What rig would you build for $1500 (Case and Guts) not including monitor etc...

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FotoMatt

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#1 FotoMatt
Member since 2008 • 25 Posts

I have been doing some reading on this forum and Tom's Hardware and am looking to build the best Photoshop/Multimedia and Gaming rig that can be put together for $1500 or less (Not including peripherals like monitor, keyboard, etc...) Thanks to several of the forum members I have decided on a few things:

1: Newegg is the place to shop

2: Antec Twelve Hundred Black ATX Full Tower Computer Case Is the case I want. I like the general look of the case and it has lots of fans and space for cooling. The weight is not an issue since it will be staying put once built.

3: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 (I would like to run Quad core because at times I need to run Photoshop, Flash, a web browser, MS Word, and often some music program)

I need recommendations on the rest. Lots of people seem to feel that the ATI HD4870 seems to be a great graphics card. I think this is probably the one for me unless you think there is a better bang for the buck. I would like a motherboard that could support 2 graphic cards when the price starts to drop a little.

Unless I am mistaken I should run Windows Vista to the make the most out of the RAM I can buy.

In summary I need advice on Motherboard, GPU, RAM, cooling and anything else my ignorance has overlooked. (Hard drives I think I have sorted out :) )

Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated. I have this money burning a hole in my pocket and an intense desire to get this rig built before Fallout 3 ships. Thank you in advance for any information.

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Sordidus

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#2 Sordidus
Member since 2008 • 2036 Posts

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400

CPU Cooler: Artic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

MoBo: Asus Maximus Formula

GPU: HD4870

PSU: Corsair TX-750W

RAM: GSkill 4Gb (2x2) DDR2 800Mhz PK

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 7200Rpm SATA II 640Gb

Case: Antec Twelve Hundred

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property2r145

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#3 property2r145
Member since 2005 • 536 Posts

RAM: GSkill 4Gb (2x2) DDR2 800Mhz PK

Sordidus

Go for the 1066MHz ones.

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Predator123

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#4 Predator123
Member since 2003 • 188 Posts

for $1500 hmmmm nice price point, here is what I would build

Case: Antec 1200

CPU: Intel Q9550 Quad Core 2.83GHZ Yorkfield 1333FSB 12MB (benchmarks faster then Core 2 Extreme Qx6700 Quad which retails for $1144.00 alone) The q6600 is geat I have it, I like it, but the 9550 is just sooo much faster I just ordered one for $345. well worth the extra $150 imo, rethink the 6600.

Motherboard: Asus P5Q Pro

Ram: 4 GB Corsair XMS2 Dominator DDR2 1066mhz

Hard Drive: WD Velociraptor 300GB, 10,000rpm OR WD 500GB SATA2 7200rpm

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon 4870 512mb DDR5 (it is the best hands down)

Optical drive: Pioneer DVR 215 20x DVDRW

Power Supply: OCZ GameXstream 750w

Aprox total (in Canadian $$) $1602, with 7200rpm Hard drive $1451

Either way a monster system I must say :) its a good time to build

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lawrencexx_873

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#5 lawrencexx_873
Member since 2005 • 258 Posts

GAMING RIG

Processor: E8500 Intel Core 2 DUO

189.99

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Deluxe

199.99

Memory: OCZ Reaper HOC 4GB DDR2 PC-1066

102.99 (after mail-in rebate)

Video Card: VisionTek ATI Radeon 4870 HD 1GB GDDR5

260.00

Case: Cooler Master Stacker 830-RC

249.99

Power Supply: Seasonic S12 650W

119.99

Hard Drive: Seagate 1TB 32 Cache 7200RPM SataII

149.99

DVD-ROM: SamSung SATAII

24.99

Total: 1307.99 before Taxes/ Shipping Charges.

Enjoy.