[ech0419]

Well sadly I don't have $3,000 so spare and get my dream machine.

My budget is around $850 for the core system and another $100 for accessories but I have to wait until next week for that paycheck.

I don't care about brands as long as it has a 4 egg or higher rating(oh I didn't mention I'm stubborn and I refuse to buy from anyone but newegg)

The computer needs to be all around fast but its not for the NSA or a guidance system for a NASA shuttle mission. I'm do a lot of video editing but only on occasion, I make a 45 minute movie every 3 months or so. I'd like it to be capable of running Flight Sim X and COD4 on relatively high settings(monitor 1 = 1680x1050 and 2 = 1280x1024, I already own these).

*Multitasking of course
*I plan to overclock, but I'm not purchasing a water-cooling system
*Storage* everything in the universe, by that I mean some ISO back-up and my movies. I'm pointing to around a 500gb hdd.
*Mid-Size ATX Case
*Oh and I live in the USA
*A jar oh homemade cookies
*A reasonable joystick under that $100 accessories limit I set
*Vista and XP Dual boot

Here's what I have going tell me what is and isn't good.
(newegg prices minus shipping as of this morning)

2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz - $209.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel - $89.99

OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W - $124.99

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - $44.99

Saitek PZ30AU Standard Eclipse keyboard - $34.99

NZXT LEXA-NP Black/ Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower - $129.99

Graphics Card... you tell me, I was shooting for either a low end 8800 (preferably the one that comes with a free game) or a mid range 9600 both $130- $200 I'm not sure of what I actually need.

I plan to overclock everything a bit, but not to a point where the rig is a furnace in my house. Yet again no water cooling, running strait air into it.

I appreciate any help.:grin:

**edit* I forgot, I already have a 320gb Hdd I'm going to use until I have money to spare to expand

 

[krisb]

Re: Budget Rig Configuration

i really like the 9600gt cards. you can find many Factory OC'd that will doi anything you expect and more. the problem is not many com bundled with any good games. My Palit 9600gt sonic cam with Tomb Raider anniversary. I installed it and since then havnt tried it. I am a BF2142 and COD4 guy...looks like a good build though

 

[ech0419]

Re: Budget Rig Configuration

Well, I bought the set-up a little bit different from what I posted but mostly the same parts. I ended up buying the "XFX PVT96GYDSU GeForce 9600 GT XXX Alpha Dog Eddition" from newegg which came bundled with COD4 pretty much the biggest selling point on that model.

One of the reasons I wanted something with so much power is I plan to run 2 monitors and a Tv with flight sim running one for controls and once for actual game play and the tv for maybe my desktop.

 

[dai]

Re: Budget Rig Configuration

should run with no problems enjoy your gameing