PC Buying Guide - September 2008

The price slash continues for the gamer community with one major GPU release after another. Finally we have a reason to invest in a gaming PC once again due to advent of mega titles like GRID, Mass Effect and a lot more to follow.. Today, let's take a look at an differant level setup's which will let you play the games at good frame rate acc. to money spent, We make sure u get best bang for buck. So let's get rolling. Version 8.09 - September 2008

General Purpose Office Machine + 24/7 Downloading (Budget 15k)

Motherboard: Asus M2NMX SE 2.2k
Processor: Sempron LE1200 1.4k
RAM: Transcend 2x512MB DDR2 667MHz 1.2k
GPU: Onboard N.A.
HDD: Seagate 160GB SATAII 1.9k
Cabinet: Zebronics Bijli ATX w/ bundled 400W SMPS 1.7k
SMPS: N.A.
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Creative SBS 2.0 .5k
Monitor: L.G. 17" 700E 4.5k (Better use KVM Switch if U have Primary rig)
Keyboard: Samsung Pleomax .2k
Mouse: Logitech Optical .4k

General Purpose Home Machine + Casual Gamer (Budget 28k)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-G31M-S2L 2.7k
Processor: Intel Pentium Dual Core E2160 2.4k
RAM: Transcend 2x1GB DDR2 800MHz 1.8k
GPU: Xpert Vision HD 3650 512MB 3.2k
HDD: Seagate 250GB ST3250310AS SATAII 2.3k
Cabinet: CM Elite 330 + CM Extreme Plus 460W (Combo) 3.7k
SMPS: CM Elite 330 + CM Extreme Plus 460W (Combo)
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Creative Inspire 2.1 M2600 1.8k
Monitor: ViewSonic 19" VG1930WM / Dell SE198WFP / L.G. L194WT 8.5k
Keyboard: Samsung Pleomax .2k
Mouse: Logitech Optical .4k

Low End Gaming Rig (Budget 39k)

Motherboard: Biostar TP35D2-A7 4.5k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E5200 3.9k
Cooling: OCZ Vanquisher 1.2k
RAM: Transcend 2x1GB DDR2 800MHz 1.8k
GPU: Xpert Vision HD 3850 512MB 5.4k
HDD: Seagate 7200.11 500GB ST3500320AS SATAII 2.9k
Cabinet: Cooler Master Elite 33X ATX 1.7k
SMPS: Corsair VX 450W 3.2k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Altech Lansing VS4121 2.6k
Monitor: ViewSonic 19" VG1930WM / Dell SE198WFP / L.G. L194WT 8.5k
Keyboard: Logitech Multimedia .5k
Mouse: Logitech MX518 1.35k

Low End Gaming Rig (Budget 44k)

Motherboard: Abit IP35-E 5.4k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 5.2k
Cooling: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro 1.6k
RAM: Transcend 2x1GB DDR2 800MHz 1.8k
GPU: Palit 9800GT 512MB DDR3 7.5k
HDD: Seagate 7200.11 500GB ST3500320AS SATAII 2.9k
Cabinet: Cooler Master Elite 33X ATX 1.7k
SMPS: Corsair VX 450W 3.2k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Altech Lansing VS4121 2.6k
Monitor: ViewSonic 19" VG1930WM / Dell SE198WFP / L.G. L194WT 8.5k
Keyboard: Logitech Multimedia .5k
Mouse: Logitech MX518 1.35k

Med End Gaming Rig + 3D Work (Budget 65k)

Motherboard: Asus P5Q 7.5k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 9k
Cooling: Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer 2k
RAM: Transcend 2x2GB DDR2 800MHz 3.6k
GPU: Xpert Vision HD 4850 512MB 9.6k
HDD: Western Digital 640GB SATAII 3.6k
Cabinet: Cooler Master 590 ATX 3.6k
SMPS: Cooler Master Real Power Pro 550W 4.95k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Edifier C3 2.1Ch 5.2k
Monitor: Dell 22" US2208WFP / SP2208WFP / L.G. L226WTQ 12-15k
Keyboard: Logitech Multimedia .5k
Mouse: Logitech MX518 1.35k
Mouse Pad: Razer Mantis Speed/Control 1.1k

Med End Gaming Rig (Budget 65k)

Motherboard: Asus P5Q 7.5k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 7.6k
Cooling: Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer 2k
RAM: Transcend 2x2GB DDR2 800MHz 3.6k
GPU: Xpert Vision HD 4850 512MB 9.6k
HDD: Western Digital 640GB SATAII 3.6k
Cabinet: Cooler Master 590 ATX 3.6k
SMPS: Cooler Master Real Power Pro 550W 4.95k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Edifier C3 2.1Ch 5.2k
Monitor: Dell 22" US2208WFP / SP2208WFP / L.G. L226WTQ 12-15k
Keyboard: Logitech Multimedia .5k
Mouse: Logitech MX518 1.35k
Mouse Pad: Razer Mantis Speed/Control 1.1k

