New PC suggestions?

[tr4ck]

Hi all,

I'm upgrading from a AMD 3000. This is what I've come up with so far:

MOBO: Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 ATX AM2+/AM3
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition Triple Core Processo
RAM: G.SKILL F2-8000CL5D-4GBPQ PC2-8000 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1000
VIDEO: ASUS Radeon HD 4770 750MHZ 512MB
HD: Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB 7200RPM 32MB
DVD: Samsung SH-S223Q
Case: Cooler Master Elite 335 Black ATX Mid Tower Case
P/S: Antec Earthwatts 500W Power Supply ATX12V

Intended use will be everything including some gaming. I don't really upgrade parts either. I'm trying to get something that will be fast for now and then something I can upgrade later on - so that's why I choose that AM2/AM3 board.

I had a couple questions though:
1) Is that video card worth getting or is it better to get a 4850? And if so, is there any major difference in 512GB vs 1GB for the video card? Monitor will be 17" Samsung for now @ 1280x1024 and upgrading in a couple months to a 22-23.

2) Is that power supply enough? I don't really plan to overclock, except maybe try to unlock the 4th core on the cpu.

3) Is the stock CPU fan enough? If I try to unlock the 4th core will it be enough?

Any other recommendations?

Thanks!

 

[Moonbeam]

Why not a DDR 3 board?

 

[yh125d]

Thats plenty enough PSU, even with a fourth core. The stock cooler for those is pretty good, and is ok to overclock with a bit before you'd need an upgrade

There is a difference between 512 and 1gb for the video card, but it's only worth mentioning at very high resolutions with maxed settings and AA/AF. And even then its only some games. 512 is plenty for up to 1920x1200

 

[heyheybooboo]

Gigabyte GA-MA770T-UD3P AM3 770: $80

G.Skill 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1600: $65

XFX Radeon HD 4850 1GB: $125


With another $60 or so you could bump up your PSU to 600-650w and snag the Gigabyte 790X AM3.

The way things are going in a few months 24-inch LCDs will be well below $200 (giving you the goodness that is 19x10).

You may then keep your eye out for a second HD4850 for that 790X (and you will be approaching Gaming Overlord status).

 

[andersonviola]

Your setup is based on the recent anantech budget guide, which I was looking at, but there are better deals out there. This is what I just bought a couple of days ago:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...?ItemList=Combo.203011 -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814127401
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820227320

Thats a great combo for the x3 720 w/ a am3 mobo at am2 prices. the ddr3 ram is ddr2 price, and the 4850 is slightly better than the 4770 and only $75 right now. I don't think you can beat any of those current deals. I bought the antec sonata case as well, $120 and you get the earthwatts 500 psu.

 

[tr4ck]

K, updated.

How does this look:

Antec Three Hundred
Antec Earthwatts 500W
Gigabyte GA-MA770T-US3P
AMD Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition
G.SKILL F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ
Sapphire Radeon HD 4850 512MB GDDR3
Western Digital Caviar Black 640GB
Samsung SH-S223Q

I'm in Vancouver, BC, so those newegg.com deals don't apply .

Thanks!