Major Help with Build

[GenTrapstar]

OK so to start things off my budget will be $500. I am trying to build a gaming rig. I'm not trying to run Crysis, but some known good games like BioShock, Gears of War, and others that equal in specs.

Now for two days I have been searching trying build my rig to meet MOST specs for some of the games I mentioned above.

Here is what I have so far:

Motherboard

CPU
Now I know that the CPU can be over clocked to almost 3.0GHz.

Video Card

RAM

HDD

Optical Drive

Case

Now the total cost of this rig is $519.28

How is is this rig and are there any parts that someone may recommend that can be better than the ones I have listed. Also if you do replace a part can you pick one to equal or lesser in price.

I'm trying to stay at my budget of $500.

So take it easy....LOL...this is my first build ever and I need as much help as possible.

Also its buy now or never in my case.

[Alaron]

Good start.

Swap the LiteOn burner for one that uses SATA instead of IDE.

Also, you'll need a much better power supply. There is no such thing as a quality 585w PSU for that price. It might push your budget, but the PSU is never a place to go cheap. This Corsair would be a good fit: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%20450w

[GenTrapstar]

So what you say is that the setup is good for gaming and what I should do is change case(lower price) and invest in a decent PSU. Do you think 450W is good. I heard people say you want at least 500W to help match the CPU and GPU.

Also I posted some where else and he said all the parts I had were old and recommended some other parts, but they are kind of out of my price range.

This is what he recommended

[shadowpr]

Can you get better, and newer? Yes.

But what good is it to pick out parts you can't afford? Then it's not a good build, no matter how nice the parts are.

For $21 more then your case/psu combo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024 (when you add the shipping costs)

Here is a nice 600w psu: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341010 (Has a nice rebate on it. )

[shadowpr]

As per your PM:

I like the original list you have.

If you want to shave a few dollars, then look at the asus p5kpl-cm as a motherboard. It will still overclock, but just maybe not as much. Also, when overclocking, you will need a heatsink.

Only other changes would be what Alaron, and myself have suggested.

You spec'd out a good build for the price.

Don't forget the OS.

If you were able to get a few more dollars together, then you could get the p5q motherboard, and a e7200.

[GenTrapstar]

Well I'm in college enrolled in a program called MSDNAA if anyone has heard of it and I can get WinXP Pro and Vista for FREE.

Also I'll look into that MOBO.

[chuck4456]

I'd go with the PSU that ALARON suggested.
I have a buddy that folds with 2 OC'd ABIT systems, both running off of those 450VX units.
Very solid little power supplies that are tough to beat for the price.
It's not about the watts anyway. It's about the amps and the 450VX has a pretty stout rail.