Med End Gaming Rig (Budget 85k)

Motherboard: Asus P5Q PRO 8.5k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 8.6k
Cooling: Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer 2k
RAM: Gskill 4GB 2x2GB 1000MHz 5k
GPU: GeCube HD 4870 512MB GDDR5 16.9k
HDD: Western Digital 640GB SATAII 3.6k
Cabinet: Cooler Master 690 ATX 4k
SMPS: Corsair TX 650W / HX 620W Modular 6.2k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Altech Lansing MX5021 6.5k
Monitor: Dell 24" E248WFP 18-20k
Keyboard: Logitech Multimedia .5k
Mouse: Logitech MX518 1.3k
Mouse Pad: Razer Mantis Speed/Control 1.1k

Med - High End Gaming Rig (125k)

Motherboard: Asus P5Q E 10k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 15.4k
Cooling: Sunbeamtech Core-Contact Freezer 2k
RAM: Gskill 2x2GB 1000MHz 5k
GPU: BFG GTX 280 1GB GDDR3 23k
HDD: Western Digital 640GB SATAII 3.6k
Cabinet: KMD 690 ATX 4.8k
SMPS: Corsair TX 650W / HX 620W Modular 6.2k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 5.1Ch 18k
Monitor: Dell 24" US2408WFP / LG 24" L246WP
Keyboard: Logitech G15 4.3k
Mouse: SteelSeries Ikari Optical 3.9k
Mouse Pad: SteelSeries QcK Mousepad .85k

High End Gaming Rig (145k)

Motherboard: Asus P5Q Deluxe 11.5k
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 15.4k
Cooling: Thermalright Ultra 120 Black Edition 3.5k
RAM: Gskill 4GB 2x2GB 1000MHz 5k
GPU: VisionTek/Sapphire/Powercolor HD 4870 X2 2GB GDDR5 30k
HDD: Western Digital 640GB SATAII 3.6k
Cabinet: Cooler Master Stacker 830 Evo 13k
SMPS: Corsair TX 750W / Tagan BZ 800W Modular 7.5-8.5k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 5.1Ch 18k
Monitor: Dell 24" US2408WFP / LG 24" L246WP
Keyboard: Logitech G15 4.3k
Mouse: SteelSeries Ikari Optical 3.9k
Mouse Pad: SteelSeries QcK Mousepad .85k

Ultra High End Gaming Rig

Preferred -

Motherboard: Gigabyte X48-DQ6
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650
Cooling: Custom Water Cooled
RAM: OCZ FLEX II 2x2GB DDR2 1150MHz
GPU: HD 4870 X2 2GB GDDR5 QuadFIRE
HDD: Seagate 500GB 7200.11 X 2 RAID 0, Western Digital 640GB SATAII
Cabinet: Cooler Master Cosmos S
SMPS: Corsair HX 1000W Modular
Optical Drive: Pioneer 20x IDE
Secondary: LITE-ON SATA Blu-ray DVD-ROM
Speakers: Custom Audio Setup
Moniter: Dell 30" 3008WFP
Mouse Pad: Razer Goliathus Large

Alternative Option -

Motherboard: EVGA 790i Ultra SLi
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad QX9650
Cooling: Custom Water Cooled
RAM: GSkill 2x2GB DDR3 1600MHz
GPU: EVGA/BFG/XFX GTX280 Tri SLi
HDD: Seagate 500GB 7200.11 X 2 RAID 0, Western Digital 640GB SATAII
Cabinet: Cooler Master Cosmos S
SMPS: Corsair HX 1000W
Optical Drive: Pioneer 20x IDE
Secondary: LITE-ON SATA Blu-ray DVD-ROM
Speakers: Custom Audio Setup
Moniter: Dell 30" 3008WFP
Mouse Pad: Razer Goliathus Large

Home Theater Enthusiast (Hybrid Crossfire)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H 4.5k
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+ 3k
RAM: Gskill 2X1GB DDR2 800MHz 2.5k
GPU: Gecube HD3450 256MB GDDR2 HDMI 2.8k
HDD: Western Digital 640GB SATAII 3.6k
Cabinet: Zebronics Pro Cube mATX
TV Tuner: Hauppauge PVR 150 + MCE Remote
SMPS: Corsair VX 450W 3.2k
Optical Drive: L.G. H62N 20x IDE / Samsung 203B/D 20x SATA 1.2k
Speakers: AudioEngine AE2 2.0 9k
Moniter: Get Bigger LCD TV / Plasma for better enjoyment
Keyboard: Logitech Bluetooth Dinovo Ultra Flat Keyboard 3.2k
Mouse: Logitech MX Revolution 5k

Cost of operating system extra, TE is against piracy. Windows XP is most preffered OS rock solid, Vista if U have dedicated GPU + 4GB RAM. Linux is free of cost.

Discuss CONS & PROs of above configs here, UR suggestions r welcome