How can I make my system better without raising the cost?

[JMinor4826]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: this week BUDGET RANGE: $900-$950

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming, surfing the internet

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1200

This is what I have so far:

LITE-ON Black 24X DVD Writer Black SATA Model iHAS424-98 LightScribe Support - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106335

XCLIO Windtunnel Fully Black Finish 1.0 mm SECC Chassis ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811103011

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

Combo:
SAPPHIRE 100282SR Radeon HD 5850 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card w/ATI Eyefinity - Retail
Thermaltake TR2 W0388RU 600W ATX 12V v2.2 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.310962

Combo:
OCZ AMD Black Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model OCZ3BE1600C8LV4GK - Retail
AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor Model HDZ955FBGMBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.313757

 

[MadAdmiral]

Optical: There's a Samsung SATA DVD burner for $21. Get that and save $16 bucks once you count shipping.

Case: Get an Antec 300 Illusion. It's smaller, but still really good and about $55 cheaper after shipping.

Other than that, nothing besides checking for more combos.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

Your build already won't work well for your stated use. You say you want to do Crossfire, but you have picked a motherboard that runs its second PCI-E slot at 4x and a POS PSU that will most likely blow up just powering a single 5850.

That POS PSU should be the first thing to go, even though it's essentially free with the combo. A quality PSU is the key to a stable system. That PSU is anything but a quality unit. I would use this GPU/OS combo instead:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.298043 $384.98 (Sapphire 5850 + 64-bit Windows 7 combo)

This is a nice motherboard that would work for Crossfire:

GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $109.99 - $15 MIR

Those components raise the price, so you'll probably have to go with a cheaper case or something. The Antec Two Hundred is a very nice case for the price.

Antec Two Hundred Black ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $39.99 - $10 MIR

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail $89.99 - $20 MIR

 

[JMinor4826]

Bump.....thanx for the advice fellas....does anyone else have any advice for me before I put my order in.

Thanks alot.