Gaming Computer Around $650

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: A few weeks or so. If a good deal comes up, then I can buy earlier, especially like a black friday deal or something like that.

BUDGET RANGE: around $650 after Rebates, before tax and shipping. it's not completely inflexible if necessary, but I would really like to stick close to it.

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, movies, internet use

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, speakers, OS (windows 7) , monitor.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg works fine, but i do have to pay 7% sales tax from there. so if a part is the same price or a little cheaper somewhere else, it might be better to buy there.

PARTS PREFERENCES: none

OVERCLOCKING: Probably not, and only if it's very stable

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Only if there's a lot of benefit to it.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Quiet is better, but I realize you can't be too picky about things like this with this budget, so i guess performance comes first. I saw a couple open box deals on newegg. I didn't use any of them for this build

Here's a build that I came up with so far.

CPU:
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103649 - $120 free shipping

MOBO:
GIGABYTE GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128392 - $80 with $10 MIR

Video card:
HIS H489FN1GH Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814161299 - $180 with $20 MIR free shipping

RAM:
Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664BA1067 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820148150 - $87

Case and PSU Combo:
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
and
Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W Continuous Power ATX12V Ver.2.2 / EPS12V version 2.91 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC "compatible with Core i7/Core i5" Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.285167 - $110 free shipping

DVD drive:
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136167 - $29

Hard Drive:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822152181 - $55 free shipping


Thermal Paste:
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007 - $7

Keyboard:
Logitech 967740-0403 Black 104 Normal Keys 8 Function Keys USB Standard Internet 350 USB Keyboard - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126012 - $12

total: $678.55
After rebates: $648.55
After rebates, tax and shipping: $708.55

the combo came out to the same price for me, except free shipping on both parts. in any case, the Antec PSU is better so i'm going with it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.285167

i switched to this sata DVD drive:
LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 22X DVD-R 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136167 - $29
also i switched to a different keyboard to save about $5.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126012

unfortunately the video card is out of stock, so hopefully it'll be the same price when it comes back.

My totals (including video card) are now:
total: $678.55
After rebates: $648.55
After rebates, tax and shipping: $708.55

nice configs except i dont know about samsung hdd...never actually used samsung drivers i would've stick with WD Cavier or w/e

i just wanted a final confirmation that everything I have is compatible with each other, especially the PSU, video card, MOBO, and ram

I know the 4890 doesn't support DX11. I was debating between the 4890 and 5770, but decided to go with the 4890. For about the same price, the 4890 should give me better performance, and I thought that at this budget that is most important.

The combo you linked to is $25 more expensive than the normal Antec 300 combo. Is it really worth that much more? I'd actually rather not have the lights, and I probably won't do any overclocking at first. Do you think I'll have any heat issues without the two fans in front?

i'm definitely going with the combo. both cases have a combo with the same Earthwatts 650 power supply. however, the Antec 300 black steel combo is $110, and the illusion combo is $135.