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The $1,500 Summer PC build

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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
I just ordered the components for my college computer, what do you guys think?

Order Summary Qty Product Description Price Shipped from CA      1 SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814102748
Limited 30-Day Return Policy $284.99 Shipped from NJ      1 Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail Item #: N82E16826104076
Standard Return Policy $44.99    1 i-rocks KR-6170M-BK Black USB Wired Standard i-mini Piano X-Slim Mac Keyboard - Retail Item #: N82E16823204013
Standard Return Policy $25.99    1 Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP support - Retail Item #: N82E16824009094
[LCD] Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy $229.99    1 Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7200 - Retail Item #: N82E16819115052
Processors (CPUs) Return Policy $129.99    1 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822148262
Limited 30-Day Return Policy $59.99    1 OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail Item #: N82E16820227289
Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy $127.99    1 Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM Item #: N82E16832116488
Software Return Policy $109.99    1 ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813131295
Limited 30-Day Return Policy $129.99 Shipped from TN      1 Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811129021
Limited 30-Day Return Policy $119.99    1 PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16817703005
Standard Return Policy $114.99 Subtotal $1,378.89 Tax $113.89  UPS 3 DAYS $41.80 Rush Processing $2.99 Order Total $1,537.57


Jul 17 2008 6:08PM
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fourhundred
Posts: 2760 - Karma: 21
sucks
Jul 17 2008 6:09PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Good call with the Reaper ram...4gb is cheap and key with Vista.

Why the Raedon card though? They just dont have the 'umpft' that the new g-force cards have...lil pricey too
Jul 17 2008 6:11PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
decent build, what are you gonna be using it for?
Jul 17 2008 6:14PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
what are you using it for?
Jul 17 2008 6:14PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Well... the layout worked much better in the reply box... lets try this again.

SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser Mouse - Retail

i-rocks KR-6170M-BK Black USB Wired Standard i-mini Piano X-Slim Mac Keyboard - Retail

Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP support - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7200 - Retail

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR10664GK - Retail
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM

ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail 

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W Continuous @ 40°C EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
Jul 17 2008 6:16PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Haha get with the times man, ATI is destroying the market with their new, lower priced cards.  I can OC this HD4870 to out preform a GTX 280.  And for a reference, the HD4850 can out preform most of the sub-GTX cards out there, for a ridiculous price.
Jul 17 2008 6:23PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
GTX280 = $650

4870 = $300

4870x2 = $600

GTX280 = no brainer
Jul 17 2008 6:31PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Once i get settled in and start to OC a little, im gonna get a nice zalman setup for both my CPU and GPU,. That along with the crazy fans the case has will help me get some good numbers.
Jul 17 2008 6:32PM
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Pippin
Posts: 4846 - Karma: 661
ehhhhhhh, no seriously should do just about everything fine, im thinking you could have shaved off a bit on the price but nothing to big
Jul 17 2008 6:58PM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
if i were you i'd go with a cheaper chip like the q6600 and spend more money on your video card, you will notice more of a difference in performance with a better video card rather than a better chip

sick tower btw i have the same one and it is a beast

i just rebuilt my comp here's what i got:

asus p5q-e (i'm pissed because this isn't SLI capable and i was told it was when i bought it)

q6600

BFG 8800gts

2x2gb nvidia SLi high performance ram

72gb raptor HD (10,000rpm)



my monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers,etc... were already sufficient so i didnt have to replace them

unfortunately im going to have to drop another 200$ plus another 300$ to get an sli capable mobo and a second 8800gts, but im quite please with the way my rig performs right now. i can run crysis at 1280x1024 on all high (no AA) and average 30-40fps, and i run half-life 2 at 120fps
Jul 17 2008 7:03PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Whats not to like about the graphics card?  It preforms extremely well for its price, and keep in mind im gonna run games at 1680x1050.  At this res, i don't really need CF. 
Jul 17 2008 7:17PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
"NS's answer to all issues computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Buy a mac"
Jul 17 2008 7:19PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Not really.  Did you read any of this thread?  No mac fanboys to be found.
Jul 17 2008 7:26PM
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dave44
Posts: 11052 - Karma: 113
a $1500 imac gets you 2.6ghz core 2 duo, 2gb RAM, ati radeon 2600

billek, for $1300 got 2.53ghz core 2 duo, 4gb RAM, ati radeon 4870
Jul 17 2008 7:35PM
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Twinjibber77
Posts: 6239 - Karma: 2,355
i read it, an i noticed
Jul 17 2008 7:36PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
The processor can OC to 3+ with the stock cooler, so I have heard.
Jul 17 2008 7:37PM
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k-rob
Posts: 14217 - Karma: 2,891
qft, and please mac fans, don't try to argue with this because it is plain and simple fact and arguing with it would be pointless and just waste space on yet another thread.
Jul 17 2008 7:37PM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
i'd like to see a mac anywhere near this rig
Jul 17 2008 10:50PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
nope, they are actually the same if not better, and about half the price..

and go with the 8400 processor
Jul 17 2008 10:52PM
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heFF
Posts: 5786 - Karma: 4,456
damn good shit i wish i was a little on the smarter side with money so i could build a machine like yours
Jul 17 2008 11:08PM
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landonn
Posts: 2913 - Karma: 385
woow
Jul 17 2008 11:12PM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Yup my bad...I didnt realize they DROPPED there prices like it was hot.

They must have gotten smacked around pretty hard by the 8800 series and their trying to grab back some competition.
Jul 18 2008 8:46AM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Yeah, it is amazing.  I can definitely understand why you thought like you did in your first post. ATI was getting their shit handed to them during the 88xx-98xx era and im glad they steped up the preformance, with a lower starting price than many outdated NVIDA cards.

