[CPU and other compenents] Advice of my first gaming pc build

Hi everyone. I have been looking around for a little while and i've decided to build my own PC instead of buying one.

Primary Use: Gaming. Mostly TF2, L4D, CoD, and games like those.
Budget: $500-$700, but I'd like to keep it as cheap as possible while retaining upgradability.
Store of choice: New Egg, Im in USA

I've just gotten back into gaming and would like to have a system that I can have fun on for a few years while not spending too much money. I have rounded up a few components that I think would work well for me, but I do not know very much about PCs. I do however have a lot of experience with other hardware (I am a 5th year EE student) so I feel completely comfortable building a PC.

Here are the components I have so far:
CPU - AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz $69
Mobo -ASRock A790GXH/128M AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard $91.99
GPU - SAPPHIRE 100258-1GL Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 $144.99
RAM - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit $54.99
Case - COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 $44.99
HDD - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM $74.99
Optical Drive - Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW $26.99
PSU - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W $94.49
Cooling - Scythe SY1225SL12M 120mm "Slipstream" Case Fan $8.99

Total price = $584.43

I am completely open to your suggestions, I just would like to know that I'm getting good value for my money and that this system would last a few years by allowing me to upgrade components. I am most concerned about the mobo, because I would like to be able to get a newer CPU later, as this mobo is AM2+ socket, and would like to have to option to OC or run crossfire if I fell I need to.

Thanks for your input,
Matt

+1 to jj463rd
Also you should buy Antec 300 instead of Coolermaster. Has a much better airflow. For the optical driver, I suggest something different but not Sony. Let say maybe Samsung.

Radeon HD 4830 (512Mb): $80 AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102822

If you are gaming below 16x10 the 1Gb cards won't do much for yah. 2 x 4830s would be sweet . Yah probably won't find an HD 4770 - might have to wait 2-3 weeks - LOL

With all that extra cash ----->> PhII 720BE/Gigabyte 790x: $219
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.190734

Thanks for the replies. The monitor I have is 22inch 1680x1050 its new so I dont plan on buying anything bigger any time soon. Ill switch out the coolermaster for the antec 300 and a samsung DVD burner.

As for the GPU, will the 4770 be fine for more than just source games? Ive seen some reviews on it and it does look pretty comparable to the 4850. I can afford to spend a little more though, so is it worth saving the $100 and getting the 4770 instead?

wisecracker, that combo is only about $60 more than my mobo+CPU so I could get that instead without choosing a cheaper GPU and still be within the budget. Is the triple core that much better?

Thanks again guys for the input. Im trying to learn everything i can about this stuff. So maybe get the 4770 and the triple core instead or stick with a 512MB 4850?

The 4850 512Mb is down in the $100-$110 range at the Egg this weekend. It will whup the 4770 but run much warmer. At 1680x1050 in the overwhelming majority of games (ie, not Crysis - LOL) 512Mb will be just dandy - what little gain from a 1Gb card can be overcome with a slight OC.

Phenom II X3 720BE & CrossFire X Performance
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdo [...] i=3533&p=9


For the extra $20-$30 with the PhII 720 / Gigabyte 790x and your choice of vid cards you will be in great shape. The reason I suggested the HD4830 is because it's cheap and with a CrossFire you will rule (but the same can be said for an 4850 CrossFire and the new HD 4770, fer sure)

Yes you can buy something cheaper like Antec or Hiper but you should take in consideration that Corsair has 5 year warranty so you can use this psu on your next pc easily.