Yet Another Gaming Rig Recommendation Thread

[Starbuck1975]

Hi All,

Read the sticky thread, looked at a few build guides posted here, Tom's Hardware, PC Gamer and a few other threads. This is what I am running now:

Abit AT8 32x
eVGA GEFORCE 8800GT
2x1GB OCZ Dual Channel Platinum PC-3200
Athlon X2 3800+
WD Caviar SE16 250 GB SATA 2.0 x 2
ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W PSU

I predominantly use my rig for gaming and video/photo editing. I do not require the most cutting edge graphics nor do I overclock. I typically buy games a few months if not a year after release, so the burden I place on my rig always has somewhat of a delay from the most cutting edge games available on the market today.

I typically go the recommended path from the sticky in choosing components. Salvage what I can from my current rig, build a mid/high end system that will last about 2 years, then upgrade the CPU or GPU down the line as needed.

The core foundation of my current rig has been in service for 6 years, with one CPU and one GPU upgrade along the way.

I plan on salvaging my case, hard drive, DVD burner, CD-ROM, monitor, keyboard, mouse and headphones.

I definitely need a new MOBO, new CPU, probably new RAM and a new PSU.

The recent article in PC Gamer on six core processors tweaked my interest. My last three builds have been AMD. I am not an AMD fanboy, just not that familiar with Intel's product offerings. No preference to nVidia or ATI...typically go for best performance/value.

I was thinking of going with the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor.

I like modular PSUs, so was thinking about going with this Corsair PSU:

CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W ATX12V 2.3 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS SILVER Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply


This G.Skill RAM kit comes up in a lot of build guides, so that was the basis for my choice. Open to other suggestions. I've owned memory from Crucial, Mushkin, OCZ and Corsair, so typically go with the best reviewed RAM at a reasonable price point at the time of my purchase. I am thinking a minimum of 4GB RAM for this build.

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)


I always try to keep my upgrades under $1000.

Questions:

1. Go with the AMD 6 core, or should I consider a step down AMD or Intel CPU?

2. I always struggle to find a MOBO to my liking. I don't overclock, and given the life I got out of my last MOBO, I typically prefer something that is easy to configure, easy to maintain, has a reasonable amount of future proofing expansion, but above all else is a quality board that will last. Would appreciate MOBO recommendations with your CPU recommendations.

3. My last three GPUs have been nVidia, but open to Radeon. I am thinking about going with the Radeon 5850. Who is the most reputable of the Radeon based card manufacturers? I always go with eVGA for nividia cards, so in uncharted territory for selecting a Radeon manufacturer.

 

[Sp12]

Corsair link is broken. The 1090T is not worth the money by any stretch -- 50% more than the 1055t for 400mhz and an unlocked multiplier.

However, an intel build is certainly an option. Specifically a P55/i5-760 variant.

I would definitely suggest upgrading the hard drive. Even if you don't step up to an SSD (which I think you should), a modern 7200 drive will blow away the performance of those old caviars.

 

[mfenn]

Corsair link is broken. The 1090T is not worth the money by any stretch -- 50% more than the 1055t for 400mhz and an unlocked multiplier.

However, an intel build is certainly an option. Specifically a P55/i5-760 variant.

I would definitely suggest upgrading the hard drive. Even if you don't step up to an SSD (which I think you should), a modern 7200 drive will blow away the performance of those old caviars.

Definitely agree on upgrading the HDD. People just don't realize how much the performance has improved in the past few years. With $1000 budget, I would say you would be silly to not at least get a fast 7.2K drive.

Since you seem to keep your stuff for quite a while, I'm going to put the 1055T in here. On to the build!

Phenom II X6 1055T $200
Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 $107
G.Skill DDR3 1600 4GB $92
GTX 460 1GB $230 - I am specifically NOT recommending an EVGA GTX 460 because the blower they use on the 1GB models is crap
Samsung F3 1TB $75
Corsair 650TX $90 - $20 rebate
Total: $774

If you want to spend all $1000 and don't already have a 1080P screen, that's what I'd suggest you spend the remaining budget on.

