Building a Budget System and Need Help!

[westofmiskatonic]

I am going to be building a budget system for gaming and home entertainment and am looking for suggestions. This is my first build and thanks to Newegg this is what I'm going for so far:

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7400

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL4D-4GBPI-B - Retail

I need suggestions on power supplies, cases, video cards (I'm an ATI fan) and hard drives.

 

[xthekidx]

Whats your budget? Do you have anything that you are reusing or already have for this system?

 

[westofmiskatonic]

I'd say about $600-700 is my budget. Lower if I possible. I currently don't have anything that I am reusing. This is from the ground up.

 

[xthekidx]

Do you need a monitor/mouse/keyboard/speakers too?

 

[xthekidx]

I will build you a tower...here is what my proposed build would be:

Cooler: Xigmatek HDT S1283 and Crossbow backplate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

Case and mobo: GA-EP43-UD3L and Rosewill Conquerer (free shipping on the case)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.175237

Optical: LG DVD Lightscribe Sata drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136153

HDD:WD6401AALS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

PSU: OCZ Fatal1ty 550w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022

Ram:G. Skill PI Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

OS: Vista Home Premium 64bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

GPU: MSI 4850 OC 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127401

CPU: E5200 (OC the crap out of this thing, it can reach 4ghz)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072

Comes to $743 with shipping. Then you get $60 MIR, final total comes to $683. That is about as basic as budget gamers come...really if you cut back on anything there it's not a gaming PC. If at all possible, spend the extra for this so you can add another 4850 down the road and xfire:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.175249 (net cost is $15 increase)

 

[Why_Me]

Punch that cpu to 3.3GHz @ 1066 fsb (12.5 x 266) and your on your way.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119115 $39.99
COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150070 $4.99
MASSCOOL FD12025S1L3/4 120mm Case Fan - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341022 $69.99 ($49.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate) Free Shipping*
OCZ Fatal1ty OCZ550FTY 550W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128380 $84.99
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116072 $72.99 Free Shipping*
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233001 $24.99 ($19.99 after $5.00 Mail-In Rebate)
XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $8.49
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 $43.99 Free Shipping*
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130468 $129.99
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074 $54.99 Free Shipping
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106287 $22.99 Free Shipping*
LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 22X DVD Burner - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488 $99.99 Free Shipping*
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

Total: $665.37 (not including shipping and rebates)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236050 $169.99 ($149.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)
ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor w/ HDCP Support 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 5000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail

 

[Onus]

That's a tough budget, to need everything. Here's a shot at an Intel build, with comments:

ASUS VW192T+ 19" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #:VW192T+
Item #:N82E16824236056
$139.99 -$20.00 Instant $119.99
Only 19", but includes speakers, and is 1680x1050.

Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E5200 - Retail
Model #:BX80571E5200
Item #:N82E16819116072
$72.99 $72.99
This chip is a slug at stock, and there isn't money in the budget for a decent cooler to help with overclocking. $36-$40 will buy a decent cooler, and $47 more will let you get an e7400.

MSI R4830-T2D512 Radeon HD 4830 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail
Model #:R4830-T2D512
Item #:N82E16814127420
$99.99 -$10.00 Instant $89.99
This card may struggle in some titles at 1680x1050, but it's the best this budget can do. Anything less demanding (perhaps only a year or two old) it will handle without breaking a sweat.

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #:ST3250410AS
Item #:N82E16822148262
$54.99 $54.99

Logitech 967973-0403 Black PS/2 Standard Deluxe 250 Desktop - OEM
Model #:967973-0403
Item #:N82E16823126017
$13.99 -$1.00 Instant $12.99
Includes an optical mouse.

Rosewill R222-P-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:R222-P-BK
Item #:N82E16811147095
$29.99 -$3.00 Instant $26.99
All of the cheap Rosewill cases are adequate. Cooling isn't great though. You'll be fine for stock or a mild OC, but for anything more you may need to add the optional 120mm front fan.

GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-EP43-UD3L
Item #:N82E16813128380
$84.99 $84.99

Antec earthwatts EA430 430W ATX12V v2.0 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Model #:EA430
Item #:N82E16817371006
$69.99 $69.99
That OCZ Fatal1ty looks good, but until I've read a competent technical review of it, I'll still suggest a PSU I know IS good. This one can power up to a 4850.

A-DATA 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1B16K - Retail
Model #:ADQVE1B16K
Item #:N82E16820211188
$40.99 $40.99
Timings aren't as good as the G.Skill or Mushkin I usually buy, but this is cheaper and I've bought some too and never had a problem.

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-08 - Retail
Model #:iHAS120-08
Item #:N82E16827106264
$25.99 $25.99
You could save $2-$3 and get an OEM drive, but this one includes software.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Model #:66I-01939
Item #:N82E16832116488
$109.99 -$10.00 Instant $99.99
Not much choice here, although XP Home might be $89.

Subtotal: $699.89

Sorry, you can't even get a popsicle for 11 cents any more. Of course there's shipping, and you may or may not get a couple of rebates.

 

[Onus]

In your place, I would probably choose an AMD build, as above but with this CPU and mobo:

ASRock A780FullHD AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #:A780FullHD
Item #:N82E16813157149
$61.99 -$5.00 Instant $56.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor Model AD775ZWCGHBOX - Retail
Model #:AD775ZWCGHBOX
Item #:N82E16819103300
$59.99 $59.99


...which will end up $21 cheaper. That's almost enough for a GPU upgrade to a 4850.