Hello, I am looking to build my first computer and I want to keep it cheap, around $700. I intend on doing some casual gaming on some of the newer games as well as play some of my older games, nothing too serious. I am not a big multi-tasker, the most I might have running at once is Mozzilla, Windows Media Player, Word and/or a game. Obviously if you can think of any substitute components that may cost only slightly more but perform significantly better please mention it. Also if any of my components are overkill (ie. much higher quality then the rest and wont be utilized to their full potential) please let me know of a suitable substitution. The components that need extra attention are the motherboard and the PSU. I know very little about MoBos and I used an online Power Supply calculator to figure my wattage. All of these components were found and priced at Newegg or TigerDirect. I look forward to your input, thank you.
Total: $672
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
MoBo: XFX nForce 750i SLI Extreme $110
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4316659&Sku=P450-9124
GPU: XFX GeForce 9800 GT - 512MB $100
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4209965&Sku=P450-9830
RAM:Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB) $20
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3228139&Sku=C13-6082
HDD:WD Caviar SE16 320GB $50
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3179250&CatId=2458
PSU: Corsair CX400W $50
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4236686&CatId=1078
Optics: LG Black 22x DVD+R / 48x CD-R $22
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144
Case:Cooler Master Centurion 534 Black ATX Mid-Tower $55
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2245415&Sku=C283-1123
OS: Vista 32 or 64bit $100
P.S. I was going to post a second build I was looking which used the same parts except an AMD Phenom X4 9950 and an ASUS MoBo. However I read that quad cores are generally not utilized to their potential in games and the power calculator I used also said I needed 600+ watts. If the AMD Phenom would provide a higher quality build or the 600+ watts is a miscalculation please mention it.
Total: $672
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037
MoBo: XFX nForce 750i SLI Extreme $110
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4316659&Sku=P450-9124
GPU: XFX GeForce 9800 GT - 512MB $100
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4209965&Sku=P450-9830
RAM:Corsair Dual Channel TWINX 4096MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Memory (2 x 2048MB) $20
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3228139&Sku=C13-6082
HDD:WD Caviar SE16 320GB $50
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3179250&CatId=2458
PSU: Corsair CX400W $50
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4236686&CatId=1078
Optics: LG Black 22x DVD+R / 48x CD-R $22
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144
Case:Cooler Master Centurion 534 Black ATX Mid-Tower $55
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2245415&Sku=C283-1123
OS: Vista 32 or 64bit $100
P.S. I was going to post a second build I was looking which used the same parts except an AMD Phenom X4 9950 and an ASUS MoBo. However I read that quad cores are generally not utilized to their potential in games and the power calculator I used also said I needed 600+ watts. If the AMD Phenom would provide a higher quality build or the 600+ watts is a miscalculation please mention it.