"Gaming" build, balancing Price & Quality - tons of questions!

Update November 4th 2009: I've tweaked with the build quite a bit after considering the advice given and revised some questions. Different computer build!


Hey gang.

This is my first build ever. I claim not to be knowledgeable regarding computer hardware; on the contrary, my primary home computer took a nosedive hardware-wise a week ago and for the past week I've gone from not knowing/caring to learn about computer hardware and willing to go to BestBuy and just grab a tower off of the shelves to caring about the differences between AMD and Intel and caring about the L3 Cache in the CPUs. I have a ton of questions, but I'll toss them at you after I show you the spec.

I really appreciate all and any thought into this; you guys seem to be a very helpful, fast and intelligent community, something sorely lacking on the internets.

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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Within 2 weeks!
BUDGET RANGE: ~$700 max!

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: "Gaming" (WoW,TF2,L4D,CS), surfing the web, multimedia (netflix, music a la Winamp/iTunes), MS Word/Excel

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg.com
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: I'd like to stay in the Intel family after several friendly recommendations. The AMD Phenom is such a great value to ignore! AMD for me!

OVERCLOCKING: Nah.
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Excuse me?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I don't mind it if it's a bit loud. The noise I could care less about; I'm a heavy sleeper and as long as it isn't like a machine gun going off when I fire up the computer I'll manage.

THE BUILD:

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGIBOX ($175)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103674

Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80605I5750 ($200) - I swapped for the Phenom. For my needs the AMD CPU will do me just fine and cheaper than than the i5, too!

GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard ($75)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128392

Intel BOXDP55WB LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard ($100) - New CPU = New Mobo. $25 cheaper too!

XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card ($155)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150436

EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - There are too many good things to say about the Radeon HD 4870 when comparing what I am looking for and the price.

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNT ($69)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231253

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive ($55)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181

Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply ($110)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129024

RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEBP 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply - I don't know too much about cases still, but the new case is highly rated and reviewed. Looks like it's a good PSU too!

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Questions, questions, questions! These are listed from most important to least.

1: Overall, how does the system fare? Are there any glaring, really obvious "HOLY-CRAP-ARE-YOU-SERIOUSLY-THAT-STUPID" mistakes in the build? ie wrong socket type, wrong RAM type, "it's still an AGP slot motherboard, doofus"

2: Could I do better in spending less but keeping the same level of quality? Omitted because it's a silly question to ask.

3: Does all this stuff fit in the case?

4: What is crucial ram?
Answered: A manufacturer who makes RAM.

5: Do I have enough power? I'm using the stock power supply with the case, but will it be enough for the entire system?

6: Will there be adequate cooling in this system?

7: How would you rate this computer? Mid-line? Mid-high? Mid-low? And seeing my primary system uses, is the system complete overkill for what it will be handling? Did I go too high-line?

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Thanks for your time, guys.

I would change a number of components:

Gigabyte boards are better:
GIGABYTE GA-P55M-UD2 LGA 1156 Intel P55 Micro ATX Intel
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128405

This RAM is faster
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231279

This GPU is better and cheaper
XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

or better yet get something from the 5000 series if you can afford it

This HDD is much better
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] f3%20500gb

and this PSU will not explode when you fire it up
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=550%20vx

1-2. See above
3. I'd pick a different case
4. Crucial is a memory manufacturer
5. Not likely, but with the Corsair you will
6. Again, I'd switch cases
7. Moderately high end, but very reasonable

Edit: 30 seconds gkay

I was looking at the AMD Phenom II X4 955 also and stuck on that CPU with the Intel i5, actually. My biggest gripe was that I was unable to find a mobo that's compat. with DDR3 RAM, but lo and behold, you find me a quality mobo at a very cheap price. I may earnestly consider this. Thanks for finding it for me!

The only thing I'd be upgrading if anything would be the DDR3 RAM or maybe the GPU. Otherwise I don't mind suffering less than optimal FPS on the newer games to avoid spending lots of cash.

I know very little of cases and PSU's, and ironically it should be a very important factor when building the PC. Thanks for the recommendation.

And thanks for your help!

To be honest I saw SAPPHIRE and I cringed, until I clicked the link that is.

Have you read that September 09 budget gaming PC, where they stick double graphics cards on the mobo for uber power?

Well I did some product review, and like 20% of the reviews were basically "Thing caught fire/stopped working after 2 - 4 months." Apparently it had real bad cooling issues.

This card recommends 600W PSU though, so I'd definitely have to get a new PSU.

Very true, gkay09. The graphics card I was looking at before in the Sept. Budget build was very cheap and there were a lot of good positive reviews on it. I think it just has issues with cooling. And it's helpful to know that I can get a very good case & PSU.

I'm going to sleep on it, but I'm certainly reevaluating the i5 for the AMD Phenom II X4.