PC Design Guide: Under $2500

Build a ridiculously powerful workhorse/gaming machine for under $2500AUD!

Building a new system can become tedious very quickly. Choosing suitable parts requires a fair amount of research, or there’s the option of buying a pre-built OEM machine. Building a PC yourself can save a fair bit of money whilst ensuring maximum performance per dollar. Below is a build for under $2500AUD which is suitable for a wide range of tasks. Games play silky smooth, video encodes quickly, and everything feels lightning fast. Prices are from StaticICE, where the first 10 results (minus outliers) are averaged for the final price. The build does not include external peripherals or an OS.

CPU: Core i7 920 D0 - $383
Motherboard: Asus P6T Deluxe - $439
RAM: 3 x 2GB G.Skill 1333MHz Kit - $129
GPU: POV 1.8GB GTX295 - $621
HDD: 3 x Seagate 1TB - $360
DVD-RW: Pioneer DVR-217BK 20x - $42
PSU: Corsair HX 620 – $171
Case: SilverStone Raven Black RV01 – $251
Cooler: Thermalright Ultra 120 eXtreme 1366 RT - $96

Total: $2492

This system utilises the most powerful platform on the market - Core i7. This platform, created by Intel, has been implemented by selecting the i920 (D0 stepping) CPU for the build list, along with the popular Asus P6T Deluxe motherboard. The speed of this system is sure to impress, even at stock clock speed. Despite this, the D0 stepping allows the i920 to overclock to 4GHz with minimal tweaking! Not bad from a mere 2.6GHz stock!

6GB of 1333MHz DDR3 RAM will cater for all your memory needs, whilst three high speed Seagate 1TB HDDs store all your permanent data.

But the real power comes down to the Nvidia GTX295 GPU. This set up will blitz through all your gaming needs, as you'd expect from the most powerful GPU on the market! Being an Nvidia card, it supports the use of PhysX and CUDA - a great addition for those who use software which utilise said technologies.

The optical drive is the enthusiast favourite Pioneer DVR-217, powered with the 80PLUS certified Corsair HX-620.

The 1366 model of the ThermalRight Ultra eXtreme is included to take the system to 4GHz without it overheating. It includes a high airflow fan to help dissipate the heat.

Lastly, the ingenious design of the Silverstone Raven RV01 provides a high airflow case with positive air pressure and lots of room to work with. It's a case that demands respect, whilst providing near silent operation so you can work in peace.

A must have for those who need extreme performance for work and play. :)

Note: I've had an enquiry as to why all these builds are gamer orientated. I've done this to ensure that each system is capable of demanding tasks, and gaming is typically the most demanding of all. If you don't intend to game on these machines, simply swap the GPU for a lower end model. Cheers!