Quad-core build for under $1000?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Yeah, he's not a big gamer so I think I'll go with the HD3850. But thanks anyway!

Ok

BTW, another option that is very close to the 3850 is:

ASUS EN8600GT/HTDP/512M GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Save some money maybe?

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by Parker

Ok

BTW, another option that is very close to the 3850 is:

ASUS EN8600GT/HTDP/512M GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Save some money maybe?

With all respect due, a 8600GT SLi equals a HD3850. Far from being the same thing.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by Parker

Ok

BTW, another option that is very close to the 3850 is:

ASUS EN8600GT/HTDP/512M GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Save some money maybe?

Ya know, I might drop down to a 8600GT and get an aftermarket cooler for him - what do you guys think?

[Parker]

Originally Posted by polobunny

With all respect due, a 8600GT SLi equals a HD3850. Far from being the same thing.

Oooooh O.o Better redo my research

Originally Posted by yellowhello

Ya know, I might drop down to a 8600GT and get an aftermarket cooler for him - what do you guys think?

That'd be good.
Get one of those Zalmans that you got on your 8600gt.

[Yellowhello]

Originally Posted by Parker

That'd be good.
Get one of those Zalmans that you got on your 8600gt.

LOL, I meant for the CPU.

[Parker]

Originally Posted by yellowhello

LOL, I meant for the CPU.

O.o wow I'm really out of it tonight.... to many late nights sitting hear posting on HL!!!!!!

You guys are just awesome!

[[Dr. V]]

Anything over a 8600 or 2600 series is too much for this system. It's been mentioned that he isn't heavily into gaming. Save money by getting a 8600GT, let alone a 8600GTS.

Get this card:
Newegg.com - XFX PVT84JYAJG GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Great card, great price after a nice little MIR, and it's XFX with 512MB of beauty.

If you wanna step up to GDDR3, and a bit better core, it's gonna cost you at least $60 - is it worth it? I'm not too sure it is to be honest.
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P2-N773-AR GeForce 8600GTS 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

The GT 512MB @ $89.99 is a killer deal.

That will save you money to put towards this:
Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS 9700 NT 110mm 2 Ball Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler - Retail

or this (my choice):
Newegg.com - Thermaltake CL-P0401 110mm Full-Range Fan CPU Cooler - Retail

Whichever you choose, it's a very nice addition.

AND

This:
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

That's a better hard drive than the WD you had there before - it's Seagate, it's 500GB, it's 7200.11, and it's 32MB CACHE!

You'll still get a VERY good card for his/her application, and you'll get double the hard drive space (not to mention double the cache too), and a wicked cooler.

P.S. Aww thanks Parker, that touches a soft spot of mine - a very tiny, isolated soft spot...

=D

[Parker]

Originally Posted by ST!X

P.S. Aww thanks Parker, that touches a soft spot of mine - a very tiny, isolated soft spot...

=D

Lol, well i'm glad, sorta.....just sorta, maybe even half sorta...... ^_^

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by ST!X

Anything over a 8600 or 2600 series is too much for this system. It's been mentioned that he isn't heavily into gaming. Save money by getting a 8600GT, let alone a 8600GTS.

Get this card:
Newegg.com - XFX PVT84JYAJG GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Great card, great price after a nice little MIR, and it's XFX with 512MB of beauty.

If you wanna step up to GDDR3, and a bit better core, it's gonna cost you at least $60 - is it worth it? I'm not too sure it is to be honest.
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P2-N773-AR GeForce 8600GTS 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

The GT 512MB @ $89.99 is a killer deal.

That will save you money to put towards this:
Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS 9700 NT 110mm 2 Ball Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler - Retail

or this (my choice):
Newegg.com - Thermaltake CL-P0401 110mm Full-Range Fan CPU Cooler - Retail

Whichever you choose, it's a very nice addition.

AND

This:
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

That's a better hard drive than the WD you had there before - it's Seagate, it's 500GB, it's 7200.11, and it's 32MB CACHE!

You'll still get a VERY good card for his/her application, and you'll get double the hard drive space (not to mention double the cache too), and a wicked cooler.

P.S. Aww thanks Parker, that touches a soft spot of mine - a very tiny, isolated soft spot...

=D

For the video card, nope, you said it yourself it's not worth it. As I said earlier, a 8600GT SLi comes close to a HD3850. Actually, a 8600GTS SLi comes out on par or very close most of the time with it. The 8600GTS just comes to a point where I consider it "useless", because bang for the buck you're just better grabbing a HD3850. The 89.99 8600GT is very nicely priced to put it in this system. If he's not a hardcore gamer, it will be likely more than enough and it's gonna make him save a substantial amount of money.
As for the CPU cooler, CNPS9500 seems like a good idea. It's 10 bucks or so under the CNPS9700 NT as far as I remember and the performance is near the same (~2C difference on load).

[Yellowhello]

Build Rev. 3:

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
Newegg.com - DFI BloodIron P35-T2RL LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
Newegg.com - XFX PVT84JUSD4 GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Newegg.com - Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail

$880 with tax/shipping