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I need input on this build - Is this one any good :o?

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE:
Perhaps sometimes this year
Budget Range USD500-600

SYSTEM USAGE
Older lower end games like the Sims 2 and 3 and some I guess high-end midrange games like Devil May Cry 4 and Grand Theft Auto 4...
Internet, Wordprocessing, Movies, Video editing

Parts Not Required:
Keyboard
Mouse
Speakers
Monitor (I dont have the funds to get a new brand spanking LCD, so I will be using a CRT ;-;)
OS

Websites for Parts:
Any site is good as long as it has good ratings, like newegg.com
Stores that have their Base in New York City are preferred. Sotres like J&R or B&H. Zipzoomfly

Parts Preferences:
Cheap and good?
Intel/nVIDIA preferred

Overclocking: Maybe
SLI/Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024

Additional Comments: It needs to run VERY cool fan based.

Parts I have already picked:
CASE: (no alternatives accepted - unless they are as good as this one :3)
Cooler Master 690 - 70$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

edit: (edit x2) just no
Cooler Master Store - CM 690 nVIDIA ED Refurb: $65
http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?cP...

Cooler Master Store - CM 690 Reglar w/o Window Refurb: $46
http://cmstore.coolermaster-usa.com/product_info.php?cP...

MOBO: (alternatives accepted)
ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

ASRock M3A780GXH/128M AM3 AMD 780G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - 90$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

CPU: (alternatives accepted)
AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor - Retail - 170$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

PSU:
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail - 100$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

GPU:
SAPPHIRE 100265HDMI Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
OR
SAPPHIRE 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
(edit: wait for DX11? Yes? No?)

DVD Burner:
LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner LightScribe Support - Retail - 30$
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

(I may end up using my IDE DVD burner :x... but when I can get a cheap SATA I think I may use my IDE HDD instead :\)

RAM:
OCZ Gold OCZ3G10664GK 4GB DDR3 2X2GB DDR3-1066 CL 7-7-7-16 Dual Channel Memory Kit - ~65$
http://ncix.com/products/?sku=41967&vpn=OCZ3G10664GK&ma...

HDDs:
I have one WD Caviar Green 500GB, so I am only buying one more HDD. 1TB is too much storage space :x I might even end up using my 200GB Seagate IDE - save on cash. Edit: I just need one more.

For the GPU I might wait for the DX11 cards to come out so it will drive down the price, and for the processor, I might wait for the i5 to drive down the price.

If bought this all today: 595$ Yea, I can't call this now :x

Is this a good build? Comments plz :D ? Are there any cheaper solutions to this? No xfire or sli.

More about : input build good

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the 4850 is a stronger card even though its cheaper than the 4830 so buy that

you could easily save money by using a 500 Watt psu which is going to be plenty for this build

have a look at the phenom memory scaling article on the
articles > memory >

section of this website . You will probably be better off investing the cash you save in low latency 7-7-7-20 [ or similar] 1333 MHz RAM

I second going for the 4850, it's faster and cheaper of the two you picked. A 500 Watt PSU is definitely a good cost saving measure, as long as you don't have any plans for big upgrades down the road, but it sounds like you don't for this system. Tom's just did an article on the benefits of going with a new drive over old, you really probably should read it. In their article, I don't think they were even using an IDE interface drive as the "old" drive.

As for 1TB being too much space, there really is no such thing. You'll always get better performance out of the larger drive than the smaller one* since total percentage utilization and fragmentation will be lower. This also helps prolong the drive lifespan. Always try to buy the largest HD you can afford, I usually just get the HD with the highest GB/$ ratio at time of purchase.

EDIT: *This applies to drives from the same manufacturer and product line, as in a 500GB WD Caviar Black compared to a 1TB WD Caviar Black.
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For the Video Card - cheaper is better! I third/fourth that.

For the PSU - 500W does seem reasonable. I don't plan on SLI/xFire. Can you guys suggest some reputable brands that won't die and take my whole system with it?

For the RAM - I read the article, I don't know why I choose 1066. :x
I have a bit of confusing on DDR3-1333 though. I see PC3-10600 and PC3-10666. Which is which. And also, this is going to sound stupid, but the stupidest question are easiest, what is 7-7-7-20? Latency? I have heard of the terms, but they never made any difference in the way I bought things.

For the MOBO - I like that mobo that was posted up. For $10 more, I can get better onboard graphics.. and uh.. that is about it. Still, I will edit my post above to reflect that.

For the HDD - Ok, for the drive, the Caviar Green one was bought about 2 months ago. It isn't that old. The IDE drives, I guess I will just give to my sister, and just wipe her drive and donate the old computer to charity (tax writeoff >_>;)

(Added b/c I need input:) 
I was on the CoolerMaster store and they are selling their cases refurbished for almost $30 less than new. I don't mind that it is refurbished at all. All my video games and textbooks and monitors are refurbished. Should I get it from the CoolerMaster store despite their craptastic customer service? (I will add the links in my edit of the first post)

Corsair probably makes the best quality PSUs that are reasonably priced. Antec, OCZ, PC Power & Cooling, Enermax, Seasonic, are all good choices as well, and depending on deals could be a bit cheaper than the Corsair.

7-7-7-20 are the RAM timings, the first, and arguably most important number out of those is the first one, which is CAS latency. The other numbers don't affect RAM performance as much, and are most important for people who tweak those timings to improve stability at the very highest clock speeds.

As for cases, refurbished is perfectly fine if they give you free shipping. The case doesn't really do anything besides holding your hardware, so it's not like it's going to be more likely to fail at that. Cases do get expensive for shipping though, and if they don't cover that, your $30 cheaper price turns out to be more like $8 to $10. For a difference of that little, I'd rather just get a new one. I usually look at whatever cases have free shipping at Newegg and pick from those unless there's a case I really really want, and will pay the shipping.

Yes I see what you mean. If on the NewEgg site, I throw everything I want in the cart, shipping only comes to about $30, while shipping for the case naked from CoolerMaster is $31.

There are also a few cross outs I made b/c when I saw the cost in the cart, it was over my budget. I cut out somethings to cut on the costs - I cut out the GPU - I am waiting for the DX11 cards to come. I don't want to waste my money on a DX10 card and then suddenly realize I love computer games and be mad b/c I couldn't wait a couple of months. I also cut out the DVD burner. I have a SATA DVD Burner I am more than will to remove from my current machine and stick in my new machine.

If I keep the GPU and DVD burner, my cost (if all from NewEgg) come to $686.02 (RAM - KVR1333D3K2 CAS 9 @89.99 - tbh, I won't notice much). If I take them out, $557.42.

Also, the PSU is a 650W b/c I can't seem to find any decently priced 550W Corsair's that offset the price of the 650W. I look on TigerDirect too.

OK. So I finished the build.

I just want ot let you guys know how big of a help you guys were in keeping the cost down :D !

Case: CM690
CPU: AMD 945 (loong name T_T)
Mobo: ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO (I like this mobo so much, I am planning to get the M version for a mini build for my sister :D )
Ram: 4GB Kingston DDR3-1333
PSU: Corsair TX650W

Total cost: $557 :D !

I need a GFX card, but that is going to be about $100 and I will keep it seperate from the price :3
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