Hey fellas, here is your chance to show off your skills and win some money. Here's the deal, whoever builds the best gaming machine for the cheapest cost before the Contest End Date will win $20 US Dollars via paypal just to show my appreciation. I might increase the winning amount depending on the winning entry.

My budget is a maximum of $1200 CAN Dollars and I will only need the following components:

1) Motherboard
2) Processor
3) Video Card
4) Hard Disk
5) Ram
6) Cooling components
7) If the motherboard doesn't have good sound then a decent sound card
8) Any other necessary components, excluding the case

Contest End Date: Sunday, December 16, 12:00 AM EST

Now the reason I only need the above components is that I'm going to take these components to Pakistan and build the system there so I'm not sure if other components (power supply) will work in Pakistan. If you have any suggestion or knowledge about that then please let me know.

I will select the winner mainly with the help of the following calculator:

http://www.ut2341.com/UT3SystemScore/

Whoever gets the highest score in the above calculator, without over clocking, with the lowest cost, including shipping+handling will win the contest. You must only select components from a Canadian based website like www.tigerdirect.ca, www.directcanada.com, www.ncix.com, etc.

I will be posting this contest on other forums as well and post the winning entry here, so it's going to be a tough competition.

Good luck to all who participate!

P.S I will greatly appreciate it if a staff member can sticky this thread until the contest is over.

I like helping people put systems together but I'm not really into it as a competition nor do I think one games scanner will help you get the best overall system or value.

My last build scores 25.466806701000003 on that scan: 23-25 Highest | 26+ Crank Up That Res, F'er!

I spent @ $2,500 US on those parts (including PSU and case).

Parts always get cheaper as they are replaced by the next generation.

Anyway I wish you well. If I find the time I might suggest some specifics.


...

Is no one interested in this?

Cmon people help me out to help yourselves

Pakistan's household current is 220 Volts. Most every PSU has a switch form 110/220.
Pakistan however has a wall plug that you will need to find an adapter for. Should not be hard to find.

Pakistan 220V 50 Hz C & D

http://www.travel-images.com/electric-plugs.html

...........

We have helped many people build systems here at D-A-L and we can help you.

As I mentioned I do not think the competition idea is very constructive.

We need a lot of feed back and you need to make a lot of choices.

The last complete build I helped on I think we shuffled three or four motherboards and processors in order to stay the budget as well as supply the best product combination.

This can not be done with a third party scan. It requires your input as well. It requires dialog.

Anyway please ask if you want further input. This process also takes time and patience.

The components you select don't have to be in the calculator although it is preferred. So do you have a build in mind?

$1129.91

1) Motherboard > Intel 975XBX2KR > $243.99

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...503&CatId=2438

2) Processor > Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 > $365.99

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...=CP1-DUO-E6850

3) Video Card > XFX GeForce 8800 GT > $329.97

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...120&CatId=1826

4) Hard Disk > Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 500GB > $119.97

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...3393&CatId=139

5) Ram > Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz E.P.P. > $69.99*

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...874&CatId=2264


You still need DVD/CD and PSU (minimum 600 Watts) and case.

Wouldn't you rather have one of the following for the motherboard:

http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...594&CatId=2014

OR

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=25369

And the following for the processor:

http://www.ncix.com/products/index.php?sku=22211

Much cheaper and better than your suggestions ... no ?

The first motherboard is very comparable and a great deal at half price.

The CPU is a good question. That Kentsfield is the last CPU I installed and looking back I might have chosen the Conroe.

Many 680sli boards (which I also have) have had heavy issues with the Kentsfields.

My board was RMA'd due to quad core issues and also has seen 8 new BIOS over the course of a year.

So it is questionable to me.

I think my next upgrade will see the Kentsfield go to a new motherboard and the 680sli to get a Conroe.

The second board you link is not even in the same league.

The Intel board I first posted is a very high end board and probably beyond what you need.

The third PCI_E slot and architecture enable and assume dual SLi graphics cards sandwiching a physics card for the ultimate graphics engine.

But the board you list is a very great deal as well as a good board!