500-600$ Budget - New Build

[Scottehs]

Approximate Purchase Date: I want to keep this system able to compete at high details for years.

Budget Range: $500-600 before rebate.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Photoshop, Daily Internet Browsing Use

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Harddrive,

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: Intel, Nvidia, Any good brand for a motherboard, good memory, and PSU

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: Maybe

Monitor Resolution: 1920x1080

Additional Comments: I want this computer too last a few years in gaming but I will be able to update it within the next year so I would like my computer to run the newest games coming out at a fairly high detail with good FPS on a 1920x1080 resolution.

 

[mosox]

You don't have the monitor?

 

[Scottehs]

I do it.

It runs 1920x1080 - 21.5" LCD

 

[cuecuemore]

You said you have the HDD already, do you have an OS on the HDD? I'm having trouble putting together something upgradeable with an OS.

EDIT: For less than $600, of course.

 

[Scottehs]

You said you have the HDD already, do you have an OS on the HDD? I'm having trouble putting together something upgradeable with an OS.

EDIT: For less than $600, of course.

Yes I have my own HDD with Windows 7.

 

[cuecuemore]

I couldn't get a build together that I felt comfortable recommending for under $600 before rebates. This one comes to $628 before and under $600 after:

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146061

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115076

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130583

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231443

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

GPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125367

DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204


You can add another 550 ti down the road (will be no more than $100 a year from now) and crank up your graphics performance.

 

[Scottehs]

Best answer selected by Scottehs.

 

[Scottehs]

How much of an upgrade is that 550 ti vs my PNY XLR8 1g 9800 gt card?

 

[cuecuemore]

Probably about 30-40%, depending on what game you're playing. I didn't know you had a 9800 GT already, that being the case you could grab another one(for less than the cost of a GTX 550 ti) and run them in SLI, out performing a single 550 ti. You would be sacrificing DX11 capability, as well as investing in dated hardware, but you'd save a couple bucks and have better up front performance in most games.

 

[mosox]

Nice but but get this PSU, same price
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031

AMD alternative (upgrade path to the future AMD Bulldozer CPUs)

ASUS M5A88-V EVO AM3+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131733
AMD Phenom II X4 955
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103808
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231438
ASUS 24X DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204
Antec NEO ECO 620C 620W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371031
XFX HD-687A-ZDFC Radeon HD 6870
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150521
NZXT GAMMA
or
HEC Blitz Black Steel Edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811121096&Tpk=hec%20blitz
$613.93

The PSU is still too weak for two video cards.

Your OS won't work on a new mobo, you need to reinstall the OS if changing the motherboard.