Sub-$500 system

[hillsideneoguri]

I've done a lot of reading in the $300-600 budget threads and wanted to see if this particular combination of components would work and if they're the best bang for my buck. I already have a monitor, keyboard/mouse, speakers and hard drive. I'm hoping to be able to use this for a few years (basis for going quad core) with some gaming. I want to get as close as possible to $450 after shipping and rebates.


OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready Active PFC Power Supply - $44.99 after rebates

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM - $5.99

Patriot Extreme Performance 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $24.99 after rebates

EVGA 512-P3-N956-TR GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $39.99 after rebates

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - $49.95 after rebates

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - $179.99 after rebates

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - $89.99 after rebates

Total after rebates: $435.89
Total including shipping: $465.51

Thanks for all of your helpful posts in other threads and in this one too!

 

[effel]

OK, how's this look? There's a whopping 105 dollars in rebates!!!
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=10234806

You really SHOULD NOT get the 9500GT, its horrible. Also, don't think the Biostar motherboard is bad just by looking at it or not knowing who they are. Their P43/P45s turned out really good. I'm sure you could get a nicer power supply, or switch things around here or there, but you want to stick with the quad core, so that leaves you without much of a choice on other things. By the way, you certainly do not need a 600W psu, so I bumped it down to a 500w.

 

[geotech]

Go check out dell Refurbished and upgrade it.

 

[effel]

Go check out dell Refurbished and upgrade it.

DO NOT do this. When you buy dell anything, you're getting very low quality parts. When you buy dell refurbs, you're buying old, low quality parts. That just doesn't make sense, when the OP has the budget to get some very nice parts.

 

[hillsideneoguri]

Go check out dell Refurbished and upgrade it.

I've never had good experiences with Dells at home or in the office in terms of upgrading.

OK, how's this look? There's a whopping 105 dollars in rebates!!!
http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/PublicWishDetail.aspx?WishListNumber=10234806

You really SHOULD NOT get the 9500GT, its horrible. Also, don't think the Biostar motherboard is bad just by looking at it or not knowing who they are. Their P43/P45s turned out really good. I'm sure you could get a nicer power supply, or switch things around here or there, but you want to stick with the quad core, so that leaves you without much of a choice on other things. By the way, you certainly do not need a 600W psu, so I bumped it down to a 500w.

The items you picked look very good. I wasn't sure about the biostar motherboard or 9500GT either. I figured someone would be able to direct me towards better components--and you did. If I decided not to go with the Q6600, what else would be available?

Thanks!

Updated

By the way, you certainly do not need a 600W psu, so I bumped it down to a 500w.

Would 500W be enough to power everything in the cart + 3 SATA drives, 2 IDE hard drives and 2 DVD/RW drives?

 

[ohiou_grad_06]

Do NOT get the 9500 gt if gaming. 9600gt is better, but on a budget a 4670 is good too.