AeroBlitz

Distinguished
Feb 19, 2011
4
0
18,510
Budget Range: $600, $650 at the most. The cheaper then better!

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, internet browsing/school stuff, movies

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, sound card, operating system*, and HDD**

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: tigerdirect.com, newegg.com, amazon.com are my preffered choices, if you can find a part cheaper somewhere else by all means post it.

Country of Origin: United States

Parts Preferences: Intel Core i5, Nvidia GPU, and an EVGA motherboard that is SLI ready if possible for upgrades to GPU down the road. This would mean the PSU should be able to support the power draw from SLI as well. ATI and AMD are an absolute no. 4GB of RAM (DDR3) is my minimum for RAM, I can live with just this much RAM if it is able to put more money towards other areas. I don't like ATI or AMD, so they are a no go.

Overclocking: Not planning too

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe down the road, so I would like everything to be ready for that,

Monitor Resolution: My current monitor is a 19-inch TV @ 1360x768

Additional Comments: It would be nice if the case could be coolermaster, but that might be too much to ask for. lol.


* Operating system will be Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

** I'm going to be re-using my Western Digital Caviar Blue HDD for now, it's done me well so far and is just a month old so I'd rather use that 50-100 for buying a new HDD and put it into something else like the GPU.
 
Solution
Hello AeroBlitz;

Keeping your budget and preferences in mind:

Core i5-760 2.8GHz CPU & GIGABYTE GTS 450 (Fermi) video card combo $318 +$10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.594319

BIOSTAR T5 XE CFX-SLI P55 Motherboard $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138162

A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

ASUS 24x DVD Burner, SATA $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

XFX XXX 650W 80 PLUS BRONZE Modular Power Supply $95 +$30 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207002

CM HAF 912 case $60...
Hello AeroBlitz;

Keeping your budget and preferences in mind:

Core i5-760 2.8GHz CPU & GIGABYTE GTS 450 (Fermi) video card combo $318 +$10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.594319

BIOSTAR T5 XE CFX-SLI P55 Motherboard $115
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138162

A-DATA Gaming Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600 $45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211409

ASUS 24x DVD Burner, SATA $18
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

XFX XXX 650W 80 PLUS BRONZE Modular Power Supply $95 +$30 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207002

CM HAF 912 case $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

~$651 before $40 rebates, taxes & shipping.

I did look for the EVGA P55 FTW motherboard but it's in short supply and the lowest price was $202.
There is a micro-ATX EVGA P55V $95 with $20 rebate with x8/x8 SLI but the NewEgg customer review rating is too low to recommend.
The GTS 450 was the best GPU I could squeeze into your budget but should be outstanding on a 1366x768 monitor.


 
Solution