High Perfomance System Around $600

[evolved]

I am planning to buy a system excluding a monitor keyboard and speakers.

Only the following seven part will be purchased:

processor
motherboard
graphics card
hard drive
RAM
optical drive
case without power supply

they add to about 600 dollars after rebate and are all from newegg.com.

processor
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80580Q8400 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115057

mobo
ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131377

video card
PNY VCGGTX260CXPB GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133270

ram
CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

hard drive
Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136075

optical drive
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black IDE Model GH22LP20 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136147

case
Rosewill R226-P-BK 120mm Fan ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147110

I'm not really a big gamer. I will probably play games like need for speed most wanted or half life 2. Otherwise, I'm just using my computer for ordinary tasks. I might try crysis or other demanding games just to test them out, but not really play them seriously. I am getting a high-end video card because I might be playing some demanding games down the road.

I do not intend on using SLI and I do not intend on overclocking anything

My budget is between 500-600, and I am at the very edge of the high end.

Any suggestions on cheaper parts deals or better parts at the same price would be appreciated

Also if you notice any incompatibilities with the system please don't hesitate to point them out.

Please comment on if the this is a good system for the price

Lastly, I need to know what is the minimum wattage power supply I need for this system. If anyone knows a good deal on a good power supply for this build, please post the links to them.

Thanks for any feedback.

 

[xthekidx]

Buying a moderate to high end card now so that you can play graphically intense games down the road is not a good plan of action, as those games will require more than what you are buying now. I would just go basic on the GPU front, like a 9800GT. That would be plenty for your games right now, when you do want to play intense games you can upgrade.

That motherboard is way more expensive than you need, this would suffice for an intel build:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380&Tpk=ep43

Phenom II will get you much more for your money. The PII 940 is about the same price as the Q8400 and much faster, especially since it doesn't look like you will overclock, that is a much better option. Do this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.201175
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

That HDD you chose is old and slow, get something newer like the WD6401AALS or WD3200AAKS at a minimum.

 

[macabre215]

4870 is more bang for buck right now

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010487

Go with the X4 940 is you're going to spend 185 bucks on a cpu.

 

[macabre215]

Also you would want DDR2 1066 for better overclocking potential, spending around 600 dollars for a system you are going to want to overclock.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

 

[xthekidx]

4870 is more bang for buck right now

http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010487

Go with the X4 940 is you're going to spend 185 bucks on a cpu.

Its a better deal at newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128376

But that is besides the point, I think that going with a higher end GPU now is a waste if you don't play any of those games much. A 9800GT or a 4830 would be plenty.

 

[huron]

+1 for the Phenom II suggestion - you can get on for $150 and can save $15 if you buy today (24-hour deal at newegg.com) - that's only $135...nice

I wouldn't get 1066 RAM (unless you were thinking DDR3) - you'd have to push pretty decently to get up to the 1066, and DDR2 800 is overclockable as well (in fact, many 1066 kits are just factory OCed 800 kits). Get quality RAM (either 800 or 1066) that is near the standard 1.8v with good timings.

I agree about the GPU - get a decent one now. Upgrade if you ever choose to push it - by then, much better solutions will be out there. The 4770 is a good value right now (or 4670 ($60 ish) for more mainstream/less intense gaming).