600-725 gaming machine!

[wolfofruin]

I want to maximize my gaming potential in the $600-725 price range with parts off of new egg. I own a monitor (20 inch) and cd drive. I don't care about the case design or brand of parts. I own an external harddrive for storing music/files, so having tons of hd space isn't important to me. I'm comfortable with overclocking to reach the best price/perfornance. Here is one I put together but changes welcome!

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply - Retail
CASE http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062
$79.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
CPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
$189.99

BIOSTAR TForce TP43 HP LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard
M.B. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138126R
$69.99

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996599 - Retail
RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146785
$61.99

SAPPHIRE 100270SR Radeon HD 4850 X2 2GB 512-bit (256-bit x 2) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
GPU http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102809
$219.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
HD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261
$44.99

$667ish

Tips? go Quad? Tri? Possible for a comparable system that is more upgrade ready?

Thanks!

 

[jbakerlent]

This HDD has a bigger platter, double the cache, and a more GB for five dollars more... and I prefer WD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

As far as the CPU goes I would recommend this triple core: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

with this motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136067

and this RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227336

and this graphics card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150394

Let me know what you think... I just think this system will serve you better now and in the future.

 

[wolfofruin]

Do you think the case I have picked out would be able to supple enough power/cooling for those parts with some overclocking?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The first thing that MUST go is that POS Raidmax PSU. You definitely want a quality PSU to the power the system or you risk frying your fancy new components. I would also avoid the LGA775 socket since it's "dead". The 4850x2 is complete overkill for a 20" monitor. This system would work great with that size monitor and is ready to add another GPU in crossfire later if needed:

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 $54.95

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649&Tpk=phenom%20ii%20720

ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205337 $204.99 - $15.00 MIR (CPU + motherboard combo)

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ3P1600EB4GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227286 $74.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074&Tpk=wd3200aaks $49.99

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $149.99 - $10.00 MIR

PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply compatible with core i7 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009 $99.99

LG GH22NS40 22X SATA DVD Burner Black Drive Bulk
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10010555&prodlist=celebros $31.99

Total - $666.89 - $25.00 MIR's

 

[jbakerlent]

I like this PSU a lot better for $55: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341018 ... Its modular, 80+, and 700W. As for the case get one with at has at minimum two 120mm fans (which yours has).

 

[wolfofruin]

I appreciate the advice! Whats the difference between those two gfx cards?

SAPPHIRE: Memory Clock 900 MHz, 3.6Gbps

XFX: Memory Clock 3600MHz

Is it just brand preference? The lifetime warranty seems appealing but is there a downside to the xfx card vs. the sapphire?

 

[jbakerlent]

I think we just happened to pick different cards... the memory clock speed difference is due to the fact that it is quad pumped 900 x 4 = 3600...

 

[wolfofruin]

Any tips on getting a AMD Phenom II X3 720 that can have the 4th core unlocked? I'm a bit confused on the subject.

 

[jbakerlent]

There's really no way to get one with a higher probability of being unlockable, the chances were higher when the processors with the locked cores first came out, but nowadays most of the locked cores are locked because they failed stability tests. Give it a try though

 

[wolfofruin]

Thanks for the advice! Ordered

 

[shortstuff_mt]

What did the final order look like?