New build of $900 max

[aastud]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week/month

Budget Range: $600 - $900 before rebates

System Usage: web browsing, gaming, watching movies

Parts Required: case, mouse, keyboard, screen, speakers

Preferred Website or Store for Parts: newegg.com, micro-center

Country of Origin: USA

Overclocking: I don't know

SLI or Crossfire: I don't know

Monitor Resolution: I don't know

Additional Comments: This is my first time building a computer for this purpose, so any words of advice are much appreciated!

Thanks,
aastud

 

[aznshinobi]

Check out my build guide here for 600$
http://www.squidoo.com/electronicandmore#module146695821
Then go to microcenter and pick up the i5 2500K, it doesn't make much sense since you may not overclock. But it's only 180$ at microcenter. This'll +55$ to the total.
Also upgrade the motherboard to this since it gives you the option to CF and overclock if you feel like getting into that stuff later on.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157249&cm_re=p67-_-13-157-249-_-Product
+30
Total: $685
To figure out the GPU please figure out your monitor resolution
http://www.whatismyscreenresolution.com/

 

[aastud]

1920x1080, i want to buy a new monitor too

 

[aznshinobi]

Wait why buy a new monitor if your current one is 1920x1080? That's really good already.
Anyway, knowing your monitor resolution is pretty high. Pay 100$ more (Total 785) for this 560 Ti OC'd. It'll run cool and perform at the level of a 570.
http://www.amazon.com/MSI-PCI-Express-N560GTX-TWIN-FROZR/dp/B004JLNZXU%3FSubscriptionId%3D19BAZMZQFZJ6G2QYGCG2%26tag%3Dsquid1240995-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB004JLNZXU
You have a 20$ MIR too.
Source: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/6

Since your monitor resolution is so high, SLI doesn't work with 16x/4x. So switch to this motherboard. +45
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583&cm_re=MSI_p67-_-13-130-583-_-Product

So now!!!! The grand total is $800 before rebates. That leaves you with 100$, spend another 30$ to upgrade the power supply to this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371026&cm_re=750w-_-17-371-026-_-Product
NOW Tota: 830$
70$ left to do whatever.

 

[aastud]

oh my bad i meant i want a monitor that can do 1920x1080, currently i have ~6 year old 17" 1280x1024

 

[aznshinobi]

I'd spend an extra 45$ and get this monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009299&cm_sp=Cat_Monitors-_-Best_Sellers-_-24-009-299
Mainly because you'll need the 560 ti OC'd to run well at that resolution.