Typical "Help Build Me a PC" Bullshit Topic.

[Zanz L. Barre The 3rd]

Hey folks, have roughly a 700 dollar budget.

Interesting in playing FFXI and most shooters at a capped frame-rate when possible.

Thanks!

[Isiolia]

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards Mobo - $120
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops CPU - $165
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards Video - $160
Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory RAM - $60
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000AACS 500GB 5400 to 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives HD - $60
Newegg.com - ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners DVDRW - $30
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases Case - $45
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies PSU - $70 (single rail, yeah yeah)
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - Operating Systems Windows - $100

$810, before the $45 (offhand) in rebates. Could bump up to an E8500. Obviously there are plenty of choices in the case/PSU/HDD/optical drive/whatever that would fit into the same budget, I just picked stuff that's good quality in the general price range you'd expect.
Motherboard is solid, I've used them in two builds so far, and have a third coming for a brother's system for Christmas. So I'd definitely recommend that at least.

You could also spring for something other than the OEM cooler. Newegg has the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro with an $18.00 instant rebate on it, making it like $18.95, fine choice if you wanted to do that.

If you can get Windows for less (via school or whatnot) then that drops it further. You can also shave off a few bucks by going with an HD4830 or nVidia 8800GT, reusing optical drive, whatever.

[Kohan]

Dang, Isio was quick on the trigger.

[Isiolia]

I built two systems within a month or so, and now a third in the mail, so...

[Olo401]

Escellent choice of parts there, fo sho..

If you're planning to do any overclocking you might also want to consider a aftermarket cooler.

[levish]

Isolia's choices are fine, except i'd use any left over money for a ATI HD4870 if the budget permits

[Shuemue]

Get the arctic freezer HSF and OC it, I'm running pretty similar parts.

[njitjk68]

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards Mobo - $120
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops CPU - $165
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards Video - $160
Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory RAM - $60
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000AACS 500GB 5400 to 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives HD - $60
Newegg.com - ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners DVDRW - $30
Newegg.com - Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases Case - $45
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Power Supplies PSU - $70 (single rail, yeah yeah)
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 32-bit English 1pk for System Builders DSP OEI DVD - Operating Systems Windows - $100

$810, before the $45 (offhand) in rebates. Could bump up to an E8500. Obviously there are plenty of choices in the case/PSU/HDD/optical drive/whatever that would fit into the same budget, I just picked stuff that's good quality in the general price range you'd expect.
Motherboard is solid, I've used them in two builds so far, and have a third coming for a brother's system for Christmas. So I'd definitely recommend that at least.

You could also spring for something other than the OEM cooler. Newegg has the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro with an $18.00 instant rebate on it, making it like $18.95, fine choice if you wanted to do that.

If you can get Windows for less (via school or whatnot) then that drops it further. You can also shave off a few bucks by going with an HD4830 or nVidia 8800GT, reusing optical drive, whatever.

I would only change the OS to 64-bit.

Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - Operating Systems

[Shuemue]

and I would change the OS to XP Pro.

[Isiolia]

I've stuck with XP Pro personally as well. It's a little more expensive though.

Lot of the OS stuff comes down to personal preference and experience at this point I think. Cost is the same for 64-bit, so it'd still fit at the same price point.

Vista 32-bit just seemed like a happy medium to me is all.

[solsirt]

I'd change to the ASUS 4850... an extra $15 (in rebates) and factory overclocked. Newegg.com - ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

I have used the sapphire and asus 4850 in builds, and think the asus is all around better. Just don't use the asus overclocking software for anything but fan speed.

Isiolia did say the HDD/optical drives/case/etc. could be changed based on personal preference, but the main personal preference change I'd make is HDD.

Use that $15 saved on the video card to get a WD caviar black 500Gb. double the cache and longer warranty: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives

if you get serious about overclocking on air there are some better hsf's then the arctic 7, although it's the best bang for your buck for any mild overclock.

[Shuemue]

if you get serious about overclocking on air there are some better hsf's then the arctic 7, although it's the best bang for your buck for any mild overclock.

It does the job pretty nicely on my E8400, I took it from 3Ghz to 3.6Ghz and it's comfortable. I don't think I'd want to go much beyond that without something more heavyweight.