BleepingComputer.com: Gaming/Media Computer

So, i am planning to build a computer thru buying parts on stores etc. But i am not really updated on the newest stuff right now, and whats the best deals. So i am here to ask people what might be a good idea.

Here's the specs that i might want:

CPU: Quad
Motherboard: SLI ready
Video Card: Kick ass
RAM: 8gigs
Case: Mid-tower

I just need to build the actualy CPU/System Power/Computer.

Thanks for the help that i will be getting :3

What kind of budget will you be working with?
What will the computer be used for?

You're not going to be able to get the top-of-the-line HD 4870 X2 graphics card into most mid-tower cases. Even the almost-top-of-the-line GTX 280 has a difficult time fitting into one, if at all. The i7 processor is the latest, but it is expensive. Thankfully, all of the motherboards using i7 allow for both SLI and Crossfire. Below is a build I completed for another member. If you really want a powerful beast of a PC, and dent to your wallet, replace the CPU with the $570 or $1000 model i7, throw in a Corsair 1000 watt power supply, and two HD 4870 X2's. The price at the bottom is for the specs listed below.

If you're going for an i7 system, I have listed hardware below.

Case: HEC 69R5BB Black Steel ATX Full Tower - You need a large case for the very best GPU's to fit.

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - This is one of the new X58 motherboards, it gets good ratings.

Graphics card: SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB - Top-of-the-line GPU.

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W - If you plan on getting a multi-GPU system, get the 1000W PSU.

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz - There are faster i7 processors available, but they cost so much more. This is the i7 equivalent to the Q6600 and Q9300. All i7's are quad core.

RAM: CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 - You will want two of these to get the maximum benefit. The X58 uses triple channel memory, so the RAM sizes are a little unusual.

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000KSRTL 500GB - Plenty of space.

Optical Drive: LITE-ON combo drive - A simple disc reader and writer.

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit - You need a 64-bit OS to use all that RAM.

There is no decent aftermarket CPU fan, but the one that comes with the CPU is good for non-overclocked use.

Price: $1,914

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 02 December 2008 - 02:00 AM

tg1911, on Dec 1 2008, 08:19 PM, said:

It will be used alot for gaming, and for media editing softwares(e.i. photoshop, audition, premier)

DJBPace07, on Dec 1 2008, 10:49 PM, said:

This looks decent, thanks for that! I will wait for more people.

I was never really familiar with GPU's, do they add more memory for the video? Or just makes the clocks faster on it? Or sort of more compatible?

Graphical Processing Unit (GPU) is the video card. To be more specific, it is the chip that handles the video processing on the video card. They come as discrete or integrated. A discrete card is one you add to the system using a PCI or AGP slot. This has the advantage of being more powerful and using its own memory for video processing unlike an integrated card with is soldered onto the motherboard. Integrated GPU's are found in laptops and on some motherboards and should be avoided if you plan on gaming or doing any other video intensive applications since integrated GPU's are slower and use system memory thus reducing the total amount of RAM a PC has available. Generally, if you have a monitor 24 inches or smaller, 512MB of video memory is enough. The larger the resolution, the more graphical memory you need. GPU's are designed to handle all of the video processing operations of a PC. The better the card, the faster it is and it can perform more complex calculations. All recent GPU's can do more than just video. Some can, with the appropriate software, handle game physics and perform mathematical tasks. I use my graphics card with Folding@Home. The HD 4870 X2 is two of ATI's high-end HD 4870 graphics cards blended together into one package fitting into a single PCIexpress slot. This card is considered by many to be one of the best there is, however, it is expensive, long, and puts out a great deal of heat.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 02 December 2008 - 04:39 PM

Oh, so im assuming most video cards have this soldered inside it right?


Mod Edit: Edited to remove unnecessary quote. ~tg

This post has been edited by tg1911: 03 December 2008 - 01:15 AM

Most mainstream PC's, you know those crap PC's that some choose to get for $500, those have integrated video cards. All video cards have a GPU, the GPU is the core of a video card. All PC's have a video card of some kind, the only difference is some are integrated and some are discrete. All video cards that can be installed by the user (you) are discrete. Some motherboards come with integrated video cards, but have the necessary PCI express slots for the user to install a discrete card, if they choose. The HD 4870 X2 is powerful because, unlike most of the discrete cards on the market, it has two GPU's, hence the X2.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 02 December 2008 - 07:27 PM

Thanks for clearin that out, i hope i can get it on Canada, on a rebate or something.

If you look at the system I pieced together above, it is at Newegg.com, they don't ship to Canada from there. However, their special Newegg.ca does have many of the pieces. I updated the parts lists to go to the Canadian site so you can get a better handle on prices, which are obviously more expensive.

HEC 69R5BB Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz
CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB
Lite On Optical Drive
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition 64 BIT <<<I couldn't find OEM editions at Newegg so I had to go to NCIX to get the Home Premium edition.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 02 December 2008 - 08:29 PM

I see its more expensive. Stupid canadian money.

How much are you willing to spend on a new PC? The i7 configuration is brand new and obviously expensive, there are less expensive alternatives out there. You can also remove parts from old PC's to cut down on cost. For instance, an optical drive can be reused, so can a hard disk. Sometimes, if the power supply has a good output of power, say 600 to 700 watts, you can reuse that.

I was thinking maybe just not jumping above 1000.

Normally, building a PC is fun, but keeping a PC with decent performance and good parts below $1000 CAD is extremely difficult.

How much was the total of everything again? In CAD?

If its not as much, then i might be able to get that, with a few upgrades.

I wonder why computer components are marked up so much in Canada. I expected some type of increase in price, but the GPU I listed above is almost $200 more. The parts I selected are listed below.

Case: HEC 69R5BB Black Steel ATX Full Tower - Simple case. $94.77

Motherboard: JetWay HA07 AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - A decent motherboard at a low price, it will handle an AM2+ Phenom II when that processor is released Jan 8. $119.99

RAM: OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 - I would buy two of these kits to maximize the amount of RAM your motherboard can take, which is 8GB. If you're really cutting corners you can get one now and one later saving you $100. $100.91 (there is also a mail-in rebate)

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100251SR Radeon HD 4870 X2 2GB - This is the same card I have listed above. $615.75 (there is also a mail-in rebate) Obviously, the 4870 X2 is very expensive so here are some alternatives: Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB - This is similar to the 4870 X2 but uses less powerful GPU's costing $470. Although your motherboard supports Crossfire not SLI, the GeForce GTX 260 896MB would be a further step down while keeping decent performance. The GTX 260 costs $270.

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB OEM - This is a good drive. OEM means that it does not come in retail packaging with any of the extra's saving you money. $92.49

CPU: AMD Phenom 9950 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ - This is a Black Edition processor, meaning it is easily overclocked. I would go for an Intel, but their quads are even more expensive. This is a good processor nonetheless. $208

Power Supply: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W - Corsair makes some of the best power supplies around. $152.25 (there is also a mail-in rebate)

CPU Fan and Heatsink: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro - Black Edition processors are a good value, however AMD saves money by not including a heatsink and fan for the CPU. I had this one, it works well and is of a reasonable price. $37.99

Optical Drive: LITE-ON Optical Drive - You don't need a fancy one. $25.99

Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM - You need a 64-bit operating system to take advantage of more than 3.5GB of memory. $151.66

Price: $1701 CAD (With the HD 4870 X2 and two RAM kits)

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 04 December 2008 - 11:24 PM