$1,000 for new desk top computer---help

eddieg50

 

B69-1417 ::MSI Z77A-G45 Intel 7 Series Z77 Motherboard and Intel Core i5-3570K 3.40 GHz Quad Core Unlocked and MSI DH-24AAS-17 Internal DVD Writer and Kingston HyperX 8GB DDR3 Desktop Memory Kit and Seaga Bundle(26.55 lbs)

    I am looking for a desk top computer for 1,000 and saw this, at newegg, anyone have any thoughts?  A little worried about the case cause of the reviews but everything else seems good.  Should I get windows Professional 7 over home premium?  I ask cause I also play alot of old games such as BG2 and want to make sure those will play

Quizzical

The trouble with combo deals is that unless you want every single part in the combo, wasting money on parts you don't want overwhelms the combo discount.  For a two-part combo, you can often find deals where you want both of the parts.  But for six or eight parts, it doesn't often happen.  In particular, you don't want an Ultra LSP750.  Or at least you shouldn't.

All prices including shipping and before rebates:

Processor/motherboard combo deal:  $345

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1018353

There's also a $15 off promo code on the processor, but I'm not sure if you can combine it with the combo deal.

Power supply:  $80

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182071

Do use the $20 off promo code.

Case/hard drive combo deal:  $140, before a $15 rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.1014271

Optical drive:  $18

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289

Memory:  $41

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231416

Again, use the promo code.

Video card:  $272, before a $30 rebate

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161410

Another promo code for you to use.  And it comes with a free game, too.

Processor heatsink/fan:  $20

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103065

Because the stock cooler is terrible.

Operating system:  $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

Total:  $1016 or $1001, depending on whether you can get the promo code on the processor, before $45 in mail-in rebates.

If you take out the processor heatsink/fan and the OS (which the Tiger Direct combo deal doesn't include), it's either $10 more expensive or $5 cheaper than the Tiger Direct combo deal before rebates, and has $15 less in rebates.  For that price, you get the same processor, a substantially better motherboard, equivalent memory, an equivalent optical drive, a much better video card (~50% faster while using less power), an equivalent hard drive, a much better case, and a massively better power supply.  The difference in power supplies is really important, as an Ultra LSP750 is junk.

I didn't manage to squeeze in a solid state drive above, and it would be really nice to have one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227706

That's $95 before a $15 mail-in rebate.

One way to squeeze it in is to just go over budget.  It's not really that far over budget after you subtract off the rebates.  If you don't need very much capacity, you could skip the hard drive and just get an SSD.  If you're not going to overclock the processor, you could give up the aftermarket heatsink and fan.

eddieg50

Thanks Quiz for your advise, dont know if I am ready to order by the 31 today, but appreciate the input.  You seem to like the ati 7870. I plan to run my games on a 23 inch screen with a 1920 by 1080 res, should I save money and get a less expensive card?