for a 7800 GT for about $300:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130256

As for a Power Supply, I can always recommend Antec:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103929

But this is the one that I have. It's a little cheaper and has done great for me. I have 5 hard drives 2 optical drives and a floppy hooked up as well as all the normal PC components:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153007

And, as splitter said, that RAM will not work. You'll need something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145575
It's $197 after $40 rebate.

[DaJackel]

Same Case/HardDrive/HeatSink/Mobo

Your PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153007

Proper RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145575

Upgraded Chip:
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819103539

Downgraded Graphics:
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16814130256

[Prophets21]

I think 2 gigs of RAM wouldn't hurt. I would also recommend an X1900 series video card. With that budget you should be aiming for the best.

That said, the canada to us exchange rate is painful I think.

and do not get a cheap power supply, get 500w+

[Insomniac]

Everything you have chosen looks pretty good.

It will be expensive, but you are getting premium parts.

As far as the video card, most nVidia chips (don't get ATI) use a reference design, so there isn't a huge difference in terms of performance between different cards.

Rather than worrying about the different brand 7800GT's, go for a well priced one that has extras like games and cables etc.

Just make sure the video card doesn't use a double slot, especially in that motherboard (A8N32-SLI ), or you won't have much room.

If you are going to run SLI, I'd be looking at a 500-550 watt PSU.

[steve Max]

New egg does not ship to Canada. Here (Canada) I shop online at Ncix and HL technology, both in Vancouver B.C. which is 3000 miles from me and after paying the shipping is still cheaper than local stores. I picked out a few items so you can get a sense of what it costs in Canadian bucks.
Maxtor 250 gig sata drive
ocz, dual channel 1 gig
asus A8N-E motherboard
AMD 3700+ san diego 1m cache
BFG 6600g
915.45 tax and shipping incl.
As for case and power supply, its up to you hard to pick one for someone else. But fortron 400 watt for $40 and a case for under a 100 depending on what you want. Don't cheap out on a psu, one very overlooked part when building a pc. The other site I mentioned is awesome as well, and both have excellent customer service.

[Tourangh]

This video card comes with a free mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130238

[Insomniac]

Fortron 400 Watt for $40?

I would never put a cheap power supply in the same room with a quality PC.

That's the worst thing you can do if you value your hardware, especially with PCIXpress.

Number of Watts means nothing if the quality is poor.

[Rikky]

Originally Posted by Insomniac

Fortron 400 Watt for $40?

I would never put a cheap power supply in the same room with a quality PC.

That's the worst thing you can do if you value your hardware, especially with PCIXpress.

Number of Watts means nothing if the quality is poor.

Seconded