Gaming/Video Editing Rig Recommendation

[dakboyan]

Hi Guys,

Really need your help in recommending a good rig for me. Last i built a rig myself was in year 2000 (gasp 13 yrs ago!) so i am definitely out of touch. I was thinking to get the Alienware X51 but i know a DIY could cost lesser and perform better...so do help me recommend a setup based more or less on these specs.

• Budget ~ $1,600 to $1,800 (the equivalent cost of X51)
• Intel i7 (as i need to do photo editing/HD video conversion)
• Gaming (mostly RPGs such as Fallout and Skyrim/FPSs such as Battlefield/sports such as FIFA13/RTS such as Civ5 or Simcity)
• Do not need Overclocking
• Do not need Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers
• Need OS (not sure Win 7 or Win 8 though)

Many many thanks in advance!

 

[firezero10]

No Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers or no need?

 

[dakboyan]

No Monitor, Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers or no need?

oops..sorry wasn't clear. Yup i do not need any of those. Thanks!

 

[enenyi]

CPU+MB: Intel i7-3770 + AsRock H77 Pro4/MVP - $503
RAM: PC3-1600 Corsair Vengeance DDR3 4GB x4 - $140
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 670 OC Windforce 2GB DDR5 - $589
SSD: Samsung 840 120GB - $139
HDD: Toshiba 2TB 7200rpm - $118
Casing:Enermax Ostrog - $69
PSU: Seasonic S12II 620W Non-Modular - $94
ODD: HP 24X DVD SATA - $25
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - $110
Assembly Cost: $10

Total: $1797 (Buy all and build at PCThemes)

 

[dakboyan]

CPU+MB: Intel i7-3770 + AsRock H77 Pro4/MVP - $503
RAM: PC3-1600 Corsair Vengeance DDR3 4GB x4 - $140
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 670 OC Windforce 2GB DDR5 - $589
SSD: Samsung 840 120GB - $139
HDD: Toshiba 2TB 7200rpm - $118
Casing:Enermax Ostrog - $69
PSU: Seasonic S12II 620W Non-Modular - $94
ODD: HP 24X DVD SATA - $25
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit - $110
Assembly Cost: $10

Total: $1797 (Buy all and build at PCThemes)

Thanks! I'll read up more on the components that you've recommended.

 

[nippp0n]

CPU & Mobo: Xeon 1245v2 & Asrock B75 Pro 3M @ $461
Ram: G.Skill 1600mhz value ram 2x8GB @ $140
ODD: Liteon DVD RW @ $25
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 2TB @ $116 (Best Buy Computers)
SSD: Plextor M5P 128GB @ $149 (Best Buy Computers)
GPU: Powercolor 7970 V2 @ $512
Case: Asgard Midgard II @ $89
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W @ $139
OS: Windows 7 Home 64 bit OEM @ $110 (Tradepac)
Assembly cost: $10

Total: $1751
Buy and build at PC Themes unless otherwise stated.

 

[tuckloong]

depending on which video editing software u are using..u prob need more than 24GB ram...best to have 32GB if u handle a lot of HD clips more than 10 mins de...

 

[dakboyan]

CPU & Mobo: Xeon 1245v2 & Asrock B75 Pro 3M @ $461
Ram: G.Skill 1600mhz value ram 2x8GB @ $140
ODD: Liteon DVD RW @ $25
HDD: Hitachi Deskstar 2TB @ $116 (Best Buy Computers)
SSD: Plextor M5P 128GB @ $149 (Best Buy Computers)
GPU: Powercolor 7970 V2 @ $512
Case: Asgard Midgard II @ $89
PSU: FSP Platinum 550W @ $139
OS: Windows 7 Home 64 bit OEM @ $110 (Tradepac)
Assembly cost: $10

Total: $1751
Buy and build at PC Themes unless otherwise stated.

Thanks nipp0n!

 

[dakboyan]

depending on which video editing software u are using..u prob need more than 24GB ram...best to have 32GB if u handle a lot of HD clips more than 10 mins de...

Oh ya...thanks for the tip. Liddat i must check if the mobo can support that many RAM sticks.

 

[nippp0n]

Oh ya...thanks for the tip. Liddat i must check if the mobo can support that many RAM sticks.

Both motherboard has 4 ram slots but you will need to change OS to windows 7 pro as windows 7 home only has up to 16gb ram support.

 

[dakboyan]

Both motherboard has 4 ram slots but you will need to change OS to windows 7 pro as windows 7 home only has up to 16gb ram support.

OK...will factor in the cost for that.

Btw since i saw ur reco...ive been trying to read up as much as i can on the Xeon processors. Gotten lots of mixed reviews regarding gaming on that processor - some people have remarked that xeon lags quite far behind i7 for heavy gaming. But it does outperform i7 for heavy work such as video rendering etc.

Damn i'm in a dilemma! Haha...

 

[dakboyan]

Hi guys,

Firstly thanks again for the recos. Finally got my PB so can start building this week. But just before that i am toying with the idea of going back to my original intention of having a similar form factor (mini-atx) to the alienware X51.

So please, can i ask for a recommendation on a rig (+ appropriate casing) based on mini-atx and similar usage (gaming + hd vid editing)? Budget still around $1.6k region and i do not need monitor, keyboard or OS.

Thanks in advance!