700 Gaming Build - suggestions please

[fredibm]

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: Sometime this week

BUDGET RANGE: $650-750 US

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Gaming, internet, movies, htpc

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

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: Newegg, Compusa, other reputable sites

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: US

PARTS PREFERENCES: None

OVERCLOCKING: Yes

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Future potential

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: Looking for any compatibility issues these might have, cheaply upgradable parts, better combo deals

My Build:

PSU 49.99 (not expecting MIR): Tuniq Potency PSU-POT650-BK 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817611007

MB 89.99: ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198&cm_re=asrock_870-_-13-157-198-_-Product
(This may be sold out - is there an equivalent for a good price? another source?)

CPU 149.99: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
(Is 965BE worth an extra few bucks?)

HDD 74.99: SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Case, Memory Combo $137.98:
LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58W Black 0.8 mm SECC, Plastic + Mesh ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492939
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492939

GPU $189.99:
ZOTAC Synergy Edition ZT-40401-10P GeForce GTX 460 (Fermi) 768MB 192-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.455039

Total: $692.93 (not including shipping and MIR)

 

[calguyhunk]

Your build looks alright, just a few things ---

1. Don't worry, you wont be needing the extra 200 Mhz for gaming. Stick to the 955 & OC it to ~4.0 maybe if you want to.

2. Not absolutely important, but the CL7/8/9 kits are basically the same price. So get CL7 if you can get a combo going.

Never used a Tuniq PSU. No idea 'bout how good or otherwise the brand is. Better brands include Seasonic, Corsair, Antec, CoolerMaster etc. IMO.

Now that you're going with a 460, you do realize that your board won't support SLI in the future, right? If you wanna keep that option of a 2nd Gfx card open, go with either a NVidia chipset board, or an ATI GPU.

The rest of your build looks like a pretty good gaming build.

 

[fredibm]

1. Thanks. I'll stick with the 955
2. I couldn't find a good combo with CL7 memory. From what I've read it would only have a 1%-2% improvement. If anyone sees a good CL7 deal let me know. It seems the memory I have selected should OC fine based on the reviews.

The reviews look ok for the Tuniq PSU. I couldn't find a good deal on a named brand in the 600-700w range.

For the MB/GPU I think I have three choices:
a) SLI capable but give up SATA6G and USB3, keep the 460
ASUS M4N98TD EVO AM3 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI ATX AMD Motherboard ($140)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131636

b) No SLI but with SATA6G and USB3 (maybe take advantage of SLI hack later)
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198

c) Give up on 460 and go to ATI - switch to a 5830
ASRock 870 EXTREME3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198
GIGABYTE GV-R583UD-1GD Radeon HD 5830 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125317&cm_re=5830-_-14-125-317-_-Product

Opinions?
I'm open to any suggestions in the $650-$750 range.

 

[calguyhunk]

The Asrock 870 Extreme3 is by far the best value choice. I'll go with that. But the 460 (768 Mb) far outperforms the 5830. Radeon HD 5830 vs GTX 460 768MB

You editing your Original Post, makes mine look pretty absurd & meaningless. Also I don't recall the board you linked or the questions you had. Anyways, for under 750 bucks, If you value FPS above everything else @ 1920p X 1080 (1680 X 1050 is also pretty high-ish)

CPU : $75 Athlon II X3 440

Mobo : $90 Asrock. Of course they have re-stocked it. It's selling like hot cakes. I'm surprised that they haven't increased the price.

RAM : $98 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB)

HDD : $75 Samsung Spinpoint

PSU : $65 Antec EarthWatts EA650

ODD : $21 LG SATA DVD Burner - Bulk LightScribe Support

GPU : $270 Radeon HD 5850

Case : $50 Rosewill CHALLENGER Gaming ATX Mid Tower Case

Total Cost - $744 + Shipping. This one really beats the 955/5830 or 955/460 rigs hollow as a pure gaming & HTPC system.

P.S. - You can go with a cheaper PSU if you don't wish to Xfire that 5850 in the future. I'm only giving you this config 'coz you said that you're open to other suggestions. You can stick to the 955 rig if you want to. Or, if you're really feeling flush, swap out the 440 with the 955 for 75 bucks extra.

Also, I can make these same specs slightly cheaper by going with lesser known brands, but I stick to a handful of reliable, well established brands in each category.