$500 budget gaming build advice

[Mcdoom]

Approximate Purchase Date: this week

Budget Range: $500

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, Surfing the Internet, Streaming Movies

Parts Not Required: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Operating System.

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: newegg.com or Amazon

Country: USA

Parts Preferences: Currently chosen AMD but that could change if better options are available

Overclocking: Maybe

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: 1024x768

Additional Comments: This will be my first build Here's what I've got so far.


Antec Three Hundred Illusion Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129066

ASUS M5A97 AM3+ AMD 97 - 89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767

AMD Phenom II X2 560 Black Edition Callisto 3.3GHz (hoping to unlock additional cores, though I know there is no guarantee and I'm fine with a dual core for now) - 94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103887

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) - 29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427

SAPPHIRE 100326DDR3L Radeon HD 6670 1GB - 69.99 (not gaming at very high resolutions)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102952

Antec BP550 Plus 550W - 64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Samsung by Seagate Spinpoint F3 HD502HJ/ST500DM005 500GB - 84.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152181

ASUS 24X DVD Burner - 19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

Total = 524.92

I'm not looking to do very much heavy gaming, my main concern is if that 550W power supply will be okay if I am lucky enough to unlock the dual core into a quad and also, if it will handle any overclocking I might decide to do later. Any advice, feedback, or revisions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys!

 

[Tbrown37]

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233 - 60

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131795 - 60

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150540 - 109

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027 -60

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103996 -109

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231308 - 40

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769 -85

524$ Quad core CPU, 8GB RAM, Stronger GPU.

 

[Bipolarbare80]

Do you already own a unused copy of windows 7 and reg key? If you do not then u better add $99 to you above build because you will have to pay your "PC Mafia Dues" to micro soft for an OS

 

[Bipolarbare80]

If your build request is for hardware and u already anticipate $99 for windows then please excuse my confusion. I am new to toms joined 15min ago

 

[Mcdoom]

Can anybody second the swap of amd phenom ii x2 for amd fx 4100? I've heard mixed reviews from the fx series processors.

 

[Outlander_04]

The FX 4100 is a much more powerful processor than the phenom X2

Just stick with a 970 series motherboard

and RAM rated for 1.5 volt operation

I would buy the Antec 300 two if the board you select has internal USB 3
and if does not then go with a standard 300 rather than the Illusion . The only difference is the front fans which your build wont need for cooling [ and you could add later ]
The money you save on the case is enough to get a 6770 in the build .
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121474

You will need only about 400 watts

 

[Mcdoom]

Thanks Outlander, one more quick question. If I ever decide to overclock the 4100, would a 400W PSU be sufficient? or would you recommend something with higher voltage.

 

[manu 11]

i3 2100, its better than fx 4100. uses less power and have much more performance.

 

[Outlander_04]

i3 2100, its better than fx 4100. uses less power and have much more performance.

No
Testing on this site showed the i3 2100 and FX producing pretty much identical frame rates in most games . Add to that that the FX is a fair bit stronger in many productivity and encoding Apps , and can be massively overclocked .
The only advantage the i3 intel has is that at full load it uses the electricity of about half a light bulb less .


For Mcdoom
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1766/15/
226 watts at full load with a Radeon 6950
A good 400 watt PSU will run an FX 4100 / Radeon 6770 even when you OC

Make sure your psu is 80+ rated and has more than 34 amps on the 12 volt rail


EDIT
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V $50 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
34 amps on the 12 volt rail

 

[Mcdoom]

Thanks a lot for your help Outlander! you're awesome

 

[Mcdoom]

Best answer selected by Mcdoom.

 

[manu 11]

No
Testing on this site showed the i3 2100 and FX producing pretty much identical frame rates in most games . Add to that that the FX is a fair bit stronger in many productivity and encoding Apps , and can be massively overclocked .
The only advantage the i3 intel has is that at full load it uses the electricity of about half a light bulb less .


For Mcdoom
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1766/15/
226 watts at full load with a Radeon 6950
A good 400 watt PSU will run an FX 4100 / Radeon 6770 even when you OC

Make sure your psu is 80+ rated and has more than 34 amps on the 12 volt rail


EDIT
CORSAIR Builder Series CX500 V2 500W ATX12V $50 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139027
34 amps on the 12 volt rail

wake up, we all know i3 is much better than fx 4100. You are telling the truth that both are identical and fx uses twice as much power as i3 needs to do such work. You have a better upgradabilty path to i5s which are even superior for gaming. And please stop posting the legitreviews page, you have posted it millions of times and i have read it many times. If the op is listening, please if you have the time, choose i3.