You can probably track down some combo deals on these items to bring the price down a bit.

 

[Sp12]

He wants a modular PSU, but those are more expensive. I think the seasonic x650 fits this build great, but it's quite a bit more expensive than that corsair.

It's really a shame to not try and OC the 1055t, especially if you don't modify voltages or anything. A hyper 212+ poses a great value at 24$.

Do you need an OS liscence?

Any case specifics?

Ram+CPU combo.

Hard drive+PSU combo. PSU isn't exactly what you want though.

 

[mfenn]

He wants a modular PSU, but those are more expensive. I think the seasonic x650 fits this build great, but it's quite a bit more expensive than that corsair.

It's really a shame to not try and OC the 1055t, especially if you don't modify voltages or anything. A hyper 212+ poses a great value at 24$.

Do you need an OS liscence?

Any case specifics?

Ram+CPU combo.

Hard drive+PSU combo. PSU isn't exactly what you want though.

Man, this VB bug with not properly escaping the meta-chars really kills the links.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Ok, not sure what I am doing wrong with the URL links, but closing in on my list of components:

PSU: Will probably go with the CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W, given that it is modular and Corsair seems pretty reputable. Quick question. Given the scope of my build, assuming my 500W Enermax Liberty is no longer sufficient.

Hard Drive: Was debating whether or not to add a SDD drive. Given recommendations here, I will.

CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T versus Intel P55/i5-760 variant ???

MOBO: Depending on CPU choice

GPU: GTX 460 or Radeon 5850 ???

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

CASE: I have an ATX mid tower, don't recall the model. May get a new case if need be.

OS: I've been running off the same WIN XP version for the last 6 years. Will probably make the jump to WIN7 at this point. Any recommendation on which "version" to get?

 

[mfenn]

Ok, not sure what I am doing wrong with the URL links, but closing in on my list of components:

PSU: Will probably go with the CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W, given that it is modular and Corsair seems pretty reputable. Quick question. Given the scope of my build, assuming my 500W Enermax Liberty is no longer sufficient.

Hard Drive: Was debating whether or not to add a SDD drive. Given recommendations here, I will.

CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T versus Intel P55/i5-760 variant ???

MOBO: Depending on CPU choice

GPU: GTX 460 or Radeon 5850 ???

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

CASE: I have an ATX mid tower, don't recall the model. May get a new case if need be.

OS: I've been running off the same WIN XP version for the last 6 years. Will probably make the jump to WIN7 at this point. Any recommendation on which "version" to get?

GTX 460 vs. 5850? GTX 460 wins hands down in my opinion. It's cheaper and just as fast with the newer drivers.

1055T vs. 760? The 760 has better single-threaded performance, but the 1055T is better at multi-threaded tasks. Older programs and games are going to be mostly single-threaded, but since you seem to keep your hardware for a while, the 1055T is worth considering.

The Liberty might be fine with a GTX 460, but given it's age, I would consider replacing it. You don't need a 750W power supply though.

Your current case is ATX, so it is fine unless you are tired of it.

Definitely get Windows 7 64-bit. I generally recommend Home Premium because it has all the features that general users need.

Another thing to consider is replacing your monitor if you don't have a recent one.

 

[sandorski]

Ok, not sure what I am doing wrong with the URL links, but closing in on my list of components:

PSU: Will probably go with the CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W, given that it is modular and Corsair seems pretty reputable. Quick question. Given the scope of my build, assuming my 500W Enermax Liberty is no longer sufficient.

Hard Drive: Was debating whether or not to add a SDD drive. Given recommendations here, I will.

CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T versus Intel P55/i5-760 variant ???

MOBO: Depending on CPU choice

GPU: GTX 460 or Radeon 5850 ???

RAM: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)

CASE: I have an ATX mid tower, don't recall the model. May get a new case if need be.

