$800ish Build

[Sungaisu]

Long time reader, first time poster.

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
Gaming

2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
Roughly $800, was about $1k before I decided I want to buy a new TV so trying to cut it down a bit. Price should include tax/shipping (Terrible here in California)

3) Where do you live?
Just mentioned, California.

4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. Please be very specific.
Everything.

5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing?
I have a few SATA HDDs, misc 500gb to 250gb not a big priority. Aside from various SATA cables and some old 120mm fans, It'll be a fresh build.

6) Will you be overclocking?
Thinking about it, I'd like to try the H50 to keep sound down so why not.

7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
22" Asus

8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
About 3-4 weeks.

9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? etc.
SLI would be nice but is not necessary, trying to keep sound down as much as cost. No need for RAID, no Firewire, I'd like good onboard sound.

10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license?
Yep, have Windows 7 ready to go. (Thank you student discount!)

_______________________________________________________

With that all out of the way, I started to put together a system and wanted to run it by you fellas. I'm trying to go with a blue build and will be getting the windowed side panel for my RC690

My build is going to be about $900~ After shipping and tax.

Case:
COOLER MASTER RC-690 - $69.99

Mobo:
ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX - $129.99

Processor:
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Edition - $119.00

Ram: (Out of stock now, hopefully it'll be there when I purchase)
Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 - $94.99

Video Card:
EVGA GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 Superclocked Edition 896MB - $199.99

PSU: (Not to sure about Kingwin, but I like that it's modular/lights was lookin for 650w for cheapish)
KINGWIN Mach 1 ABT-700MA1S 700W - $104.99

CD/DVD RW:
Sony Optiarc Black 24X - $31.99

Aftermarket cooling:
Corsair's H50 (With AMD adapter) - $77.89


Misc things to buy after:
COOLER MASTER Side panel - $26.69

Nexus BASIC D12SL-12 120mm - $9.99

Scythe KM02-BK 5.25" Bay Fan Controller - $36.49

Maybe some Cold Cathrodes/LEDs if I'm not satisfied with the lighting afterwards. I don't want it blinding, just well covered.


Now I've always stuck with AMD from the start, but am not partial to them. If there is an Intel out there that is cheaper/faster don't be shy. Also, I don't know much about DDR3, as in if the benefits would be worth the price.

 

[Dangman]

Since you're getting the X3 720, I would go for this CPU + RAM combo instead:
$198 - AMD Phenom II X3 720 CPU + Corsair XMS3 2 x 2GB DDR3 1600 RAM.

Saves you about $15 and you get slightly faster RAM.

Video card wise, the GTX 260 is not a good buy at all for $200. The $150 HD 4870 1GB performs about the same as the GTX 260 while the $200 HD 4890 1GB outperforms the GTX 260 by quite a large margin.
$150 - XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$200 - XFX HD-489X-ZSFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB PCI-E Video Card

So the above ATI/AMD cards are far better choices for the money.

PSU wise, you can get the better quality Truepower New 650 for the same price as that Kingwin:
$100 - Antec Truepower New TP-650 650W PSU

Yes those are Amazon.com links since Amazon.com does not charge CA residents tax, unlike Newegg. Similar prices with free shipping too. So definitely get the case, video card, PSU, and DVD burner and most of the other parts from Amazon.

 

[Sungaisu]

Wow I was unaware that Amazon is that bad ass.
Thanks for the help with the Video cards, I've always been a Nvidia/AMD guy so I never kept up with ATI/Intel so I get confused by the way they label stuff.

Edit: So I realized that the HD9890's fan is in the center, wouldn't that cause quite a bit of hot air to go inside the case?

 

[Dangman]

Edit: So I realized that the HD9890's fan is in the center, wouldn't that cause quite a bit of hot air to go inside the case?

Not really.

 

[engiNURD]

... never knew there was an HD9890.

 

[HardwareGuru]

By the time ATI releases the Radeon HD 9890 4GB video card, it should play Crysis Warhead at 2560 x 1600 res, 8X AA/16X AF with video settings all on enthusiast at 100+ fps.

 

[SOSTrooper]

Edit: So I realized that the HD9890's fan is in the center, wouldn't that cause quite a bit of hot air to go inside the case?

Naw it won't. I have a video card with similar fan and heatsink design. The hot air get pushed out to the back of the case.

By the time ATI releases the Radeon HD 9890 4GB video card, it should play Crysis Warhead at 2560 x 1600 res, 8X AA/16X AF with video settings all on enthusiast at 100+ fps.

I doubt it.

 

[Sungaisu]

I just realized I fucked up the ATI number pretty bad lol. Just goes to show how much I know about ATI. My bad haha.