$800 AMD build

[antsofthesky]

1. Will be used as main computer, will have netbook for casual surfing.
2. $800 ish without monitor, ~$1000 with(see below)
3. US, will buy from Newegg
4. No preference
5. brand new, first build ever
6. Been doing research on the internet
7. Not at this time
8. By end of June hopefully

Case- Antec 900 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811129021
Power Supply- BFG LS 550W http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817702008
Mobo- Gigabyte GA-MA790XT http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128378
CPU- AMD Phenom II X3 720 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103649
Video- EVGA GTX 260 216 core http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130434
Memory-OCZ Special Ops 4GB DDR3 1600 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227324
Hard Drive- WD 640GB Caviar Black http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822136319
Optical Drive- LG 22x DVD+RW http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136152
Sound Card- Creative Audigy 7.1 http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16829102012
OS- Win 7 RC Free

Total $846.92 - $35 Rebates

How does this look so far? I'm not sure if I want to buy a monitor for this rig. I have a 19" Samsung LCD that I could use buy it's only 1440x900. I was thinking it would be a waste to run games at a low resolution with this rig. If I bought a LCD I would learn towards this Asus http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16824236053.
If I don't get a monitor, I might use the money to upgrade to a PhII X4 955 and maybe up the graphics card.

Thanks in advance

 

[masteryoda34]

Creative Audigy is quite old. I would either stick with onboard sound or go with a better sound card.

 

[Eureka]

I have the DDR2 version motherboard, the onboard sound isn't bad at all.

If you dont' mind rebates, the ATI 4890 goes for around that price AR You can also get cheap 1TB hard drives as the same price as the WD Black.

 

[kojackson]

Originally posted by: masteryoda34
Creative Audigy is quite old. I would either stick with onboard sound or go with a better sound card.

+1 I wouldn't bother spending the $30 on an audigy card. Put the money elsewhere or just save yourself the difference.

 

[antsofthesky]

Alright so I'll leave the audigy out and maybe upgrade to a BD drive. The cheapest ATi 4890 is $215 after rebate whereas this quality EVGA GTX 260 is $175 after mail in rebate. Any thoughts on whether I should get a new monitor or not?

 

[kojackson]

Originally posted by: antsofthesky Any thoughts on whether I should get a new monitor or not?

I posed that same question in my next build thread, and it was suggested I do. It makes sense that if you build a new system with a video card which can handle 2560x1600 that you get a monitor which could almost do the same.

Of course the cheapest monitor newegg has running a max resolution of 2560x1600 is a mere $1200

I am going to opt for a slightly lower max resolution monitor... one running a max res of 1920x1200. Cheapest one in that category on newegg is $280 though...


do you have to upgrade your lcd, no... would I? probably. *shrug*

 

[antsofthesky]

If you're willing to compromise and go 1920x 1080, you'll save $100.

 

[Ichigo]

Are not 4890's in the sub $200 level?

Go for that instead of the 260.

 

[Lunyone]

Here is a 4890 for $199.99 + ~$8 shipping
$20 cheaper, I'd get the CM 690 case for $90 shipped!!

So if you get the CM 690 case than the $20 in savings could go towards the 4890 or towards something else. It's up to you, but I'd get the 4890 over the 260gtx 216 core for $20 more, especially for a gaming rig!

 

[antsofthesky]

^ I've followed your advice. Now it's the Coolermaster case you mentioned instead of the Antec. I swapped out the memory and GTX 260 for a combo deal on a Sapphire 4890 and OCZ 6GB 1333 DDR3 memory. Total = 1011.92 - $75 rebates (this is with monitor)

 

[IdaGno]

this may interest you (it's your money)

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: IdaGno
this may interest you (it's your money)

Interesting read there. I'd build one right now, but I don't have the $ for it

 

[antsofthesky]

Interesting. However it actually isn't my money but rather a graduation present of sorts from my parents. Not to mention that the 4770 is almost always sold out (on newegg at least) and that the PhII 550 is only $30 cheaper than the X3 720.
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuch...howdoc.aspx?i=3572&p=9
The 550 wins in slightly older games engine wise (Fallout 3, Left 4 Dead) while the 720 trumps in newer engines such as Far Cry 2. I'm hoping this rig will last for 3 years so AM3 and DDR3 makes sense. Thanks for the opinion thought.