PC ~3000 Go, Go, Go

[Jozan]

Need PC, close to $3000(within 3200) that runs DX10.1, has DDR3 Mem Support/memory, Top of the Line Videocard(cross-fire/SLI Ready), A LCD Monitor (thinking 22"+? not too sure on good size), Sound-Blaster X-FI Fatal1ty edition(not sure which one), case that's functional while aesthetically pleasing(with lights if possible), new keyboard/mouse, quad-core



Take into account from the 3k these:
Killer NIC M1: Newegg.com - Bigfoot Networks Killer NIC M1 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI Network Adapter with a 400 MHz Network Processing Unit (NPU) 1 x RJ-45, 1 x USB2.0 - Network Interface Cards

Alienware Osma7 Headphones: PC Gaming Computer Peripherals, Accessories, PC Games and More

Velociraptor 300GB HD: Newegg.com - Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

[Dissonance]

When I do build this probably tomorrow, could I change around the headset and sound card?

[Jozan]

Originally Posted by Dissonance

When I do build this probably tomorrow, could I change around the headset and sound card?

sure, I just want a surround sound headset with a solid mic

[Pwnzilla]

Hmmm, you want to play with water cooling (and the maintenance it requires) or just stick with air cooling? Also, when you say you want DirectX 10.1 you are saying you only want to consider ATI brand offerings as nVidia (and almost the entire gaming industry) are not bothering with 10.1. Does not matter to me if that is your preference, just looking for clarification.

[Jozan]

Originally Posted by Pwnzilla

Hmmm, you want to play with water cooling (and the maintenance it requires) or just stick with air cooling?

what maintenance does it entail? I figure, if I can get the same performance with fans that are quiet use fans, because I can't cover buying all these parts again if there's a leak.

[Pwnzilla]

Best to stick with air then.

One additional note, you may want to wait another month for this build. ATI will be releasing the HD4870 X2 cards within the next 30 days. These are essentially two 4870 cards melded into a single unit. So with a Crossfire enabled mobo you could essentially run four HD4870 cards in Crossfire mode. That configuration will completely blow anything else out of the water on gaming/graphics intensive applications. As they are essentially two HD4870 cards expect the price to be about the same as two of those cards. You could get one of these now and still have room for another down the road if you wanted to upgrade. Since they are not available at this time I will go ahead and add two HD4870 cards.

[Pwnzilla]

Here's what I came up with that includes the specified components and general requirements:

Case - Antec Nine Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower
Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases

Mobo - DFI LANPARTY Intel X48 ATX Motherboard
Newegg.com - DFI LANPARTY UT X48-T3R LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

PSU - PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750W Quad Blue Power Supply
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling PPCS750QBL Silencer 750W Quad Blue ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Power Supplies

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache Processor
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Processors

GPU - SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 Video Card (2X in Crossfire)
2X Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100243L Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

HDD - WD VelociRaptor 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Newegg.com - Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

RAM - OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Dual Channel Kit
Newegg.com - OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

Optical Drive - SAMSUNG Black DVD Burner with LightScribe
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners

Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series 7.1 Channels PCI Express
Newegg.com - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Champion Series 70SB088600007 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Express Interface Sound Card - Sound Cards

Monitor - Acer Black-Silver 24" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor
Newegg.com - Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM - LCD Monitors

Keyboard - Logitech G15 2-Tone 29 Function Keys USB Wired Gaming Keyboard
Newegg.com - Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys 29 Function Keys USB Wired Standard Gaming Keyboard - Keyboards

Mouse - Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser 2000 dpi Mouse
Newegg.com - Logitech G5 2-Tone 7 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Laser 2000 dpi Mouse - Mouse

Headphones - Alienware® Ozma 7™ Headphones
PC Gaming Computer Peripherals, Accessories, PC Games and More

NIC - Bigfoot Networks Killer NIC M1 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI Network Adapter
Newegg.com - Bigfoot Networks Killer NIC M1 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI Network Adapter with a 400 MHz Network Processing Unit (NPU) 1 x RJ-45, 1 x USB2.0 - Network Interface Cards

OS - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit DVD - OEM
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - Operating Systems

Total $3321.35
Less Rebates $ 65.00
Grand Total $ 3256.34

This price does not reflect shipping and/or tax as I do not know the destination. Newegg imposes tax upon orders shipped to California, New Jersey, and Tennessee. Shipping costs will vary by destination.

Price exeeds your budget due to having to utilize the PCI-Express version of the sound card. This choice is due to the width of the dual slot video cards blocking two of the PCI slots and the redundant NIC card occupying the third. This system is built to your request with regards to general and specific components.

My recommendation would be to dispense with the unecessary NIC card which would allow you to use the PCI version of the sound card. These two changes would shave ~$300 off the price. You could pocket the savings or upgrade to a larger monitor, double the ram, faster cpu, or add another hard drive. Any of those upgrades will be of greater benefit to your system performance than the add-in NIC.

[ununseptium]

Wait for the 4870x2. Best card this generation. It would cost you less than two 4870 (by like $50) but will give you much more potential in the future to upgrade to a crossfire configuration. Giving you the power of the sun or play crysis maxed on a 24" monitor.

[Jozan]

I might just get it now, and hand those 2 videocards currently planned over to my family when the new ones come out since they need upgrades too.

we can slice off the headphones, didn't notice the lack of the mic thought it was the detachable kind, we can slice off the Killer NIC card

bringing the total to: 2892.37 before rebates and tax.

Now you said something about a different sound card, and also, would a full-tower be better for airflow/upgrade room, or should I stick with the mid? Once you answer that I'm gonna order the parts.

Also, do I need anything like thermal compound or does that come with the stuff. And the Power Supply, is 750 going to be enough for dual cards?

[ununseptium]

Not waiting a few days to get the 4870x2 um well your choice.

It might be a better choice for now with driver problems but they would be worked out fast. This card is better than two 4870s. Two 4870x2s would obliterate any game for years.

I don't understand the lack of patience in people these days.

Although you would need a massive cooling operation. But keep to fans and air flow. I have heard some pretty bad stories about liquid cooling.