$1200 (AUD) budget = What can I get AND is it worth it?

[codsafish]

My current PC I built in 2008. I've been thinking about buying a completely new rig at the end of this year, or perhaps in early 2012. I want the maximum bang for my buck, but I don't want to spend too much. $1200 AUD budget.

I order my parts from this shop: http://pccasegear.com/

It is the cheapest place in Australia that I can find my PC parts from. So if you're willing to make a build of parts, please use that website to make the build.... as their prices are what I'll be using.

CPU: Quad Q6600 (2.40GHZ) + Freezer Pro CPU cooler
Motherboard: IP35e
GPU: GTX 280 (1GB)
RAM: 4GB (800mhz)
HDD: 300GB Velociraptor (10k RPM)
HDD2: 1TB WD (7.2k RPM)
PSU: 800 Watt PSU
Samsung 19" Widescreen Monitor (Max res 1440x900)
ANTEC 1200 Full tower case.



Now I want a new PC, but I have a budget of $1200 AUD. I haven't been looking at PC parts for awhile so I am un-sure was to what specific motherboards to buy for the new sandybridge stuff. There are so many to choose from and I don't know what to get.

The only thing I want is that the CPU must be Intel, and the GPU must be Nvidia. I also want a 24" inch monitor as apart of this build so I can get 1920x1080p gaming, but a good brand - not some random brand. I am also wondering if I should get a new case? Or is the ANTEC 1200 good enough? If it is and that will save me money then yes I'd rather re-use my ANTEC 1200 (which is in mint condition, hasn't move and is cleaned often) and save some money.

[Uggorthaholy]

This is USD from my configurator

Custom build by Uggorthaholy

mobo – Msi P67, SLi/CF ready – $129.99
cpu – Intel i5 2500K – $219.99
ram – Corsar 1600 MHz Vengeance Low-Profile 2X4GB – $57.99
gpu – Twin Frozr GTX 560 Ti – $239.99
hdd1 – Samsung Spinpoint 1TB – $59.99
os – Window 7 Home Premium 64-Bit – $99.99
psu – Corsair 80+ 650w – $84.99
sink – Corsair A70 – $41.42
case – Antec 300 Mid Tower – $58.45

Final Price – $992.80
Note that certain parts can be changed in/out for personal preference, ESPECIALLY the case. I do not include SSD’s because I am not comfortable/knowledgeable enough to recommend them with any form of confidence


If you'd like, I can go and prive compare each and every one of these, but I programmed this for my ease of use for a reason.

<3

[Hyclro]

CPU: i5 2500k - $219
CPU COOLER: Noctua NH-U12P SE2 - $78
MOBO: ASRock Z68 Extreme3 Gen3 Motherboard - $145
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws X F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL (2x4GB) DDR3 - $65
GPU: MSI GeForce GTX 580 Twin Frozr II Overclocked - $549
MONITOR: BenQ E2420HD 24 Inch Widescreen LCD Monitor - $179

Total: $1,235

Use your current Case, PSU and hard drives. If you don't have Windows 7 64 bit, you will need to get that too ($95)

[Deleted]

He has antec 1200 case so I doubt there's any point in changing that to a smallish midi tower But outside that Uggorthaholy's build is a good place to start, just recycle your old case and maybe upgrade to gtx570/radeon 6970 depending on your budget.

[Cyclonus]

PCCG is pretty cheap, if you live in QLD, i would suggest Umart instead.

