$550 - $650 Gaming PC

[bin82]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: About 1 week
BUDGET RANGE: $650 Before Rebates
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming
PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, and OS
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, tigerdirect.com, and any other reputable dealer
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA
PARTS PREFERENCES: AMD and Cheap!
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Yes (eventually)
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I had originally wanted to build a PC within the upper $700s, but I had to cut back on my budget due to other expenses. I saw this great deal on an AMD Phenom X4 9750, and wanted to see if I could make a build around this processor. Will this processor be up to the task of dealing with 2x HD 5770s in crossfire? It wont be any time soon, but I wouldn't want to be limited 2-3 years down the road.

CPU: AMD Phenom X4 9750 Quad Core Processor - 2.40GHz, 2MB L3 Cache, 3600 MT/s FSB, Quad-Core, Socket AM2+, OEM Processor ($59.99)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5267165&sku=A79-9752

MOBO: ECS A790GXM-A Motherboard - AMD 790GX, Socket AM2+, ATX, Video, HDMI, PCI Express 2.0, Hybrid CrossFire Support, Gbit LAN, RAID ($109.99 - $20.00 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4499996&sku=S458-1317

HD: Hitachi Deskstar P7K500 500GB Hard Drive - 7200, 16MB, SATA-300, OEM ($54.97)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3529749&CatId=8
(Tiger Direct didn't have the Samsung F3 500gig for some reason - If this HD sucks compared to the Samsung, I'll get the Samsung from NewEgg)

Graphics Card: Sapphire Radeon HD 5770 Video Card - 1GB GDDR5, PCI-Express 2.0, CrossFireX Ready, Dual DVI, Display Port, HDMI ($179.99 - $10 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5316255&CatId=3669

RAM: OCZ Vista Gold Edition Dual Channel 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB) ($97.99 - $15.00 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3327389&CatId=3412

PSU: OCZ StealthXStream 700-Watt Power Supply - ATX, 120mm Fan, SLI-Ready, SATA-Ready, PCI-Express ($84.99 - $25.00 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4294708&CatId=2533

Case: Enermax ECA3170-BL Staray Mid Tower Case - Blue LED Fan, Micro ATX, 2x 120mm Fan Ports, 2x 120mm/140mm Fan Ports, 7x Expansion Slots ($54.99 - $20.00 MIR)
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=5592464&Sku=E456-6024

Cooler: Coolermaster Hyper 212 - On the fence about this...

Total Cost Before Rebate: $642.91
Total Cost After Rebates: $552.91

What do you guys think?

 

[MadAdmiral]

Um. No.

You want to build on at the AM3 socket. Here's what I'd do:

CPU/Mobo: X3 425 and GIGABYTE GA-790XTA-UD4 Combo for $197
HDD/PSU: Seagate 7200.12 500 GB and OCZ StealthXStream 700W $120
Case: Antec 300 Illusion $62 w/ $12 rebate
GPU/RAM: HD 5770 and OCZ Platinum 2 x 2GB DDR3 1333 CAS Latency 7 $239 w/ $30 rebates
Optical (if needed): Cheapest SATA DVD burner $20

Total: $638 before rebates
Total: $596 after rebates

If you want to spend a little more: X4 925 and Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 for an additional $63.

 

[saint19]

Hi, IMO isn't a good rig today.

1- The Phenom that you want is a old processor, with $100 you can get an Athlon II X4 620

2- IMO the mobo isn't good, and is expensive for an AM2+, you can get an AM3 mobo with similar price.

3- Get the F3, same price better performance.

4- Good GPU

5- Good RAM, but if you change the CPU and Mobo, you will nedd DDR3

6- You can get a better PSU like the Antec 550W $ 89,99


EDIT: Sorry, like MadAdmiral says, the F3 is unaivalable this looks good.

 

[MadAdmiral]

F3 is no longer available. The Seagate 7200.12 is just as good as the F3.

 

[bin82]

Best answer selected by bin82.

 

[bin82]

Thank you all for the input - !!