Well, I get asked all the time what parts to buy for someones sweet gaming rig that they are thinking about buying. So here is a place to make list what is the current best system setup to get. And if able I will update this list monthly due to the fact of new and better hardware releases, and price changes. Any input is welcome as I don't have the time or intrest to fully research the hardware market each month.
Listed are 3 different systems based on price. The Starter (~$800) is the bare bones system for the man on a thirfty budget, who just wants to play his Counter-Strike Source, and maybe upgrade in the future. Mid-Range for the avgerage gamer who wants to play everything at near max settings, but not waste money on all bells and whistles. Dream ($3,000+)The best possible setup that is able to fit in a standard ATX Case. Price are from newegg.com
The Starter: Total as listed $750 w/o shipping or tax or OS
Listed are 3 different systems based on price. The Starter (~$800) is the bare bones system for the man on a thirfty budget, who just wants to play his Counter-Strike Source, and maybe upgrade in the future. Mid-Range for the avgerage gamer who wants to play everything at near max settings, but not waste money on all bells and whistles. Dream ($3,000+)The best possible setup that is able to fit in a standard ATX Case. Price are from newegg.com
The Starter: Total as listed $750 w/o shipping or tax or OS
- $240 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx...N82E16819115037
$150 ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131232
$180 EVGA 512-P3-N862-AR Superclocked GeForce 9600GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130328
$40 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145034
$50 RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811156062
Really any case w/ good cooling will work fine...500 Watt+ PSU w/ good rating.
$30 SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ LightScribe - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827151154
$60Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YD 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136010
- $240 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx...N82E16819115037
$250 EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813188024
$290 (Best to Wait for 9800) EVGA 512-P3-N841-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130325
~$40 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820145034
$180 Antec P182SE Silver Mirror-finished stainless steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811129026
$100 OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817341002
$30 SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ LightScribe - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827151154
$240 Western Digital Caviar GP WD10EACS 1TB 5400 to 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16822136151
