[New System Build] $800 AM3 x3 720 Gaming Computer

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 1~2 Weeks

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: 95% Gaming, other 5% web surfing, occasional movies.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: No OS Required, I Plan on using Windows 7 RC

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: prefer newegg.com but other sites ok.

PARTS PREFERENCES: Doesn't matter

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes, later though

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080 [Full HDMI 1080p]




Antec 300 and Antec EA 500W PSU Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.197378
$105

Phenom II x3 720 and Asus AM3 M4A78T-E 790GX Mobo Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.203011
$195

Asus 21.5" WS HD 1080p monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824236051
$180

HIS IceQ4 Turbo 4850 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161245
$130

G.Skill 2X2GB DDR3 1333 Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231189
$65

WD Caviar 640GB 32MB HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319
$75

Samsung Sata DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151171
$25

120mm Core Contact Freezer -//- TX-2 Thermal Paste
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835207004
$40



Grand Total: $825 (- $45 MIR)

Feedback? I can probably spend a little over $900 BEFORE rebates if need be, but I'd rather keep the costs as low as possible.


QUESTIONS:

I plan on getting another iceq4 4850 later on and crossfiring my build. Would the EA 500W be enough? 550W is the recommended PSU for crossfiring.

Is it that important that I have to buy a corsair 650tx because right now, I'm getting a really good deal on the antec case and psu combo.

When crossfiring, the 8x/8x wouldn't affect 4850's that much right? Maybe like a 1-3 fps decrease?

4850, 85 bucks with promo code before rebate:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102824

Don't bother with the 1GB version. Save the money, get the 650TX in combo with the bigger and better cooled CM 690:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.200608

For 5 bucks more you can get OCZ Platinum that runs at CAS 7, and you can probably set it at CAS 6 at 1333. perhaps a future AMD CPU will take advantage of 1600mhz RAM , who knows:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227297

That's the way I would do it you have to move fast on the 4850 though.

No, that's an AM3 board.

If you are planning on going SLi and or Crossfire then you picked the wrong motherboard. Below is the board you should of picked.

Phenom II x3 720 and ASUS M4N82 Deluxe AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.198677
Combo Price: $273.99

For Ram I would go with these below, CAS4 and stock voltage of 1.8 thru 1.9.
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.203011
$54.99 Free Shipping

I put these in an Intel Maximus II Formula, I built for a friend. Running 2kits totaling 8gb running at 1.85v stock voltage, using Vista Ultimate 64-bit OS. Also if you do wish to OC the ram, you can by changing the timings to 5-5-5-12 and increase the voltage to 2.1v to get them to run at 1066.

Good Luck on your build.

why is this motherboard not good for crossfiring? because of the 8x/8x lanes?