So based on recommendations in my other thread, I'm making a new thread for you all to help me build a PC myself, for the first time.

I'd like to keep the cost under $900, including monitor. Would be great if I could get a nice machine for around $700, though. I'm looking for a decent size monitor, probably at least 21''+.

Main uses: Gaming, Streaming, Movie Watching, and a little bit of Video Editing.

Not sure what Footprint Constraints meant, but I don't think I have any.

Just trying to figure out where to start. Any help appreciated.

 

-----signature-----

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161349
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131733
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

$865.92 before shipping and rebates. $35 in rebates.

Search the model numbers at Amazon, TigerDirect, or other good websites to look for a better deal on each part.

 

-----signature-----

Looks pretty great to me. Thanks for the help. Anyone have anything to add before I go buy it all in the next few days?

 

-----signature-----

Main thing I'd add to the above would be a hard drive.

Here is another build featuring an Intel CPU.

Intel Core i3-2100 3.1GHz
$125 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115078

ASRock Z68 Pro3
$120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157251

Corsair Vengeance 8GB DDR3-1600
$85 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233180

XFX Radeon 6870 1GB
$205 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521

Western Digital 1TB Blue
$60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767

Antec NEO ECO 620C
$65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

Cooler Master HAF 912
$60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

LG DVD burner
$19 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136216

Acer 23 inch LED backlit
$150 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009255

$889 + $10 shipping ($40 mail in rebates)


If you wanted to get closer to the $700 mark though, I'd bump the CPU, memory, and GPU down a notch with this...

Intel Pentium G840 2.8GHz
$87 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116398

ASRock Z68 Pro3
$120 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157251

G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB DDR3-1333
$42 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231425

Sapphire Radeon 6770 1GB
$118 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102941

Western Digital 1TB Blue
$60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136767

Antec NEO ECO 620C
$65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

Cooler Master HAF 912
$60 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

LG DVD burner
$19 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136216

Acer 23 inch LED backlit
$150 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009255

$721 + $10 shipping ($30 mail in rebates)


Also if you need Windows 7.

If you have a previous version of Windows to upgrade with...
Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade
$115 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116713

If you don't have a previous version of Windows...
Windows 7 Home Premium OEM 64 bit
$100 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

OEM version is bound to your motherboard, so can't be reused later (with Windows 8 coming next year this might not be a concern). But if you want a full version of Windows you can reuse again with another computer...
Windows 7 Home Premium Full
$190 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116716

Yea, my bad. I forgot about hard drive.... haha.

I tried an Intel build when I was checking out prices, and didn't like the price to performance I got for a lower end non-i7 build

 

-----signature-----

Also, you can pick up a copy of Windows 7 for $83 from Amazon.

http://www.amazon.com/Windows-Premum-System-Builder-Version/dp/B002NGJO4M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1308501775&sr=8-1

Doesn't come with SP 1 on disk, but you can dl it via updates.

 

-----signature-----

What games?

Footprint was due to the system you looked at in the other thread was an all-in-one and I didnt know if you were short of desktop space or room space for a tower type case.


Might price out AMD CPU also. Depending on the types of games and depth of use for video editting AMD might be a cost conscience path.

 

-----signature-----

Pretty much the only game I play right now is DAoC. Little bit of Counter-Strike on steam, but that is about it. I'd like the new system to be capable of handling newer games coming out like Guild Wars 2 (if it ever does).

I'm not a serious editor, I just like to make highlight videos of MMA fighters/Boxers and other sports related things. I use Sony Vegas.

As far as footprint constraints, I don't have tons of desktop room, but I can certainly make room for a computer.

That $700 build looks pretty nice for what I'm aiming for, although I think I'll use the 23'' ASUS Monitor from the first build since it is 2ms and has built in speakers.

Thanks for all the help guys!

 

-----signature-----

speakers built into the monitor are usually not worth the extra money spent on comparable monitor without the speakers. Buy yourself a bestbuy set of ordinary plugin speakers and use the onboard sound from the main board. You will be much much happier.

 

-----signature-----

I read in some of the reviews the built in speakers were actually quite good, although you are probably right about just heading over to bestbuy to buy some $20 speaker set.

How big of a difference is a 2ms and 5ms monitor? Are the built in speakers + 2ms worth the $50 price difference between the 2?

 

-----signature-----