Another $900 Gaming Build - Need Help Cutting Costs

[Maladon]

Hey everyone,

This my first time build. I'll be using this to play Starcraft II, FFXIV, BFBC2. I don't think that I'll be upgrading to a second 460 in SLI at any point, but I haven't really made up my mind yet. My biggest concern here is the budget. I would really like to spend less, so any tips for reducing costs would be greatly appreciated.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week

BUDGET RANGE: $850-$950

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, internet surfing, school

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, mouse, operating system

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA

PARTS PREFERENCES: Not strong either way

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Can't decide

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080

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Here are the components I've picked out:

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236059 ($169.99 after MIR)

Mobo/CPU: ASUS M4A88TD-V Evo + AMD X4 955 BE - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.444566 ($259.98)

HD: Western Digital 750gb Black Caviar - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136283&Tpk=black%20caviar%20750 ($59.99 - got it on sale a few weeks ago)

PSU: Corsair 650tx - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 ($79.99 after MIR)

Memory: Corsair XMS3 4gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145251 ($89.99)

Case/ODD: Antec three hundred + LITE-ON 24x DVD Writer - http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.435578 ($73.94)

GPU: EVGA GTX 460 1gb - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130566&cm_re=evga_460_1gb-_-14-130-566-_-Product ($239.99)

 

[danman12]

looks ok to me, but id get a phenom II x4 955 for just a little more dough and a lot more performance.

 

[batuchka]

$719AR, less since u already have HDD?

 

[Maladon]

Thanks for the posts guys.

Batuchka - I've been told to be wary of MSI and OCZ. Any reason I should reconsider? Have you had good experiences with them?

Any other opinions about this build? My mobo/CPU combo disappeared overnight so now I'm looking at the combo linked below. Same board but the 945 instead of 955.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.456048

Thanks everyone!

 

[Johnar]

I'm sorry I had issues with my purchase yesterday, and all the combos are gone now, are there any new suggestions you guys can make for the 800-900 dollar range?

 

[batuchka]

Yes have built with almost any/all brands of hardware and any brands make both gems and lemons hehe Well i am holding out a day or two for combos to be up again ^^

 

[cmcghee358]

The OCZ ModXstream line of PSUs are quite excellent and at a very attractive price point. The only competition in that range are the new XFX PSUs.

 

[mrhoshos96]

too bad the combo's are over

here is a build for $1,000.91 before $65 rebates

cpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808

ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226154

psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341016

gpu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127500

mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130290

monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236079

hdd: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

odd: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136180