Gaming build 500-800USD

I would get something like with your budget and intended use:

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $54.95

AMD Athlon II X2 240 Regor 2.8GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM3 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $60.00

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W ATX12V V2.2 / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?Ite... $124.98 - $30.00 MIR's (motherboard + PSU combo)

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $59.99

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $49.99

XFX HD-485X-YDFC Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $109.99

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner LightScribe Support - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $31.99

ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 5000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $169.99 - $20.00 MIR

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM (Includes free Windows 7 updrade coupon)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $109.99

Total - $771.87 - $50.00 MIR's

I second that build.

if i wanted to get a 4870 would that mess any of this up or should i jsut stick with the 4850

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168... $144.99 Free Shipping*
XFX HD-487A-ZHFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Double Lifetime Manufacture Warranty

Its going to be hard to fit an AM3 CPU into an AM2+ Socket, I think you might have meant this board, or something really close: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

I was originally trying to fit an AM3 board and DDR3 RAM, but it was stretching the budget a bit. Yes, that's the board I meant to put. It doesn't have a combo with the PSU, though.  

Ha, I just did two of that nearly exact same build with a few modifications:

Case: Cooler master Centurion 5 (different on second build)
CPU: Athlon II X2 250
Gigabyte 770 AM3 (forgot exact name)
PSU: exact same
Ram: 2x2GB OCZ DDR3 1600
HD: WD 500GB Black
Graphics: Sapphire 4650 (this was more for light gaming/CAD/work)
DVD: Same w/o lightscribe
Monitor: Same
OS: XP Pro SP3 from College

So, pleny of major differences, but alot the same too. I'd try going for the DDR3 if you can swing it, but if not, no huge loss. Also, all the parts that I got have been great and I would highly recommend. I think you are definitely on the right track with that build, just a few tweaks, perhaps.

Actually, the original motherboard (GA-MA770-UD3) DOES support the Athlon II X2 240. The rev 1.0 board requires the F6 BIOS released on 07-31-09 and the rev 2.0 board requires the FD BIOS released on 08-12-09.

http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_M...

http://www.gigabyte.us/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_M...

i went with everything that shortstuff said i only changed the mobo to http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

and got the 4870 graphics card.

i was also thinking of spending a bit more and getting the phenom x2 550 BE callisto instead. also wat is the difference of the ddr3 and ddr2

With the board you have chosen, you can't use DDR3. But as for the difference, as usual, really good DDR2 will beat the bad DDR3, but decent to good DDR3 is great IF you actually need the extra bandwidth. So for now in most situations, the difference isn't large.

oh ok got ya