Building a computer, but I have no idea what to buy

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Barracuda

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Boss-Barracuda
Thanks to a grant I'm getting on September 21st for college, I now have a decent amount of money to play around with. The main thing I want to get with it is a computer, but I want to limit the cost to $1,000 not including the monitor or the hard drive. The price may be negotiable, but I don't want to spend much more than that.

I personally am not too up to date on computers which is why I'm asking, but my friends know what they're doing so they'll be able to help me build it correctly. The type of computer I'm looking for is one that will last me quite a while, and can play games very well. I've been told that if I'm going to build a computer I should definitely get an I7 processor, but even getting the basic one would send my price tag above 1k with all the other stuff it'll need. If it's really worth it I wont mind paying a bit extra, but what I need to know is what other things would be the best to go along with it. Also I plan for it to be a full size tower.

I don't exactly know what the hard drive I'm going to use for it is, but from the box I think it's called a DiamondMax. It's a 500gb Maxtor with SATA 2 and a 16MB buffer size (I don't know if that information really matters but I have no idea). I put it in a case and have been using it as an external for a little bit but I'm going to completely free it up to use it as the internal.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, because I need a lot of it.
 
There's a lot you can do with that kind of budget. Check into the lower end 920 i7 chip and build it around that. Thats where I would start any ways. There's no reason you can't build a machine for under $1k, even with quality parts. What can really blow your budget is the video card(s) if you are looking for the latest and greatest.

Estimated costs:
920 Processor - $275
Mobo - 120
Ram - 160
Case w/ PSU - 150
Video Card - 150
TB of Storage - 150

There you go, $1005.

Not included: OS, KB and Mouse, and Monitor.
 
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$150 for a TB HDD?

I got 1.5TB for $95. ;)

But Pako is right, you can easily get a PC with an i7 CPU for around $1000. In fact, TigerDirect had bare-bone kits for it months ago. I think they now advertise for kits below $1000. Check them out and see what they put together.
 
Pako
Or this for $160:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145242
Click to expand...

You can get about 6GB for $100.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227365

Too bad you don't have a Micro Center near you, they are selling the i7 920 for $200+tax. Is this going to be overclocked or no? Also why the full tower?

edit2: The motherboard will set you back about $210.

edit3: Here's my cost run down with your current hard drive.

i7 920 Processor - $270
Motherboard - $210
Ram - $100
Full tower case: $100+
Video Card - $100 for a decent card
DVD writer - $25
Mouse + Keyboard - $70
Power supply - $80

Total - $955
 
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Here, in 10 minutes I put this together at TigerDirect...

For just $785 you can have the following...



Corsair XMS3 Tri Channel 6GB PC10666 DDR3 Memory - 1333MHz, 6144MB (3 x 2048)
Available
Price: $104.99*
Item # C13-2040



Corsair TX650W 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, 120mm Fan, SLI-Ready, SATA-Ready, 80Plus
Available
Price: $84.99*
Item # C13-2502



Cooler Master CM690 ATX Mid-Tower Case
Available
Price: $84.99
Item # C283-2032



Intel Core i7 920 Processor BX80601920 - 2.66GHz, LGA 1366, 4.8GT/s QPI, 8MB L3 Cache, Quad-Core, HyperThreading, Bloomfield, Retail
Available
Price: $279.99
Item # CP1-I7-920



EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Video Card - 896MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI, Dual DVI, FREE Terminator Salvation Game Coupon
Available
Price: $159.99*
Item # E145-02641



EVGA X58 SLI LE Motherboard - LGA 1366, Intel X58, SATA, SLI Ready, Triple Channel DDR3 support, RAID, Hyperthreading support
Available
Price: $229.99
Item # E145-2059
 
Forgot about the OS, so with shipping it will definitely go over $1000. What is this computer going to be used for?
 
Like I said, under a $1,000. :)

On the topic of the OS, can you transfer the license from another machine that you might not keep in use?
 
What's he need SLI for?
MSI Xfire x58 board for $127.

Solid Lifters
Here, in 10 minutes I put this together at TigerDirect...

For just $785 you can have the following...



Corsair XMS3 Tri Channel 6GB PC10666 DDR3 Memory - 1333MHz, 6144MB (3 x 2048)
Available
Price: $104.99*
Item # C13-2040



Corsair TX650W 650-Watt Power Supply - ATX, 120mm Fan, SLI-Ready, SATA-Ready, 80Plus
Available
Price: $84.99*
Item # C13-2502



Cooler Master CM690 ATX Mid-Tower Case
Available
Price: $84.99
Item # C283-2032



Intel Core i7 920 Processor BX80601920 - 2.66GHz, LGA 1366, 4.8GT/s QPI, 8MB L3 Cache, Quad-Core, HyperThreading, Bloomfield, Retail
Available
Price: $279.99
Item # CP1-I7-920



EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Video Card - 896MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI, Dual DVI, FREE Terminator Salvation Game Coupon
Available
Price: $159.99*
Item # E145-02641



EVGA X58 SLI LE Motherboard - LGA 1366, Intel X58, SATA, SLI Ready, Triple Channel DDR3 support, RAID, Hyperthreading support
Available
Price: $229.99
Item # E145-2059
Click to expand...
 
ROAD_DOGG33J
I think all i7 boards have it, including micro-ATX.
Click to expand...

I think they come in different flavors and combinations of both. Xfire or SLI/3-way SLI, Xfire and SLI/3-way SLI, or non dual video card configurations.
 
