Listmania!
Ultimate Gaming Rig (April 09' Edition)
By an Amazon.com customer
Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz 8M L3 Cache 4.8GT/sec QPI Hyper-Threading Turbo Boost LGA1366 ProcessorIntel Core i7 920 2.66GHz 8M L3 Cache 4.8GT/sec QPI Hyper-Threading Turbo Boost LGA1366 Processor
Buy new: $288.99 / Used from: $249.98
Say hello to 920, intels cheepest core i7 processor. Don't let cheep fool you, this processor is by far the best deal for an i7 on the market. With a little air cooling and the right cpu cooling this thing can outpace the 965 easy.
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 X58 3-Way SLI Core i7 Motherboard with Tri-Channel DDR3 and Tuning UtilityEVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 X58 3-Way SLI Core i7 Motherboard with Tri-Channel DDR3 and Tuning Utility
Buy new: $320.22
When picking a new mother board the word "upgradability" should be the first word that pops into mind. With 3 way SLI, the ability to accept NVIDIA aswell as ATI, and DDR3 this mother board is perfect for future upgrades.
Cooler Master V8 Nickel Plated Copper Base Aluminum Fins 8 Heatpipes Core i7 1366 CPU Cooler - (RR-UV8-XBU1-GP)Cooler Master V8 Nickel Plated Copper Base Aluminum Fins 8 Heatpipes Core i7 1366 CPU Cooler - (RR-UV8-XBU1-GP)
Buy new: $39.99 / Used from: $40.99
After reading several reviews I am now happy to fully reccomend Cooler Masters V8 CPU cooler. If overclocking is your goal (and it should be) then don't skimp on cooling! Get a solid CPU cooler and overclock with peace of mind.
Cooler Master Cosmos ATX Full Tower Case Silver - (RC-1000-KSN1-GP)Cooler Master Cosmos ATX Full Tower Case Silver - (RC-1000-KSN1-GP)
Buy new: $199.99 / Used from: $140.00
Making an appearance again for the 3rd month in a row is Cooler Master's Cosmos 1000 full tower ATX case. This is by far one of the best designed luxury cases I have yet to see on the market. With too many features to list this case will keep you happy well into the future.
Corsair CMPSU-1000HX 1000-Watt HX Professional Series 80 Plus Certified Power Supply compatible with Core i7 and Core i5Corsair CMPSU-1000HX 1000-Watt HX Professional Series 80 Plus Certified Power Supply compatible with Core i7 and Core i5
Buy new: $245.09
When selecting a power supply do your self a huge favor and DO NOT skimp in this area. Nothing is worse than upgrading your rig to SLI only to find you dont have enough power or the right connections. Corsairs 1000w power supply will keep this and future systems fully energized for years to come.
Corsair TR3X6G1600C8D Dominator 6 GB 3 x 2 GB PC3-12800 1600MHz 240-Pin DDR3 Core i7 Memory KitCorsair TR3X6G1600C8D Dominator 6 GB 3 x 2 GB PC3-12800 1600MHz 240-Pin DDR3 Core i7 Memory Kit
Buy new: $204.98 / Used from: $160.00
When it comes to performance memory for a performance gaming rig the brand that gamers rely on is Corsair. At a fair price you will not be dissapointed in 6 GB's of 1600MHz DDR3 Corsair RAM. This highly overclockable RAM is the gamers first choice. (If you need you can save by going with the 1333MHz memory kit)
Western Digital 300 GB VelociRaptor SATA 10,000 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD3000HLFSWestern Digital 300 GB VelociRaptor SATA 10,000 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD3000HLFS
Buy new: $209.99 / Used from: $179.95
When picking hard drives your goal should be setting up a RAID 0 configuration. A fast hard drive speeds up boot times, load times and generally makes the computer operate smoothly. Buy two of these award winning drives for plently of space to run your OS and games.
Western Digital 2 TB Caviar Green SATA Intellipower 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD20EADSWestern Digital 2 TB Caviar Green SATA Intellipower 32 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive WD20EADS
Buy new: $199.95 / Used from: $183.99
(Optional) Need some extra space for your mass storage needs? Then look no farther than these drives. Large and fast these drives will handle your mass storage needs with ease. (Save $100 and go with two 1 TB's if you wish)
BFG BFGEGTX2951792E GeForce GTX 295 1792MB PCI Express 2.0 Graphics CardBFG BFGEGTX2951792E GeForce GTX 295 1792MB PCI Express 2.0 Graphics Card
The core to any gaming rig isn't the processor, the memory, or the hard drive, but the graphics card. The GTX 295 is the bleeding edge of graphics and no game can withstand it's ability to produce the most realistic graphical effects. Buy only one for now (two is overkill) and later when prices drop and demands rise buy a second for a little boost to performance.
LG Super Multi Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD-ROM Drive (GGC-H20L)LG Super Multi Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD-ROM Drive (GGC-H20L)
Buy used from: $179.99
A nice Blu-Ray & HD DVD Drive.
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card (70SB073A00000)Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Sound Card (70SB073A00000)
Buy new: $92.95 / Used from: $49.00
(Optional) Sure you could go with the sound card integrated into your mother board. That is is if you don't mind electrical interferance from your mother board, and sub par CPU reliant sound processing. With the Sound Blaster PCI express card you can enjoy sound the way it was meant to be.
Samsung SyncMaster 305T 30-inch LCD MonitorSamsung SyncMaster 305T 30-inch LCD Monitor
(Optional) Why spend thousands on the PC of your dreams only to skimp on a 19" monitor, even if you have two of them? Experiance games they way they were meant to be played at 2560x1900 resolution with all the settings maxed on a 30" high definition monitor! (You can also go with a cheeper 26-28" monitor if your on a budget)
Logitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker SystemLogitech Z-5500 THX-Certified 505-Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System
Buy new: $375.97 / Used from: $275.00
(Optional) Making an apperance for the second month in a row is Logitech's ... 505 watt speaker system. If the price is out of your budget you can also look at some of Logitech's cheeper 5.1 models that are excellent aswell.
Logitech G9 Laser MouseLogitech G9 Laser Mouse
Buy new: $59.95 / Used from: $47.99
(Optional) Control the game, don't let the game control you! Get that extra edge over your competation with an award winning gaming mouse. Logitech's G9 is one of the best gaming mice currently avaialble. Fully customizable you won't be disappointed with this mouse.
Logitech G19 Gaming KeyboardLogitech G19 Gaming Keyboard
Buy new: $169.99 / Used from: $139.99
(Optional) A fully programable keyboard is quickly becoming the gaming professional's standard. To this we turn to Logitech's brand new soon to be realeased G19 keyboard.
Logitech G13 Advanced GameboardLogitech G13 Advanced Gameboard
Buy new: $75.99 / Used from: $40.99
(Optional) A fully programable game board with LCD display and customizable lighting options.
Logitech G35 7.1-Channel Surround Sound HeadsetLogitech G35 7.1-Channel Surround Sound Headset
Buy new: $103.36
(Optional) Play allot of online games? Get the advantage with these 7.1 surround sound headphones with noise cancelling microphone.
CrysisCrysis
Buy new: $109.94 / Used from: $14.99
(Optional) Test out your ultimate gaming rig with one of the most demanding games ever created.