Huh. I'm PatrThoM, not PatrThoRN. Never even thought about the possibility of seeing it that way.advice from local tech guru Patrthorn
LoL you're like the official Orbitz of Halforums.CPU - Core i7 860 ($275)
MLB - P55-based Mobo with 2xPCIe x16 2.0 slots (Newegg lists $100 to $350 depending on features, though my recommendations fall in the $150-$175 range)
GPU - ATI 5870, no question. ($400-$500 depending on brand and accessories). Save up and get a second one later for XFire.
OS - Win7 64-bit ($150 and up depending on edition - I recommend either Professional or Ultimate)
HSF - Good models run in the $30-$50 range.
CAS - Good ones run about $150 or so.
PSU - Decent 80 Plus Gold 900-1000W PSUs can be had for about $250.
Total, approx 1490, right under budget.
EDIT:
Huh. I'm PatrThoM, not PatrThoRN. Never even thought about the possibility of seeing it that way.advice from local tech guru Patrthorn
EDIT 2: Any of the above figures are subject to revision at a moment's notice depending on whether anybody introduces something awesome 5 minutes after reading this post...or five minutes after that, or after that, etc.
--Patrick
Dude! I think that's it right there. I honestly don't care about lights, blowholes, decals, chrome, knobs, etc. It's a computer. I expect it to compute, and do so for as long as possible. Chrome/stripes/LEDs/exhaust pipes/smoke generators/etc won't make it go any faster. Heck, I'm a fan of Zalman heatsinks for their efficiency and low noise, but I get annoyed that it's almost impossible to buy one without an LED fan attached these days. Nobody is going to see inside of my case but me, no need to dress it up.I like companies like Silverstone or Lian Li because I think they are providing a product for a more mature audience. At some point you hit an age where black lights and see through cases aren't the end all be all, where you want something that is very high quality and gives off a more subdued sense of style.
Pat, I followed your advice and let me just say my hair is windblown whenever I turn on my computer. Thanks a bunch man.CPU - Core i7 860 ($275)
MLB - P55-based Mobo with 2xPCIe x16 2.0 slots (Newegg lists $100 to $350 depending on features, though my recommendations fall in the $150-$175 range)
GPU - ATI 5870, no question. ($400-$500 depending on brand and accessories). Save up and get a second one later for XFire.
OS - Win7 64-bit ($150 and up depending on edition - I recommend either Professional or Ultimate)
HSF - Good models run in the $30-$50 range.
CAS - Good ones run about $150 or so.
PSU - Decent 80 Plus Gold 900-1000W PSUs can be had for about $250.
Total, approx 1490, right under budget.
EDIT:
Huh. I'm PatrThoM, not PatrThoRN. Never even thought about the possibility of seeing it that way.advice from local tech guru Patrthorn
EDIT 2: Any of the above figures are subject to revision at a moment's notice depending on whether anybody introduces something awesome 5 minutes after reading this post...or five minutes after that, or after that, etc.
--Patrick