Need advice on >$700 budget gaming

[jayr0]

I am changing from laptop to desktop ;l

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Probably this week or next week. BUDGET RANGE: 600-700 Before Rebates

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: World of Warcraft, internet surfing, watching .mkvs/HD movies, microsoft office, soon to programming.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS:newegg.com COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: seems ATI and AMD are best bang... don't have really preferences.

OVERCLOCKING: No SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe

MONITOR RESOLUTION:1920x1080

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: I would like the case to have see through side panel.

Here's what i gathered so far

Case: RAIDMAX Quantum ATX-798WB Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
MOBO: ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
GPU: HIS H577FM1GD Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card - Retail
PSU: RAIDMAX HYBRID 2 RX-530SS 530W ATX12V V2.2/ EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular LED Power Supply - Retail
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 925 Deneb 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail
Memory: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL7D-4GBRH - Retail
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
DVD: Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM

= $701.91 before rebate

 

[MadAdmiral]

You've got some very low quality parts in there. Namely the PSU and case.

Here's the build I recommend:

CPU/GPU: X4 955 and HD 5770 $309
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-770TA-UD3 $80 after rebate
RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1333 mhz CAS Latency 7 $115
HDD: Seagate 7200.12 500 GB $55
Case/PSU: Antec 300 Illusion and Earthwatts 430W $115
Optical: Cheap SATA DVD burner $22

Total: $696. For roughly the same price, you get a better CPU, more future proof board, higher quality case and a high quality PSU.

A quick note: The board I included has USB 3/SATA III, but doesn't have a second PCIe 2.0 slot. However, the board you linked to has the second slot running at only 4x, which makes it basically useless. If you want the ability to Crossfire later, here's a combo with a good board and the RAM: Asus M4A79XTD EVO for $212 after rebate (total of $713). If you want both USB 3/SATA III support and Crossfire, the Gigabyte GA-790XTA-UD4 is a great board that's fairly cheap ($125 after rebate, $741 total). If that's not in the budget, you can drop the CPU to a X4 635 ($120, brings the total to $702 w/ this HD 5770[/url).

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The build is decent except for that POS PSU. You absolutely can't go with a cheap PSU is you want a stable system. Here's a quality PSU for a good price:

Antec EarthWatts EA-500D Green 500W ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply $64.99

You can also save an extra $7 on that PSU w/ promo code EMCYRYW24 if you buy it before tomorrow.

You could go with a cheaper triple-core CPU to get under budget if you need to. The gaming performance will be the same. Here's a very nice combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.375961 $154.98 (AMD Athlon II X3 440 Rana 3.0GHz + ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO combo)

 

[banthracis]

Check out combo deals, here's a few ones off the top

CPU/GPU x4955 and 5770 $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.365670

HD/PSU
Spinpoint F3 and Modxstream Pro 600W $85 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.362778

Those'll save you ~$40 right there

 

[jayr0]

ty for replies
How about this? what i picked up from banthracis, MadAdmiral

CPU/GPU x4955 and 5770 $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.365670&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
HD/PSU
Spinpoint F3 and Modxstream Pro 600W $85 after MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.362778&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
RAM G.Skill Ripjaws 2x2 GB 1333 mhz CAS Latency 7
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231276&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
MOBO GIGABYTE GA-770TA-UD3 AM3 AMD 770 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128419&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=
Optical Sony Optiarc Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=3463938&SID=

 

[MadAdmiral]

Looks good. I would still consider either the 300 Illusion or Coolermaster 690 at the $70.

 

[jayr0]

Best answer selected by jayr0.