Planning a new system, need opinions :)

[gattz]

Our laptop is just not doing it as a desktop replacement (currently have 1 desktop and 1 laptop). Working on building a new desktop. I have it planned, and just would like a second opinion on either cheaper parts with same or better performance, or if I would encounter any problems.

Motherboard & CPU combo (from NewEgg)
ASUS
M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX [Motherboard & CPU Combo]
CPU
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.203011

RAM
OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) OCZ2G8004GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227199

HDD
WD Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284

Video
BFG GeForce GTX 260 896MB BFGEGTX260896OCE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143140

Monitor
Acer X203H bd Black 20" 16:9 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009158

Case & Power supply combo (deal from newegg)
Cooler Master RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Power Supply Corsair CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.200608

Heatsink
Zalman CNPS8700 LED CPU Cooler (NewEgg doesnt seem to have any good heatsinks for socket AM3)
http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4348094&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=10&body=REVIEWS#tabs

And with a couple mail-in rebates and an el cheapo dvd burner (24$), the total is $842.91. For OS, was going to use Windows 7 for a while, and see how that goes as its supposed to ship Oct 22nd. If not, I would just break down and get Vista Premium again.

Some requirements, future upgrade possibilities. NVidia videocard. And as you can see, I shop mainly at NewEgg.

And does anyone know of a good gaming keyboard and mouse for under 100$? Under 70$ would be even better. On the other desktop I am using the logitec s510 wireless keyboard and mouse and like it. Just would get something different this time around.

Thanks!

 

[astrodudepsu]

Well socket AM3 can use DDR3 memory, and with prices the way they are there is no need to put DDR2 in it. Find some nice dual channel DDR3 and be happy.

You won't be able to add a second nVidia card to an AMD board. No SLI licenses. So if you want to add a second card later you need to go ATI. And if you really want to add another card later I would grab a 750W Corsair PSU.

 

[kevin1212]

Socket AM3 actually only uses DDR3... so either change the motherboard or the ram. DDR3 ram isn't very expensive now, you could get a decent 4GB kit for $60-$70.

Take a look at these:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227293
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227320

Don't get that video card, if you're getting a GTX 260, get the core 216 version at least. But the 4870's are a bit cheaper, and offer the same if not better performance. Plus, as astrodudepsu mentioned, you would have the option to go crossfire in the future.

The 512MB 4870 is going for as low as $125 on newegg.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131140

This one competes with the GTX 260 you have there, but most reveiws put it ahead... http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-hd-4870,1964.html

The 512MB version should be enough for your resolution, but if you want to be safe, you can get the 1GB version, but it costs considerably more. And as astrodudepsu said, if you do ever intend to go crossfire, bump up the power supply. If you really want to go Nvidia, then either the GTX 260 core 216 or the GTX 275 is ok, i think the 275 is going for $220, which is a great value... but with nvidia, doubling up the video card is out.

You can get this board instead if you want to go SLI in the future...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131383
Nvidia 980a chipset... prefectly suited for a phenom build with Nvidia SLI. This board uses DDR2 though, so if you go this way, stick with the DDR2 kit you initially had.

Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126009

Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826100010

I really like that keyboard, but there are a lot of mice to choose from around that price range. So i suggest you do some browsing of your own, newegg makes it easy to narrow down your options. Just make sure they're not wireless, you would suffer from input lag, destroys gaming.

 

[K1ash3r]

This is what i would get

AMD 940 BE ( 4-cores are essential if you plan on playing GTA 4 and ETW
Gigabyte GA-MA790X (crossfire ready, if you planning on)
Corsair 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 1066MHz
Ati 4870 are a preety good price now.

 

[gattz]

Thanks for all the great advice. As for videocards, I'm trying to stick with Nvidia, because I use some software for work that has been known to have some issues with ATI cards.

And trying to stay around my current price and not go over 900$ if I can.

Astrodudepsu, about AMD cards not supporting SLI, Kevin1212 posted this card:
ASUS M4N82 Deluxe AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA nForce 980a SLI AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131383

Which is SLI and AMD?


So, all your suggestions do help with performance, but unfortunately not with my wallet lol. I might move down to an AM2 cpu and go with DDR2, and get a board that supports AM3 so I could upgrade it later on. My main PC has:

Asus M2N-SLI Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 560 SLI, Socket AM2/AM2+, ATX, Audio, PCI Express, Gigabit LAN, S/PDIF, USB 2.0, Firewire, Serial ATA, RAID
https://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=A455-2812

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Black Edition Processor ADO5000DSWOF - 2.60GHz, 1MB Cache, 1000MHz (2000 MT/s) FSB, Brisbane, Dual-Core, Retail, Socket AM2 (940), Processor - No Fan
https://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=CP1-AM2-5000B

EVGA GeForce 9600 GT Video Card - Superclocked, 512MB GDDR3, PCI Express 2.0, SLI Ready, (Dual Link) Dual DVI, HDTV, Video Card
https://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=E145-9602

OCZ Platinum Revision-2 2048MB PC6400 DDR2 800MHz Dual Channel Memory (2 x 1024MB)
https://www.compusa.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=O261-8070

And it was built a year ago.