Good Sub $700 Build?

[Thorindorf]

Hey all, I'm new to the forums, so excuse my lack of knowledge and possible breach of forum etiquette. I'm sure that you're tired of these sorts of threads, but this is my first time building a PC from scratch and I'd really like some advice or tips on my build. I plan on using it for moderate to heavy gaming (At least be able to run Skyrim and Starcraft 2 at moderate to high settings) and plan to install alot of mods. This will be the sole device in my room so I may also install a TV tuner. So here goes the component list:

Motherboard: $95 M4A88T-M/USB3 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003XRG1DM/

CPU: $78 Athlon II X3 450 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103886

Video Card: $175 Radeon HD 6870 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150561&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Video%20Cards-_-XFX-_-14150561&AID=10446076&PID=3793426&SID=skim1307X517919Xbf8c988d5c325b0b26b4cafac8b33796

HDD: $101 Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ http://www.seaboom.com/scripts/product.asp?PRDCODE=1105-HD103SJ&REFID=PG

RAM: $26 G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

OS: $70 Windows 7 Home Premium http://www.softwaresupplygroup.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-64-bit-oem-branded.html

Optical Drive: $22 CD/DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151233&Tpk=SH-222AB

Case: $36 GAMMA Classic Series ATX Mid Tower http://www.amazon.com/GAMMA-Classic-Interior-Chassis-Black/dp/B002UDK9U6/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Power Supply: $45 Corsair Builder Series CX V2 430-Watt http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004W2T2TM/ref=asc_df_B004W2T2TM1769162?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=pg-401-01-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395097&creativeASIN=B004W2T2TM

Also, don't have a good keyboard or monitor, so these are what I was thinking:

Monitor: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-VH236H-Inch-Widescreen-Monitor/dp/B002453K5G/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Keyboard: http://www.amazon.com/Kensington-Keyboard-Profile-Design-K64397US/dp/B0014J1P64/ref=sr_1_130?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1320640575&sr=1-130

Thoughts, advice, and tips would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Outlander_04]

Asus M4XXX motherboards dont support future processors so that one is best avoided . This Asrock is newer tech and cheaper that will let you upgrade later
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280


This case and power supply combo
Antec Three Hundred + BP430 is $70 after rebate .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129065
Much better case and similar quality psu

The athlon X3 is a good choice at this budget , but the savings might let you get a Phenom quad core . Might have to get a 500 gig hard drive too ............

 

[aznshinobi]

Assuming you don't plan to Crossfire or SLI:

AMD 955 + MSI 560 Ti TFII OC $355 ($20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.748595
Asrock Extreme3 970 $85
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157280
G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB DDR3 1600 $27
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277
Windows 7 64-bit $69
http://www.softwaresupplygroup.com/microsoft-windows-7-home-premium-64-bit-oem-branded.html
Rosewill Blackbone $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147023
Antec 520w Neo Eco $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&Tpk=neo%20eco%20520
Seagate 250GB $50
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-Barracuda-3-5-Inch-Internal-ST250DM000/dp/B005CT56XU/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1320735931&sr=1-2
Total: $681

The Graphics is much better while giving you more power on the CPU and a better airflow case. The CPU would mainly be important to SC2 and a tiny effect on Skyrim. As for the GPU, the 560 Ti TFII OC's review is here:
http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/graphics/2011/01/27/msi-geforce-gtx-560-ti-1gb-review/6
Close to the 570 basically, except runs cooler and consumes less power.

570 vs 6870: http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/290?vs=306

Now for the HDD concern, HDD prices are extremely expensive right now, no matter what solid HDD's will spin at 7200RPM (unless it's 5400 RPM) it'll feel all the same in reality. Just less space. Cache doesn't even effect reality performance that much. I suggest just getting an external later since right now HDDs are just so expensive.

 

[Thorindorf]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses. I really don't mind paying for the 1TB HDD as I plan on using it for a while and will pass on the 560/955 combo as well as the case/PSU bundle (There's a 20 buck rebate for the case I posted) because I don't need cutting edge graphics or processing and would rather take the savings than the small performance boost. I will definitely change the mobo though, the one you guys linked was clearly superior and also cheaper. Also, do you guys have any monitor (Under $200) and/or keyboard (For gaming and essays, preferably under $20) recommendations? Thanks, guys! Any other thoughts?

 

[aznshinobi]

Any monitor above 1680x1050 will do. I suggest the cheapest you can find, usually they're 1920x1080 now.

 

[Thorindorf]

Thanks for the recommendations and the help! I hope this is but the start of my relationship with DIY PC's.