Current Best Value Gaming Systems [Updated 15-04-2010]

[CMN4.0]

CPU: Intel Core i5 750 $244
Mobo: Gigabyte P55-UD3 $139
RAM: G.Skill-Ripjaws 4GB DDR3-1600 $119
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 1TB $95
GPU: Powercolor 1GB ATI Radeon HD5870 $535
Case: Lian Li Lancool PC-K60 $125
PSU: Seasonic PSR550+ $119
ODD: Sony-NEC Optiarc AD-7240S $48
CPU HSF: Noctua NH-U12P w/ LGA1156 bracket $84

Total: $1,508

Sources please. I r interested.

[turbine]

Sources please. I r interested.

dont u live in WA? there all prices from msy.

[vctm]

I'm in a bit of a pickle at the moment lads, I need your thoughts. I'm not sure whether to go:

i5 + Crossfired ATi 5850

or

i7 + ATi 5850

I'm thinking the first option, as I already get the crossfire, and I will upgrade to an i9 mid next year. My other concern is would a "Coolermaster eXtreme Power Plus 650W" be sufficient for Crossfired 5850's and an i5? Might also just grab a Heatsink so I can OC the i5 to ~4ghz. I'll be running on pretty much stock cooling, just concerned that it might get a bit hot in there.

Also, I think the 5850 is such a good deal. The 5870's are $190 more, and only get an extra like 5-10fps (you're paying like $15-20 per extra frame at that rate). Crossfired 5850's can take on anything on the market just fine and when OC'd can match and sometimes beat the framerate of a stock 5870.

[gaMbLA]

if your gonna upgrade to a i9 next year which is what I'm getting your gonna need a 1336 socket, and that socket only supports its own i7 cpus as the 1156 socket will have its own i5/i7 lineup but is said not to support the higher range i9s coming out next year. probably cause 1336 is targeted to more the enthusiasts and won't be supported by the maisntream chipsets.

and for the video card just get 1 4890 1GB my brother has it and runs everything max np. even at full 24" res.

for the psu, I got a 650 watt thermaltake psu for my GTX 295 and wouldn't even come close to using that much power. could even get away with a 500 watt on a sli set up.

1336 i7, + 4890 1GB is what I'd go. no need for xfire atm.

[CMN4.0]

dont u live in WA? there all prices from msy.

Queensland.

[vctm]

Argh FML, the whole time I was saying "4850/4870" instead of "5850/5870". Fixed, sorry that's to clarify. Thanks gambla.

[gaMbLA]

go 1 5870, its cheaper then 2 5850s and just wait till prices drop and put another 5870 in.

[WallybR]

Would a 1gb 4870 run a 24"screen at max res? also playing games on it

[HawX]

if your upgrading why not just wait for the i9 =/

(unless your current rig is really shit, then go ahead :P)

[gaMbLA]

yeh I'm waiting for i9. only problem is there gonna start off from $800 or more just for the cpu. I'd probably have more then enough money by then anyway.

[vctm]

Would a 1gb 4870 run a 24"screen at max res? also playing games on it

You never cease to amaze me. Go read some reviews, do some of your own homework. You ran a fucking "tech-direct" store and are so tech-illiterate it's not even funny. Learn how a computer works before you go putting one together.

A 4870 will run previous gen games fine at high quality (2007-2008) but won't run games such as Crysis, Stalker Clear Sky at very high settings, you'll have to bring it way down, especially at 1920x1200. Again, go read some reviews...

@hawx - I'm currently using a almost three year old Macbook Pro (that's close to dying) to game on, so I'm sort of am dying to upgrade at the moment, fuck waiting another 6 months, would rather slash my wrists.

[shredzy]

if your upgrading why not just wait for the i9 =/

(unless your current rig is really shit, then go ahead :P)

yeh I'm waiting for i9. only problem is there gonna start off from $800 or more just for the cpu. I'd probably have more then enough money by then anyway.

Don't expect i9 till Q2 next year. Intel have confirmed that the x58 chipsets will support the i9's but. So if ya really want you can grab yourself a i7 920 for the time being or you can just wait it out :P.

[WallybR]

You never cease to amaze me. Go read some reviews, do some of your own homework. You ran a fucking "tech-direct" store and are so tech-illiterate it's not even funny. Learn how a computer works before you go putting one together.

A 4870 will run previous gen games fine at high quality (2007-2008) but won't run games such as Crysis, Stalker Clear Sky at very high settings, you'll have to bring it way down, especially at 1920x1200. Again, go read some reviews...

@hawx - I'm currently using a almost three year old Macbook Pro (that's close to dying) to game on, so I'm sort of am dying to upgrade at the moment, fuck waiting another 6 months, would rather slash my wrists.

Really? im playing crysis with very high settings on and its running as smooth as a babies butt. So

BL THAR!

[vctm]

Really? im playing crysis with very high settings on and its running as smooth as a babies butt. So

BL THAR!

a) I wouldn't consider 20-40fps "smooth as a babies butt".
b) Why would you ask that question if you're playing it right now?
c) You're still a dumbcunt (see point b).

[steamboaT]

Really? im playing crysis with very high settings on and its running as smooth as a babies butt. So

BL THAR!

I LOL @ you. YOu obviously have no clue. You're shit 4870 card won't run crysis properly at high settings. You're just a clueless cunt.

