$750 gaming computer; first time builder

[mode12]

Hello all, I was interested in getting the $750 gaming system from the system builder marathon, march 2010. The reviews showed it’s a solid computer. im not tech savvy and have struggled finding everything, especially information regarding why certain video cards or motherboards are better than others. this will be my first computer I build and it will be used for gaming, mainly starcraft 2, lord of the rings online and Diablo 3. i have a few concerns I haven’t answered and was hoping the community could answer my questions.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: as soon as possible

BUDGET RANGE: $1000

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: gaming (starcraft 2, lord of the rings online, Diablo 3), research

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg, tigerdirect, anything legit

PARTS PREFERENCES: I read the system builder marathon march 2010 $750 gaming desktop. Was interested in this build
Power Supply: Antec EarthWatts EA650 650W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16817371015
Case: Antec Three Hundred Illusion http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16811129066
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16813128398
Processor: AMD Athlon II X3 435 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16819103724
CPU Cooler: Xigmatek HDT-SD964 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16835233014
Graphics Card: Two Sapphire 100245HDMI Radeon HD 4850 512MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16814102824
Memory: G.Skill F3-12800L9D-4GBRL x 2, 4GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16820231277
Monitor: Hanns•G HW-191APB Black 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254023
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16822136319
CD/DVD drive: LG Black 22X DVD Burner SATA Model GH22NS50 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?cm_mmc=TomshardwareSBM-_-SystemBuilderEditorial-_-NA-_-NA&item=N82E16827136167

OVERCLOCKING: if necessary

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: crossfire

MONITOR RESOLUTION: not sure. Something reasonable in the monitor I pasted

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
My questions are this:
Is this computer overkill for those games? I’d like to play them in the highest settings possible, but in a heated multiplayer competition, it might not be feasible running ultra settings so im willing to settle. Again, I tried researching what cards would do what, but it was hard to find something I could put together. I see charts with lots of numbers on them, but I can’t find anything reliably explaining the cards’ history.

Im not interested in a 640GB hd. Is there something I could get that would carry half that much? I don’t expect taking that much room. I looked for other harddrives but others for 300GB are for notebooks or no longer in production. Am I stuck getting something large?

The graphics cards can’t support directx 11. Is that going to be a problem, say, 2 years down the road, or is the technology used in this computer meant to last this year and be replaced so quickly?

The optical drive reviews say it has spyware but can be removed. Any thoughts?

I know it’s a lot of questions and im sorry if it seems like im pawning my research to you guys. If you show me something readable I’ll check it out. Thanks SO MUCH For your time!

 

[batuchka]

That Hanns G 19" is just 1440 x 900 native resolution so if i were u

1. Rana 440
2. 870 chipset
combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.394163
3. Just the one HD 5770...even a HD 4850/GTS 250 is fine
4. Samsung F3 500GB for HDD?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181
Cheers ^^

 

[mode12]

i upgraded my monitor, instead i got an Acer X213HBbd Black 21.5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009219
i can't get the video cards i want because they're out of stock and i have no idea when the cards will be in stock again. im afraid they're going to be obsolete or take too long to get in. would this card be a suitable replacement?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125238

 

[fastx21]

Uh really nobody should be looking at a 4850/70 these days for a gaming rig. As recommended a 5770 will do you good. It will cost more but but worth it.

Such as this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161317&cm_re=hd_5770-_-14-161-317-_-Product

That combo batuchkta put up looks nice (Rana 440 msi board). Add the spinpoint 500gb, antec 300, 600w earthwatts, a dvd drive, the 5770 and you're done.

 

[mode12]

hey guys, thanks so much for your support. i took the necessary changes. when i get all my parts in i'll assemble them and probably ask for more help. i thought about oc'ing and i think im going to pass on it, but may come back to it in the future. thanks again for your support.
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