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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649
MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397
MEMORY
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189
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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150395
HDD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
POWER
Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182030
CASE
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
OPTICAL
LITE-ON 22X DVD Writer Black IDE Model iHAP422-98 LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106328
COOLER Do I need this??
Scythe SCANG-1000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185082
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!
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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649
MOBO
GIGABYTE GA-MA785GMT-UD2H AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397
MEMORY
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231189
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/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150395
HDD
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
POWER
Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W ATX12V v2.01 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182030
CASE
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068
OPTICAL
LITE-ON 22X DVD Writer Black IDE Model iHAP422-98 LightScribe Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106328
COOLER Do I need this??
Scythe SCANG-1000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185082
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!