Why post if you are already running it? Dichead.

[vctm]

Hey lads, just a little confused on a CPU cooler issue, looking for suggestions. I'm getting an i5 which is an S1556 socket, will S1366 CPU coolers still work fine? I'm looking to overclock to 4ghz+ so these are the two heatsinks I was looking at:

ITEstate Prodcut Detail
ITEstate Prodcut Detail

Will either of these work fine? Neither say S1556 socket, but do say S1366, just a bit confused. Thanks a lot lads.

[Jam0864]

1156 is completely different to 1366 afaik... completely different amount of pins, I imagine the size is different too. Have to google around though.

[vctm]

Yeah done some research and revised my build:

CPU: Intel Core i7 920 ($385)
MOBO: Asus P6T (~$287)
GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5850 1GB (~$379)
PSU: 750w Seasonic M12 (~$210)
RAM: Corsair 6GB 1600MHz DDR3 (~$180)
Hard Drive: 3.5"SATA-300 1TB Samsung (~$90)
DVD Writer 5.25" DVD-R IDE PioneerDVR-118 (~$49)
Case: CoolerMaster Storm Scout (~$135)

= ~$1720

P.S: All those prices are of pickup from the same location, here's to hoping I get a discount. Also means you could probably get it slightly cheaper shopping around. Picking it up this coming Saturday, and can stop annoying you guys in this thread .

[Jam0864]

A nice build I must admit.

[gaMbLA]

1156 is completely different to 1366 afaik... completely different amount of pins, I imagine the size is different too. Have to google around though.

actually the cpu's used are the same with little performance differences, 1336 has a max of 24GB ram not like 16GB on the 1156 socket mobo for example.

I still gotta pay for other things atm so by the time I get more money i9 should be out.

for a case minimum I'd for for

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=12171

or

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=11204

if ur willing to spend that much, I'd spend that little more for a much better quality case then coolmaster which generally fall apart and don't last. cheap plastic.

[Jam0864]

The storm scout is a very solid case.

[WallybR]

a) I wouldn't consider 20-40fps "smooth as a babies butt".
b) Why would you ask that question if you're playing it right now?
c) You're still a dumbcunt (see point b).

I LOL @ you. YOu obviously have no clue. You're shit 4870 card won't run crysis properly at high settings. You're just a clueless cunt.

Why post if you are already running it? Dichead.

HURR DURR to u both. I never said i have a 24"monitor nor specified what game i intended to play on a 24"

Im running cyrsis right now on max settings and it hasnt given me a problem. So that does me fine. So yeh, ur both fkn idiots, learn to interpret a question ey.

your name is steamboat, your argument is invalid.

[gaMbLA]

define max settings..

[mookz]

HURR DURR to u both. I never said i have a 24"monitor nor specified what game i intended to play on a 24"

Im running cyrsis right now on max settings and it hasnt given me a problem. So that does me fine. So yeh, ur both fkn idiots, learn to interpret a question ey.

your name is steamboat, your argument is invalid.

Screen size and resolution?

[vctm]

Thanks for everyones help in this thread. Just spent my morning and afternoon picking up parts, putting it together, and only came across a couple of minor issues which were fairly easy to resolve.

If anyone is interested I'd be willing to post some 5850 benchmarks just as I'm curious to see them myself.

[Jam0864]

This needs an update... I'll do one after my exams, so around thursday.

[Jam0864]

K, updated. Feedback appreciated.

Can someone update the topic name to updated 27/11/09?

[denied]

Nice edit Jam, I like the look of that $2100 build

So cheap too :>

[f1tzy]

nice continued work jam

[marchie]

vctm go to fluidtek 5min drive from ITestate..
and ask for eddie he is the man lol.
plus there not shit retarded like itestate.

this quote is a bit old, but god you to have it back to front, fluidtek is run by an ex-cop who sits there smoking in your face. Then if you buy something he will walk over all his stock to get it for you, and god forbid if u have something wrong with the part he will try his best to ignore you then send it away to the manufacturer. Also dont even try going in there without knowing what u want to buy or he'll get angry or try sell u something overpriced that you dont need.

Just a heads up from my experience and that of my friends who are all now ex-fluidtek customers

[steamboaT]

Time for an update jam.

[ColemaN]

that would be much appreciated

[Jam0864]

Time for an update jam.

I disagree, last update was just over a month ago (the title of the thread is wrong, could someone update it. [Updated 27/11/09])

The prices may be slightly off, but it's close enough not to bother until new technology is released.

[steamboaT]

I disagree, last update was just over a month ago (the title of the thread is wrong, could someone update it. [Updated 27/11/09])

The prices may be slightly off, but it's close enough not to bother until new technology is released.

Oh right sorry, I wasn't looking at the specs just the date.

[PerSpaRi]

offtopic kind of, do tigerdirect or newegg ship to australia ?

[mookz]

fair certain that tigerdirect does and newegg doesn't

[reveL]

needs an update

[Jam0864]

needs an update

I plan on doing an update when new parts come out, at the moment the prices are a tad old but the builds are still good.

[Tom]

Could we get an update/overhaul on this thread? I want some options people!

[Jam0864]

Could we get an update/overhaul on this thread? I want some options people!

When fermi comes out.


At the moment the systems are fine, just the prices are a bit off.