sup dudes!

3k budget.
Must be core i7 (pref. 2.93ghz)
gtx285 or similar
ddr3
2 x 24 monitors (cheapest, no need for super response rates)
decent but business style keyboard + maus
500gig hdd
boring case.. no lights or fancy s***. i want this to be a sleeper.
1 x dvd drive
no sound card or speakers required
no software

have a crack hardware gurus!

By 5 xbox 360s

3K budget would get you an insane PC.

iMac

next.....

decent but business style keyboard + maus

On this topic. Has anyone seen / used / bought a Microsoft Sidewinder X6 keyboard?

I got one the other week ($0) and it is the best damned keyboard I have ever used. And I havent even started using all the macro / personalized keys yet. (Theres too many of them.. I couldnt use them all if I tried)

Anyways check it out...

Clicky

Also the numpad detaches which rocks because numpads are for number crunchers not meee :D

I'll try one of the MS keyboards when my G15 dies.

Also, have those new MS mice been released out here yet? I've check a few of the usual sites and no one stocks them.

If you add an extra 0 to that budget, I would recommend 24x 250Gb SSD's in Raid6.

correct me if im wrong...i thought the 24x 250gb SSD's in raid cost more like 30,000 pounds?? making it more like 50,000 AUD

If you add an extra 0 to that budget, I would recommend 24x 250Gb SSD's in Raid6.

haha that vid was f***ing crazy

iMac and vmware fusion?

Maybe an effort to get that under 3k. Go for the cheaper i7. Unless some PC parts gangsta knows how to do it.

gtx285 or similar

Either go the 295 or stick with the cheaper 260.

wowow 3k budget = top of the line for everything these days doesn't it?

Heres something to get u started mate. Pricing is from Umart.

Intel Core i7 920 - $469
Asus P6T Deluxe - $494
G Skill 6G DDR3 PC10666 - $201
Gigabyte GTX285 - $593
2 x BenQ G2400WT 24" 2ms - $730
Samsung 500G - $92
CoolerMaster Centurion RC335 Elite - $59
Corsair HX-620 Power Supply - $169
Logitech Cordless Desktop MX-5500 - $175
Pioneer DVR-216BK 20x - $29

Total $3011

thats 11$ too much

last edited by Spock at 21:04:48 19/Mar/09

Looking at Zombies list:

I'd ditch the wireless mouse/kb for corded ones, though thats just personal preference. I'd consider getting a pair of small cheap raptors for a budget speedy raid0 boot/swap drive, I guess you could sub that with an SSD drive but I haven't used any yet so I'm not particularly familar with them. I guess a fast boot/swap drive isn't as important as it used to be though, since pretty much every new machine comes with at least 4 GB of ram these days.

I've got the same model BenQ as Zombie mentioned, it's a good piece of kit at a great price. BenQ has crummy pixel replacement warranties in comparison to say samsung though. Hasn't been an issue for me.

I've taken a liking to Gigabyte recently, so I'd probably take something like the Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P over the ASUS. Again, personal taste.

As a side, I'd consider getting a surge protector for your new rig if you have above ground power lines or iffy house wiring, though I'm guessing you probably have what you need in that department already.

Have fun with your new box mate.

My housemate got a PC with a GTX 295, Intel Core i7 920 and 12GB of DDR3 RAM for $2800 last week. I think that included a 24" screen too. This was all from Umart, so I'd say that's the sort of stuff you should be looking at.

12 gig ram? Surely after like 6 it becomes redundant?

12 gig ram? Surely after like 6 it becomes redundant?

But think of his e-peen.

12 gig ram? Surely after like 6 it becomes redundant?

I wouldn't settle for anything less than 8GB in a new PC. With RAM as cheap as it is now, I'd certainly be buying as much as I could afford.

When you can easily push more than 135 million polygons in Mudbox, I don't see a problem with it.

12 gig ram? Surely after like 6 it becomes redundant?

Some people use computers for stuff other than CS and WoW.

Samsung 500G - $92

lol @ samsung hdd. <-- thats a full stop nub

The BenQ E2400HD moniter reccomened is great. I bought one a few months back, love it. And its got HDMI input for when i finally upgrade my computer and buy a decent video card.

good luck with the rest...

quick look at prices, might be a bit too budget, but under budget none the less.

prices from MSY as of 19-3-09

$469 - Intel i7 920
$399 - Gigabyte GA-EX58-UD4P MB (has xfire and sli)
$209 - 6G Kit(3x2G) DDR3 1600 G.Skill-NQ
$817 - 1792MB GTX 295 Inno3D or Palit
$315 x 2 - 24” 5ms DVI WS Benq G2400WD
$89 - Seagate SATA 500G
$72 - AOPEN G520B Case
$140 - Thermaltake ToughPower 600W (might need a bigger one with that card)
$27 - SATA DVDRW LG
$26 - Logitech Desktop 350 (usb kb + mouse)
---------
$2878

lol @ samsung hdd. <-- thats a full stop nub

What's the problem? 2 of the HDDs in my PC are Samsung, haven't had any issues.

I'd get roughly what Gamemaster suggested, but with a few additions.

Get a OCZ Apex 60g for boot/swap drive ($250). 170MB/S Read, 100 MB/S write, less than 0.1ms response time.

I'd get a Corsair HX620 PSU. It's 620 watt, well built and has modular cabling (i.e. you only have to plug in the cables you need, no excess cables getting in the way/obstructing air flow).

