An Optimal Gaming and Multimedia PC - Request your inputs plz

[sartam]

Hello guys (/gals - if any),

I wish to start a new thread since I can see a lot of requirements coming from members for a Gaming PC.

I have been an adherent AMD fan at the time when Athlon 64 bit processor was beating the hell out of Intel P4.
Since then times have changed and Intel have regained the Fastest processor crown (not in terms of Processor clock speed but its performance in applications and Games).

I have read quite a few reviews on AMD (Phenom II and X6) vs Intel (Core i5 and i7) on anandtech, tomshardware, etc.

I hope we all agree that AMD has not been able to beat Intel comprehensively yet (no offense to AMD fanboys).

Currently, I am planning to get myself a new PC mainly used for Gaming, Surfing, Multimedia and Watching TV (apart from the typical MS Office stuff)

I have seen a questionnaire posted by someone and the same has been used to specify my requirements.

1. What is your MAX budget?
60-65k (might extend it by another 5k if required)

2. Are you open to alternate ideas/products giving similar better performance but offering more VFM/ sellers? If not- why?
Yes.
Preferable Intel Based processor - unless otherwise someone manages to convince me that AMD is the best Gaming processor 3. What is the purpose of the computer? (Note: If you are planning to say multimedia, you will have to be more specific as all types of systems are capable of doing that)
Gaming, Surfing, Multimedia - music, HD movies and Watching TV (apart from the typical MS Office stuff)

4. Planning to overclock?
Maybe a little (no extreme OC or non-stock Coolers plz)

5. Which OS are you planning to use?
WinXP or Win 7

6. How much hard drive space is needed?
500 GB should suffice (I might add more later)

7. What resolution will the screen run at?
Full HD - 1920X1080p

8. How would you rate your hardware knowledge from the count of 1-10? (1 being the lowest, 5 being you are somewhat in sync with the current performers and 10 being the highest)
Maybe between 8-9 (there is always scope for learning )

9. Have you ever built a desktop before or will this be done by an assembler?
My last PC was entirely assembled by me.

10. When are you planning to buy the system?
Next week

11. Are you one of the types looking out for "future proof" configurations?
Not really - minor upgrades are OK.
Reason - upgrading your proc does not improve your Gaming performance as much as much as upgrading ur Graphic card

12. Are there going to be any components that you want to include in this new rig? If yes, do mention.
My existing PCI TV tuner Card - Leadtech Winfast PVR 3000

13. Which city do you live in and are you open to buying from shops from other city/states?
Mumbai only

14. Mention any other points if deemed necessary
Currently I have shortlisted a Config but need your views on the same:
Processor: Core i5 750 (would love to go for i7 but might exceed my budget)
Motherboard: MSI P55 GD65 / Gigabyte P55 GA-P55-UD3R/Asus P7P55D
Graphic Card: Sapphire HD5850
RAM: Gskill/Corsair/Kingston - 2X2 GB DDR3 (1333/1600 - depends on the price difference - does it really matter much to go for 1600 Mhz?)
HDD: WD Black Series 500 GB
Monitor: Dell U2311H (if available <15k) or Samsung 2350
Cabinet: Coolmaster CM 690 Black Cabinet (or CM plus II Advanced - if price is right)
Power supply: Corsair VX 550 or Seasonic PS S12II-500 (can't find a 550W model from Seasonic??)
Keyboard: Logitech (which model?)
Mouse: Logitech MX518
Speakers: Creative 6100 or Logitech X-540 5.1 (if I can find these?)
UPS: APC 600VA (should it be enough?)
Souncard: Either ASUS Xonar DX or Creative Xi-Fi (optional - may go with onboard option for the time being)

Can someone suggest if the above config is good enough and can be bought in my budget?

 

[coderunknown]

all set. good combination. well balanced. go ahead with the config. just get a higher rated UPS & cabby try NZXT M59. try something different man. always CM. CM. CM. its old now.

 

[sartam]

all set. good combination. well balanced. go ahead with the config. just get a higher rated UPS & cabby try NZXT M59. try something different man. always CM. CM. CM. its old now.

Thanks Sam.Shab for a Short and encouraging reply
I will definitely give NZXT M59 a thought and compare it vis a vis CM 690 for features and space management, etc.

Would appreciate if you can also let me know the latest prices for these components. Which dealer would be best in Mumbai to buy from (in terms of after service and support) and also offer a right price.

I have got a quote from Prime as given below. Is the price right or high? Since the total price of the rig comes to around 74k (abt 5k above my budget).
Can you suggest any alternatives in the config (but no compromise on performance) to bring down the price?

[FONT=&quot]Processor: Core i5 750 = 10050/-[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Motherboard: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]MSI P55 GD65 or [/FONT][FONT=&quot]= 8600/-[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Gigabyte P55 GA-P55-UD3R or [/FONT][FONT=&quot]= 10850/-[/FONT]
3. [FONT=&quot]Asus P7P55D [/FONT][FONT=&quot]= 9650/-[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Graphic Card: Sapphire HD5850 = Power Colure 15900/-[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]RAM: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Gskill - 2X2 GB DDR3[/FONT][FONT=&quot](1333 = NA /1600 RM = 6800/- ) or = [/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Corsair - 2X2 GB DDR3[/FONT][FONT=&quot](1333 = 6500/- /1600 = 8200/- ) or[/FONT][FONT=&quot]= [/FONT]
3. [FONT=&quot]Kingston - 2X2 GB DDR3[/FONT][FONT=&quot](1333 = NA /1600 =6700/- ) = [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]HDD: WD Black Series 500 GB = 3600/- [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Monitor: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Dell U2311H[/FONT][FONT=&quot] =NA [/FONT][FONT=&quot]or[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Samsung [/FONT][FONT=&quot]P[/FONT][FONT=&quot]2350[/FONT][FONT=&quot] = 11100/-[/FONT][FONT=&quot]or[/FONT]
3. [FONT=&quot]Benq G2420[/FONT][FONT=&quot] = 11600/- [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Cabinet: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Coolmaster CM 690 Black Cabinet[/FONT][FONT=&quot] = 4500/- [/FONT][FONT=&quot]or[/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]CM plus II Advanced[/FONT][FONT=&quot] = 5800/- [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Power supply: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Corsair VX 550 [/FONT][FONT=&quot] = 4800/- [/FONT][FONT=&quot]or [/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Seasonic PS S12II-500[/FONT][FONT=&quot] 5200/-[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Keyboard: Logitech Multimedia Media = 400/- [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Mouse: Logitech MX518 = 1350/- [/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
Speakers: [/FONT]

1. [FONT=&quot]Creative 6100 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]= NA [/FONT][FONT=&quot]or [/FONT][FONT=&quot]T 6160 Speaker = 3500/- [/FONT]
2. [FONT=&quot]Logitech X-540 5.1[/FONT][FONT=&quot] = 4900/- [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]UPS: APC 650VA = 3000/-


[/FONT]