Enthusiast Gamer PC Build [March 09]
Amos Ngai on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 8:25AM Each week, GW will detail a computer build suited for your budget. The first week of the month will feature the Ultimate Gamer build, Enthusiast Gamer for the second week, Mainstream Gamer on the third week and Budget Gamer on the last week.
System: Enthusiast Gamer
Max Budget: $3500 CDN
Actual Price: $3371.92 CDN
While the Enthusiast Gamer build may lack the "complete pwnage" moniker if compared to the Ultimate Gamer build, this rig ain't no slouch in its own right. Able to competently perform much of the same tasks as the Ultimate Build, this computer is for those who desire the high end experience but is unwilling to blow more than a month's salary.
The Core i7 920 is Intel's next-gen entry level CPU but don't let that fool you. This CPU packs a lot of punch. Like the i7 940 and 965, the 920 overclocks very well. Expect at least 3.6 GHz with a decent cooler.
Gigabyte motherboards are very popular among computer enthusiasts. High quality construction with high end components is especially important in achieving a stable gaming rig and it becomes even more relevant when one starts to overclock. Receiving fairly high marks, the GA-EX58 series truly delivers. For this build, the UD5 model was chosen due to cost. Closer examination between this board and the Extreme model reveals very little differences! In fact, the only big difference between these two boards is the cooling solutions. Is the $60 premium for the Extreme worth it? Only you can answer that question.
For the memory, the same Corsair XMS3 DDR3 RAM modules from the Ultimate Gamer build also graces its presence in this build albeit with only 6 GB due to cost constraints. Generally known as the cream of the crop, the Corsair XMS3 RAM modules feature excellent overclocking potential and heat-spreaders that dissipate the heat efficiently. But the main reason why I prefer Corsair products is their excellent customer service (having dealt with them myself).
Simply put, the GTX 295 video card is a beast. In fact, this is the only single-card solution that is capable of running Crysis in enthusiast quality at 1920 x 1200. Why did I not choose not chose two GTX 285 in two-way SLI? First, the price adds another +$200. GTX 285s in SLI are faster than the GTX295 but not by much. Not a $200 premium in my opinion. Second, having a future option of adding another GTX 295 for a 4-way SLI solution when drivers improve would be a great way to add performance.
The WD Velociraptor hard drives are among the fastest drives one can buy. Until high-end SSDs become more cost effective, the platters spinning at 10,000 RPM in the Velociraptor will be a popular choice for the high end gamer seeking performance in a traditional storage device.
Asus Xonar D1 cards have become a popular alternative to Creative's X-Fi for the audiophile seeking great sound on a budget. Out of the box, you get Vista compatibility, 7.1 audio and Dolby Digital Live. It also lacks the bloatware that seem to plague Creative software. The major downside is the lack of EAX 5.0 (only support for 2 and 3) which might come as a detriment to the gamer who loves the ambiance that EAX brings to games.
For non-HTPC uses, the use of a Blu-ray drive isn't a necessity but it's nice to have for the days where you can watch a movie when your TV isn't free. Although it is anecdotal evidence, I haven't had a Pioneer drive fail on me yet.
I have always liked Antec cases. In fact, the majority of my builds uses cases from that company. Good quality and relatively affordable. I dislike flashy cases and the Antec 902 looks great in its minimalist appearance. Cooling performance is very good, especially when it came to ambient temperature. To couple the case with a power unit, the Corsair TX 750 is chosen to supply the juice to the components. What makes this PSU attractive is the incredible bang for the buck. This unit offers comparable performance to some 850W units for half the cost! A single+12V rail is able to provide a healthy and stable 60A ouput; more than sufficient to keep that GTX 295 chugging along.
Lastly, we have the 27″ Dell Ultrasharp LCD panel. Featuring an S-PVA panel, the monitor offers great blacks at a relatively affordable price point. Connectivity options are plentiful: VGA, DVI, Component, Composite, HDMI and Displayport. While color professionals may have to wrestle a little with calibration, the 2709W is likely to please most to no end who wants a big screen with a decent resolution.
Please keep in mind that the parts I choose may differ from what you would pick. That’s what makes PC building so fun! Everyone is entitled to their decision and this subjectivity is why two computers built among computer enthusiasts is rarely the same. Moreever, these builds may aid those unfamiliar with the latest in computer technology but still want the best within their budget. During your research, you may find something else you prefer or a part that’s even better. If you do, let us know in the comments!
Reader Comments (7)
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