Budget gaming computer ($500 + Monitor)

[wuginator]

*EDIT* After really looking through parts it seems completely unreasonable to expect to spend less than $700 since I do need a new monitor. I have posted my potential build underneath the "what I'm looking for section."

Sorry for posting multiple times over the past week or two but due to recent developments I have to reduce how much I'm able to spend on my computer. I'm not trying to be a bother I promise! Thank you so much for all of your help in advance.

First things first, my current tower and laptop are both old, six and four years old. I'm used to playing my games on the absolute bottom of the barrel, lowest, dirtiest, settings available. I'm in the market for a PC that will be able to play my current games, SC, WoW, Morrowing 2011 at high settings (max is not required) and be able to play some new games over the next year or two without upgrading. At the moment the only game in the foreseeable future I want to play is Diablo 3 (it's okay if I have to set the settings to medium as time goes on). I mostly play games that are available on consoles on consoles so I tend to stick to PC only games on my PC, and quite honestly really only Blizzard and steam indie games.

Next summer I'll be leaving the country for 1-4 years (undetermined) and will most likely not be bringing this PC with me (plan on picking up a laptop of some kind) so it only realistically needs to survive a year. However I'd like it to be an enjoyable year!

With that in mind, this is my first time building a PC from the ground up. I've read through a ton of build combinations, other recommendations, the computer building threads etc., and while I feel I have a solid understanding of what to do since I'm new to this I feel like I'm over looking something small that will make this who experience less than fun. Not to mention there are a seemingly endless combination of parts.

Without further ado...

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Approximate Purchase Date: As soon as I can

Budget Range: $500 (I can go over by a margin of $200 with the monitor) I know I can spend $800 but I would like to keep it as close to $500-$600 as possible.

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Movies, Web browsing

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Speakers, OS (Please factor in that my OS will cost about $30)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com and amazon.com and I do live by a Micro Center

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: I don't really care but I mostly play Blizzard games if that makes a difference

Overclocking: I have nothing against OC'ing but it's not necessary

SLI or Crossfire: Probably not

Monitor Resolution: I need a new monitor (mine is six years old) but if I can get a 1920x1080 that would be spectacular

Additional Comments: Nothing flashy, just a solid, reliable, relatively cool and quiet budget PC

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PLEASE NOTE I'M NOT MARRIED (legally or otherwise) TO ANY OF THESE PARTS!

Monitor - ASUS VH226H 21.5" 2ms 1080P: $159.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236051

(The HDMI would be nice but I'm open to suggestions)

Case - Rosewill Challenger: $49.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147153

Mobo - ASRock H61M/U3S3: $74.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157236

CPU - Core i3 2100: $99.99 (micro center)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0359809

or

CPU - Core i5 2400: $149.99 (micro center)
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0354590

(Will the 2400 make a large difference in gaming? - again SC, WoW, D3 mainly)

PSU - Antex EarthWatts Green 430W: $44.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371034

(Is 430W enough if I wanted to do crossfire down the road?)

GPU - Sapphire 100328L HD 6770: $119.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102940

RAM - G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB (2x 2GB): $35.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

HDD - Samsung Spinpoint F3 1TB: $59.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

Optical drive - ASUS 24X DVD Burner: $20.99 (amazon)
http://www.amazon.com/Asus-DVD%C2%B1RW-DVD-RAM-Internal-DRW-24B1ST/dp/B0033Z2BAQ/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1312067050&sr=8-1

Wireless Adapter - TP-LINK: $19.99 (newegg)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16833704045


Take this apart. Change parts. Add parts. Touch your parts.

If I can provide you with anymore information to make this easier on you I will happily oblige.

Thanks again,
Tom

 

[wuginator]

Bump. Added a bunch of new part ideas. Made my budget more realistic.

 

[mgoon11]

Sorry I didn't really look over your post but I took a glance at your monitor and I just wanted to point this out: Asus VE228H 21.5" Full HD HDMI LED BackLight LCD Monitor w/Speakers ASCR 10,000,000:1

If you are okay with a 21.5" and don't want to pay a bit extra for a 23", this one is just $145 with a $10 rebate - around the same price as the one you listed so why not get a same size same brand monitor but an LED with built in speakers. The only flaw is the 2ms vs 5ms response time but honestly I don't think it makes that much of a difference especially according to places I've looked at.