Finalizing my $650 gaming build, including OS (UPDATED 1/7/11)

[maawdawg]

Approximate Purchase Date: probably today

Budget Range: $650 after rebates is the absolute max, including shipping. Lower would be better, and not having to deal with rebates and being <$650 would be optimal. I am posting this in the hopes someone can find a deal or two to knock a few bucks off the budget.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming (Diablo 3 and Guild Wars 2 when they hit, many current + older FPS/RPGs, not a big RTS player), web, video, simple office work

Parts Not Required: KB/M (just bought new Logitech set), speakers (reusing a Harman/Kardon set), monitor (see below), Case (see build)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com primarily, Amazon if I can save a few $$ on something.

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: AMD build, mid tower, 6850, Win 7.

Overclocking: No

Crossfire: Not initially, but plan to later

Monitor Resolution: 1600x900, 20” LCD is as big as my desk will allow since I only have 19.5” width clearance in my monitor bay. Picked this up already and it only has 3/8” clearance on each side.
http://www.staples.com/HP-2031-20-Widescreen-LCD-Monitor/product_864221

Additional Comments: I am pretty set on the parts I have listed below but could be convinced to change things if there is good reason to. This is my first build and I have been researching since September or so and held off through the 6800 release and to get some more funds at Christmas. I have done most of what a build requires individually in upgrades (RAM, PSU, GPU, media drives, etc) but never tried a full build myself so I am trying to keep things as simple as possible.

Final Build: (1/7/11)

HAVE:
I picked up this case for $55 shipped as it was the best case deal I had seen in a while and didn't want to miss it. It is here already and I am really impressed with it.
Antec 300 Illusion
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

NEED:
CPU, Mobo, RAM, DVD, GPU, HDD, OS, PSU

Athlon x3 Rana 3.2 - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886
Asrock 870 mobo - $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157198
Ripjaw 4GB 1333 - $49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231275
Lite-On DVD - $16, free shipping code EMCKJKD32
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Sapphire 6850 + 16GB flash drive - $182 - $167AR + $1 ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.578003
1TB Hitachi Deskstar - $50 after code EMCKJKC22
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145304
Windows 7 - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754
Xigmatek 600 - $60 - $40AR + 2 ship
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815009

Total: $632+ $3 shipping = $630 initial cost - $35 in rebates = $595 Final total
+$55 from case = $650 build total, including OS

I comboed in the flash drive because I might as well grab it for $3, that pretty easily justifies going $5 over budget.

 

[F1RST]

Hmmmmmmmmmmsave 100$ and get Win7 on TPBmmmmmmmmmm nothing to say

 

[maawdawg]

The more I look into the OCZ 600 the more I lean towards waiting a little while. It rates well but the only thing that makes me want to buy it is the price because of the rebate. Unfortunately the rebate comes in the form of a pre-paid Visa that people are having problems (A) getting and (B) redeeming. The other thing I am wary of is it has a lot of complaints regarding short wires.

I may just wait until some other quality PSU hits a shell shocker, gets a coupon code, or I can find a way to lower my build cost some other way through combos or discounts.

If anyone spots a deal or has any suggestions I would appreciate the input.

 

[maawdawg]

Well any hopes I had of coming under budget today just got dashed. Newegg raised the price on the Asrock 870 $20 up to $110 again, and also raised the Destroyer case $10 plus $10 shipping. I was already pushing my budget and adding another $40 isn't going to work. Back to the drawing board I guess. I'll necro this again when I have a shot or just start a new thread.

 

[maawdawg]

UPDATED THE OP

The ASRock 870 dropped to 90 again so I think I am in budget. I picked up the Antec 300 Illusion for $55 already, it is here already and super impressive. It looks like a big upgrade over the Rosewill Challenger/Destroyer I had been considering for the same price.

I do have some questions/thoughts before I buy today...

1) I can swap out the 500GB Spinpoint HD and get a 1TB Hitachi Deskstar for $50 (5 less) with a new coupon code today. I would effectively be cutting the $/GB in less than half for a similar speed drive. Any reason I should do that?
1TB Hitachi Deskstar - $50 after code EMCKJKC22.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822145304

2) I know I will get some questions on the PSU but it is reviewing well. The 700W version got a KituGuru worth Buying and the 600 has some solid reviews, a 5 year warranty, and some good efficiency numbers. They look pretty solid so I think I am going to give the 600 a shot for the price.
600W review - http://www.hardwareheaven.com/reviews/957/pg1/xigmatek-nrp-pc602-600w-psu-review-introduction.html
700W review - http://www.kitguru.net/components/power-supplies/zardon/xigmatek-nrp-pc702-power-supply-review/

Any help or input would be appreciated as I am always up for more info before I press the buy button on this, my first complete build.

 

[zooted]

1. I do not have experience with hitachi drives, it is a good price. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433&cm_re=7200.12-_-22-148-433-_-Product
this is as fast as the spinpoints as it runs on 500gb platters as well.
2.I would go for a better known brand http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371015&cm_re=antec_650-_-17-371-015-_-Product this one is at a great price atm.

 

[maawdawg]

Thanks for the reply. I did some more hunting around on TH and found some good info on the 3rd generation Hitachi drives which pretty much made me decide to switch over to it over the 500GB Spinpoint.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/1tb-hdd-storage,2563-4.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/2009-3.5-desktop-hard-drive-charts/h2benchw-3.12-Max-Read-Throughput,1009.html

It is only 1MB/s slower than a 500GB Spinpoint in transfer on the bench so that won't even be noticable. For $5 and double the size it is a no brainer it seems.

I think I am going to stick with the PSU I have. I don't have any budget wiggle room. I should have grabbed at Earthwatts around Christmas when it was $50 after rebate. AFter reading the reviews on the the Xigmatek I am pretty confident it is a solid PSU for this build.

Updating the OP again to reflect the change.

 

[zooted]

Actually I just looked at the psu, it seems pretty decent, with a nice bronze 80+ review.

 

[maawdawg]

I went ahead and placed my order for the stuff in the OP. Counting the rebates my final total was literally a quarter and some pennies lower than my $650 budget after shipping. $649.66 will be the final cost after the $35 in rebates clear.

Now I get to wait for it all to get here so I can get cracking on my first build.

 

[maawdawg]

Best answer selected by maawdawg.

 

[maawdawg]

Built the rig today, went off without a hitch. Started unboxing and building at 7:30am and had built, done cable management, had it running, and had OS and drivers installed by 12:15. Just programs and games to install this afternoon. Not too shabby for a first time build!

It is running great and is leaps and bounds faster than my ancient Dell Dimension 8300 I had been stuck on.

I really appreciate what I learned cruising around these forums and across TH for the past 5 months or so. I (and probably none of my family and friends) will never buy a premade PC again.

 

[zooted]

Congrats^ =]