Review my $350-$550 budget poker system

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Fev87

Distinguished
Sep 5, 2010
8
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18,510
BUDGET RANGE: $350-$550

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Playing online poker on dual monitors (not gpu intensive), browsing multiple firefox tabs, teamviewer, IM, a little SC2.

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitors, Windows7, Video Card, and possibly the HD and PSU.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: usa

OVERCLOCKING: NO

SLI OR CROSSFIRE: No

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1920x1080
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CPU
$63 AMD Athlon II X2 250 3ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103681

Not sure if it's worth upgrading to a quad core. I guess it will depend on if i need to spend money on a new HD and PSU.
$90 Athlon X4 2.6 ghz (quad core)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=19-103-706
$165 AMD Phenom II X4 965 3.4ghz (quad core)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727


Motherboard
Asus $85 ($70 after rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131603
or
Asus $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131626

Vid Card
Re-use my Galaxy GeForce 9500 GT.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162019

Case
$55 + $20 ship = $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119068

Hard Drive
I want to re-use my 5yr old 250GB 7200RPM IDE HD....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822140153
but i don't think my MB supports IDE. Would something like this work?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812156010 <--updated

I have a 640GB external HD, so storage isn't a problem. I also want to be able to upgrade to SSD in the future when price drops. Any modern MB will support SSD right? SATA II is the same as SATA 3gb/s?

RAM
$86 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 Kingston
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134792

OS
Windows7 64 bit, already have.

PSU
Reusing 5yr old 420W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153006
Should I upgrade this PSU?
 
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F

Fev87

Distinguished
Sep 5, 2010
8
0
18,510
---------------------------------------UPDATE---------------------------------------
CPU
$75 AMD Athlon II X3 440
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843

Motherboard
$85 ($70 after rebate) Asus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131603

Vid Card
$45 - Already bought Galaxy GeForce 9500 GT.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162019

Hard Drive
$48 Western Digital SATA WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-136-098

$10 Rosewill External Enclosure
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-182-143

RAM
$90 ($70 after rebate) 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 Patriot
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220435

Case and PSU
Antec Case + 500W PSU Combo
$120 (free shipping) on amazon.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=11-129-024

OS
Windows7 64 bit, already have.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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F

Fev87

Distinguished
Sep 5, 2010
8
0
18,510
---------------------------------------UPDATE---------------------------------------
CPU
$75 AMD Athlon II X3 440
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103843

Motherboard
$85 ($70 after rebate) Asus
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131603

Vid Card
$45 - Already bought Galaxy GeForce 9500 GT.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814162019

Hard Drive
$48 Western Digital SATA WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=22-136-098

$10 Rosewill External Enclosure
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=17-182-143

RAM
$90 ($70 after rebate) 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 Patriot
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220435

Case and PSU
$100 Antec Case + 550W PSU Combo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.492498

DVD Burner/Drive
$18 Sony
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118039

Also got:
12V 4pin cable extension (since PSU is bottom mounted in case)
Extra Sata cable (since DVD and HD are OEM)

OS
Windows7 64 bit, already have.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

there's my final list. thanks for all the help.
 
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F

Fev87

Distinguished
Sep 5, 2010
8
0
18,510
i already ordered it so too late to change now.

but could u tell me why its better? the 550w had many more reviews on newegg. doubt its a big difference.
 
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F

Fev87

Distinguished
Sep 5, 2010
8
0
18,510
now that i think about it...

i guess the same was true for the biostar MB you linked? and the RAM? whats the best way to search newegg if not by most/best reviews? i have no clue what brands are good.
 
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obsidian86

obsidian86

Splendid
Aug 5, 2009
5,762
0
26,160
look for professional reviews and benchmarks with the hardware you want google is your friend

biostar ain't bad their fx 890 board holds the record for the highest overclocked amd cpu ever

munshkin is a widely respected ram manufacturer but their customer service really leaves other companies in the dust
 
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