Build suggestions

[TIWizard]

After another series of screen tint problems, I finally cracked-- I need a new computer, and I am willing to build it now.

Below is a compilation of a series of thread searches, as well as some suggestions other members have provided in my own threads (as well as some parts I have found to reduce the cost a little...I won't be offended if you think I am crazy for choosing some of these parts )

$75 - HEC Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with 585W Power Supply

$535 - Core i7 920 and ECS X58B-A LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX [COMBO]

OR



$85 - GIGABYTE GA-MA78G-DS3HP ATX
$160 - AMD Phenom 9950 BLACK EDITION Agena 2.6GHz Socket AM2+ 140W Quad-Core

Need a little help on the RAM... Not sure what type either MB will take. Will look that up now.
$60 - Western Digital 500 GB HDD, 7200 RPM
(Video card undecided. See below for more info)
$25 - LG 22x DVD Burner w/ Lightscribe

Without the RAM and video card on Intel build: $690
AMD Build: $405 (More $$$ for RAM, DDR2 though, and the video card)

RAM
I would like at least 4 GB of RAM, but I am not sure what type the Intel MB will allow...

Video Card
With the RAM about $50-$100, I would like to get a video card powerful enough to play games like Crysis and Bioshock (which a Nvidia 8500 GT plays fine at lower resolutions) at medium resolutions, and medium quality, but not go over about $150...

I would use this for some gaming, mainly Crysis, Bioshock, BF2 (not a problem... 8500 GT runs this at full quality, and the card was only $30 :O), Rainbow 6, etc...

Thanks for all of your help!

Also, I have a Vista Ultimate disc, so an OS is not needed...

 

[tiraides]

I recommend a new power supply -- and, consequently, a new case. The power supply is a "generic" model... there's no way we can guarantee that it actually can handle the power that it's rated for. But in order to accommodate those changes, we might as well "rebuild" your system from scratch.

How much total do you have to spend on the entire build? And which monitor/resolution are you using for your gaming? It's best to determine which video card you need to get before we select the rest of the parts.

 

[TIWizard]

Thanks for the help, but my dad got home last night with 2 new video cards-- the ATI Radeon 3450 (ASUS) and 3650 (Unknown).

While these may not be great cards, the 3450 fits in the HP Slimline s3100n without any issues

I will try the 3650 if the 3450 remains stable.

I would prefer to not spend $1000 right now if my computer works, so I won't be getting a new one after all!