First PC build - Need Opinions

[Jawbreaker]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Black friday or After Christmas BUDGET RANGE: comes to around $830 Before rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, Gaming, and surfing the net

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: mouse, monitor, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: I'm buying from Newegg

OVERCLOCKING: no SLI OR CROSSFIRE: eventually

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1024x768

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: 1. Will prices go down A LOT after Christmas?
2. I've never done this before and I want to make sure everything will go smoothly. really nervous about spending this much money, especially by Credit card over the internet.

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
I plan on modding one side with a sick window.


Cd/DVD burner: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD R 8X DVD RW 8X DVD R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner


HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive


Motherboard: ASUS M4A77TD Pro AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard


Video card: HIS H489FN1GH Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card


PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply


Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK


CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor

Heatsink: Goin with stock

Case Fans: Can someone recommend so nice blue LED ones?

Fan controller: 1ST PC CORP. FC-FC4-B Lamptron 5.25" 4-channel fan controller, 20w/channel, 3-pin fan & molex power

Speakers: Logitech X-140 5 watts 2.0 Speakers

Keyboard: Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000

 

[batuchka]

Aha for AM3 platforms an overlooked solution for the "wait n see" crowd is:
DIY with an IGP chipset i.e 790GX/785G and have a functional 24/7 rig whilst awaiting the arrival of bigger better GPUs A suggested solution

Pull the trigger once HD 5850 is restocked

 

[gkay09]

^ Did you notice the screen resolution by any chance ? Am sure you dint...
HD 5850 for a 1024x768 - OMG a serious overkill...for that matter even that HD 4890 that he has chosen is no better...

I would suggest this config -

CPU + Mobo
X3 720 + Gigabyte 790GX - I dont think you can get a better offer than this combo...and this CPU performs as good as a quad in games...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.295032

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231303

CASE - Did you check this case ?
Antec 300 Illusion - Currently under Holiday SALE ans is cheaper than the vanila Antec 300- Has nice Blue LEDS...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

Graphics card - I would suggest this one
XFX HD 5770 - Though it is slower than that HD 4890, but it wont matter much at that resolution...Still would be an overkill for that resolution...And later on when you upgrade your monitor, upgrade to crossfire...

PSU - Antec EA 650W - Enough power for HD 5770 Crossfire...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015

Hope these help...

 

[MadAdmiral]

If you want blue LED fans, you could go with the Antec 300 Illusion for $10 less. With that $10, you should get this RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws. Also, if you're planning on Crossfiring later, you shouldn't get a board that has 16x, 4x when running two PCIe 2.0 slots. Might I recommend either GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H for $114.99 before $15 rebate or GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P for $109.99?

Edit: Got sniped on the case...

 

[batuchka]

Opps if TS has no intention of moving out of 1024 x 768 i would consider $110 HD 4770 if DX11 is not a must as well hehe Hech at $65 free ship this HD 4670 looks a steal as well for his/her needs!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102854

 

[Jawbreaker]

thanks for all the replies. actually i was planning on buying a monitor within the next few months with 1680 by 1050 rez like this one and what i meant when i said "eventually" about upgrading to crossfire, i meant only when i need too, like when newer games start pushing my GPU to its limits. won't the HIS 4890 be a good card for the money and eventual crossfire? id like to keep my budget under $850

 

[batuchka]

Well one solution is cheap out for GPU based on your current resolution/LCD but still get fine frames (1024 x 768 = lol) and when u do upgrade that display your money could prolly but better tech/frames for the same money today hehe As a rough idea; i have clients on HD3300/4200 integrated video (790gx/785g mobos) on that resolution @@

 

[gkay09]

^ +1...The onboard on the 790GX comes with 128MB vRAM...So hold your graphic card purchase and when you upgrade your monitor, upgrade directly to HD 5850, rather than the HD 4890...The reason is you wouldn't want to have 2 DirectX 10 cards when DirectX 11 becomes mainstream...But its your call though...

 

[Jawbreaker]

so will crossfire really be necessary if i get HD 5850?

EDIT: OMG those cards are expensive, will they drop in price anytime soon?!

 

[gkay09]

^ By end of this year, when availability improves, you should be able to get them sub ~$250...
And HD 5850 crossfire wont be required for that 1680X1050 resolution...
Or you could choose to go with HD 5770 - ~$165 and it can still perform very good at 1680X1050 resolution and adding 1 more later would give very good performance later on...

 

[Jawbreaker]

Case: Antec Three Hundred illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Cd/DVD burner: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD R 8X DVD RW 8X DVD R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner

HDD: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-MA790GPT-UD3H AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
*no plan on crossfire

Video card: SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity

PSU: 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


Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL8D-4GBHK
I'm sticking with this RAM because i don't know whats so different between it and the ripjaw series

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W triple-Core Processor

Heatsink: Goin with stock

Fan controller: 1ST PC CORP. FC-FC4-B Lamptron 5.25" 4-channel fan controller, 20w/channel, 3-pin fan & molex power

Speakers: Logitech X-140 5 watts 2.0 Speakers

Keyboard: Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000

look good? you guys rock, tyvm for the help

 

[gkay09]

^ That is good...
If you want modular PSU, you can check out this...It would cost the same...
OCZ Mod 600W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341017

As fofr the RAM, the ripjaws have better heatsinks and with Free shipping...So maybe after shipping, the cost would be nearly same...
You can check this RAM too...
OCZ Platinum - Has better timings(CAS)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227478

 

[Jawbreaker]

thank you so much. i just started with all this computer stuff in the last few months because of an A+ class im taking. before that i didn't even know what a hard drive was (no exageration.....) its more fun than i ever would have expected and the community on this site has been so encouraging and helpful

/sleepy_rant, lol

 

[gkay09]

^ Good luck with your build...and do go through the stickies in this section they would help in building the PC...
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum-31-322.html