First timer, ready to jump in.

[dondoh]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: I’ve started to acquire components, but I am not in a huge hurry. I could buy tomorrow or in a month depending on your recommendations

BUDGET RANGE: 550 ish After Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Websurfing, watching movies on pc and tv, general home pc, not much gaming with the exception of running 8-12 online poker tables at once and accessing a poker database. A fair amount of music files.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED:

I bought an ETASIS ET750 True 750W, Max 850W ATX12V / EPS12V
Overkill for my system, but it was on sale and folk here recommended getting too much power rather than too little…
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817608006

Keyboard, mouse not needed

Have a 22” 1680x1050 monitor

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, but I am not married to it. I don’t live near a fry’s or a microcenter.


PARTS PREFERENCES: Like the value of AMD processors. Would like an Athlon II x4 620 but budget might dictate Athlon II x2.
ASUS boards seem to come highly recommended for reliability and stability so I am leaning that way.

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, let me get through the build first… SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Not in the foreseeable future.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

1. This is my first build so go easy on me. I am excited but a little worried…
2. My main goals for this build are:
a. Reliable
b. Stable
c. Future proof as much as the price will allow.
d. Simple
3. I got the PSU first, now I am looking for a Mobo. I can get the ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398
for about 75 bucks shipped, but I would have to buy this weekend. It looks like it would be stable, reliable and it gets good reviews. Additionally it has integrated graphics and I don’t think I need much in the GPU world, but I could always add one later.
Should I buy?

If so, any recommendations for compatible DDR3 ram would be appreciated.

I would also like recommendations for reliable, stable HD. Samsung 500 GB?

Let me know if I am headed in the right direction. All advice is GREATLY appreciated.

 

[r_manic]

I would restate my budget as 550ish upon checkout, not after rebates. Rebates take forever to arrive, and that's if you've managed to jump through all the hoops retailers make you take to claim your rebate.

To be honest, if you want something that's future-proof, your budget is simply too low. If you take a look at the last System Builder's marathon, you'll see that the cheapest system (with a budget of $700) uses a mobo with the LGA 775 socket. That's a dead-end, since Intel won't come out with new CPUs for the LGA 775.

If you have a budget that can afford the LGA 1366 platform, then we're talking. Perhaps $1000?

 

[dmcfc]

Yes, you're heading the right way. That psu is way overkill, LOL it powers 2 5850, and you are not even going to be using a powerful video card, oh well...
This budget will allow you to get the Athlon II x4 620 no problems

ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3
AMD Athlon II X4 620 Propus 2.6GHz
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3
NZXT M59As it's your first build I guess you are not o.c. and you won't have a graphic card, the stock cooling of this will be enough, and you won't need to spend much money on a case.
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ 500GB
Optical Drive
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
Total $518 after Rebates

This build is going to give you all those options, to turn that on a gaming computer just buy more fans for the case that have a lot of optional fans spaces, and off course a powerful graphic card and you're all set!

 

[dmcfc]

r_manic he's not using this pc for gaming he won't spend $300 on a gpu, the System Builder's marathon is for gaming pcs

 

[dondoh]

Ouch Rmanic. I can't make the $1000 work. My wife would kill me in my sleep...
So I suppose future proof is out.
dmcfc thanks for the great rec's
Doing 8 poker tables at a time won't bind up the onboard GPU will it?
I may wait and see if the memory goes on sale before jumping in.

 

[dmcfc]

it's a kind of future proof, AM3 will support new amd processor, as the 1366 will support i9's.

It's probably going to be just fine

 

[MadAdmiral]

That's builds good, but I would spend $5 more on the RAM and get: Corsair XMS3 2x2 GB 1600 mhz CAS Latency 7.

Other than that, it's a great build.

 

[dondoh]

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the memory dmcfc recommended:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBNQ
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193&cm_re=g.skill_ddr3_1600_4gb-_-20-231-193-_-Product

and this which is $20 cheaper (I am happy to pay for better quality, I am just curious)
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Again, thanks for bearing with me.

 

[dmcfc]

Timings, one is 9-9-9-24 and the other 9-9-9-24-2N not that I think you'll any difference,

But this one is better than both

 

[MadAdmiral]

Actually, the ones I linked to (the Corsair XMS3s) are the best. They have the slightly better specs (7-8-7-20) than dmcfc's above (7-8-7-24-2N), but are $5 less.

 

[dmcfc]

Just saying the one that you linked doesn't have reviews, personally I would not like to spend on money on something that not a lot of people tested...

 

[MadAdmiral]

Reviews don't mean anything. They're a new product, from Corsair, one of the best RAM manufacturers around. You really don't need the views of the typical Newegg reviewer (a moron who shouldn't be allowed near tech).

 

[dmcfc]

yeah, you're right, that ram already exist they just lowered the timings for this one...

 

[dondoh]

Best answer selected by dondoh.