First Time Builder Check

[hawkerz]

New modest system build:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Today/Tomorrow

BUDGET RANGE: (e.g.: 600-800) ~$600

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: General decent home PC, Starcraft 2, Pic/video storage/viewing, internet & office apps

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, OS (I like to run a dual boot WinXP and Ubuntu 10 on all my systems)

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com seems to have the best pricing, but they charge me Jersey sales tax, so anywhere else reputable is fine as well.

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: by brand or type: intel cores. I like the power efficiencies of the core series chips.

OVERCLOCKING: nah

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: nah

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050, but would like the option of HDMI'ing to my TV (1080p).

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: My current PC is a 2003 Dell that has been a trooper for years, but has hit a wall with SC2 and HD home videos. So I'm looking to max my bang4buck and put together my first home-built system. I've done upgrades to previous purchased PCs, so I have some knowledge of system building, but I've never built one up from scratch before. Below is the build that I believe would work best for my situation. Any comments from veterans would be greatly appreciated. I believe everything is compatible, but then again, I'd like to double check. Thanks in advanced.

CPU/Case: Core i3-530 + Rosewill CHALLENGER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.461714

MB: ASRock H55M Pro LGA 1156
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157181

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB 240-Pin DDR3 1333
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231253

PSU/Optical: OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ500MXSP 500W + LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.466056

HD: WD Caviar Blue WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache (has $20 off promo, else I'd go with Sammy Spinpoint f3 500)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

GPU: XFX HD-577A-ZNFC Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150447

Total: $605
Tax: $42
S/H: $14
Promo: -$20
Rebates: -$35
Net: $606

Thanks again.

 

[hawkerz]

UPDATE:
I’ve upped to DDR3 1600 ram for $5 with a promo code. Course I’m not sure if that is remotely a bottleneck, but for $5...who cares?

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231193

 

[Timop]

Its a nice i3 build, but I would mace a few changes.

Get this combo for the CPU+Mobo, you get a bunny too. XD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.457489

Heres the combo for the Case+PSU, the Antec PSU is better, but if you really want modular PSUs stick with your old combo and get the case on the secnd link :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.469963
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061&Tpk=Nzxt%20gamma

 

[hawkerz]

Thanks for your inputs.

Any particular reason to switch to that MB besides the cost savings? I chose the ASRock based on the AnandTech H55 MB review article from a couple months back. They seemed to love the ASRock. Sure, my old PATA devices will have to be retired, but that's not really a bad thing (albeit sad). Course...the bunny is awesome no doubt.

Of cases that price, I picked the Rosewill because I like the location of the front panel inputs. I hate it when I plug a temp usb device into the front panel and place it on top of the tower only to have the dangling cord block the DVD drive from opening (my systems are floor level). The Rosewill also comes with 3 fans vs the NZXT's single fan.

 

[Timop]

Thanks for your inputs.

Any particular reason to switch to that MB besides the cost savings? I chose the ASRock based on the AnandTech H55 MB review article from a couple months back. They seemed to love the ASRock. Sure, my old PATA devices will have to be retired, but that's not really a bad thing (albeit sad). Course...the bunny is awesome no doubt.

Of cases that price, I picked the Rosewill because I like the location of the front panel inputs. I hate it when I plug a temp usb device into the front panel and place it on top of the tower only to have the dangling cord block the DVD drive from opening (my systems are floor level). The Rosewill also comes with 3 fans vs the NZXT's single fan.

The Mobo is mainly cost savings. Since you're not OCing, the extra features higher-end Mobos offer wont benefit you much, and the new Biostar line is pretty decent, so unless you need firewire, saving that little bit of cash while not losing anything important sounds like a good idea to me.

On the case, if you want top mounted I/O ports, go with the Silverstone or this, or stick with the Rosewill if you want. Personally I'm not a fan of the Rosewill case, and the fans costs ~$10 if you buy them separately, Though I doubt youll need them in the first place.

 

[geofelt]

First time in a long time that I see a balanced build that looks this good.
Any changes are personal preference and nit picking.
Good job!

As a suggestion for a first time builder, download the motherboard and case manuals. Read them cover to cover before the parts arrive.
You will get answers for some questions and perhaps generate a few.