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**Rand{CLR}** · 4 Mar 2011, 02:06 PM

Drop the video card a notch and get more ram.

That 2500K chip is just plain awesome. I so wish I had some spare cash right now. It's basically the best possible thing for any system between $500 absolute bare bones and about the $2300-2500 range.

-Rand

**Duke{CLR}** · 4 Mar 2011, 02:08 PM

Originally posted by Rand{CLR} View Post

Drop the video card a notch and get more ram.

That 2500K chip is just plain awesome. I so wish I had some spare cash right now. It's basically the best possible thing for any system between $500 absolute bare bones and about the $2300-2500 range.

-Rand

It is a nice looking chip, it make me wish I had a reason to build.

**plaztic.dagger** · 4 Mar 2011, 06:07 PM

Here is what I built last week from newegg. I tried to keep under $1k but ended up going over a little. Also keep in mine I used my existing case, 1TB WD SATA3 drive, & PSU.

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0
CPU: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366
CPU Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 RR-920-N520-GP 92mm Sleeve
Video: EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 (x2 for SLI)
Storage: Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III

**Duke{CLR}** · 4 Mar 2011, 06:08 PM

Originally posted by plaztic.dagger View Post

Here is what I built last week from newegg. I tried to keep under $1k but ended up going over a little. Also keep in mine I used my existing case, 1TB WD SATA3 drive, & PSU.

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R LGA 1366 Intel X58 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0
CPU: Intel Core i7-950 Bloomfield 3.06GHz LGA 1366
CPU Heatsink: COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 RR-920-N520-GP 92mm Sleeve
Video: EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR GeForce GTX 460 SE (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 (x2 for SLI)
Storage: Crucial RealSSD C300 CTFDDAC064MAG-1G1 2.5" 64GB SATA III

Nice build, have you OCed it yet?

**plaztic.dagger** · 4 Mar 2011, 06:21 PM

Originally posted by Duke{CLR} View Post

Nice build, have you OCed it yet?

Oddly enough I haven't.

I've been happy with its performance that I just haven't bothered at this point. Although the Gigabyte util that comes with the mobo makes it a snap for the most part to do so.

Its nice having 12GB of RAM with no swap file, I rarely get past 24% of usage. And takes about 2 mins from a cold boot to get to the desktop with the OS on the SSD.

**Donziboy2** · 4 Mar 2011, 08:42 PM

Sigh, i get depressed whenever i go to newegg and start looking at all the shiny parts

No money no joy.

**Duke{CLR}** · 5 Mar 2011, 05:12 PM

So is anyone else going to put up a list of parts?

**BadHabitz** · 6 Mar 2011, 01:40 AM

lol, I've never built a computer for under a grand. My latest build idea comes in to about $1,500, and that's not including the CPU I'd get from work and the video card I already have (want to SLI a pair of GTX460's)

**Dead...Again** · 6 Mar 2011, 01:49 PM

My last system cost me about a grand. Bought it in 2007, and all I've upgraded since then is video card and extra memory. Lasted pretty well. Plan to build a Sandy Bridge system in the next few months and I am shooting for $1000 again. Should last me at least 3 years I figure...

**Duke{CLR}** · 6 Mar 2011, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by Dead...Again View Post

My last system cost me about a grand. Bought it in 2007, and all I've upgraded since then is video card and extra memory. Lasted pretty well. Plan to build a Sandy Bridge system in the next few months and I am shooting for $1000 again. Should last me at least 3 years I figure...

I bet there will be many people building in the near future that's kind of why I want to get as many people to throw up some pieces which would get some discussions started. I even thought that we could sticky a list here and keep tweaking it.

**Rand{CLR}** · 6 Mar 2011, 02:26 PM

My system list between core components selected in October and Sandy Bridge from January (with replacement MB today) comes out shy of $1500. The big difference in the list is whether I want a $140 plastic/steel case or a $300 aluminum/steel case. I just don't have the time to hit a $1000 challenge and post all the parts.

I did note, however, that Duke's selected video card, while a bit pricey for a $1000 system at 1/4th the overall cost, does include a free coupon for both Just Cause 2 and Mafia 2. I'm having a BLAST with Just Cause 2 right now, so gaming value makes that card a better selection.

-Rand

P.S. Well, I guess I can post what I have now. You'll see two strange design decisions: I want to RAID 1 both my primary and secondary array. I've lost too many HDs in my day to want to lose more. I also preserve legacy floppy for nostalgia while I still can.

Intel Core i5-2500K Sandy Bridge 3.3GHz (3.7GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52500K
MSI P67A-GD65 (B3) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBRL
SUBTOTAL: $509.97

One of: Corsair Obsidian Series 800D CC800DW Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
NZXT Phantom PHAN-001BK Black Steel / Plastic ATX Full Tower Computer Case
SUBTOTAL: $139.99 or $299.99 (currently $269.99 with rebate)

EVGA 01G-P3-1467-AR GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) Superclocked 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video ...
CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
Rosewill RCR-IC001 40-in-1 USB 2.0 3.5" Internal Card Reader w/ USB Port / Extra Silver Face Plate
2 X SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
2 X SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
2 X LITE-ON 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support
Creative 70SB088000004 7.1 Channels PCI Express 1x Interface PCI Express Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium
COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus RR-B10-212P-G1 "Heatpipe Direct Contact" Long Life Sleeve 120mm CPU Cooler Compatible Intel ...
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
SUBTOTAL: 768.70

Total without case: 1278.67
NZXT Total: 1418.66
Corsair Total (list): $1578.66

**Duke{CLR}** · 6 Mar 2011, 02:37 PM

What will you do with you Lian Li case that you have now?

**Rand{CLR}** · 6 Mar 2011, 04:30 PM

The whole box goes to my wife as her computer whenever I finally build a new system. She telecommutes 3 times a week now. She's using my old Dell XPS system.

The case is too small for today's vid cards so I need something else. The number of HDs I plan (5 total; I'll be re-purposing a 1TB drive I have in this one now) also needs a larger case.

-Rand

**Dead...Again** · 6 Mar 2011, 07:47 PM

Originally posted by Rand{CLR} View Post

P.S. Well, I guess I can post what I have now. You'll see two strange design decisions: I want to RAID 1 both my primary and secondary array. I've lost too many HDs in my day to want to lose more.

You should think about doing RAID 5 or 6. That will give you speed and redundancy.

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