Advice on first build please.

[outcold051]

So im looking to build a new computer. I have some parts picked out on newegg, but would like some input from people who actually know what they are doing as this is going to be my first build so I dont have firsthand knowledge.

Approximate Purchase Date: within the next month
Budget Range: $700-900
System Usage from Most to Least Important: gaming (skyrim, SC2, and D3 when it comes out), school, web surfing
Parts Not Required: monitor, os, mouse, keyboard
Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg
Country: U.S.
Parts Preferences: AMD (will consider intel if there is a much better deal)
Overclocking: no
SLI or Crossfire: no
Monitor Resolution: 1920 x 1080
Additional Comments: If at all possible within my price range, I would like to be able to max out the games listed above.

- Below are some parts that I have picked out to start on newegg, take a look and let me know what you all think (if there is anything that should be switched out just let me know).

RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEB 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156078

MSI 890FXA-GD70 AM3+ AMD 890FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130274

SAPPHIRE FleX 100314FLEX Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102924

XION AXP-700K14XE 700W ATX SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80+ Bronze Modular Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817190031

AMD FX-4100 Zambezi 3.6GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) Socket AM3+ 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor FD4100WMGUSBX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996

CORSAIR XMS 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMP8GX3M2B1333C9
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145340

Western Digital Caviar Green WDBAAY5000ENC-NRSN 500GB SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136801

ASUS Black Blu-ray Drive SATA Model BC-12B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135247

right now this system is at $857.92

 

[hpdeskjet]

Try this PSU:

XFX Core Edition PRO650W (P1-650S-NLB9) 650W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817207014

I trust XFX more than I trust XION for PSUs.

Others will probably also recommend Intel over AMD at your price range.

 

[g-unit1111]

I'd heavily suggest reading these benchmarks before considering an FX-4100:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-fx-pentium-apu-benchmark,3120-3.html#BOM_comments

In that test it's far surpassed by the $70 Pentium G620 - that's really telling.

Your Caviar Green as the primary HD will be a major bottleneck.

Also I really hate brands like Radimax and Xion, they produce a lot more crap than quality products. We use a lot of Raidmax cases where I work and they fall apart really easily, overheat easily, and have terrible air flow in general.

For the most part your build looks pretty decent, here's what I suggest on a $900 build:

Case: Cooler Master HAF 912 - $59.99 ($10.00 MIR)
PSU: Seasonic S12 II 620W - $79.99
Motherboard: Asrock Z68 Extreme 3 Gen 3 - $121.99
CPU: 3.30GHz Intel Core i5-2500K - $229.99
Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 Evo - $34.99
RAM: Crucial Ballistix Sport 8GB 1600MHz 1.5V - $44.99
HD: Samsung Spinpoint F3 500GB - $89.99
Optical: Samsung DVD Burner - $15.99
Video Card: EVGA Geforce GTX 560TI - $249.99 ($15.00 MIR)

Total: $932.10 - $25.00 MIR = $907.10

 

[rvilkman]

^+1, generally at the $900 budget without the need for monitor and os, you should be looking at a i5 2500k build.

The above motherboard is not the best though, so maybe a Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 for example ~$20 more would be a better choice.

And for memory i would check out corsair and gskill kits, with the same 1.5V CAS9 1600Mhz specs as well, as they are around the same price.

Also would rather get the Asus 560 Ti TOP. Has great cooling at OC'd from factory to 900Mhz.

And for the PSU the 650W XFX Core Pro is a good choice.

 

[tcfraz]

Id change the case personally. I have it and the fan on the clear side is LOUD, there is NO cable management, and the airflow is not all that great.

 

[g-unit1111]

^+1, generally at the $900 budget without the need for monitor and os, you should be looking at a i5 2500k build.

The above motherboard is not the best though, so maybe a Gigabyte Z68XP-UD3 for example ~$20 more would be a better choice.

And for memory i would check out corsair and gskill kits, with the same 1.5V CAS9 1600Mhz specs as well, as they are around the same price.

Also would rather get the Asus 560 Ti TOP. Has great cooling at OC'd from factory to 900Mhz.

And for the PSU the 650W XFX Core Pro is a good choice.

I agree that it's not the best motherboard but for the price it's a steal. I generally prefer Gigabyte boards but on a $900 or less build you want the most bang for your buck that you can get.

The XFX PSU is a good choice but I keep reading some really negative things about their technical support. I'd stick with the Seasonic.

 

[outcold051]

awesome thanks for the input. I have a couple additional questions, for the cooler that g-unit1111 suggested, is that going to be needed since im not going to be doing any overclocking? also the HD that was suggested was a bare drive, is there a cable that i would have to purchase along with that?

 

[outcold051]

Best answer selected by outcold051.