Will my budet gaming PC for $750 be worthy? Should I take the plunge?

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Tomorrow! (or ASAP if you guys find me better options)

BUDGET RANGE: This build is $750 w/ shipping from Newegg, I'd like to stay below $800...

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming first and foremost, media viewing is a secondary concern.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: I have a decent 17'' Dell LCD monitor (model w1700) and an OK 2.1 speaker system, but I usually wear my gaming headgear. The monitor will be my next upgrade, around Christmas I'd guess. If a good, cheap gaming mouse/ keyboard is out there I'd grab it up, but it looks like Newegg has a few sub $15 options that will satisfy me.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I'm a Newegg fan through and through, but I will rule nothing out if it is cheaper!

PARTS PREFERENCES: I have a 160GB HDD that I would like to raid with the new HDD I buy for this rig. I also went with an AMD CPU over Intel after much deliberation.

OVERCLOCKING: Easier the better, I'm amateurish in this regard.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe in the future, but not for now so it's a low priority.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280 x 768 with my current monitor, but this is my next planned upgrade

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I tried to find the plateau of price + performance, how do you guys think I did? How can I improve this before I pull the trigger (hopefully tomorrow)?

Well here's the guts!

CPU
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103649

MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128397

MEMORY
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231189

VIDEO CARD
XFX HD-487A-ZHDC Radeon HD 4870 1GB XXX 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150395

HDD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136319

POWER
Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817182030

CASE
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068

OPTICAL
LITE-ON 22X DVD Writer Black IDE Model iHAP422-98 LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106328

COOLER Do I need this??
Scythe SCANG-1000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185082

So how'd I do? was the 3x core the right way to go? Is the DDR3 the way to go? I feel pretty good about this but I'd feel a lot better with some input from you guys, good, bad, whatever! I just want to hear the truth about my potential rig... Thanks in advance!

This one is getting well reviewed, I've heard a couple bad knocks on Roswell at this point..

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371016

All good besides the PSU?

You don't want to use a Rosewill power supply if you can avoid it, or an IDE burner. You might try this combo deal for an OCZ 500w PSU and a Samsung SATA burner.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.248196

You don't need the cooler unless you intend to overclock

Also your cpu cooler is good but you can do better for a few extra dollars.
XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail - $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233029

Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail - $39.99 (w/ $15MIR) The thing I like about this is that it comes with some good thermal paste.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835207004

Edit:^+1 for dirtmountain and he is right about not needing a cooler unless you are going to overclock.

The Sunbeam CR-CCTF looks like a good fit for me. Do you think I would put it to good use overclocking this setup? From what I understand it won't be THAT difficult.. I hope.

Well that is just a shockingly perfect article for my needs. That's awesome. I saddens me that it took me so long to become a member of this site.

Thanks!

Thanks, this one will be helpful being that my CPU is also an unlocked "Black Edition." I accidentally made a good choice with that I think.

Yes, the 6+2 pin can act as a 6 pin.

Look at why_me's build.

With i5s so cheap, AMD is going to be hurting even at the value price range. It think it has to mean that AMD will be forced to lower prices soon.

Newegg doesnt have i5 motherboards in their search yet, but they do exist if you have the direct link. I got this link from EVGAs website.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188054

I would spend $20 more on tha graphics card and get a brand name like XFX, ASUS, EVGA or Sapphire. With XFX's warranty its hard for me to recommend buying another brand.

Get a 5770 instead of the 4870. Or 5850.