Better deal to build a system around?

[Guest]

I've been thinking about building a low cost gaming system for quite awhile now but have held off because of cost. I would love to stay <$400.

With Windows 7 RC being out now I was thinking that would save me some money and might allow me to fit everything in my budget.

I saw these 2 combos that might be good to build around:

http://www.frys-electronics-ads.com/ads/2009/05/08/42392/AMD-Phenom-II-X3-720-Black-BioStar-A7600G-M2-Motherboard

http://www.frys-electronics-ads.com/ads/2009/05/08/42391/Intel-Pentium-Dual-Core-Processor-E5300-Asus-P5KPL-CM-Motherboard

To me both of these deals seem really good but I wanted to get some input from others about it.

As far as the total build goes I have a moniter, keyboard, and mouse but everything else I'm going to need. The majority of gaming I do is WoW.

 

[Helloworld_98]

the first combo would be the best since WoW supports three cores and the cpu is generally better anyway, however you won't get very much OC potential due to the board and for $50 more you could get a nice oc'ing board and cpu combo from newegg.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You're still pushing it with a $400 budget. Here's about the best I could do with each combo:

E5200 Fry's combo $99.99

G.SKILL HK 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231219 $49.99

WESTERN DIGITAL WD3200AAKS 320GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive Bulk
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005615&prodlist=celebros $51.99

SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835 $104.99

Rosewill Wind Ryder RZLS142A-P BK Dual 120mm Cooling Fans and Mesh Design Front Panel Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147114 $44.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 $54.99 $10.00 (+ an extra 20% (about $11) off with promo code "Maypsu20"

Total - $406.94 - $10 MIR & $11 PSU promo code


Phenom II X3 720 combo $159.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 $58.99

WESTERN DIGITAL WD3200AAKS 320GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive Bulk
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005615&prodlist=celebros $51.99

SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835 $104.99

Rosewill Wind Ryder RZLS142A-P BK Dual 120mm Cooling Fans and Mesh Design Front Panel Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147114 $44.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008 $54.99 - $10.00 MIR (+ an extra 20% (about $11) off with promo code "Maypsu20"

Total - $475.94 - $10 MIR & $11 PSU promo code

This case would be a nice upgrade, but costs about $14 more:

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=antec%20300 $58.95

You would also probably want a SATA DVD burner which adds another ~$25.

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153 $24.99

or

SAMSUNG 22X DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S223F - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171 $24.99 - 10% with promo code "BHD5139" (ends today)

 

[peepingyoda]

http://www.frys-electronics-ads.co [...] otherboard

I saw this deal as well. Can you overclock at all with this board? How much better would a deal like this be:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.190738

 

[Helloworld_98]

^ a lot better, biostar's are some of the best oc'ing boards you can buy.

 

[batuchka]

+1 for that biostar combo: good to go paired with a good GPU for 1920 x 1200 AA/AF with the big boys!