That's all well and good, except one of the original requirements was a 500GB HDD.

thanks guys.. esp. zombie and gamemaster.. i've got something to work with now cheers!

i've never got anything from msy before though.. i'm usually a umart boy cos its much closer.

Serious question time - but is there a reason to go to the extreme end of town like this? Surely you get a system just as good for less but without all the fancy high end latest & greatest pieces?

buy up big now means less you have to spend over the next few years..

If you got the money you may as well.

Darren Lockyer isn't rolling down the street in a hyundai going "you know... I really can't justify buying that bmw X5"

Although I am gunna probs get a new comp next week thanks to kevin and wont be spending over 1200 :P

depends where you live strex, there are a few stores around town now, and I find them cheaper than umart. plus where I live its only a 20min drive to brendale msy.

personally i would go for a cheaper motherboard without SLI and a mid range vid card and grab a sweet 26 inch samsung. They are awesome++

Heres something to get u started mate. Pricing is from Umart.

Intel Core i7 920 - $469
Asus P6T Deluxe - $494
G Skill 6G DDR3 PC10666 - $201
Gigabyte GTX285 - $593
2 x BenQ G2400WT 24" 2ms - $730
Samsung 500G - $92
CoolerMaster Centurion RC335 Elite - $59
Corsair HX-620 Power Supply - $169
Logitech Cordless Desktop MX-5500 - $175
Pioneer DVR-216BK 20x - $29

scratch the ASUS board, go gigabyte.
DDR3... hmmm, is that price right?
BenQ LCD..... HAHAHAHAA man, go Samsung, will last longer.
Prolly try TYhermaltake for the case, get a 750W PSU hee hee

oh and, put in a penguin, they are awesome to watch.

scratch the ASUS board, go gigabyte.

and regret it forever after. Gigabyte are s***

Have you splashed out on your rig yet Strex or still researching?

Now for those having a laugh, or nitpick, at selected hardware in the 2 setups posted. How about you post your own entire setups that keeps both the budget and preferred specs in mind.
Go on... take the time, and suss it all out, so we can then have a chortle at you too.

Its all too easy to say, don't get brand X, model Y... just buy Brand Z. When your not even specifying a particular model, or even a price, to prove if it even fits the original criteria.

Personally, I wouldn't purchase a BenQ monitor, and totally agree with Samsung being the way to go, as I own a Samsung 244T, and its been tits for the last 2+ years. But the BenQ fit the criteria for what was wanted so thats what I put down there. 2 Samsungs would add at least another $100 to the total.
I wouldn't even touch the Gigabyte GTX285, or G Skill RAM. As my experience has been a bit dud with those brands, but it fits the idea of what Strex wants.
Also that case would likely struggle to keep everything nice and cool, but hey its boring and has no lights, which is what the man wants.

It all comes down to personal taste, and the system I posted was only to give an idea of what he'd be looking at for the required components and budget. Not what I would personally buy... which is how alot of you seem to be looking at this.

I wouldn't even touch the Gigabyte GTX285

If their 260 OC model is to go by, it will be fine.

or G Skill RAM

While it wouldn't be my first choice, but as long as he stays away from Geil DDR3, he won't regret it. Any other choice is more expensive.

nah mate i havent bought the new rig yet. thinking about holding off for a little while, sourcing better parts and then getting work to pay for it all :D

I qualify that statement through personal experience and from the last two years working at Computer Alliance. I see more Gigabyte s*** fail than any of the other brands we stock. Hell, I'd even begin to consider buying MSI before I'd purchase another gigabyte product. Actually, I feel equal disdain for them both.

An if Strex wants a machine, come in an see me ya lazy arse RQR sonofabiatch :)
We should have a Lasseters/RQR pissup/reunion LAN once you get your gear.

Don't buy the ssds on stock from umart or ca -> http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=3531
Wait 6-12 months, then see what the state of ssds is like.

125 million poly in mudbox midda? have they seriously f***ing updated that software that much? last time i used at about 10mil it shat itself... might look into it again

scratch the ASUS board, go gigabyte.


scratch the ASUS board, go gigabyte.

and regret it forever after. Gigabyte are s***

wtf? what are you basing your reply on? are you a whitebox builder or have you built like 5 pcs in your room?
lol.
easy tiger, i just build pcs for a living, and can see the numbers of brands that have issues. its all in the math, and i have it. ;)

wtf? what are you basing your reply on? are you a whitebox builder or have you built like 5 pcs in your room?
lol.
easy tiger, i just build pcs for a living, and can see the numbers of brands that have issues. its all in the math, and i have it. ;)

Heh, hermi works for one of the largest...in fact I think they are THE largest whitebox builders in QLD.

Any particular gigabyte product types, or just all of them in general? I've had issues with a gigabyte video card or two in the past, but their motherboards have done me well in recent years.

Don't buy the ssds on stock from umart or ca -> http://www.anandtech.com/printarticle.aspx?i=3531
Wait 6-12 months, then see what the state of ssds is like.

That's an interesting read, ta exemplar.

last edited by icewyrm at 00:39:27 01/Apr/09

Poor Drjam...

Poor Drjam...

for what its worth... thx :)
like you, i tend to think postive about everyone else until i meet them, agreed?
excellent.

in ANNNNY case.... manufact's tag-team quality over the years so srsly it doesnt matter a pixie's left nut what a person likes, it just depends on whether the item they have bought lasts them as long as it needs to, and that it lives up to its specs. THAT is a fundamental and cannot be succesfully argued against.

what we like or dislike is a whole other ball game.