OS: I've been running off the same WIN XP version for the last 6 years. Will probably make the jump to WIN7 at this point. Any recommendation on which "version" to get?

Since you're doing a New Build, get Win7 Home OEM. It's just over $100 making it a great value. Lacks a couple things that are included with non-Home editions, but you'll probably not need them.

If you go the AMD route, you definitely need an after market HS/Fan to maintain your sanity. Ripjaws RAM can pose a problem with certain after market HS/Fans though, due to the height of the HS on the RAM sticks.

Can't guarantee it, but I suspect that your current PS will work fine.

 

[Sp12]

PSU: Will probably go with the CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-750HX 750W, given that it is modular and Corsair seems pretty reputable. Quick question. Given the scope of my build, assuming my 500W Enermax Liberty is no longer sufficient.

Maybe not needed, but I think upgrading in terms of efficiency is always a plus.

Hard Drive: Was debating whether or not to add a SDD drive. Given recommendations here, I will.

Depends on how much of your budget you want to spend, but they're a huge improvement over mechanical disks.

Other points I think mfenn has covered well.

 

[Starbuck1975]

OK, so from the top:

CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T ~200
GPU: GTX 460 (will go hang around on the video card forums to select): ~230
MEMORY: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) ~97
OS: WIN7 64bit Home Premium OEM ~100
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 ~106 (really a shame about ABIT, my last three builds all had ABIT MOBOs, but have heard good things about GIGABYTE)

That puts me at ~$750, which gives me enough room in the budget to accomodate a new hard drive and a new PSU. Quick question on install though. I have heard it is cleaner to keep the OS installed on one drive, and games and utilities installed on a seperate drive. Is that a true statement, and if so, what is the benefit? In splitting the OS and my games/utilities, will my games/utilities take a major performance hit by being installed on the "slower" drive?

The Liberty might be fine with a GTX 460, but given it's age, I would consider replacing it. You don't need a 750W power supply though.

So I could arguably salvage my PSU from a capacity perspective, just a concern around its age? I may decide to salvage it if that is the case. If I choose to replace, sounds like 750W might be overkill. What do you recommend for PSU capacity?

Also, assuming I go forward with this build, how much of a performance jump am I talking about? I mean, I can play Crysis and Bioshock on my current rig. Sure it hiccups every one in a while, and I need to turn down the eye candy, but my current rig is reasonably serviceable...although the fans sound like a Chinook taking off at boot-up.

Last question...do I need an aftermarket CPU cooler? I invested in one on my last build, and always questioned the need for doing so. Have read that AMD stock CPU coolers are actually quite good.

Your current case is ATX, so it is fine unless you are tired of it.

I am tired of it, but the case is always the first thing to drop to meet my budget. If I can accomodate it, I will probably get an Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel.

 

[mfenn]

OK, so from the top:

CPU: Phenom II X6 1055T ~200
GPU: GTX 460 (will go hang around on the video card forums to select): ~230
MEMORY: G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) ~97
OS: WIN7 64bit Home Premium OEM ~100
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 ~106 (really a shame about ABIT, my last three builds all had ABIT MOBOs, but have heard good things about GIGABYTE)

That puts me at ~$750, which gives me enough room in the budget to accomodate a new hard drive and a new PSU. Quick question on install though. I have heard it is cleaner to keep the OS installed on one drive, and games and utilities installed on a seperate drive. Is that a true statement, and if so, what is the benefit? In splitting the OS and my games/utilities, will my games/utilities take a major performance hit by being installed on the "slower" drive?

Generally you're going to want to put the OS and your primary apps (not games) on the SSD. Put the games on the HDD because they are so big.

So I could arguably salvage my PSU from a capacity perspective, just a concern around its age? I may decide to salvage it if that is the case. If I choose to replace, sounds like 750W might be overkill. What do you recommend for PSU capacity?