Samsung 22X DVDRW Black SATA $20.00
Corsair HX-650 ATX Power Supply, 120mm fan $138.00
CoolerMaster RC-692-KKN2 Advanced Bay Tower Gaming Case $112.00
Western Digital 1TB SATA3 64M(WD1002FAEX) $88.00
OCZ 120G Vertex II E Series SSD $195.00
Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 $99.00
Intel Core i7 2600 Processor LGA1155 3.4GHz CPU $301.00
Gainward GTX560Ti 1G DDR5 Golden Sample $249.00
Asus P8Z68-V LE 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI DVI D-SUB CrossFireX SATA3 RAID GL $159.00

Total $1361.00

- the cost of case (if you are keeping yours)
- the cost of a DVD (if you are keeping yours)
- the cost of the PSU (if you are keeping yours)

[Baygon]

what is the difference between a retail version of Win 7 and the OEM version? aside from like $200

[ocping]

what is the difference between a retail version of Win 7 and the OEM version? aside from like $200

Most Helpful Reply
OEM versions of Windows 7 are identical to Full License Retail versions except for the following:

- OEM versions do not offer any free Microsoft direct support from Microsoft support personnel

- OEM licenses are tied to the very first computer you install and activate it on

- OEM versions allow all hardware upgrades except for an upgrade to a different model motherboard

- OEM versions cannot be used to directly upgrade from an older Windows operating system

from http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...3-cc55cf7b9231

Get OEM if you're not changing motherboards frequently :P

[codsafish]

PCCG is pretty cheap, if you live in QLD, i would suggest Umart instead.

Samsung 22X DVDRW Black SATA $20.00
Corsair HX-650 ATX Power Supply, 120mm fan $138.00
CoolerMaster RC-692-KKN2 Advanced Bay Tower Gaming Case $112.00
Western Digital 1TB SATA3 64M(WD1002FAEX) $88.00
OCZ 120G Vertex II E Series SSD $195.00
Corsair Vengeance CMZ8GX3M2A1600C9 8GB (2x4GB) DDR3 $99.00
Intel Core i7 2600 Processor LGA1155 3.4GHz CPU $301.00
Gainward GTX560Ti 1G DDR5 Golden Sample $249.00
Asus P8Z68-V LE 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI DVI D-SUB CrossFireX SATA3 RAID GL $159.00

Total $1361.00

- the cost of case (if you are keeping yours)
- the cost of a DVD (if you are keeping yours)
- the cost of the PSU (if you are keeping yours)

I like this. But wouldn't I be better off getting a 2500k and a 570 instead of a 2600k and a 560?

[vesseblah]

I like this. But wouldn't I be better off getting a 2500k and a 570 instead of a 2600k and a 560?

'

Yep. 2600K gives nothing for gaming use and the extra money spent on it is wasted.

[Deleted]

I would really hold off a few more month until 2012 because we should have both a new CPU and new GPU generation by then.

Sure, you can't go wrong with an i5-2500k combined with a Radeon HD 6950 or Geforce GTX 560 Ti but waiting for the next-gen GPUs at least should expand your PCs life-cycle by a fair 6 months at least.

[Uggorthaholy]

I would really hold off a few more month until 2012 because we should have both a new CPU and new GPU generation by then.

Sure, you can't go wrong with an i5-2500k combined with a Radeon HD 6950 or Geforce GTX 560 Ti but waiting for the next-gen GPUs at least should expand your PCs life-cycle by a fair 6 months at least.

the 6 series are going to be super expensive, super short supply, and not worth the gain, imo.

also, op - a 2500k and a 570 > 2600k and a 560

[Deleted]

Australian Configuration (using MWave.com)
Prices and Totals are estimates for Non-USA configurations
CPU: Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz
MB: [Z68] ASRock Z68 Pro3 ATX
GPU: MSI Twin Frozr II GeForce GTX 560 Ti
RAM: CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2x4GB) 1600
HDD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB SATA II
PSU: Corsair Enthusiast TX650 V2 650W 80 PLUS Bronze
CPUHS: Cooler Master Hyper 212+
CASE: Cooler Master HAF 922 Mid Tower
CDROM: LiteOn DVD Burner
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium OEM (64-bit)
Total Price: ~$1138 AU
Configure More

Something like this is right around your budget, you could possibly fit an SSD in there somewhere, especially if you don't need Windows.