Need Help with New Gaming System Build budget 500-700

[tblizz]

Hey guys, I need a new computer and I would like to use it to play games like WoW, Starcraft 2, and World at War. My budget is between 500-700 and i plan to buy everything in a couple of weeks i just want to get the compatibility right and the price as low as possible. I'm going to be using my 26inch Samsung LCD TV for a monitor. Here are the parts i have so far:
AMD Phenom 9600 2.3GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor
Item #:N82E16819103244
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy
-$30.00 Instant
$119.99
$89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819103244
Antec Three Hundred Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811129042
Return Policy: Manufacturer Warranty
-$15.00 Instant
$69.95
$54.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811129042
Open Box: ASUS M4A78-E ATX AMD Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813131368R
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$91.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813131368R


Sony Optiarc DVD/CD Rewritable Drive Black SATA Model AD-7240S-0B
Item #:N82E16827118030
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
$23.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827118030
EVERCOOL RSF-14 Case Fan
Item #:N82E16835119096
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$9.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16835119096
SAMSUNG 500GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822152137
Return Policy: 30 Day Return Policy
-$5.00 Instant
$59.99
$54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822152137
Broadway Com Corp P4-OKIA600-BLACK 600W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817162017
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$34.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817162017
SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4870 100259-1GL Video Card
Item #:N82E16814102801
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$199.99
$189.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814102801
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Memory
Item #:N82E16820231122
Return Policy: Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
-$8.00 Instant
$54.99
$46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231122
APEVIA CF12SL-UBL Blue LED Case Fan
Item #:N82E16811998121
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16811998121

 

[kladal]

Are you planning on OC'ing?

Having that large a monitor does require a decent video card.

I would not get the PSU you listed. Broadcom is NOT known for high quality PSU's. It is very easy to underestimate how important a good PSU is so it's worth spending a bit more for one.

I think you should get a slightly more powerful CPU. AMD is the right route. Here's what I recommend:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119047

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail $80 (After 20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

ASRock A780GMH/128M AM2+/AM3 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $71.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157154

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Retail $184.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail $46.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

XFX HD-489A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail - $230 (after 20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150359

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500AAJS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM - $47.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136113

GRAND TOTAL: $702

With this system I included a motherboard that will not support crossfire. If that is something you want in the future, let me know and I can recommend something. But based on what you asked, I think this system fits in well.
1. Better PSU
2. Tower with good airflow and high ratings
3. Solid Motherboard
4. POWERFUL CPU
5. Latest ATI video card that should handle your resolution

 

[tblizz]

I wasn't planning on OC'ing nor was i planning on using crossfire. Since I'm not going to OC should i just stick with the stock cpu cooler or should i just pick up a third party?

 

[kladal]

I would stick with a stock coolers; they're more than adequate for factory settings. I have a Q9550 and I am using a stock cooler.

 

[tblizz]

Do you think a quad core is overkill? Would it be better to just go with a dual core and save money?

 

[kladal]

You would only save money in switching from an AMD quad to another AMD dual. Unfortunatley, AMD dual cores are not very powerful and are considered weak. On the other hand, Intel dual cores are expensive. So going to a dual core really doesn't make too much sense.

AMD's latest quads (especially the one I recommended) are very powerful and have considerable bang for the money.

 

[UzEEInc]

I'd rather throw in a tri-core CPU and get a crossfire capable motherboard. You can go with the HDD and Casing Kladal suggested but instead try

AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor - $145
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - $110
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387&Tpk=GA-MA790X

2x SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4770 100277L Video Card in CrossFire - $200 ($180 after $20 MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102835

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231200

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC - $90 (After MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=Corsair%20650W

Total: $673

You'd save some money here, and equal gaming performance. Infact, the Radeon HD 4770 in CrossFire perform better than the Radeon HD 4890. Or you can go with Kladal's suggestion if you don't mind the extra $30 but rather be future proof.

Though I would still recommend getting a faster memory (DDR2 1066), instead of DDR2 800. No point getting a high end CPU and GPU when there is a memory bottleneck.

 

[tblizz]

It would be nice to be future proof, but I'm more worried about the cooling issues with a crossfire setup. I do like the 1066 ram though; what if i run the triple core processor with the 4890?

 

[tblizz]

After reading up on the 4770's benchmarks in crossfire, I am all for a crossfire setup. I also want to overclock the pair so i can get the most out of them. Whats an ideal cooling setup for crossfire? Since the two are 40nm will a big fan pointed at the right spot do the job?

 

[theAnimal]

Is your TV 720 or 1080p?

 

[tblizz]

My tv is 720p like most 720p's it can also do 1080i.

 

[theAnimal]

My tv is 720p like most 720p's it can also do 1080i.

So what resolution do you use? For 13x7 or 12x7, a single 4770 is plenty.

 

[tblizz]

I would probably use 13x7 but I mainly want to two cards because they're better than a 4890 and its $30 cheaper.

 

[theAnimal]

I would probably use 13x7 but I mainly want to two cards because they're better than a 4890 and its $30 cheaper.

But both are overkill for that resolution, and it is always better to use a single GPU if possible. A single 4770 would be $120 cheaper.

 

[Kill@dor]

I agree...a single GPU is more than enough for Starcraft 2 and all those games. Even the Radeon 4770 will hold them up easy with good frames ^_^. I still have the 8800GT Superclocked Version and it rocks GTA 4, Gears or War, Assassins Creed very easy... But then again, i did OC my system to optimize performance.

 

[tblizz]

So heres the build i was considering :


SAPPHIRE 100277L Radeon HD 4770 512MB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Model #:100277L
Item #:N82E16814102835
Return Policy:Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
$99.99 $99.99
1
SAMSUNG HD502HI 500GB 5400 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - Retail
Model #:HD502HI
Item #:N82E16822152137
Return Policy:30 Day Return Policy
In Stock
$59.99 -$10.00 Instant $49.99
1
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail
Model #:HDZ720WFGIBOX
Item #:N82E16819103649

$145.00 -$6.00 Instant $139.00
1
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
Model #:F2-8500CL5D-4GBPQ
Item #:N82E16820231241

$49.99 $49.99


Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DVR-116DBK - OEM
Model #VR-116DBK
Item #:N82E16827129023

$24.99 $24.99

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #:CAC-T05-UB
Item #:N82E16811119047

$54.99 -$10.00 Instant $44.99
1
GIGABYTE GA-MA790FX-UD5P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #:GA-MA790FX-UD5P
Item #:N82E16813128391

The total comes to $665.38

So is the one 4770 along with the amd 720 going to be enough to run WoW at max settings without any hiccups? I was also thinking about getting a blu-ray drive down the line as well.

 

[theAnimal]

Should have no trouble with WoW.

I would change the HDD to WD Caviar Black 640GB, much faster than that 5400rpm drive.