The main concern when using an older PSU is whether or not it can put out enough amps on the 12V rail(s). Older systems were much more biased towards the 5V rail, and the PSU's matched that. New systems draw practically all of their power from the 12V. I dug up the specs for your Liberty and it looks like it can supply about 40 amps on the 12V, so it should be good.

Also, assuming I go forward with this build, how much of a performance jump am I talking about? I mean, I can play Crysis and Bioshock on my current rig. Sure it hiccups every one in a while, and I need to turn down the eye candy, but my current rig is reasonably serviceable...although the fans sound like a Chinook taking off at boot-up.

Look at this graph. The GTX 460 is about 2.5 times faster than the 8800GT at 1680x1050. They AT didn't even bother to test at higher resolutions because the gap will widen due to the 8800GT's limited VRAM.

You still haven't answered my question about the monitor, by the way. If you're running at less that 1080P, you should really take some of your budget and invest in a new monitor.

Last question...do I need an aftermarket CPU cooler? I invested in one on my last build, and always questioned the need for doing so. Have read that AMD stock CPU coolers are actually quite good.

The stock fan will keep the CPU acceptably cool, but it is loud.

I am tired of it, but the case is always the first thing to drop to meet my budget. If I can accomodate it, I will probably get an Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel.

Up to you.

 

[Starbuck1975]

You still haven't answered my question about the monitor, by the way. If you're running at less that 1080P, you should really take some of your budget and invest in a new monitor.

My monitor is 3 years old, and I am having trouble finding online specifications that mention whether or not its 1080p. Let's assume it is not. What are the implications were I to hold on replacing it for now.

The main concern when using an older PSU is whether or not it can put out enough amps on the 12V rail(s). Older systems were much more biased towards the 5V rail, and the PSU's matched that. New systems draw practically all of their power from the 12V. I dug up the specs for your Liberty and it looks like it can supply about 40 amps on the 12V, so it should be good.

Were I to replace my PSU, what capacity would you recommend? 500W? 600W? I guess a better questions is how do I educate myself on the rules of thumb for determining the appropriate PSU choice based on components selected and their respective power needs?

 

[mfenn]

My monitor is 3 years old, and I am having trouble finding online specifications that mention whether or not its 1080p. Let's assume it is not. What are the implications were I to hold on replacing it for now.

1080P is shorthand for 1920x1080, which is a screen resolution. Assuming you're on XP, right-click on your desktop, and choose properties. Then go to the settings tab and look at the number below the "Screen resolution" slider. That is your current resolution. (If you have an LCD and the slider is not all the way to the right, drag it over there!).

If your monitor is not at least 1080P (i.e. capable of 1920x1080 or greater resolution), then most of the power of a GTX 460 is going to waste because you'll be way above 60 FPS.

Were I to replace my PSU, what capacity would you recommend? 500W? 600W? I guess a better questions is how do I educate myself on the rules of thumb for determining the appropriate PSU choice based on components selected and their respective power needs?

I believe I recommended the 650TX up above. My general method is to go and look up the TDP (thermal design power, i.e. the maximum power draw) of each component, sum them, and then multiply by a safety factor (1.25 or so). Then you have to take into consideration what the best current deals are on power supplies (bigger is usually more watts/$) without going too far overboard and underloading the PSU at idle so much that the efficiency is down in the toilet.

 

[Starbuck1975]

mfenn thank you for all of the help. I just checked my resolution settings, and I max out at 1680x1050. Other than not offering 1080p, my monitor actually works quite well for gaming, and would prefer to hold on to it for a while longer. Given that I typically am a few months behind in playing the latest games (I am still playing HL2:Episode 2 for instance), would it make sense for me to get the GTX 460 now, or hold on to my 8800GT until I am ready to upgrade my monitor? Or perhaps a solution in between.

Will probably need a few days to run the PSU calculations given your recommendation, but I just found a modular version of the 650TX: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply. At $109.99, perhaps I should upgrade my Enermax Liberty?

