Updated 02-27-2010
$1200 Computer Parts List
This computer will play just about every game out today with solid visuals and frame rates. On very demanding games like Crysis you may have to turn down the graphics quality a few notches to get a smooth frame rate.
With this computer you have the option to add a 2nd video card so your games can use the combined processing power of both video cards to double the speed of the graphics. If you do this you can run the most hardcore games very smoothly without turning down the visual settings.
In addition both the Intel and AMD CPUs are easily overclockable from the stock 2.66Ghz speed, up to 4Ghz on the Intel and from the stock 3.2GHz speed, up to 3.8GHz on the AMD, which will send your games into overdrive.
The sound card we recommend here also will increase your gaming speed by off loading the processing of sound from the CPU to the sound card, giving you even more speed.
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The Processor (CPU)
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Intel Socket 1156
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Intel Core i5-750 2.66GHz |
$194.99 |
Intel recently released this Core i5 CPU. This Intel has a slower clock speed than the AMD, but performs just as fast or slightly faster. Check out the CPU component lesson for more on CPU features and specifications to look for. |
AMD Socket AM3
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2GHz |
$160.99 |
If you're an AMD fan this CPU will not disappoint. Check out the CPU component lesson for an explanation of this performance difference. |
The Motherboard
Choose your motherboard depending on if you want an Intel or AMD CPU.
Intel Socket 1156
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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ASUS P7P55D-E Pro ATX Intel Motherboard |
$189.99 |
This motherboard is in the middle range of the Asus P55 motherboards. These motherboards have an excellent reputation for being stable at default speeds as well as being excellent overclockers. This means with the right RAM and CPU you can push the system even faster than Intel intended. Check out the comments on Newegg. The motherboard supports CrossfireX and SLI which lets you put in 2 ATI or Nvidia video cards to double your gaming performance. See the case and power supply section on power supply requirements for CrossfireX and SLI. When using 2 boards in CrossfireX or SLI the PCI Express speed on this motherboard drops from 16x to 8x, but this doesn't effect performance. The PCI Express 2.0 16x slots double the bandwidth to keep the cards happy. On-board networking and sound. You can get a separate sound card to make your games sound even better and increase performance. |
AMD Socket AM3
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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GIGABYTE GA-790FXTA-UD5 |
$184.99 |
This AMD based motherboard has remarkably similar features and specs to the Intel based board above. |
RAM (Memory)
There are two kinds of RAM listed here. DDR2 for the AMD motherboard and DDR3 for the Intel Motherboard.
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| For Intel Motherboard |
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G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 |
Newegg.com |
$104.99 |
This is 2 sticks of RAM, 2GB each for a total of 4GB. For more information see the RAM memory types, speeds, bandwidths component video lesson. |
| For AMD Motherboard |
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G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 |
$84.99 |
You'll notice on the specs of the motherboard that it supports 1333MHz RAM. No manufacturer ever made this RAM. The closest you can get is 1200MHz and you'll pay a premium for it. Several reviewers did performance benchmarks and couldn't find much of a speed bump going from 1066MHz to 1200MHz. |
Video card:
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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XFX Radeon 5750 1GB |
Newegg.com |
$139.99 |
This is ATI's best bang for the buck video card. Both motherboards above can take 2 of these in CrossfireX mode to double your 3D gaming performance. |
| EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB |
Newegg.com |
$134.99 |
In kind, this is Nvidia's best bang for buck video card. You'll notice it has half the memory of the ATI card above. Go ATI. Also this video is capable of SLI but there are very few motherboards in this price range that offer SLI. The motherboard that do offer SLI support in this price range are very old. If you love Nvidia and need SLI support you will have to move up to the $1200 Gaming Computer. See the video card component lesson for what a video card is with definitions of features. |
Hard Drive
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Western Digital Caviar Green 1.5TB |
Newegg.com |
$109.99 |
We've all had good and bad experiences with hard drives failing and we might individually prefer one maker over another. Regardless, if you have important data, get two of these so you can set up an automatic backup of your most important files. That way if a drive files you still have your data on the other. See the hard drive component video lesson for features and specification to look for in a hard drive. |
| Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31500341AS 1.5TB | Newegg.com |
$109.99 |
It's fast, quiet and runs cool. You might consider getting 2 of these. One for your operating system and regular programs and one just for your games and as a backup drive for your important data. |
