First time build, mid-range gaming machine

[puddingisfun]

Hey everyone, I've decided to finally ditch my laptop now that I have a permanent residence and I figured the perfect housewarming girt for myself would be a nice new desktop. I'm still in college so I've only got a $900 budget for basically everything except the mouse and Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I'd like to be able to run stuff like Starcraft 2 and Dragon Age at pretty near max, but I don't need to be able to run the newest games on ultra. Anyway, here's what I picked out, but since it's my first ever build any constructive criticism would be wonderful:

ASUS M4A87TD EVO AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

XFX HD-679X-ZDFC Radeon HD 6790 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Western Digital Caviar Black WD7501AALS 750GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Rosewill RNX-G300EX IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Card Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128bit WEP WPA WPA2 802.1x, 802.11i, AES, ...

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case


And that's most everything. Here' my wishlist just in case:
https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/M...px?ID=18359786

[jdeb]

Welcome to PCMech .

I would go for the AM3+ board so you can upgrade into the bulldozer at a later date.
ASUS M5A97 EVO AM3+
Newegg.com - ASUS M5A97 EVO AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Drop the RipJaws, to many problems with that memory. This memory is excellent and rock solid stable.
Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600)
Newegg.com - Crucial 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT51264BA1339

Drop the CPU to this and put that money towards a HD6870 video card, especially if you plan on upgrading to the bulldozer at a later date
AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz
Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor - C3 Revision HDZ555WFGMBOX

Get the WD Black SataIII 6Gb/s faster, same price and warranty
Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD7502AAEX 750GB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Case and Power supply are fine

Match your PCI wireless card with your router if possible. Please give us the model number and make of your router. That is a good wireless card but if you have an N router or a particular manufacture, we maybe able to align better for optimum results.

XFX is not a reliable brand. This is a great card for the money.
SAPPHIRE 100314-2SR Radeon HD 6870
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100314-2SR Radeon HD 6870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

DVD
LITE-ON DVD Burner
Newegg.com - LITE-ON DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model iHAS124-04 - CD / DVD Burners

That puts you into your budget with Windows 7 Ultimate. $663.00 not including shipping, figure around 18-20 bucks.

[Khalil]

Hi and welcome to pcmech forums

Gskill we do not recommend here. XFX is not a good brand either. The 6790 is barely a gaming video card.

Here is a list for your budget that will work very well for you and give you better than mid-range gaming for your budget..

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX

Newegg.com - ADATA 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model AD3U1333C4G9-2

Newegg.com - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT1G2M Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity

Newegg.com - ASUS M5A97 EVO AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners

$885

LOL jdeb and I posted at the same time

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Khalil Hi and welcome to pcmech forums Gskill we do not recommend here. XFX is not a good brand either. The 6790 is barely a gaming video card. Here is a list for your budget that will work very well for you and give you better than mid-range gaming for your budget.. Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 64-bit - Operating Systems Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ965FBGMBOX Newegg.com - ADATA 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model AD3U1333C4G9-2 Newegg.com - Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply Newegg.com - HIS IceQ X Turbo H695QNT1G2M Radeon HD 6950 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with Eyefinity Newegg.com - ASUS M5A97 EVO AM3+ AMD 970 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard with UEFI BIOS Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD1002FAEX 1TB 7200 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Newegg.com - ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - CD / DVD Burners $885 LOL jdeb and I posted at the same time

Nice build I like mine better...

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by jdeb Nice build I like mine better...

I see, ok well why is yours better? Mine is far more powerful for under $900

Edit: Jdeb typed in here lol

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Khalil I see, ok well why is yours better? Mine is far more powerful for under $900

Yes it is but you did not factor the money he has to shell out for W7U. 2 additional cores ain’t going to help him with the games he listed. I was thinking, why shell out the money for a quad core when the possibility exists for the bulldozer?

Still, a great build. I was typing like a maniac to beat you because of respect

[Khalil]

lol makes sense! but why did you edit and type in my post????

[puddingisfun]

Aw, you fighting over little old me?

But seriously, thanks a ton guys!

In response to jdeb's query, I haven't moved in yet so I haven't decided on a router. You have any recommendations? Wireless is definitely the way I want to go, but that's as far as I've thought it out so far.

And also, I unfortunately live in Hawaii, so I'm afraid shipping will very likely be more than $20

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Khalil lol makes sense! but why did you edit and type in my post????

I messed up, didn't I fix it? You are too fast man. I pressed the wrong button because I was having so much fun.....

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by puddingisfun Aw, you fighting over little old me? But seriously, thanks a ton guys! In response to jdeb's query, I haven't moved in yet so I haven't decided on a router. You have any recommendations? Wireless is definitely the way I want to go, but that's as far as I've thought it out so far. And also, I unfortunately live in Hawaii, so I'm afraid shipping will very likely be more than $20

Naw, we have a good relationship. He has the better build but I was simply trying to bring you within budget for your concern over is all. It can be a fine line.

Well the router....

Linksys WRT54GL Wireless Broadband Router
Newegg.com - Linksys WRT54GL Wireless Broadband Router 802.11b/g up to 54Mbps/ Compatible with Open Source DD-WRT (not pre-load)

[Khalil]

I unfortunately live in Hawaii

Are you kidding me? What I would do to live in Hawaii!!!!
hmm Khalil thinks a computer store in Hawaii would be nice hmmmmm

[David M]

Chill guys, before George and Panama see this! We are supposed to be on our best behavior while the cats are away.

[glc]

Everything's good!

hmm Khalil thinks a computer store in Hawaii would be nice hmmmmm

Your costs to get everything shipped in will kill you, and so will the rent on a building!

20 lashes with a wet noodle to jdeb for moderator abuse of the post edit button!

[Khalil]

Originally Posted by glc Everything's good! Your costs to get everything shipped in will kill you, and so will the rent on a building! 20 lashes with a wet noodle to jdeb for moderator abuse of the post edit button!

lol I looked into it and you are right, cost is insane for everything, not sure how people can make it living there. Big Island is beautiful though.

[jdeb]

Originally Posted by Khalil lol I looked into it and you are right, cost is insane for everything, not sure how people can make it living there. Big Island is beautiful though.

Just have to mark the prices up to cover the costs and maintain your accustomed profits. If you are looking for counter / technician help I will send you my application.