600 budget gaming pc critique

Approximate Purchase Date: Friday 2-4


Budget Range: 600 before


System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming, light internet surfing


Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, OS

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com, tigerdirect, amazon where ever is cheaper and reliable


Country of Origin: US


Parts Preferences: intel i3 550 more than likely but open to any suggestions, also want to try and get a xfx 5850 gpu


Overclocking: Yes


SLI or Crossfire: Yes (future not now due to budget)


Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080


Additional Comments: building for a friend now that mines done. the better graphics the better heres what i got so far


Well heres my updated list so far
ASRock M3A770DE AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813157176 59.99

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827118039 16.99

XION AXP 100 Gaming Series AXP100-001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811208027 49.99(10 MIR)

AMD Athlon II X3 455 Rana 3.3GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX455WFGMBOX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103911 88.99

Mushkin Enhanced Silverline 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model 996768 and Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.592829 91.98

Seagate ST3500418AS Barracuda 7200.12 Hard Drive - 3.5", 7200 RPM, SATA 3G, 500GB, 16MB Cache (OEM) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applica [...] TSD-500AS7 39.99

almost forgot XFX HD-687A-ZNFC Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150506 249.99 (40MIR)

total 597.92

any additional comments or suggestion as well as compatability issues would be appreciated too. trying to get best graphics for the money

You can do a xfire capable build for less.
In terms of GPU, the 6870 is a bit better than a 5850, however cheapest is $215 after MIR, 5850 is $160 after MIR. Huge price diff, making 5850 a much better buy.

Optical
Liteon $16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106289

Case
Antec 300 $60 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129042

HD
7200.12 500gb $38 after promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148395

GPU
XFX 5850 $190 w/ $30 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150477

PSU
Antec neo 620w $65 w/ Promo code, $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371031

RAm
Ripjaw DDR3 1333 cas 7 $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231276

CPU/Mobo
Athlon II x4 and Asus evo 790x $184 w/ $15 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.592323

Promo codes: EMCKHKJ25 EMCKHKJ22 EMCKHKJ42

Total including shipping: $612.73
After Rebates: $533

I would like to throw the Cooler Master HAF 912 in here, as a possible cheap case, which is high quality, has lots of space and better cable management than the Antec 300.

This RAM is cheaper, unfortunately the voltage is a bit higher, but $15 is probably worth that IMO:
Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 BL2KIT25664BN1337 $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820148323

I did not know that it came with only one fan. There are a number of schools of thought with cases, in this case I would say that I'd prefer to get a case with good cable management with only one fan over a fully fanned up case, but with crappy cable management. As it is cheaper to add fans than replace case because you are driven crazy by the lack of cable management features, like I am with my case.

And if the case is going to be a long term investment, then it can be worth spending more. However if it's just going to be your first case, until you find out what you want and where you are going next, then spend as little as possible getting a quality case. In which case the Antec 300 would be perfect.