$625ish Budget Build

[hunterpostit88]

Well my previous thread wasn't doing so good. This one is for a friend and this is what we've came up with for him.
CPU: Phenom II x4 965 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727
Mobo: ASUS M5A97 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131767
GPU: ASUS GTX 550Ti http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121630
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116986
HDD: Western Digital Cavier Blue 500GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769
RAM: G. SKILL Ripjaw Series 8GB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314
CASE: Rosewill R218-P-BK http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147073
Optical: LG DVD Burner Black http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136247
PSU: 750 Gaming 120MM Fan Silent ATX PSU http://www.ebay.com/itm/750W-Gaming-120MM-Fan-Silent-ATX-Power-Supply-PSU-12V-/280802098923?pt=PCA_UPS&hash=item41611bfeeb

He wants 750 watts cause he wants to SLI eventually. DO NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT INTEL!
$604 w/o shipping and w/o rebates.

 

[mousseng]

Go for a 7770 over the 550ti unless there is some specific use he has for it that the 550ti would best the 7770 in.

Edit: Just bothered to look at the PSU - no. Please, don't get that PSU unless you want to fry the rest of your system. If it's the 550ti or 7770 he plans on SLIing, something like a good 550W PSU will do just fine - something like this.

 

[hunterpostit88]

I'll talk with him about it tomorrow. Do you have any other recommendations? He's purchasing within the next 2-4 weeks.

 

[mousseng]

Other than my post and edit, not really. As long as you understand that at stock clocks (which it will be at without an aftermarket cooler) the PhII 965 will trail behind the processor from the brand you asked us not to mention.

 

[hunterpostit88]

Will a different 750 watt allow SLI/XFire?

 

[hunterpostit88]

I know. He'll eventually OC it. He is new to computer building, the only thing he knows how to do is script. He's just on a very very tight budget. Any recommended coolers that'll get the 965 up to 4-4.4 GHz. I don't know if an EVO will cut it.

 

[mousseng]

The Hyper 212 EVO will easily keep your temps in check at 4.2GHz, but your motherboard might not let you get past 4. It doesn't have a great voltage regulator.

Um, any decent 750W will leave enough headroom for SLI/Xfire for most two-card setups, but the with that one was quality. Is it the card he'll get now be the one he wants to SLI/Xfire? Because like I said, that 550 will handle that just fine (the 550ti and 7770 especially have very low power draw).

 

[hunterpostit88]

I talked and he still said 550Ti... I tried to encourage him to get the GTX 560 SE at least.