Building a computer.

[ZERO]

This may come out a bit over but I think this is the best combination currently available:
cpu

i5-2300 Sandy Bridge
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115076
185

M/B

ASUS P8P67 PRO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...%20P8P67%20PRO
149

gpu

EVGA 01G-P3-1366-TR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130591
160

psu

PPCS760
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703030
119

HDD

H3IK10003272SP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145304
54

Case

LIAN LI Lancool PC-K62
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811112239
99

ram

KHX1333C9D3B1K2/8G
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...3C9D3B1K2%2f8G
75

You can cut the case if you already have one. Otherwise you need to cut the GPU to a cheaper one. Everything else is too valuable as far as long term investment is concerned. It is more important to have something that you can easily upgrade down the road for a few bucks than saving $100 now just to spend $800 in the future. Also all parts here are of the highest quality as a stable system is more important than something that is just cheep and fast. This is also why they all have great warranties. Some parts like the psu and the hdd are the exact ones that I own and I can attest to their durability.

[StarsMine]

why would anyone recomend a 460 SE is beyond me, card is WORSE the 768MB version except at resolutions higher then 1080

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-600-_-Product

or get a 6850, more powerfull then both, just not as powerfull as a 460 1 gig
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-908-_-Product

Why spend so much on a PSU when you are putting such low power parts into the system?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341016

a cheaper case choice http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119227


and with those cuts, you can squeeze enough for this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115072 so you can actually OC your CPU

[ZERO]

If you want a lowercost psu switch to this one then:
PSU

PPCS500D
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703016
69

---------- Post added at 02:25 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:23 PM ----------

Fuck, this always happens. Anyways the point is to stick with the PC Power and Cooling Units. Power is one thing to never skimp on and they have the best quality (yes I know OZC owns them however the ocz brand ones are not made at the same place or tested to the same standards or given the same warranty)

---------- Post added at 02:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:25 PM ----------

Also nice on the gpu I have not read the benchmarks so I did not know about the difference with the SE. The other case is likely fine too, the other was a recommendation I made to someone else who needed a long term case for the rest of their life.

As for spending the extra money on that cpu I am not sure if it will be worth it for him. While yes it will improve the time for processing effects it may be better spent on more HDD space for images and possibly raid to protect his files. These both would have greater benefits to his primary tasks. Also to really be able to OC he would need to still upgrade his cooling for it to be stable in the long run. As a result it may be better for that to be a longer term upgrade if he finds his current cpu holding him down. By then the price up the upgrade may be lower and he may even be able to recycle the old parts into another system or something.

[StarsMine]

well with an OC capable chip, he can spend 50 bucks instead of 500 (new mobo and cpu) to upgrade, simply by OC an extra ghz

[ZERO]

My point was that he could just by that chip in the future at greatly reduced cost.
He could even buy a used one and or sell his one off used too. People sell used parts like that all the time on the extreme systems forums.

[Steamer]

Single 12v Rail FTW!

NEVER skimp on the PSU.

I currently use this one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005
Run's sooo smooth. No dipping, No spiking at extreme stress. One of the best PSU's I have ever bought. Corsair has made themselves a new customer as far as PSU's go.

Zero's case recomendation, +1. Long life and very durable, Lian Li make very quality cases.

I currently STILL use my Antec P182. Nice sleek quality box. Amazing. The thing is a tank though, Do not recomend if you are going to tote it around.

[StarsMine]

Steamer, if the PSU is made well it does not matter if its a single rail or 6. It will provide power to your parts without problems.

I also never said skimp on the PSU, however spending 200 bucks on one for a <400W system is beyond stupid.

Get the right PSU for your system, most are most efficient at 60-75% load.