DVD Burner (Writer)
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Sony AD-7240S-0B 24X |
$23.99 |
DVD burners are extremely cheap these days. There really isn't any reason to pay more for a DVD writer. We recommend this model for all of our customers computers. |
Case and Power Supply
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP |
$69.99 |
This case has a lot of bells and whistles for the money. It comes with a good 500W power supply. Great cooling with a 120mm front fan and 3, 80mm fans to exhaust the hot air. The motherboard tray and card slots, all fold out the side, making it easier to install the components. It has a side Window to show off you parts with blue light from one of the 80mm fans. This power supply does not provide enough power to use the 2 of the 4870 video cards in CrossfireX mode. If you're wanting to use 2 video cards you'll need to put in a different power supply. See the Mid-range Gaming Computer parts list. | |
|
Antec Sonata III 500 |
$99.99 |
This case is the opposite of the RAIDMAX above in the looks department. It's made to disappear, not just by it's looks. It's designed to be ultra quiet. It comes with 1, 120mm rear fan and there is a spot in the front for another. The power supply is a great quality 500W Antec EarthWatts. It's rated at least 80% efficient which means it will lower your electricity bill compared to more power supplies. The power supply can NOT handle 2 of the 9800GTX's in SLI mode. You'll need at least a 700W power supply. |
Cooling Fans
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Scythe SY1225SL12M 120mm "Slipstream" Case Fan |
$8.99 |
This is the 120mm fan we recommend for the Antec case above and will bring lots of cool air into the system. This Scythe 120mm cooler is very quiet, which will help keep down the noise level of your computer. |
Sound and Network - The Network adapter is on the motherboard
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium 7.1 Channels |
$99.99 |
This is a must if you want to game with the fastest frame rates possible. You wouldn't think a sound card could improve game performance, but this one does. Here's how. The audio processing in a games takes between 5% to 10% of the CPU's processing time. The X-FI is able to process the sound itself, off loading the processing from the CPU, allowing the CPU to concentrate on other things, like making the game run faster! It makes things sound better too. It supports the latest EAX HD 5.0 for better sound in your games. Hardware DTS-ES and Dolby Digital EX Decoding for your movies. For a PCI computer sound card comparison see the computer sound card component video lesson. For more on the Network card component see the Modem and Network card component video lesson. |
The motherboard includes a network adapter so you don't need to buy a separate add on card.
Monitor
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Hanns G Hi-221DPB Black 22" 5ms Widescreen |
$159.99 |
This is the same monitor we recommend for the $1200 Gaming and $1800 Gaming Computers. It is a steal at this price. |
Speakers
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
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Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 |
$164.99 |
These speakers get great reviews all over the net. Google 'z-2300 review' and you'll see. Lots of praise from end users in Newegg as well. I use these on my system. The only thing that comes close for this price range is a set of speaker Altec Lansing stopped making 10 years ago. | |
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Logitech X-540 70 watts RMS 5.1 |
$88.99 |
If you have room for surround sound speakers you should consider these. They don't have as high a wattage per speakers as the 2.1 model above, but hey, it's surround sound. If you want the best surround sound speakers be prepared to pay twice as much. Check out the speaker section in the $1800 Gaming Computer parts lists. |
Mouse and Keyboard Options
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Description |
Where to Buy |
Price |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logitech G15 Silver & Black USB Standard Gaming Keyboard |
$89.99 |
This is Logitech's gaming keyboard. It gets wonderful reviews online, Google 'Logitech G15 review'. Newegg end users love it as well. | |
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Saitek PZ30AU Black USB Wired Standard Eclipse Keyboard |
$39.99 |
Saitek has been known for their flight sticks for years. Their gaming keyboard is something to consider. | |
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Logitech MX518 2-Tone Wired Optical Gaming-Grade Mouse |
$42.99 |
Love Logitech. This model was released several years ago and gamers love it. | |
|
Logitech G9x Black Tilt Wheel USB Wired Laser Gaming Mouse |
$94.99 |
The G9x is a laser mouse and you can change it's weight like the G5. With the G9 you can also change it's shape. |
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written by Dev()n, February 14, 2010
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written by Phil Rayner (PhilinYuma), November 10, 2009
I'm not a gamer, so I shall get a 256 MDZ Radeon and a modest sound card. I'll get Western Caviar HDDs but probably splurge on two 1TB Western Digital RE3 WD1002FBYS. I've read that they are about as stable as you can get. Any thoughts?
I'll also get stuff like a TV tuner, a wireless router and stuff, but that is the main build.
And it's blue enough to amaze my friends! For a week or two at least I shall have the most awesome custom rig of any 70+ yr old on my block!
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