Pako
I think they come in different flavors and combinations of both. Xfire or SLI/3-way SLI, Xfire and SLI/3-way SLI, or non dual video card configurations.
Click to expand...

Either way, you're getting 2+ PCIe x16 slots. There's a $200 board with 4 slots.
 
Pako
What's he need SLI for?
MSI Xfire x58 board for $127.
Click to expand...

I went with the EVGA MB because they are fantastic quality and the support is second to none. It's a bit more, but it's money well spent.

I also didn't include a DVD/BD burner because I didn't know what he wanted. If he wanted a Blu-Ray burner, it's and additional $200. A Blu-Ray ROM with DVD burner is $100 more. DVD Burner only is $30 more.
 
I wouldn't go with an open box, since it only comes with the motherboard. There are no connectors and no CDs. Though I think you can request or buy the I/O plate from the manufacturer.
 
Why I want a full tower is the ability to add things onto it in the future, like more hard drives, a dvd burner if I want, etc. As for the disc drive I'm just going to go for a basic $20 one, I don't need anything special. I'm currently running xp so it would be useless to transfer, my friends run 64 bit vista so I was thinking of going with that. I know it has problems, and windows 7 is coming out, but you're talking to someone that lived with windows ME until a year or two ago.

What I basically want out of this computer is the most bang for my buck, even if I wont ever come close to fully using the computers capabilities. I like the list you came up with Solid Lifters, I think I'll work off of that. I'll need consult with my friend so he can put everything in layman's terms, but I do at least understand that 6gb of ram is pretty damn epic.

Luckily and unfortunately I have a lot of time to think about it since I wont be getting anything until September 21st. I think the best thing to do would be to create a final parts list, then come back and consult you guys when it comes time to buy things (especially since technology is rapidly changing)
 
Diablo'
Why I want a full tower is the ability to add things onto it in the future, like more hard drives, a dvd burner if I want, etc.
Click to expand...

You can do that with a nice mid-size case. My current case has a "bracket" for 3 hard drives in front of a fan. Then there are 2 more slots above, one of them for a floppy. But I think I can fit 2 hard drives there. Then above there are 5 5.25" bays where I guess I could fit 5 DVD drives if I wanted.

Or by full size did you mean "not one of those small HP/Dell/Compaq towers"?

What I basically want out of this computer is the most bang for my buck, even if I wont ever come close to fully using the computers capabilities. I like the list you came up with Solid Lifters, I think I'll work off of that. I'll need consult with my friend so he can put everything in layman's terms, but I do at least understand that 6gb of ram is pretty damn epic.
Click to expand...

If you're not going to be playing games or current ones, you can go cheaper on the video card. It's pretty easy to upgrade later on.
 
ROAD_DOGG33J
You can do that with a nice mid-size case. My current case has a "bracket" for 3 hard drives in front of a fan. Then there are 2 more slots above, one of them for a floppy. But I think I can fit 2 hard drives there. Then above there are 5 5.25" bays where I guess I could fit 5 DVD drives if I wanted.

Or by full size did you mean "not one of those small HP/Dell/Compaq towers"?
Click to expand...

No I meant full size, but if a mid size one will work I can look into it. I'm basically mostly going off what my friend uses and has told me, but I'd personally like having a full tower anyway.

If you're not going to be playing games or current ones, you can go cheaper on the video card. It's pretty easy to upgrade later on.
Click to expand...

I'm definitely going to be playing games with it, that's the main purpose of going so big with the price tag. I wont be playing crisis or anything like that, but I'd like to be able to play car games very well. Like I said, even if the games I play are a piece of cake for the video card and everything else, I still want it to be able to handle a hell of a lot more.
 
The case I picked out is a large mid-tower case by Cooler Master. The 690 is very popular because of its size, cooling, ease of use, awesome features and price.

And, if you don't plan to do a lot of gaming or graphics stuff, a cheaper card is recommended. You could probably get one that'll save you $50 on the cost.
 
Lets see if we can't improve on Solid Lifters build. First off While I've bought many parts from Tiger direct, Newegg is usually better at pricing and you get the parts in 3 business days.

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 ... - Retail $79.99 after $20 mir free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1333C9 - Retail $104.99 after $10 mir and free shipping.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145220

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Retail $279.99 free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE Intel Motherboard - Retail $209.99 after $20 mir free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188049

This video card is hard to beat for the price
SAPPHIRE Vapor-X Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $149.99 free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102825

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $99.99 free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197
A lot of people at OC Forums love this case for its cooling.

Total is $925 everything is free shipping. Solid Lifters build is $945 BTW:sly:

You can save $80 by getting the CPU from Micro Center.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0302727

And while your at MC saving $80 pick up one of these.
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0267321
for $25 Solid burners that don't make coasters.

$925
- 80
____
$845
+ 25
____
$870


You might want to get one of these to keep your CPU cool.
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail $44.98 free shipping. Still under $1000 for a Core i7 build.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029
 
He doesn't have a MicroCenter in his area.

Some other cases I would recommend: Antec 300, Cooler Master 590, Antec 900 (I heard some people found it on clearance at Best Buy)

I will wait off on other recommendations since a month is plenty in the technology world. I'm guessing you want a mouse and keyboard too?

So CPU+RAM+Case+Power Supply+DVD Writer+Motherboard+Video Card+Keyboard+Mouse+Windows 7 for under $1000?
 

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