First Time PC Builder, Need Advice

[Foyboy]

Ok, I think I'm ready to buy. I spent the last several hours researching deals and this is what I've come up with. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. And if someone could at least confirm that everything is compatible, that would be great:

I plan to use my PC for console emulation (namely PCSX2), every-day multi-tasking, and HD movie watching. My budget is around $600, I would prefer to stay below that. I don't really intend to overclock. I don't play new PC games that are GPU intensive. I'd like to have everything ordered by the end of the day.

Here's what I have:

Case: Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $49.95 after MIR

CPU: Core i3 550 3.2GHz Socket 1156 Boxed Processor BX80616I3550 $124.99

HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive $184.98 after MIR combo with Motherboard

Motherboard: ASUS P7P55D-E LX LGA 1156 Intel P55 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard $184.98 after MIR combo with HD

GPU: Galaxy 60XMH6HS3HMW GeForce GTX 460 GC Edtion Video Card - 768MB GDDR5 $79.99 after MIR/coupons

RAM: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Desktop Memory Model CMV4GX3M2A1333C9 $43.99

PSU: Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply $44.99 after MIR After looking at a bunch of different models and review sites, it seems that 550W would be more than enough to power my components. Am I wrong? Is it still compatible otherwise?

Media: ASUS DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS Black SATA 24X DVD Burner - Bulk - OEM $19.99

Total cost without tax, shipping, monitor, and windows: $543.88

Are there any problems with my build? Anything that could be improved at almost no cost?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Slugbait]

Looks good. Probably the only thing I would change is to go with the OCZ Fatal1ty 550W over the Antec, which is the same cost AR.

I'm just curious about the coupons to get the GTX 460 all the way down to $80...

 

[Davidh373]

I'd prefer AMD for this build.

you can get a quad core Phenom in a combo now for much less that what you're paying for the Intel platfoem and get a ton better performance.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.573169

It doesn't have SATA 6GB/S or USB 3.0, but do you have anything to take advantage of those? USB 3.0 doesn't really do anything for externals yet, and SATA 6GB/S is a waste of money for any HDD. The performance on that WD Black drive is no different than one on the SATA 3GB/S controller because HDDs don't even get past 1.5GB/S. You'll only benefit from a 6GB/S if you have an SSD with a SATA 6GB/S controller. Save $20+ and get a Samsung F3 1TB off amazon.com for $60.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spinpo...3140066&sr=8-1

GPU: Galaxy 60XMH6HS3HMW GeForce GTX 460 GC Edtion Video Card - 768MB GDDR5 $79.99 after MIR/coupons

Awesome deal, but that is not the 460 you should be looking for. The 1GB version is often better. I wouldn't count on seeing any money from those MIRs, and the 1GB version isn't that much more retail cost. I like to think of MIRs as a gamble. They are a nice perk, but you don't see your money returned at anything but a snail's pace if you do at all.

PSU: Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply $44.99 after MIR After looking at a bunch of different models and review sites, it seems that 550W would be more than enough to power my components. Am I wrong? Is it still compatible otherwise?

Why do you need modular? I wouldn't count on that MIR coming in.

I'm personally a fan of this PSU. I'd spend the money and forget about MIRs

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-094-_-Product

 

[Davidh373]

Looks good. Probably the only thing I would change is to go with the OCZ Fatal1ty 550W over the Antec, which is the same cost AR.

Yikes... <_<

 

[Foyboy]

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna go with this combo for the processor/mobo now: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.564850
It's:
AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX
ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard

Going to go with a Radeon 5770 1GB. The deal I mentioned was too good to be true. Back-ordered, meaning the rebates would expire. This is what I'm looking at now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161338'

Thanks for the deal on the hard drive.

What's wrong with the power supply?

 

[DominionSeraph]

I'd prefer AMD for this build.

you can get a quad core Phenom in a combo now for much less that what you're paying for the Intel platfoem and get a ton better performance.

