A 300$ upgrade

[dan103]

Hi.
Last summer I upgraded my Compaq computer with a 600 Watt OCZ ModXStream and a Radeon HD5770.
I now want more.
I'm looking to get a new case, CPU, and motherboard (possibly new RAM as well) all for around 300$.
This will be my first build. I'm planning on using the current CD/DVD drive in my computer, as well as my HDD and possibly my RAM

What would you suggest?

After looking at TH, I'm thinking about the AMD 445 for the CPU.
For my mobo, I would like Crossfire compatibility at 2x16, for when I decide to upgrade, and USB 3.0. So far, I've found the ASRock 890fx Deluxe 3 or 4, and the MSI 890FXA-GD70. Are there cheaper and better alternatives?
For my case, I have absolutely no ideas. All I want is that it be a mid-tower and quiet.

Thanks for any and all advice.

 

[mosox]

What RAM do you have and how much of it?

 

[dan103]

2x1gb (DDR3 1333MHz by Hynix Semiconductor) and 1x1gb (DDR3 1333Mhz by Elpida) for a total of 3gb.
It came with the computer.

My CPU is an AMD II X2 215.

 

[dan103]

I don't really think so:- the X3 445 is 77$,
-the MOBOs I've suggested are around 150$
-and the cases I've just been looking at (Thermaltake V3 Black Edition and the Rosewill CHALLENGER Black) are around 50$.

That equals 275$. I'm not sure that a combo deal is going to be a lot cheaper.

 

[mosox]

x8 x8 is good enough for crossfire.

ASRock 870 EXTREME3
AMD Phenom II X4 955
Rosewill CHALLENGER

$289.97

Other CF mobos
GIGABYTE GA-890GPA-UD3H
ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3

And an Athlon II X4 to be in the budget.

 

[dan103]

Wouldn't I probably be able to unlock the last core in the X3?

and would you happen to have any links to good reviews of the mobos you suggested? The only reason I suggested the ones I did, was because I found them when looking at this article on Tom's.
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/amd-890fx-crosshair-iv-formula-890fxa-ud7,2640.html

If x8 is good enough, why do some mobos have 2x16? Is it because the really powerful graphics cards need that much bandwidth?

Also, which do you think is better, the Rosewill or the Thermaltek?

Thanks a ton for the recommendations and btw, are those prices from newegg?

 

[dan103]

Why is the ASRock so much cheaper than the other two? Is it because it only has a one year warranty/ lacks on-board graphics/ supports lower RAM speeds/ only has 6 audio channels instead of 8/ only has 3 USB 2.0 headers/ and has an earlier northbridge version?
What does all that change?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

thats why it's cheaper.

Its the least expensive 8x/8x crossfire board out there. Its also solid in quality