PC Game Fun Time

We have previously discussed the release of Intel’s new Core i7 processor and all the changes that it brings.  Well, it has been a month, and the new processors and compatible motherboards are now readily available online at sites like www.newegg.com.

I have been itching to get my hands on one of these new processors, which by all accounts are a significant leap up from the Core 2 line.  Unfortunately (depending on how you look at it!), my current gaming rig has proven more than adequate for everything I have thrown at it.  While I can’t justify the expense, some of you might be interested in putting together a new high end gaming machine.  So, with that in mind, here is my current Core i7 build:

• CPU - $295 - Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66 GHz - Getting a 2.66 GHz quad core that would beat the crap out of an old 2.66 GHz Core 2 Quad for under $300 seems like a good deal to me.  Unfortunately, the next cheapest Core i7 is $570, so this is pretty much our only option.
• Motherboard - $245 - Gigabyte GA-EX58-DS4 - This is a bit of sticking point for me right now, actually.  The Core i7 uses a completely new CPU socket type, meaning there are only a small number of compatible motherboards currently available.  They are all pricey, with most in the $300 range.  The above motherboard has a PCI Express x16 and 2 PCI Express x8, so it could accommodate up to 3 high end graphics cards.  It takes up to 6 DDR3 RAM chips, has 8 channel onboard audio, and good onboard RAID.  So, at least you are getting some good features for your $245.
• Memory - $185 - G.SKILL 6 GB (3 x 2 GB) 240-Pin DDR3 1333 -  It is true that 6 GB of DDR2 800 would only cost you about $50.  However, $185 is not, in the grand scheme of things, that much to pay for memory.  G.SKILL has had a number of very popular RAM offerings on newegg and I don’t have any hesitation recommending them.
• Hard Drive - $110 - Western Digital Caviar Black 7200 RPM 1 TB - Depending on how much storage you want and whether or not you want to do RAID, you could get 1, 2, or even more of these hard drives.  From a gaming perspective, you might also want a faster, smaller hard drive to help minimize load times.  This would probably be a VelociRaptor or even a Solid State Drive.  However, I can’t honestly recommend doing this as the benefit is very low and the cost is comparatively high.
• Case - $70 - Enermax Chakra ECA3052B Black SECC ATX Mid Tower - Yes, I know this not a well known maker of high quality gaming cases.  However, this case is inexpensive, well constructed, and sports a 250 mm side fan for some serious, yet quiet, cooling.  I would probably throw in one or two 120 mm fans, in addition.  These can be ordered for a few dollars each.  One added bonus of this case: no unnecessary LED lights!
• Power Supply - $100 - Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650 W - This is a nice, affordable 650 watt power supply.  It has plenty of peripheral and SATA connectors, as well as a 4 or 8 pin CPU power connector, and two 6 + 2 pin PCI-X power connectors.  This will allow you to connect any single graphics card on the market today, as well as many 2 card configurations.
• DVD Drive - $25 - Samsung 22x DVD Burner Model SH-S223F - Not much to say about this one.  It is a DVD burner that will handle all of your CD / DVD drive needs.
• Video Card - $220 - $260 - We at last come to the most exciting part of building any gaming rig - the video card.  Here, I’ll give you a few options.  The EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 is a decent option at $220.  My card of choice, however, would be the HIS Hightech H487F512P Radeon HD 4870 at $230.  This card edges out the GTX 260 in most benchmarks.  For a little bit more power, you could also go with the EVGA 896-P3-1267-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked.  The card costs $260, but it is based on the slightly more powerful GTX260 Core 216 and has been tested by EVGA to run at a stable 626 Mhz (compared to 576 Mhz stock).

That wraps up my build.  I have managed to keep the cost around $1300 and put together a pretty serious gaming machine.  Of course, if you were really looking to splurge you might want to spend an extra $200 or so and go for one of the high end video cards - probably the Radeon HD 4870×2.

There were a few areas where I would have to spend a bit more than I would like, mainly the motherboard and RAM.  However, I’m sure in the coming months that these costs will come down, making a Core i7 machine a very real possibility for me in the relatively near future.