ATTN: Bob / Geeks

[Darth_Wayne]

So I've finally decided to build myself a new PC and I need YOU to help me choose the parts. I won't be using the PC for anything special, just gaming, surfing web, etc.

My budget is around $800 CDN, willing to be flexible with that but I'm basically looking for the best bang for the buck. I won't be needing a monitor but I will need a new OS.

THX IN ADVANCE

[Roflraptor]

If I was building one right now, I'd probably go for this:

CPU: Intel Core i5 2500K - $225
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 - $159
(Gigabyte is just a personal preference for me, I have been using them for ages and found them to be superb. You can get cheaper than this if you want to go with the microATX form factor.)
RAM: Corsair CMX8GX3M2A1333C9 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 - $89
(You could go with 4GB to cut down on cost, it's just that RAM is cheap.)
HDD: Samsung SpinPoint F3 1TB HD103SJ - $65
Graphics Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1GB - $259
PSU: Corsair HX-650 PSU - $139
Case: CoolerMaster Centurion 5 II Black (w/o PSU) - $79
DVD-RW: Go with whatever on this one, cheapest I can find is about $30 here.

Total: $1045

All the prices listed are what I can buy them for here in AUD though. I'm almost certain you can get them cheaper where you are.

Some slight alterations to save a bit of money and that these parts were available on the first PC hardware website that had CAD prices, feel free to shop around:

CPU: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?s ... ture=INTEL $220.25
Motherboard: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=11830BD4863 $126.92
RAM: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?s ... e=KINGSTON $40.87
HDD: http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.as ... _-22152185 $74.99
(Had to go elsewhere for this one, the selection was pretty bad on the other website)
Graphics Card: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?s ... cture=ASUS $192.12
PSU: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?s ... re=CORSAIR $100.25
Case: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?s ... OLERMASTER $79.69
DVD-RW: http://www.directcanada.com/products/?s ... re=Samsung $21.80

It's around $850. If you went with a mATX form factor motherboard, you could potentially save around $50 but you might need to check if it supports DDR3-1600 for the RAM I listed. Another $25 saved if you opted for a smaller PSU, which could be done pretty safely if you're only running a GTX560. The case, probably another $25 to be saved there depending on how trashy you want it to look. You could also buy the i5 2500 (non unlocked variant) for approximately $195 and save yourself another $25. I just chose the 2500K because I've read overclocking it to 4.5Ghz on air is rather easy on the unlocked and I tend to overclock the CPUs I buy.

[Turky]

n1 rapitor

[shulba]

raptor jesus being neuro's savior :'D

[Maximus]

GJ @ Raptor for picking pretty much exactly the same thing I did on my first pass. Though he's more than $200 over and didn't include an OS. Really whittling it down from his starting point is the hard part since those are what we would like to see in a gaming system.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3-B3 LGA 1155 $152
OCZ Fatal1ty 550W $78
CoolerMaster Centurion 5/541 ATX $80
Core i3-2100 Dual Core 3.1GHz $120
Evga Geforce GTX 460 1GB $162
Crucial Ballistix 4GB DDR3-1600 $61
Samsung/LG DVD-RW $28
WD Caviar Black 500GB SATA2 NCQ OEM $82
WIndows 7 Home Premium 64bit OEM $117
Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro Rev. 2 $46
Case fans $30
Total $956

All prices Canadian from newegg.ca and include shipping. Not sure what tax is in CA or where you have to pay it, I don't pay tax to our Newegg in CA(lifornia).

Second on the preference for Gigabytes, I have 4 and so far so good. Unfortunately the only decent gaming platform these days is Intel's LGA 1155 socket, and Z68 chipset is by far the best, and those boards don't get much cheaper. I picked one with a second PCIE slot for SLI/Crossfire (they do both now) should you want to upgrade.
Corsair is the best name in PSUs right now... would be nice but they are pricey.
The quad core 2500K and the Geforce 560 Ti are highly desirable if you have the cash.
8GB RAM is an easy upgrade for low cost, do it if you have an extra $40. Most name brands are decent, just get DDR3-1600 since there's a decent bump from DDR3-1333 if you ever overclock.
The drive is 500GB just to save money; the preference would be for the Caviar Blacks though I have considered Spinpoints decent as well. 1TB if you want it. I've never needed over 500GB on an OS drive even with many programs installed. I store my data on slower cheaper stuff.
Realize the OEM license of Windows is tied to a given mobo, if you upgrade the mobo you have to buy windows again. Retail Windows can be moved to a different mobo but costs as much as double.
I included the Freezer 7 Pro if you 1) have hot rooms like those of us in FL do or 2) like to overclock. yews Intel's stock one to save money.
Case fans I don't see as negotiable. Centurion 5 series is decent but I like to see 3 or more 120mm fans for case cooling. Lots of good brands... I can recommend some.

[Magyk]

I like Windows 7. If you do two HDD's you can run two OS's. Win7/XP is what I do on my 2.

[jaw4]

took you long enough, now it might take you less than 5 minutes to connect to a server.

[piipe]

nerd

[Flyer]

if you get a good video card you can skimp/settle on most of the other parts (ie not getting a current generation processor/memory/motherboard)

reuse your hard drive and case from your last computer to save money too

[Roflraptor]

if you get a good video card you can skimp/settle on most of the other parts (ie not getting a current generation processor/memory/motherboard)

reuse your hard drive and case from your last computer to save money too

What the hell? A post by you that doesn't mention penises, homosexuals or fellatio. Are you unwell?