$600-$1000 Build???

[MR. HT]

Hey guys,

Long time no see. I was wondering what everyone would throw together for a $600-$1000 build. I haven't been keeping myself up to date on the new components and I just wanted to see what has changed on this budget build.

Include everything except monitor and OS, please.

Thanks in advance,

HT

[minus-sign]

For $1000 you can get into the i7 cores and DDR3 1600 MHz; not a great build but expandable. Below that, you'll be wanting a quad core or the AM3 Phenom II x3 and x4s.

For more extensive advice, we'd need to know what the system will be used for.

[MR. HT]

It will be an all around PC.

Multi-tasking, gaming, picture editing, etc.

The guy wants at least 750 GB HD for storing all his pictures on...

Hope this helps.

[minus-sign]

Case: $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147083

CPU:
i7 $290
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

or Phenom II quad $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103650

Intel 1366 Board: $240
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131359
Note: 2000/1600 MHz supported memory in O.C.

or AMD AM3: $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131363

RAM: $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145236
Note: $90 with Mail-In

PSU: $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009

HDD: $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

VCard:

SLI $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339
Note: only half gig. Can go to 1 t with build and still have money in budget.

or ATI CrossFire $87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127399
Note: $70 after Mail-In. I would recommend doubling cards now.

Cost to build Intel i7: 1049 before rebates. You can skimp on the RAM, or you could get a less expensive board.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130221
Note: memory standard is 1333. You can lower price further by using 1333 RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231223

Cost to build AMD AM3: 877 before rebates single card; 964 full Crossfire PC before rebates. You can lower the cost by nearly $100 by using a triple core processor instead of the x4.

As stated previously, you can go with a Socket 775 Intel Quad setup or an AM2+ AMD Phenom II (not a Phenom 1.0; they blow.) also, but you lose DDR3 expandability in the future. The prices for these configs would be considerably less if you are more interested in aiming low in your budget. These too have some room to expand, but I would not reccomend them for a central home PC.

Hope this helps.

[saphalline]

I vote for the Phenom II system with a vid card upgrade. Either a Radeon HD 4870 1GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131148) or a GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125267).

You might even want to toss an extra HDD in there, just to be on the safe side. It isn't a power rig until it has two or more physical hard drives! :D

Also, does this new system need an optical drive? And you say no OS needed, but does that mean you/he already has a 64-bit OS? 4GB of RAM or more, which is a given these days with RAM prices, requires a 64-bit OS.

[George Hallam]

I second the AMD, ok i7 does have the raw power, but Phenom II does still pack a large punch.

And if you get Phenom II you can get better video card/s also it very future proof ;)

Also get this ram also better
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227381

1333Mhz @ 9-9-9-24 Vs 1600Mhz @ 7-7-7-24 :D

[saphalline]

Drool...

DDR3-1333 @ 7-7-7-20 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220367)

:D

[George Hallam]

I win :D

DDR3- 1333 @ 6-6-6-18 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226032)

[saphalline]

Doh! :p

Those modules look weird. They look like FB-DIMM's but they're not...