New Build for Gaming ($900)

[eetabee]

This will be used mainly for gaming, on a 1600x1050 monitor. I mainly play Warcraft now but I want it to be able to handle any new games that come out such as Diablo III, etc. I want it to be upgradeable as well, for example adding another Video Card somewhere down the line.

My budget is around $900, I can go slightly higher if the performance upgrade for doing so would be worth it.

Here is what I have so far:

Antec 900 - $110

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - $130

SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - $160 ($15 Rebate)

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $120 ($20 Rebate)

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - $188

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $50 ($20 Rebate)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $75

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - $100

Total = $933 - $55 Rebate = $878

Thanks for the help!

 

[Mrbumbum]

Looks good but I would possibly change a few things.

Get a 4870 512mb or 1gb if budget allows. $200 for 512mb and $240 for 1gb, before rebates. Getting a better gpu now, will enable you to upgrade better down the road. The 750tx you have listed will easily support 4870’s in crossfire.

If you plan to overclock, get an aftermarket cooler. ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro, works with p5q Pro and won’t break the bank.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=freezer+7+pro&x=0&y=0

I would consider changing the RAM, unless you know that it will work with the p5q pro, its not on qvl and I haven’t found any confirmation that it works. Prior boards I’ve used by Asus, were sometimes picky with RAM modules I would go with one of the following.

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500), its on QVL, reviews show it works correctly with p5q pro. Use promo code EMCBCBCBC $49.99 with the code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL121208&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL121208-_-DesktopMemory-_-L0D-_-20231166

or

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $49.99
While not on QVL, reviews indicate it works well with P5Q Pro (newegg reviews)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

 

[ryanb213]

get an e8400

 

[ryanb213]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.147991

and

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161236&nm_mc=OTC-Froogle&cm_mmc=OTC-Froogle-_-Video+Cards-_-Hightech+Information+System+Ltd.-_-14161236

and

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

this will game HARD!

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Your build looks good. That muskin RAM is very high quality and should work fine with the P5Q Pro. It's an amazing deal right now.

If you want an aftermarket cooler take a look at this one and its retention bracket. It will cool considerably better than the Freezer 7 Pro. It's also nice to firmly screw the cooler down with out worring about the push-pins.

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003 $28.99 - $10.00 MIR

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $8.49

 

[eetabee]

Ok, with a few changes I have:

Antec 900 - $110

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - $120 ($20 Rebate)

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $50 ($20 Rebate)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $75

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - $100

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - $274 Combo ($15 Rebate)

HIS Hightech H487F512P Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - $200 ($10 Rebate)

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - $28 ($10 Rebate)

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - $8

Total = $966 - $75 Rebate = $891

Any other suggestions? This is the first time I have attempted to build my own system so I don't want to mess it up

 

[aeiouandxyz]

i wouldnt bank on getting those rebates....

 

[eetabee]

The rebates mean very little, I mainly care about any suggestions people may have towards my planned build.