Need Help with New Gaming Build Please

[volksen]

1) What will you be doing with this PC? Gaming? Photoshop? Web browsing? etc
PC is primarily being built to play FFXIV. Will also be for Steam gaming (Dragon Age, Total War, Civ IV), Internet browsing and watching videos.
2) What's your budget? Are tax and shipping included?
$750 max t/s incl. but would like to spend less if it doesn't mean sacrificing too much
3) Where do you live?
DFW, TX
4) What exact parts do you need for that budget? CPU, RAM, case, etc. The word "Everything" is not a valid answer. Please list out all the parts you'll need.
Case, CPU, Mobo, RAM, GFX, PSU, DVD burner, HD,
5) If reusing any parts, what parts will you be reusing? Please be especially specific about the power supply. List make and model.
Mouse, Keyboard, Speakers (all standard wired black Dell issue)
6) Will you be overclocking?
No
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?
Have LG 24" Widescreen Monitor
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
Hope to order before December
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? etc.
Just looking to have a single 1TB HD and a single GFX card, nothing fancy
10) Do you already have a legit and reusable/transferable OS key/license? If yes, what OS? Is it 32bit or 64bit?
Windows 7 64bit


These are the recommended specs for FFXIV that I am attempting to build this machine for.
I am not looking to run this thing at all High settings. I just want to be able to play decently without any issue.

Operating System Windows 7 32-bit / 64-bit *
Processor Intel® Core™ i7 (2.66 GHz) or faster
Memory 4 GB or more
Storage Install: 15 GB or more
Download: 6 GB or more
Video NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 460 with 768 MB VRAM or equivalent
Sound DirectSound® compatible sound card (DirectX® 9.0c or higher)
Internet Broadband Internet connection
Resolution 1280 x 720 or higher; 32-bit
DirectX® DirectX® 9.0c
Controls Mouse, Keyboard, Gamepad


This is the system I have attempted to put together but I would like some feedback if there are better options for the money or if something less powerful (and cheaper) will get the job done.

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$59.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
$99.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131398
AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX
$73.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872
CORSAIR XMS3 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMX8GX3M2A1333C9
$131.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145315
SAPPHIRE 100283-3L Radeon HD 5770 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
$149.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102873
CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
$119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139012
Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
$69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136534
LG Black 24X DVD+R
$19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136177

SubTotal: $725.88
Total Shipped: $739.21

 

[Cretin]

Make sure to look at some of the combo deals when it comes time to buy.
Right now for example, the egg has

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Combo price $119.98 with free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.543371

I know that some folks dont like the look of Coolermasters HAF cases,
but the Samsung Spinpoint F3 is helluva lot faster drive than the WD blue.
I just recently used it with a build for my kids.

 

[Dangman]

Is there any way you can narrow down when exactly you're gonna buy the PC? A lot can change in between now and December. So parts we recommend today may not be the same parts we recommend in December.

 

[guoinc]

i suggest this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7341018&cm_re=ocz_700w-_-17-341-018-_-Product
modular and only $80, 55 with rebate

 

[Dangman]

i suggest this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7341018&cm_re=ocz_700w-_-17-341-018-_-Product
modular and only $80, 55 with rebate

Not a good choice at all. There are better PSUs for the money out there.

 

[E4g1e]

i suggest this power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...7341018&cm_re=ocz_700w-_-17-341-018-_-Product
modular and only $80, 55 with rebate

Like Danny said, that PSU is not worth the hassle of a rebate. In fact, it is way overpriced for a PSU that flunked [H]ardOCP testing at its advertised 700W. That PSU can't really provide more than about 550W at realistic internal PSU operating temps of 45°C to 50°C. (OCZ used an internal operating temperature of only 40°C - quite a bit lower than the realistic average internal temperature of a PSU - to rate its ModXStream line of PSUs.) Above 40°C, its output quality drops off very rapidly.

 

[volksen]

Cretin:
Thanks for that It's exactly what I'm looking for, better parts for less money.

Danny Bui:
Going to use the old credit card or Newegg's Bill Me Later so I'm ready to buy this PC this week. Just needing to find the best bang for my buck and I will place the order.

 

[Dangman]

You can get a significantly faster CPU for just $10 via this combo:
$180 - AMD Phenom II X4 925 CPU + MSI 870-G45 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard Combo

Go with this better quality PSU for $30 less:
$90 - XFX P1-650X-CAH9 650W Modular PSU

The freed up cash + the remaining cash in your budget will allow you to get these significantly faster GPUs:
$205 - XFX HD-685X-ZNFC Radeon HD 6850 1GB PCI-E Video Card
$192 - Gigabyte GV-N460OC-1GI GeForce GTX 460 1GB PCI-E Video Card

Though for gaming, you really only need 4GB of RAM and RAM will be relatively cheap and easy to upgrade:
$60 - G.Skill Ripjaw Series F3-10666CL9S-4GBRL 4GB DDR3 1333 RAM

Which frees up enough cash for this card:
$240 - PowerColor AX6870 1GBD5-M2DH Radeon HD 6870 1GB PCI-E Video Card

Considering your resolution and gaming focus, I would definitely drop the RAM down to 4GB and go for the HD 6870.

 

[volksen]

Most excellent. Cheaper and cheaper and the parts are better and better.
I will no doubt place the order in the morning.
Thanks for all the help. Couldn't have asked for better