Best PC Build for $650

[IDontKnowWhat]

Hello to all. I am new to the site. I was planning on making a PC build with a max. price of $650. The machine will be used for gaming at 1680x1050, multi-tasking, video and audio encoding, file compressing, and normal things like e-mail and internet.

I plan on making a balanced build. I want to play games at the aforementioned resolution, but not necessarily at the maximum settings (no Anti-aliasing is fine, too). I'd also want a processor that is good for multi-threaded applications so that I can use it for audio and video encoding and multi-tasking, but it doesn't need to be the highest-end or targeted at enthusiasts. Good overclock-ability would be a huge plus. I'd also like a computer that is expandable in the future (for example, having two PCI-E 2.0 slots) so that I can use it in a CrossFire configuration.

 

[Slugbait]

$647

You won't get CrossFire (or SLI), but nobody should care...by the time you can upgrade, you won't want to spend the money on CrossFire.

 

[IDontKnowWhat]

$647

You won't get CrossFire (or SLI), but nobody should care...by the time you can upgrade, you won't want to spend the money on CrossFire.

Thanks. That's including the price of Windows 7 Home Premium, though, and I have a retail copy I got with the student discount.

Those $100 could go towards better parts. The CPU seems great, as does the GPU. But the PSU, case, and motherboard seem to be very low-end.

What do you think of this (prices from Newegg):
Asus M4A79XTD EVO + AMD Athlon II X3 425 combo


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.315807

HIS Radeon HD 5770 1GB:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-317-_-Product

Seagate 500GB 7200.12 HDD + OCZ StealthXStream 600W PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.319839

Lite-On iHAS124 24x DVD Burner:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106289

NZXT M59 Mid-tower Case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=NZXT%20M59

G.Skill Ripjaws 4GB 1600MHz DDR3 kit:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231277

Prices:
Motherboard + CPU combo: $174
GPU: $163
HDD + PSU: $110
DVD Burner: $24
Case: $70

Sub-total: $635
Total (with shipping): $647

Should I go with this or opt for the Athlon II X4 and downgrade to a Radeon HD 5750?

 

[fffblackmage]

If you're gaming, you want the 5770 over the 5750. Quad core would be nice, but tri-core is still pretty good for gaming.

 

[Slugbait]

For your video encoding, you want the extra core.

For a really, really, really loud system, by all means...go with a Lite-On. Otherwise, get the Sammy.

That NZXT case is (personal taste) butt fugly. I'd save a couple bucks and go with the Enermax Staray.

 

[Tsavo]

For your video encoding, you want the extra core.

For a really, really, really loud system, by all means...go with a Lite-On. Otherwise, get the Sammy.

That NZXT case is (personal taste) butt fugly. I'd save a couple bucks and go with the Enermax Staray.

I have that Lite-On drive and it's quiet.

My other Lite-On (don't know model#) is LOUD.

 

[ShawnD1]

$647

You won't get CrossFire (or SLI), but nobody should care...by the time you can upgrade, you won't want to spend the money on CrossFire.

The only thing I would upgrade is the motherboard. My media computer is using the Gigabyte GA-MA74GM and it sucks balls. The chipset is so old that it doesn't even support AMD Overdrive. It also has a painfully outdated 1000mhz hypertransport; I think the latest is something like 2600mhz.

 

[IDontKnowWhat]

Thanks for all the feedback. I think I'll change the DVD Burner to a Samsung. I've been reading reviews and they seem to have very high write speeds, be moderately quiet, and have good reliability.

 

[IDontKnowWhat]

For your video encoding, you want the extra core.

For a really, really, really loud system, by all means...go with a Lite-On. Otherwise, get the Sammy.

That NZXT case is (personal taste) butt fugly. I'd save a couple bucks and go with the Enermax Staray.

Hmm... I've seen the M59 case and I like it a lot. I like the design and the fact that it's painted all-black. Nice additions are the two 120mm fans and the tool-less installation. Reviews are saying it's supports long GPUs, too.

 

[IDontKnowWhat]

I've changed the DVD Burner to the new Samsung SH-243N. It costs $25.

Also, do you guys think it would be feasible to later on buy a $30 CPU cooler to over-clock the CPU to around 3.6GHz? Will that increase single-threaded performance? I think using a tri-core is a good compromise. On one hand, I get better multi-threaded performance than a dual-core; on the other, I get it for the same price as a dual-core.