[Solved] Gaming computer- best bang for buck!

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Whenever I get finalized the build i want, not in a big hurry so can wait if new hardware is coming out that will drop prices of some of the current high end items.

BUDGET RANGE: 800-1000 preferably getting the best future proof and bang for my buck I can in performance

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, web surfing, watching tv

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: not worried about including mouse, keyboard, monitor, speakers, or OS in this build for the price range but if there are some good deals or preferences on these items I am gonna be shopping around for these.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com but am willing to order from any reputable place

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: U.S.

PARTS PREFERENCES: No brand loyalty. From the research I have done AMD processors seem to have the best bang for my dollar in performance but not set on any brand at all

OVERCLOCKING: Maybe, never have but interested in learning and doing it with this build.

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe, not initially if necessary for performance upgrade in a few years, not worried about this at this time.

MONITOR RESOLUTION: Don't have a monitor, will be looking at 22"-24" monitors once I have a computer.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: want a solid performing computer for a good price. Like the cases to be unique and good looking.

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What I am currently thinking which is putting me close to the edge of my budget is:

CPU: AMD Phenom II x6 1055T 2.8Ghz for ~$200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103851

Mobo: Looking at ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard. Looks decent at a good price with DDR31600 support and 2 PCIX16 slots.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157176
or for a bit more if worth the extra cost
MSI NF750-G55 AM3 NVIDIA nForce 750a SLI HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130235

GPU: Trying to decided between NVIDIA GeFORCE GTX 460 and 465. Here are the main ones I am looking at. Just seems to have more performance for the cost vs the 470 or any of the higher end ATI cards.
460's-
Galaxy 60XMH6HS3HMW GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) GC 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814162058
GIGABYTE GV-N460OC-768I GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card0- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125334
EVGA 768-P3-1360-TR GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130562

465's-
ASUS ENGTX465/2DI/1GD5 GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121383
EVGA 01G-P3-1465-AR GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130555
MSI N465GTX-M2D1G GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127506

Memory- I am more lost on this than the rest.. figured DDR3 1600 for less need to upgrade in the future.. No idea on brands or differences. Was looking at:
Heres a combo: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2X2GB) DDR3 1600 with a NZXT ATX Mid tower case that looks decent:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.469344

For PSU and HD found this combo:
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC with
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.466028
or
Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148433
with
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139005

ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM $22.99

ASUS VW246H Glossy Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor $219.99

ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard $59.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1465-AR GeForce GTX 465 (Fermi) 1GB 256-bit $229.99
GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound $9.99

AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz Socket AM3 125W $199.99
Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT55TFBGRBOX

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro 92mm Ceramic CPU Cooler $29.99

Antec Nine Hundred Two Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $192.94

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600
(PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready $144.98
80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5"
Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Total cost right here is 1,110.85. However have 10% GPU so -$23 and $35 in mail in rebate cards +$16 for shipping = just under $1,070 for the entire set up. Only thing I don’t have here is speakers and keyboard/mouse.

This is what I currently have in my shopping cart at newegg so is what my costs would be at this point. Wouldn't mind saving a few bucks somewhere to take this total under $1000 if possible without affecting performance much. Any thoughts/ideas/criticism is welcomed! thanks!!

I was not able to find that cpu/mobo combo you listed, only with an i5 655 cpu for $285. And I saw some benchmark numbers having the Phenom II x61055t outperforming the i5's?
http://www.cpubenchmark.net/high_end_cpus.html

Are these benchmarks not very accurate for performance?

I was planning on doing some overclocking, probably not too much, if I won't tell a difference going down to the 1333 and can save money that would definitely be a good possibility.

Thanks for you input

Will the downgrade from the Phenom II X6 1055 to the X4 955 not be noticeable with this build?

Ok. That makes me tempted to go for a Phenom II X2 555 black edition for $99 and go to unlock the other 2 cores to get a Phenom II X4 B55.. Lol my luck mine won't be unlockable.


Why do you recommend 5870 over the 470 if upgrading the gpu?

Yea I was reading about the 470 in CPU magazine.. they did some comparisons between it, the 480 and the 5870... the 470 and 5870 basically split the tests but 5870 won all the 3Dmark Vantage ones... guess the 5870 keeps CF option as well... Thanks for the help so far.

470 is interesting in that it outright sucked at launch, but because of that has had price cuts and the driver team has been working full tilt on improvements, which have made it pretty competitive with the 5870.

What do you think about a western digital caviar 500GB HD and OCZ 4GB Ram (1600) combo instead of the samsung HD and A-DATA RAM?

Best answer selected by jddgfd.

650 should be fine for 1 5870, crossfire is probly 1000W