New Budget Build - Can I do better?

[alau265]

My first build. I have a good idea of what I want to do but wanted to get input to see if could be doing better.

Approximate Purchase Date: This month

Budget Range: $600 (plus minus $50)

System Usage from Most to Least Important: Gaming, regular internet browsing

Parts Not Required:

Preferred Website(s) for Parts: Newegg, Amazon, TigerDirect

Country: U.S.

Parts Preferences: Intel CPU

Overclocking: No

SLI or Crossfire: No

Monitor Resolution: Not sure, but I think I should be shooting for 1920x1200

Additional Comments: Very first desktop build. Will need to get OS, keyboard, mouse, monitor (unless you reccomend using a TV [it's extra big though 40", so I don't know about that]). I also have Amazon Prime.

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CPU - $90 - Micro Center
i3-2100

HDD - $65
Western Digital Caviar Blue 500 GB SATA III 7200 RPM 16 MB Cache Bulk/OEM Desktop Hard Drive - WD5000AAKX
http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Caviar-Cache-Desktop/dp/B00461G3MS/ref=sr_1_1?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1341278802&sr=1-1

MONITOR $110~
I don't know yet, plan to pick something up on sale

GPU $140
PowerColor ATI Radeon HD6850 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/HDMI/DisplayPort PCI-Express Video Card AX6850 1 GBD5-DH
http://www.amazon.com/PowerColor-DisplayPort-PCI-Express-AX6850-GBD5-DH/dp/B0048D7AD0/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1341279008&sr=8-4&keywords=amd+6850

CASE $20 After Rebate
Cooler Master Elite 371
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7239504&CatId=1509

PSU $9 After Rebate - (ALREADY BOUGHT)
Ultra Limited Edition 550W Power Supply - ATX, Dual +12V Rail, Ultra Silent, Limited Edition, Lifetime Warranty with Registration
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1147669&CatId=1079

OPTICAL DRIVE - $17
Samsung SH-222BB/BEBE 22X SATA DVDRW Internal Drive (Black), Bulk without Software
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SH-222BB-BEBE-Internal-Software/dp/B006B7R9PU/ref=sr_1_5?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1341279892&sr=1-5

OS $100
Windows 7-64bit

KEYBOARD+MOUSE - $15~
I don't know yet, plan to pick something up on sale

RAM - $31 - (ALREADY BOUGHT)
Patriot G2 Series PGD38G1333ELK Division 2 Edition Desktop Memory Kit - 8GB (2 x 4GB) PC3-10666, DDR3-1333MHz, 9-9-9-24 CAS Latency, XMP Ready
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7114145

MOTHERBOARD - I had 2 I was looking at:
$67
ASRock H61M/U3S3 Intel H61 Micro ATX DDR3 1333 Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/ASRock-H61M-U3S3-Intel-Motherboard/dp/tech-data/B004S0CTNE/ref=de_a_smtd
or
$47 after rebate
GIGABYTE GA-H61M-DS2 LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.amazon.com/GIGABYTE-GA-H61M-DS2-Intel-Micro-Motherboard/dp/B005PX3UYA/ref=sr_1_6?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1341279410&sr=1-6&keywords=Intel

Total: $654~ (with Gigabyte Motherboard)

I am open to major changes. Thank you in advance!

 

[Outlander_04]

can you seriously expect a $9 power supply to be of sufficient quality that you trust it to run your computer?

Your RAM is not ideal either . The specification is for 1.5 volt RAM..
The 1.65 volt modules will probably work but will void the warranty on your processor

 

[alau265]

I only ordered the PSU and ram 2 days ago, so I can return it. What would you suggest in its place?

Is there any other places I can seriously improve on?

Thanks!

 

[ScrewySqrl]

I'll suggest the following RAM and PSU:

Corsair CX 430W: $44.99 before $20 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139026

Antec Earthwatts 380W: $38.25 after promo code
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371033

Or this Antec 450W, whichj is $39.07 with promo code before $10 rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371045

yes, any of these are plenty to run a 6850 (28amp, 30 amp, and 30amp on the 12v rail, respectively) -- the 6850 needs 22 amps for the whole system

and this memory:
patriot 8 GB DDR3-1333: $38.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220557

 

[TheBigTroll]

can you seriously expect a $9 power supply to be of sufficient quality that you trust it to run your computer?

Your RAM is not ideal either . The specification is for 1.5 volt RAM..
The 1.65 volt modules will probably work but will void the warranty on your processor

not necessarily. 1.65v im pretty sure is the max voltage recommended by JEDEC (not too sure). 1.65v will work but not optimized for intel

 

[alau265]

Best answer selected by alau265.

 

[Outlander_04]

not necessarily. 1.65v im pretty sure is the max voltage recommended by JEDEC (not too sure). 1.65v will work but not optimized for intel

1.5 volts is the specified maximum for intel sb and ib processors .

Intel void your warranty if your RAM is rated for higher voltages .
Yes 1.65 will run , but it will be stressing the memory controller in the cpu more and the cpu may not last as long

Read this
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/333313-31-intel-speeds