Just did a couple of ebay searches. I can probably get $150 to $200 if I sell my current PSU, RAM, 8800GT and CPU.

Did a little more research on MOBOs, and perhaps I should post a seperate thread in the MOBO forums, but would it make sense to consider an 890FX based board to pair with the Phenom II X6 1055T? I am not in a rush to build, and can hold off for at least a month to see if other 890FX boards hit the market, or wait for prices on them to drop a bit.

 

[mfenn]

mfenn thank you for all of the help. I just checked my resolution settings, and I max out at 1680x1050. Other than not offering 1080p, my monitor actually works quite well for gaming, and would prefer to hold on to it for a while longer. Given that I typically am a few months behind in playing the latest games (I am still playing HL2:Episode 2 for instance), would it make sense for me to get the GTX 460 now, or hold on to my 8800GT until I am ready to upgrade my monitor? Or perhaps a solution in between.

If you're happy with the performance of your 8800GT, then by all means hang onto it. There is always something better around the corner, meaning that your dollar will buy more performance as time goes on. However, if you're not happy with your current performance, the right time to upgrade is always right now!

Will probably need a few days to run the PSU calculations given your recommendation, but I just found a modular version of the 650TX: CORSAIR HX Series CMPSU-650HX 650W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply. At $109.99, perhaps I should upgrade my Enermax Liberty?

I don't think the modular aspect of the HX is worth the extra cost when you consider that you can get the 650TX and Samsung F3 HDD for the same price as the HX alone.

Just did a couple of ebay searches. I can probably get $150 to $200 if I sell my current PSU, RAM, 8800GT and CPU.

Did a little more research on MOBOs, and perhaps I should post a seperate thread in the MOBO forums, but would it make sense to consider an 890FX based board to pair with the Phenom II X6 1055T? I am not in a rush to build, and can hold off for at least a month to see if other 890FX boards hit the market, or wait for prices on them to drop a bit.

The 890FX chipset's biggest draw is x16/x16 Crossfire support. Since you game at 1680x1050 and play older games to boot, Crossfire-capable gear would be a ridiculous waste of money for you.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Thanks again mfenn. So I guess one last stupid question. Since I am essentially able to play the games I want to play with my current rig, granted at somewhat lower settings, would it make more sense to hold on to what I have, save more to increase my budget, and upgrade once I am truly in need of one.

The only area where the performance frustrates me is for photo and video editing...so perhaps for those reasons alone, I could see a performance boost by getting a new processor, MOBO, RAM and hard drive...and sustain my GPU and PSU upgrades for the time being. Per your previous comment, yes I tend to hold on to systems for a very long time, and let necessity drive my upgrades.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks again mfenn. So I guess one last stupid question. Since I am essentially able to play the games I want to play with my current rig, granted at somewhat lower settings, would it make more sense to hold on to what I have, save more to increase my budget, and upgrade once I am truly in need of one.

The only area where the performance frustrates me is for photo and video editing...so perhaps for those reasons alone, I could see a performance boost by getting a new processor, MOBO, RAM and hard drive...and sustain my GPU and PSU upgrades for the time being. Per your previous comment, yes I tend to hold on to systems for a very long time, and let necessity drive my upgrades.

No problem.

That is definitely an option. If you're getting frustrated with the computer it is definitely time to upgrade. Since photo and video editing is heavily dependent on the CPU and RAM, you will see a very nice boost by moving to a Phenom II x6. The 8800GT and PSU will work nicely with a new CPU, mobo, RAM, and HDD.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Ended up holding off on this build, but nearly ready to pull the trigger now. Want to validate my build one final time:

PSU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3
MEMORY: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V
Primary Drive (OS/Applications): OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB SATA II SSD
Secondary Drive (Games/Media): My existing WD Caviar SE16 250 GB SATA 2.0
Back-up Drive: WD Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM
GPU: My existing eVGA GEFORCE 8800GT
CASE: Antec Nine Hundred Two


Cost~ $910

 

[mfenn]

Looks fine, though you could get a Samsung F3 instead of the WD Black and save a few bucks.

