Help needed to cut cost on new midrange rig

[imported_drAV]

Hi guys, I'm building a new comp and the costs of the parts are running a little over budget so I need some help on finding alternatives. The comp will be used as my main computer and I'll be using it for mainly: web browsing, video playback, and gaming (once Starcraft 2 comes out). I want to hook it up to my HDTV so I can watch videos on there but my monitor will be main display.

1. What YOUR PC will be used for.
In order of importance: web browsing, HD video playback, gaming.
2. What YOUR budget is.
$700
3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA. Most parts I'll get from Newegg and obviously wouldn't object to cheaper websites if the prices all make sense.
4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
Going with an AMD build for the first time. Prefer a mid-range ATI card.
5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I have these components already:
WD 640Gb Caviar 7K 16M WD6400AAKS
Dell 22' monitor
6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Anandtech forums and Tom's Hardware forums
7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
I am going to overclock the CPU (trying for the first time)
8. WHEN do you plan to build it?
In 1 week.

I currently have these parts picked out:

AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz Socket AM3 95W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103650 --- $169.00
GIGABYTE GA-MA790XT-UD4P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790X ATX AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128378 --- $140.00
G.SKILL 4GB DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231193 --- $65.00
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814102801 --- $180.00
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817139005 --- $100.00
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW ATX Mid
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16811119077 --- $60.00
LITE-ON CD/DVD Burner SATA OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827106289 --- $24.00
Scythe SCKTN-3000 92mm Sleeve "KATANA3" 3Heat Pipes
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835185096 --- $24.00

Total $764.93

There are actually mail-in rebates for a couple of my items and they reduce the total amount by $30. I'm choosing the PhenomII X4 810 because the ability to use DDR3 with it. I was deciding between Asus and Gb boards and decided to go with Gb. I picked HD4870 single card thinking it would suffice my future gaming needs for Starcraft 2, and I don't plan on playing FPS with max settings. I'm not exactly sure on the case and psu, maybe there's room to cut price there? Also I wonder if the Scythe HSF will be much better than the stock fan... Thanks for the help in advance!

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Not sure what the antec 300 case is going for but it should be a little cheaper. Would go with a cheaper power supply. Im sure you could find a 650w power supply by a different manufacturer for a better price. I would go with cheapest 650w power supply by a name brand manufacturer. I bet you could get a good case psu combo for less than the 160 you have tied up in those parts.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If you don't insist on AMD you can shave off close to $100:
intel E8400 + gigabyte P43 or P45, 4 GB Crucial DDR2-800, would save you $65+ and be faster in games. You do lose firewire and RAID with the P43 motherboard. Mine runs quietly with the intel retail HSF so that's anothe $24 you don't need to spend.

Check the Hot Deals forum for video cards, I've seen the 4890 under $200 and 4870 as low as $150.

I've had an E8400, gigbyte P43, 4 GB, 4870-512 combo since last July and it's been fast and problem-free.

 

[California Roll]

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...lies-_-LM1C-_-17371015
$65 after promo code EMCLTMM25

I've seen some killer 4850/4870/4890 (ewiz) deals lately, I'll see if I can dig them up again. Newegg also has GTX260 for $140 right now also.

 

[Beanie46]

Motherboard...Gigabyte 790GX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813128384
$119 shipped

(I chose this over the DDR3 board you chose because simply there's so little performance difference between DDR2 and DDR3, at least in current setups, that the price premium for both the mb and memory is really not worth the money, esp. when working within a limited budget......but this is just my opinion.)


CPU....AMD Phenom II X3 710: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819103649
$139 shipped


Memory....pick your DDR2 poison, but you're going to be hard pressed to spend a lot for 4GB.....but call it a wash at $65
But, here's a 4GB set of GSkill for $49 shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820231122

4GB set of Mushkin for $50 shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820146731

4GB set of Corsair XMS2 for $47 shipped: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820145184




Video card.....HIS Radeon 4870 1GB (@ ewiz): http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=HIS-487_1G
$149 + shipping



Power supply.....Antec EA650: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371015
$79 shipped

Antec EA650 (@ Provantage): http://www.provantage.com/antec-ea650~7ANTS031.htm
$68 + shipping

-OR- BFG LS-550: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817702008
$79 + shipping


Right now, I've got you down by around $70-$100, depending on what you keep and what you don't. But I think my selection is probably, for AMD, a good all around choice for a tight budget.

And I hate rebates and really don't depend on them......and even if and when they come in, you still have to spend the money up front, so may as well not take them into account in your budget.

