550-600$ budget - gaming

[revox]

hello
I'm buying a new PC for gaming
OC - yes
monitor - 17" ( 1280*1024 resolution )
future upgrade - No
I want this PC to stay alive at least 2 years in the good world of gaming ( high - very high ) ...then medium ( total almost 4 years to last )

I can buy something like this :
1 )
AMD x3 720 / x2 550
antec 300 case
nvidia 260 gtx gainward GS / ati iceq4 4870 1gb
hard 640gb WD
gigabyte mobo ( am2+ )
4 gb ddr2
corsair 550 W

2 )
intel Q9400 / Amd x4 810
same case
4850 vapor-x / 250gts
same hard, same 4gb, same PCU
mobo 775 or am2+

I'm not going to put money in this PC in the future so I want it to last
At my resolution how much time a board like 260gtx/4870 will last at high settings?
PS : I'm not buying from neweeg but you can help me configure a PC from there

 

[revox]

the 3rd option
I can buy also AMD x4 940 with 4850/250gts
same parts ( hard, case...)

I need help in what to buy

sorry for 2xPost

 

[gkay09]

I would stick with the 2ND or 3rd option - X4 940/ Q9400, which ever is cheaper...

For you resolution and upto 1650X1050 resolution, the HD 4850/ GTS 250 can play the current games and maybe some future games(Maybe a 1-year duration) @ High settings easy...

And the GTX 260/ HD 4870 1GB a bit longer...

You can save some money by getting the Antec EA500/ OCZ Modextreme PRO 500W PSU as they both can handle even HD 4890 without any problems...
And with the money saved, get the 4870 1GB...

But having read in many articles that ATI is going to launch newer DirectX 11 cards( Even cheaper mainstream cards), I would suggest you spend very little in the graphics department for now, save money and maybe within an year get the newer cards...