 

[fffblackmage]

For backup drive, why not get twice the capacity for $2 more? Even if you're not buying from newegg, a 2TB drive shouldn't cost much more than the WD Black 1TB.

 

[mfenn]

For backup drive, why not get twice the capacity for $2 more? Even if you're not buying from newegg, a 2TB drive shouldn't cost much more than the WD Black 1TB.

Good catch!

 

[Starbuck1975]

fffblackmage and mfenn, thank you both for the catch on the back-up drive. See no reason not to take advantage of the comperable price for 2TB of back-up storage.

I am now trying to fine tune the build and bring the cost down a bit. Would like to refine in three areas:

1. The conventional wisdom seems to be going with an SDD for my primary drive, to install my OS and critical applications. I don't know a lot about SDD drives, and my understanding from reading several reviews is that the market is still very fluid. Have found some solid reviews for the OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB SATA II SSD, but also some concerning ones. Would you guys recommend a different SDD?

2. I may opt out on the case to save some more on the build, as there is nothing wrong with my current case other than I am bored with it

3. mfenn, you helped me on the PSU a while back. I would still prefer to keep my Enermax Liberty if possible, but you recommended upgrading it due to age and that it only supplies 40 amps on the 12V rail. What are the risks in terms of stability or performance were I to keep my existing PSU for the new build?

 

[mfenn]

fffblackmage and mfenn, thank you both for the catch on the back-up drive. See no reason not to take advantage of the comperable price for 2TB of back-up storage.

You're welcome!

I am now trying to fine tune the build and bring the cost down a bit. Would like to refine in three areas:

1. The conventional wisdom seems to be going with an SDD for my primary drive, to install my OS and critical applications. I don't know a lot about SDD drives, and my understanding from reading several reviews is that the market is still very fluid. Have found some solid reviews for the OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB SATA II SSD, but also some concerning ones. Would you guys recommend a different SDD?

The Vertex 2 is a solid SSD in my book. Of course, any drive can be DOA or fall victim to PEBKAC issues.

2. I may opt out on the case to save some more on the build, as there is nothing wrong with my current case other than I am bored with it

Nothing wrong with that.

3. mfenn, you helped me on the PSU a while back. I would still prefer to keep my Enermax Liberty if possible, but you recommended upgrading it due to age and that it only supplies 40 amps on the 12V rail. What are the risks in terms of stability or performance were I to keep my existing PSU for the new build?

Since the Enermax is a quality unit, you're unlikely to experience a catastrophic failure. Worst-case, the system will either fail to boot or be unstable during gaming.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Thanks again mfenn. Finally build is set. Will pull the trigger this weekend:

New Components:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban
MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3
MEMORY: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
Primary Drive (OS/Applications): OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD3-2VTX90G 3.5" 90GB SATA II SSD
Back-up Drive: WD Caviar Green 2TB
OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 1-Pack for System Builders - OEM

Salvaged Components:
GPU: My existing eVGA GEFORCE 8800GT
CASE: Existing case
Sony IDE DVD
Secondary Drive (Games/Media): My existing WD Caviar SE16 250 GB SATA 2.0
PSU: Existing Enermax Liberty 500W
Plextor IDE DVD-ROM

Upgrade: $700

Decided not to splurge on the new case. Decided to keep my 8800GT as I don't have the monitor to enjoy the benefits of a GPU upgrade. Will probably upgrade the GPU and monitor next year. Decided to stick with my Enermax Liberty as it is a quality PSU. If I encounter problems, as you stated, I can always swap it out.

 

[mfenn]

Looks decent, but I have a couple of comments: (a) since you won't be overclocking, you can save some money by getting DDR3 1333 and (b) I don't think that it's worth the hassle to save your old IDE drives because $20 buys you a new SATA DVD-RW.