Need input on mid-range build

[Pannkaka]

Hello, I'm looking to upgrade my old PC that doesn't cut it anymore

To start off I don't have a definitive budget, what I'm looking at is a performance/price build that will play most modern games and being able to do some productive work that will last a while

The parts im going to need is as follow:
Motherboard
CPU
RAM
Graphics card
PSU

I will be reusing:
Case /w fans
A single SATA HDD
IDE DVD burner

I'm going to use a 21.5" 1920x1080 display

It will mainly be used for playing games such as HL2 and CoD4 though it's going to be used for rending and editing aswell (Blender, Photoshop/Gimp, Virtualdub and the like) and basic office use(Word, Excel, Access and Webbrowsing)

I doubt I will be overclocking but i might consider doing it mildly when it starts turning old
I'd like to keep for atleast 2 years minimum

Here's my two currently planned setup so far:

AMD Platform

• Motherboard: Asus M3A78-T
• CPU: Phenom x4 9850 125 W
• RAM: 2*2GB Corsair DDR2 CL5 800 Mhz
• Grahpic card: 2x Sapphire 4850 in crossfire*
• PSU: Corsair HX 520W

INTEL Platform

• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3 iP45
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
• RAM: 2*2GB Corsair DDR2 CL5 800 Mhz
• Graphic card: 2x Sapphire 4850 in crossfire*
• PSU: Corsair HX 520W

*both of these have a custom non-stock cooler

Any advise or suggestion would be much-appreciated

 

[Sob Rogue]

I have two suggestions --

PSU:
Is there any particular reason you looking at the HX520? Its running about $115ish, why not get the 650TX for 15 dollars less?
-It has same specs with better voltage minus 2 rails. I don't believe either of those boards need more then one rail. So the TX might be the better buy for you.

Memory:
These G.Skill CL4 2x2gb are better buy. They are the same price as the Corair and have faster latency.Voltage is slightly higher, but lower latency will be better for your games.

*edit
I overlooked the part where you wanted to keep for two years and the fact that you want to use it for rendering-You may want a Quad core in this case. Somthing like the Q9300 should fit you needs, although it will take away from your gaming slightly. (due to the fact that most games don't use all 4 cores, but will be good for rendering)
*

As far as the rest of the Intel build, it looks good. E8400 is an awsome chip, Gigabyte has a solid board, and 2X4850 good choice for cheap performance. I don't know much abut the AMD though, not an AMD builder/fanatic your gonna have to ask someone else. I would push for Intel, but I'm guessing both will perform pretty eqaul.

Hope that helps, GL with the build.

 

[Pannkaka]

I was looking at the 520HX because it was modular

As for the memory they seemed to go for the same price so i will definitely go for CL4 ones instead

Thank you

 

[engiNURD]

If you don't want modular, an even better deal would be the Antec Earthwatts 650W EA650 for $65. If you do want modular, then the Antec NeoPower 650W Blue is on sale for $90. However, 520W is more than enough for your planned system.

If you do go with a quadcore, which I also agree with, then there are some even cheaper G.Skills that are CL5:
$55 - G.Skill 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ
You won't notice the difference between CL4 and CL5, unless you're running benchmarks (and even then, its negligible), so don't pay much of a price premium for lower latency.

Again, the quadcore fits your needs better. Also, you might want to look at the newer Gigabyte boards:
$137 - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ($20 MIR)
$120 - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ($15 MIR)