I am looking for advice on a gaming only rig in the $500-700 range(not including monitor). I do all my graphics work on my ppc G5. This will be my first ever ground up build. I think i am leaning towards an Intel Dual Core setup for the OC capability. I'm pretty sure i won't be going with 2 monitors. Probably one 19"... maybe a 22" if i can build up enough marital karma. Other than that i'm pretty open. I will probably run an old copy of XP that I have initially and upgrade to vista down the road. I'm looking for as much input as possible so lay it on me.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/ [...] ld-updated
 
Read up
 
But to give you an idea:
 
Middle Budget Build: Goal $800- Acutal Price- $789.69 shipped before rebates of $40
 
CPU: Intel Core2Duo E7200
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L
RAM: OCZ Platinum Revision 2 2GB DDR2-800 ($20 MIR) $20 RAM !
Video:  SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB ($20 MIR)
Case: Antec Sonta III
Keyboard/Mouse: MS stuff
OS: Vista Home Prem
Hard Drive:  Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500AAKS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB
Optical Drive:  SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD Burner SATA
Thermal Compound: Arctic Cooling MX 2  
 
Since you already have an OS- take out Vista which saves $94. So it is under $700 now.

You won't do better than what shadowduck posted.
 
That's the Antec III w/the 500W Earthwatts PSU right?  Great deal.
 
Since the OP mentioned overclocking, I'd probably throw in another 20-30 bucks for an aftermarket CPU cooler though - either the Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro 7 or the Xigmatech mentioned in the link Shadow gave you.

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115028

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128078

ram:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820609027

case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068

hdd:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822144122

I got u a better gfx card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130325  
*updated gfx card* u do the new math for price..

price = 640.94

 
at that price an 8800 GTS 512 is better don't you think.

 
^+1, nothing more to add, except you can afford a e8400 now? don't know how much those are. also the diamond hd 3870 is only 135 bucks after rebates
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814103050
 
here's an even cheaper sapphire, for 130 but it's the single slot, without the blower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102719
 

Thanks for the reply Shadowduck.
How much of a difference is there between the Sapphire 3870 and a 8800gt & gts. I probably won't be pulling the trigger on this immediately so can i expect pretty good price drop on  some of the mid to high range cards?
 
I noticed you listed a Thermal compound and no CPU Cooler. Is this purely for price purposes or is the compound more effective?

yea it is better

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130325

lets just say geforce owns ati atm.

Wow. A bunch of replies while i took my time typing. Thanks for the replies everyone.

The stock cooler is good enough, its quiet and will spin up if its needed. Mine idles at 22C, using AS5 thermal compound. You can always upgrade your cooler later if you want to overclock, no need really with these Intel Dual Core Processors, they plenty fast. I'd recommend any 3870, 3870 X2, 8800GT, 8800GTS 512MB, 9600GT. Any good graphics card with 512MB video memory.

 
Yes sir, that case comes with the Earthwatts 500.

If you want to swap the 3870 out for an 8800GT you can, but it is going to get you over your budget. I am running a 3870 and have yet to find a game outside of Crysis I cannot max out at 1680x1050. GRID looks AMAZING on my 22" monitor.
 
CPU cooler that comes with it will be ok, and comes with a crappy pad. Add the MX 2 thermal compound for $6.  
 
+1 though is what modode says though with the Arctic Freezer. Only $26. Your system will run cooler. It will come with some thermal paste so that saves you the other $6.

You will get considerably better performance than a 3870 with an 8800 GT. And they are available for ~$175 right now; it shouldn't put you over your budget with Shadowduck's build if you use your copy of XP.

if you can wait...try waiting a month and checkout the new 4xxx series that ati is coming out with...

What kind of price ranges are they talking about for the new ATI 4xxx series?

 
4850 will be in the $200-250 range
4870 will be in the $300-350 range

If i'm in no rush do you think the 4850 is a big enough step up from the current gen too warrant the wait? I'm guessing it is.

Yes it sure is. 4xxx ATI cards are supposed to be awesome.