APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: within a couple days
BUDGET RANGE: US$650-750
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: games (CoD and other shooters), surfing the net, student use
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: monitor, mouse, keyboard, speakers
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com
PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type most likely AMD, or if there's cheap intel
OVERCLOCKING: preferably no /
MONITOR RESOLUTION: not sure, it was a cheaper hanns g 19'
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I have a premade list, just want some other people's opinion on it, and suggestions if possible.
Processor:
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103680 I don't plan on overclocking this, since it's already 3.1 ghz, which is fast, but for the sake of future games requiring faster cpu speeds, i read this is a great overclocker and has a possibility to unlock 4 cores. I'd probably buy an additional heatsink/fan if I do overclock it, but that won't be til a few years down the road, if I do at all, I read it's not good for the processor.
Does this look good? If you have any suggestions, show me a link at newegg.com please. Thanks...Oh and this isn't suppose to be a dominant gaming PC, just a fairly good one. Total comes to just under $700, so if you make a sugestion, keep it in that range.
I'm not sure how much you're under budget but why don't you go with the Sapphire 4870 1GB? Its only $20 more... and it allows you to upgrade to a better monitor and not lose as much frames as the 9800GTX...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102801
500W might not be enough. Upgrade to 600W or higher. PSUs degrade in time and RAIDMAX isn't a top quality brand.
Consider:
A DDR3 MOBO
DDR3 RAM
It'll break your budget now but DDR2 RAM will eventually be replaced by DDR3 RAM and DDR2 RAM will only get more expensive.
The ati 4850 is just as powerful as the 9800gtx+ in most games, so at a cheaper price you might as well get the 4850. I would replace that powersupply with something from PC power and cooling, antec, corsair, or a few others that I forgot :~ A good power supply won't burn out your computer like a bad one could. It isn't worth it being cheap with the psu.
Get a 4850. Wont affect the performance and is cheaper than 9800 GTX+.
With the money saved, get a 550 W power supply MINIMUM from Corsair, PC P&C, Antec, Seasonic, OCZ etc.
If you decide to go for cooler master though, make sure you get real power. Avoid Extremem power at all costs as it is known to bring several systems down and is VERY unreliable.