I believe emulation is highly single-threaded, though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136178
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161338
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.572879

Hard drive: 500GB will save you $15 if you don't need the full TB.
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...3-HD502HJ-500GB-SATA2-7200rpm-16MB-Hard-Drive

1TB: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive

$579.52 before rebates with 1TB. $55 in MIR.

Windows 7 combos with that case for $10 off.

LG DVD Burner - Bulk Black SATA Model GH24LS50 LightScribe Support - OEM
Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
HIS H577FK1GD Radeon HD 5770 (Juniper XT) 1GB 128-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card ...
Antec EarthWatts Green EA-380D Green 380W Continuous power ATX12V v2.3 / EPS12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power ...
G.SKILL NS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model F3-10600CL9D-4GBNS
Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3550
GIGABYTE GA-H55-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
Spinpoint F3

 

[Davidh373]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.564850

why would you get the old 790 board over the newer 880 for more $$? You'll hardly notice a difference between the 955 and 965. In fact, with your tasks you likely won't notice at all. You're paying $40 extra dollars for 2-4 FPS in games.

http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/88?vs=102

Going to go with a Radeon 5770 1GB. The deal I mentioned was too good to be true. Back-ordered, meaning the rebates would expire. This is what I'm looking at now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161338'

Pretty good choice.

Thanks for the deal on the hard drive.

You're welcome

 

[Foyboy]

David, can you clarify? The 965 with the 790 board is $228. The 955 is $145 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131631 That comes to $290, much more than the combo I have picked. I must be missing something.

 

[mfenn]

I believe emulation is highly single-threaded, though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136178
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161338
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371033
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.572879

Hard drive: 500GB will save you $15 if you don't need the full TB.
http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...3-HD502HJ-500GB-SATA2-7200rpm-16MB-Hard-Drive

1TB: http://www.superbiiz.com/detail.php...-F3-HD103SJ-1TB-SATA2-7200rpm-32MB-Hard-Drive

$579.52 before rebates with 1TB. $55 in MIR.

Windows 7 combos with that case for $10 off.

Hey DominionSeraph, it would be much easier if you listed out the names of the parts instead of just the link, especially right now when detonator.dynamitedata is crapping out.

EDIT: If this build is solely for emulation, I would recommend going for the Core i3. Otherwise, the Phenom II X4 that David suggested will give you much better performance in newer PC games.

 

[Foyboy]

Ok, so if I switch to the i3-550 (my main concern is emulation, not new pc games), and take this combo deal, would everything else that I've previously listed be compatible?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.572877 $207
GIGABYTE GA-H55M-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3550

Also, why DominoSeraph, is that PSU's wattage enough? It seems awfully low.

 

[DominionSeraph]

Hey DominionSeraph, it would be much easier if you listed out the names of the parts instead of just the link, especially right now when detonator.dynamitedata is crapping out.

Is there an easy way to link with names? Copy+paste x2 and manually formatting is soooo tiresome.
That's why I usually just throw in a screenshot, but I'm on a Northwood Celeron using dial-up right now.

 

[mfenn]

Is there an easy way to link with names? Copy+paste x2 and manually formatting is soooo tiresome.
That's why I usually just throw in a screenshot, but I'm on a Northwood Celeron using dial-up right now.

Even if it's just something quick like "i3 550" or "4GB G.Skill DDR3 1333" that's probably sufficient.

 

[mfenn]

Ok, so if I switch to the i3-550 (my main concern is emulation, not new pc games), and take this combo deal, would everything else that I've previously listed be compatible?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.572877 $207
GIGABYTE GA-H55M-USB3 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I3550

Also, why DominoSeraph, is that PSU's wattage enough? It seems awfully low.

Actually, you should check to see if your emulator even uses hardware 3D rendering. If so, not only will the i3 550 be enough, but you don't even need the 5770.

As for the PSU, yes 380W is more than enough. The only significant sources of power draw in a modern PC are the CPU and GPU. In your case, the i3 and 5770 draw less than 200W put together.

 

[betasub]

^ Modern power-efficient mid-range parts FTW