Need help selecting Memory and a Video Card

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This Week

BUDGET RANGE: $300-350

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming (WoW, Aion, CoH), movies, general browsing

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: See Below

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe later

MONITOR RESOLUTION: I will be using a Samsung LN32B550 32-Inch 1080p LCD HDTV so take that in consideration for the video card.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I also need a OS, so a combo deal with Newegg would be great.


I'm in the final stages of my build, here what I have so far-

Case - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU - Antec TruePower New TP-650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.3 / EPS12V V2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Retai

CPU - AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - Retail

Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

HSF - COOLER MASTER Hyper N 520 RR-920-N520-GP 92mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail

HDD - HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725050GLA360 (0A35415) 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

DVD - HP Black 22X DVD+R 22X DVD-R SATA 22X DVD Burner LightScribe Support - Retail

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Memory - I'm looking for 4gb (2x2gb), would prefer G.Skill but I am open to any. I was looking at G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRH - Retail, but they are not on the motherboards memory support list.

Would G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ - Retail be an acceptable substitute? They are on the motherboards memory support list.


Video Card - I was looking at SAPPHIRE 100258-1GHDMI Radeon HD 4850 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail, mainly for the cost and the HDMI out, but I could be talked into a 4870 with an HDMI out. I might want to Crossfire a few months down the road.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

wow, 5770's already out. wonder if they'll sell out like hotcakes like the 5870's

yeah, the reviews have sprang up just about everywhere. Check Tom's main page, it's the top story. Anandtech has a big article on them now too.

slight correction on the fans, the 300 illusion model comes with 3 120mm, and 2 140mm, the standard 300 model comes with just 1 120mm and 1 140mm. It does still work out to about $30 value for $5 more.

The Illusion is only comes with one 140mm top fan as far as I can see. Its a two speed fan, maybe that made it sound like 2 fans? Non-issue since he already has the case, though buying a 120mm fan to mount on the front for better airflow would be an idea to consider.

In theory the 5700s are not going to have the same limited supply issues the 5800s are (still having 3 weeks later). Also their pricing really doesn't make them that great from a price/performance standpoint if you don't factor in DX11, 3 monitor support and HD sound.

yeah, my mistake, would be hard to even physically fit a second 140mm fan in the Antec 300. Either way, it is still the better deal, and it is still irrelevant since the OP has a case