Wanna know what my next card is gonna be?  Well with my one pci-e slot, it looks like the 4870X2...=P.
Jul 18 2008 9:33AM
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First.Aid
Posts: 556 - Karma: 10
The build looks sexy... although 1 thing. do you really need to buy RAM with DDR2 1066 timings?  You cold save a few bucks buying it at DDR2 800 and overclocking it up, tightenings latencies, etc.  I got a few sticks of Ballistix DDR2 800 and they're running at 1066 now no sweat. 
Jul 18 2008 9:56AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
I'm glad ATI stepped it up though because i like the compitions in the hardware market and I was worried that Nvidia/Intel would monopolize everything if ATI or AMD didnt step up.

Now if only AMD could bring the heat... :P
Jul 18 2008 10:01AM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Well i forgot to buy a dvd drive... no sweat because i just placed an order for one, and newegg will have it at my house the same day as everything else.  As a novice computer builder, I can only hope that this is the biggest snag I will face.
Jul 18 2008 10:09AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Building a computer isnt hard, there are a TON of super helpful video tutorials online that can walk you through the process.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out :)
Jul 18 2008 10:14AM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
It sucks because I am going to Colorado for a week, leaving this Sunday.  I will get back late on Saturday, leaving me Sunday to build.  All of the parts are coming on the 24th, so 27th is when I can build it for sure. 
Jul 18 2008 10:29AM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
the only part that really requires any concentration is attaching the cpu to the mobo and attaching the cpu fan to the cpu. u gotta make sure the thermal paste is even on both the cpu and the fan, you cant just glob it on there
Jul 18 2008 10:58AM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
make sure u take ur time wiring and making everything look nice and neat, that way u can show it off ;)
Jul 18 2008 10:59AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Yeah, effeicent wiring definately score you '1337' street creds :P

seriously though do take your time with it so you dont have wires resting on hotspots and whatnot. That spells trouble down the road.
Jul 18 2008 11:05AM
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Alex_G
Posts: 11902 - Karma: 1,019
I definitely opened this thread thinking you were gonna build something cool at Park City that costs $1,500
Jul 20 2008 4:53PM
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First.Aid
Posts: 556 - Karma: 10
Oh yeah, I think you should get the Thermalright Ultra 120 or whatever.  From what I remember it's the best air cooler on the market.  It's expensive though, like 60 bucks.  But that's what you pay for top of the line cooling :P
Jul 20 2008 5:16PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Well, I am currently replying to this thread from my newly built machine.  It took a long time for me to put it all together because I did not want to mess anything up.  It all worked all out fine after I messed around with some settings and drivers.  I am very happy with what I have so far, and knowing that I put it together makes me happy as well.

I can play Crysis at max high (no AA) without a hiccup and I cant wait to max out COD4 tomorrow. 

I wish ATI would hurry up and release some mature drivers so I can actually run the fan on my card, but that is my only problem as of now.

Pics to come tomorrow.
Jul 28 2008 2:04AM
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Franny
Posts: 3980 - Karma: 77
no quad core? you get all this good crap which means more power is needed.
Jul 28 2008 2:10AM
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5432 - Karma: 11,823
Wow. I don't know what anything on this entire thread means cause I don't know shit about computers.
Jul 28 2008 2:12AM
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EthanJPAskier
Posts: 1668 - Karma: 248
Sounds nice i have;

nForce 4 intel edition mobo

EVGA GeForce 8800 GT

2gb A-data ram

Pentium D 3.00 Ghz (each)

Creative Sound blaster X-FI sound card

24" widescreen optiplex Q241wb monitor
Jul 28 2008 7:02AM
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ThaLetterM.
Posts: 8609 - Karma: 1,613
looks like its gonna be sick. my friend designed my comptuer for me it was only like 700 but its reallll sick. I dont know what it has in it though at all, i just know i have a sicknasty alienware case with a blue thing that looks cool

i dont think i deserve to have it haha
Jul 28 2008 9:51AM
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GhostfaceKillah
Posts: 3398 - Karma: 10
no it doesnt... quad core isnt necessary for a gaming computer

you'd be better off with a nice video card like he has done
Jul 28 2008 12:02PM
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Karcher
Posts: 3788 - Karma: 1,934
it looks like you bought limited return policy 4 times
Jul 28 2008 1:20PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Thats not something you pay for.  It is included in the name of the item so it just looks like that.
Jul 28 2008 1:59PM
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bobross
Posts: 468 - Karma: 11
AMD Phenom 9500 Quad core FTW
I need to upgrade my video card though   way to outdated for my rig
Jul 28 2008 2:31PM
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FellowJibber
Posts: 476 - Karma: 12
1500 is a lot for a computer isnt it? why not just buy a 800$ laptop?
Jul 28 2008 3:10PM
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Aaaron.
Posts: 11817 - Karma: 903
^you get what you pay for.
quad core is the way to go.
i built a new (gaming)computer(my parents paid...) last february.
two HIGH end geforce video cards running SLI.
it's like a digital orgasm

Jul 28 2008 3:22PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Well I got a zalman 9700 led cooler today for my e7200.  I have it going at 3.5GHz without a hiccup.  I will see how it works OC'd like this, then push it further.
Jul 31 2008 3:15AM
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Ryno
Posts: 31125 - Karma: 336
Thats a pretty good OC already. What are your core temps like with the cooler at that speed?
Aug 6 2008 9:39AM
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