First Time Build - $700-750 Budget

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: ASAP

BUDGET RANGE: US$700-750

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS (XP Pro), fans, DVD Burner, DVD-ROM drive, sound card (Sound Blaster Audigy2)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, maybe tigerdirect.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: No particular preference. I've been using Intel and ATI Radeon the last 6 years, which is when I got into PC gaming, but I'm willing to try AMD and/or Nvidia, for example. I'm looking for the best options at my budget.

OVERCLOCKING: More than likely, just not too extreme.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, at a later date. Budget only includes a single GPU.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: I run my desktop at 1600 x 1200. I'm not too familiar with running games at high resolution since my system is 6 years old. My monitor is a NEC MultiSync FE2111SB, which is a CRT. It supports up to 1920 x 1440 @ 50 to 76 Hz. NEC's recommended resolution is 1600 x 1200 @ 50 to 91 Hz, with 85 Hz providing optimal performance. Will hopefully upgrade to a LCD later.


I sent my system in for a diagnosis since it wouldn't turn on. The PSU and motherboard are toast. The computer repair shop will charge me $175 whether I decide to replace the PSU and a same socket motherboard (socket 478) or upgrade the CPU, motherboard, GPU, PSU, and memory. I'm tempted to do it myself despite the fact that this would be my first build.


CPU: I was looking at the some of the dual core processors from both Intel and AMD. I also checked out the Best Gaming CPUs For The Money: July 2009 article. I not sure which, Intel or AMD, would be ideal at my budget.

GPU: Read the Best Graphics Cards For The Money: July '09 article. The Radeon HD 4870 512 MB looks nice. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102810

PSU: Not familiar with which brands are superior, but I want an "80 Plus Certified" one.

Thank you

If you can carry over your HDD this will stay in budget, if not then it comes out to $677 before $40 in MIR

PII 710
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103648

Asus 790GX AM3 Board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131366

OCZ DDR3 1600 CL7 ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227341

500 GB Caviar Blue HDD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136073

Antec 300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129042

OCZ Modxstream 500watt PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341016

XFX HD 4870 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150394

If you have a HDD that you can carry over it will bring the price down to $620 before rebates and $580 after. Also i would suggest bumping this in a couple days as the month just changed so there are currently no good newegg combo deals available but that will change in a few days.

bump

*** I changed the budget to US$700-750