Budget Gaming rig up for review ~$1000

[doormouse]

Hey all,
Looking for input/advice on this moderate gaming rig. My first build, so all comments are welcome. Not looking to do any real overclocking, but I may mess around with some smaller things.

Purpose: Cheap, upgradeable, moderate gaming rig.

Target Price: <$1000

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Current build (~$900*):
PSU+CASE: $90 Raidmax Smilodon: cheap, 4 fans, and I think the psu can do what I need.
$120 Antec sonata III: Still inexpensive but more than the Raidmax, 1 fan, the psu is considered pretty legit. Doesn't quite fit my setup at home, but I can make do (prefer right hinged drive door, buttons and ports up top)


CPU: $92 ($78)Athlon 6000+: Actually ~$78 (newegg combo with the HDD). dual core, 3.0GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 125W
$45 ($25) Athon BE-2400: Actually ~$25 (newegg combo with the mobo). dual core, 2.3GHz, 1MB cache, 65W
$77 ($52) Athlon 5400+: Actually ~$50 (newegg combo with the mobo). dual core, 2.8GHz, 1MB cache, 65W

Mobo: $110 BioStar Tforce TA790GX A2+: allows me to upgrade in the future

RAM: $70 Mushkin 996587: 2x2GB, DDR2800 1.8V, cas 2, timing 5-4-4-12

GPU: $150 Asus Radeon HD 4850: 512MB, 800 streams, 625MHz core, 1986MHz mem

HDD: $80 Seagate Barracuda 500GB, 32MB Cache

Monitor: $200 Asus 22": already bought, and it's beautiful!
Optical: $30 Lite-On DVD/CD burner w/ Litescribe
Sound: $0 none
Wireless: $17 Zonet ZEW1605A (apt complex only has wireless)
OS: $100 Vista Premium 64Bit
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I really dig the Thermaltake M9 case... it has everything I want exactly where I want it (interface, fans, etx)... but it's expensive and I really don't know what to look for in a PSU.

Any advice/pointers are more than welcome!

Thanks!

~Doormouse

......
*all prices are from Newegg.com and INCLUDE SHIPPING. Yay

 

[Cpt Deadboots]

Buying an AMD dual-core is a HUGE mistake right now.

Any Core 2 Quad will outperform this chip. Grab an E7200 and a decent aftermarket cooler, then combo them with a Gigabyte P45-DS3L.

 

[Proximon]

Raidmax does not sell any decent or even adequate PSUs... well, I heard of one, once, that was adequate. It was not that one.

They don't even list the brand or show a picture of the label of the PSU.

 

[doormouse]

Okay,
taken in advice from everywhere, and here's what I came up with. Given how much more expensive Intel parts are, it still seems ridiculous... but when an entire community is saying to buy Intel ya gotta listen.
Specific Questions:
1) About the Antec Sonata III + 500W earthwatts case+PSU... I live in the desert of Southern California, and heat is a big problem for me. Is the consensus is that this case can ventilate well enough on it's own, or should I drop an extra $40 and get the Antec 300 + Corsair 750W PSU?
2) It's an extra $100 to jump from E5200 to the E8500... and is it worth it? I will not be doing any intense gaming, very few FPS... and money is an issue. I want the cPU to be the bottleneck, as it will be my first upgrade (in a year or two).
3) Is there any idea what mobos will support the new Intel tech coming out (Nehalem)? I'd love to get one of those Hi-K Halfnium chips in a year or two without having to get all new parts.
4) The graphics card isn't overkill, is it?
5) General advice on the rest of the build? I'm not looking to overclock... yet.
6) Are you pondering what I'm pondering?

Without further ado:
$935 -> $1074
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PSU+CASE: $120 Antec sonata III with 500W EarthWatts: 120mm fan, no side vents, 500W non-modular

CPU: $90 E5200: 2.5GHz, 2MB L2 cache, 800MHz FSB
OR (if you think I really need it)
$189 E8500: 3.16GHz, 6MB L2 cache, 1333MHz FSB

Mobo: $80 ECS P45T-A: 1333MHz FSB, Intel P45 / Intel ICH10R, DDR2-800 std
OR (if you think I need it)
$120 ASUS P5Q Pro: 1600MHz FSB, Intel P45 / Intel ICH10R, DDR2-1200 std

RAM: $70 Mushkin 996587: 2x2GB, DDR2800 1.8V, cas 2, timing 5-4-4-12

GPU: $150 Asus Radeon HD 4850: 512MB, 800 streams, 625MHz core, 1986MHz mem

HDD: $80 Seagate Barracuda 500GB, 32MB Cache

Monitor: $200 Asus 22": already bought, and it's beautiful!
Optical: $30 Lite-On DVD/CD burner w/ Litescribe
Sound: $0 none
Wireless: $17 Zonet ZEW1605A (apt complex only has wireless)
OS: $100 Vista Premium 64Bit
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Any advice/pointers are more than welcome!

Thanks!

~Doormouse

......
*all prices are from Newegg.com and INCLUDE SHIPPING. Yay

 

[Proximon]

1. You do not need a Corsair 750TX, but you do need the Antec 300 plus a couple fans if heat is an issue. Look for OCZs least expensive 600W:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
Great price after rebate, quality PSU, will hold up in the heat for you.

2. I think you are OK with a less expensive CPU for now. If you did pair the E8400 with the 4850 you would pretty much tear up everything. There is no game currently out that that combo can't handle well at 1680x1050. Crysis and AOC might not run on max settings well, but they would run on "very nice" settings. Every other game on max, that I know of.

3. The new MBs are called "x58" last I heard. No current boards will work.

4. Yep for your stated budget and desires. However, it's really good bang for the buck. If you want to cut back look for an 8800GT 512Mb, or a 9600GT that has a double-slot cooler that vents out the back.... because it's cooler.

5. Motherboard. You can cut a bit here. Get a P5QL -E (P43 chipset). Tons of features for less than a P5Q Pro... but be warned it's not as good at overclocking. Personally, I do not put much weight on specific boards when it comes to the "OC record" thing. Gigabyte, ASUS, Biostar, ASRock, DFI... they can all claim some pretty impressive OCs on P45 boards and beyond that it's luck and the skill of the OC team.

There you have it. Your statement about heat makes me worry about PSUs... but most of the PSUs we recommend here have been tested to 50C.
it would not hurt to skip the Antec 500W and get the OCZ or the corsair though.

 

[Cpt Deadboots]

Proximon is right... but I would grab a Q6600 over the E8400. If you want to save a few bucks, take the E7200 instead of the E5200. You can hit 4.0 pretty easy (Proximon's comment "tear up everything" applies to the E7200 too).

He is also right about cutting back on the PSU. To be honest, a Silverstone Strider 400w would do you just fine. I have one for my system (see my sig) and it pumps out about 348w on the 12v rails alone.

I like the 4850.