Attn PC People: I need a new computer!

[iamsam]

No, I am not going to get an Apple.

So I am looking for a new machine, I want to build it, so either a barebones kit, or I'll do it from scratch.

It needs to be in the $600 range, needs to run SolidWorks and possibly some awesome games.

I can get software for free, like Win7, Office2010, etc because I am "faculty" apparently at the University of Colorado.

So: What website to I go to? (Tiger and newegg are devoid of barebones kits, unless I can't find them for some reason). Barebones or scratch? Which CPU should I shoot for? There are so freaking many options out there and when I Google "barebone computer" i get hundreds of vendors.

Thanks guys

[InuFaye]

your not going to build something that runs solidworks well for 600 bucks.
an i7 by itself is 300 bucks.

I can build one out from scratch if you wish.

[iamsam]

your not going to build something that runs solidworks well for 600 bucks.
an i7 by itself is 300 bucks.

I can build one out from scratch if you wish.

I can do the building part, that is easy. I don't see why I can't make a machine run SW for $600, ok, $700, I would need a decent card. $600 seems to be the ballpark going rate for a barebones w/ an i7, 8 GB RAM, 1TB HDD, 600W PSU sort of deal.

I already have keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.

[InuFaye]

Do you have a case already with a decent PSU?

The problem with SW is that it needs a stupid quadro or fire gl for rendering shit out quickly.

Here is your mobo and cpu.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.798039

Im running this exact thing and im pushing 4.7ghz on air overclocked.

[iamsam]

Do you have a case already with a decent PSU?

The problem with SW is that it needs a stupid quadro or fire gl for rendering shit out quickly.

Here is your mobo and cpu.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.798039

Im running this exact thing and im pushing 4.7ghz on air overclocked.

No, the barebones kits I was referring to comes w/ a case and some sort of 600W PSU.

Is there a reason I should go with that i5 over an i7? Just cost? Is it worth the extra cost for an i7?

I am relatively ignorant when it comes to computers.

Also, why is that motherboard so expensive? I have seen other mobos at ~$30. Once again, please excuse my ignorance.

[lambo]

I just picked up an HP DV6 with an i7 processor, separate gpu, 750gb hd, bluray player, and a bunch of other biznass for $750. But, you'd be better off building your own since you seem to be looking for a desktop. With research it's not hard to piece together a system, with exactly 0 experience I was able to piece together an HTPC from scratch and build it.

[kalib0y]

they usually have awesome deals on refurbed, www.microcenter.com

[InuFaye]

That motherboard is going to allow you to overclock and will be way way way more reliable then a 30 dollar piece of shit chinatech mobo will let you go.

Think of it as buying lemforders vs. buying ebay junk.

i7 just adds hyperthreading which is only useful for encoding media and heavy multithreaded applications like photoshop, primier.

The barebones kit with that PSU might work okay but I recommend getting something better.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023

+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817152028

[TexasTerp]

Newegg has plenty of barebones kits. You just weren't looking in the right place.

This is the best setup you can put together around your budget:

AMD Phenom II X6 Barebones Kit

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1336880&CatId=5294

XFX HD-679X-ZDFC Radeon HD 6790 Graphics Card

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=188997&csid=_21

This setup brings to to just about $600 without an OS. If you are a student, then you should be able to buy Windows 7 from your school for dirt cheap. Overall it's a pretty damn good system to run what you need. I may recommend upgrading to a Corsair H50/70 Water cooled system later for another $80 or so, it keeps my heavily overclocked AMD Phenom Quad-core running around 20*C

[InuFaye]

AMD stuff is garbage now man.
I used to be a huge AMD fanboy but they just cant even hold a candle to intel anymore.

[iamsam]

InuFaye, that case and PSU looks good, just slap the mobo/cpu in that you linked earlier?

Terp, Is there a reason to go AMD rather than Intel? I know there are raging debates out there...

If newegg has plenty of barebones kits, link me to some!! I couldn't find any Intel ones anyway.

[iamsam]

AMD stuff is garbage now man.
I used to be a huge AMD fanboy but they just cant even hold a candle to intel anymore.

Well that answers my question above.

Again, I couldn't find much for Intel barebones on Newegg and Tiger.

[InuFaye]

I would slap those in there and grab 8gb of ram.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308

I would get a cheap nvidia gaming card.
It should do Solidworks fairly well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127573

[iamsam]

That's a cheap card?? yeesh..... ;)

What about this machine? It has the same processor that you linked earlier (inufaye)...

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=93097&CatId=333

[InuFaye]

Quadro cards are even crazier because they use special drivers.

Quadro cards go up to 2k.

Ive built some soildworks workstations before that were completely decked out.
Your looking at 2-3k per workstation.