1st Build, AMD - Help please

[bob1812]

First Build, AMD
I’m the “computer guy” at a small office, so just enough experience to get into trouble. I want to boost my skills with a budget, all-around pc.

Approximate Purchase Date: within a month, not in a hurry

Budget Range: $500.00 - $600.00

System Usage from Most to Least Important: light gaming, surfing the internet, watching movies, spreadsheets, etc.

Parts Not Required: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, dvd-r, processor (have an AMD Phenom II X4 840)

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: microcenter (3 miles away), newegg.com, amazon.com

Country of Origin: USA

Parts Preferences: by brand or type: not picky

Overclocking: Maybe later

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1280x1024

Additional Comments: I would like a quiet PC, have enough power to play some games and possible use as a HTPC. Note: favorite game is still AEO II, to give an idea of how far behind I am, but I like Quake shooter types. Would like to try an SSD for the OS with SATA3. Hopefully use onboard video, less heat and I don’t need that much. Here’s what I’m thinking, but this is my first build so please any advise is appreciated. Thanks!

Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000QAVVAM/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1319745493&sr=8-1&condition=new

PHENOM II X4 840 Boxed Processor HDX840WFGMBOX
http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0371961
(already bought it for $60 at Microcenter)

ASRock 880G PRO3 AM3+ AMD 880G HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157243

G.SKILL Value Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-8GBNT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231422

OCZ Agility 3 AGT3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986

 

[beenthere]

If this PC will be used for Biz and data security is important you'll want that data stored on a HD, not an SSD - at this time, or at least backed up daily.

Do you have a Video card?

 

[bob1812]

I have some really old video cards - I was hoping to "get by" with just the onboard video. Do you have a prefered video card or brand?

I do have a WD 500GB if this ends up as the biz pc.Good point, beenthere, I hear the ssd's aren't incredibly reliable yet...

 

[beenthere]

No favorite Vid card but I didn't see one listed so I wasn't sure if you had one or not. You can always add a discrete Vid card if the onboard is unacceptable, which it probably will be for gaming?