 

[Eureka]

Yeah I'd say drop the quad core, you're paying a hefty premium for that quad power. For gaming, dual or triple core will be fine. If you want to cut costs even more, switch to an Athlon II X2 250, those things can overclock to 3.75.

For video card, you can cut another $20 off with the sales that are going on in hot deals. The 4870 looks to be about $120 shipped, and the 4890 around $160 shipped.

 

[imported_drAV]

Thanks for the feedbacks. I've decided to drop the video card down to a HD4850 1GB card. The deals on newegg look to be around $120 shipped. I'm looking at either the XFX or the HIS card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161275
I'm also changing the PSU to Antec 650W. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371015
Do I even need that much power for my rig? I heard from a friend that I can prolly do 500W or less with my setup if I don't plan on ugprading. Is having more power capability a bad thing? Because the prices for PSU at 500W or 600W range are similar. I'm sticking with the AMD cpu and AM3 mobo. I like the idea of going to a newer technology DDR3.

Oh yeah, and I forgot to add a bluRay drive to my original build. I'm looking at the LG one -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136133
So it's going to be +$86 for the drive. Doing the math: +86 (bluRay) - $60 (HD4850) - $35 (PSU) = -$9 from original build.

 

[Lunyone]

$105 - Antec 300 case/Antec 650w PSU Combo
$162 - $10 MIR = $152!! AMD PhII x2 550 Black Edition/Asus mobo Combo
$55 shipped! G.Skill PI Black 800 mHz DDR2 CAS4 (4-4-4-12 timings!) that runs at stock voltage of 1.8v!!
$110 LG BR DVD ROM drive

Add the 4890 that was previously listed for $150 + $10 shipping = $160!! and your total is:

~$615 shipped!!! Now you take the PhII x2 550 BE and up the multiplier without even touching the voltages up to 3.6 gHz or so and be set for quite awhile. This system will work just fine for what you want to do. In a budget gaming system, all you need is a decent 2 or 3 core CPU and a bitchin' GPU (the most you can afford). Of coarse use a decent case and good solid PSU and your just about set!!

 

[Eureka]

Originally posted by: drAV
Thanks for the feedbacks. I've decided to drop the video card down to a HD4850 1GB card. The deals on newegg look to be around $120 shipped. I'm looking at either the XFX or the HIS card. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814161275
I'm also changing the PSU to Antec 650W. http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16817371015
Do I even need that much power for my rig? I heard from a friend that I can prolly do 500W or less with my setup if I don't plan on ugprading. Is having more power capability a bad thing? Because the prices for PSU at 500W or 600W range are similar. I'm sticking with the AMD cpu and AM3 mobo. I like the idea of going to a newer technology DDR3.

Oh yeah, and I forgot to add a bluRay drive to my original build. I'm looking at the LG one -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16827136133
So it's going to be +$86 for the drive. Doing the math: +86 (bluRay) - $60 (HD4850) - $35 (PSU) = -$9 from original build.

At the price you're paying for that card, I'd go for a 4870 for $120 shipped AR from the hot deals section. No reason to settle for less (although depending on where you are, you may want to order the 4870 earlier because ewiz's warehouse is in CA).

500W is the minimum I would have for a modern system. If you look in the FS/FT section, you can find a 600W PSU going for around $50, and other similar deals.

 

[imported_drAV]

Gonna get the HD4870 1GB here -> http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=XFX-487G1B
and it comes out to be $128 after coupon. And also gonna get the Antec PSU + case combo here -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.198951
for $105 + $15 shipping. I'm going to the local computer store tomorrow to check if they have deals similar in price so I can avoid the shipping cost.

Edit: one last question is that do I need a HSF for the PhenomII X4 cpu? or does the included fan do the job? The one I picked in the original build is kind of random...

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: drAV
Gonna get the HD4870 1GB here -> http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=XFX-487G1B
and it comes out to be $128 after coupon. And also gonna get the Antec PSU + case combo here -> http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.198951
for $105 + $15 shipping. I'm going to the local computer store tomorrow to check if they have deals similar in price so I can avoid the shipping cost.

Edit: one last question is that do I need a HSF for the PhenomII X4 cpu? or does the included fan do the job? The one I picked in the original build is kind of random...

The stock CPU HSF will do, as long as your not doing extreme OC'ing. If you think you want some extra cooling than you might want some better cooling.

 

[heyheybooboo]

You may snag the PhII 810 /Asus 790gx AM3 combo for $15 less plus a $15 rebate.

Same mobo in a PhII 720BE combo will save yah $50 plus rebate.