Thanks to all who offered input and steered me in better directions. My soon-to-be-final choices for system components may be found on the following Newegg.com wishlist:

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] Title=SAS1

Please let me know if I'm missing anything or can do better somehow.

Goal was a good system for $700 - $750, and closer to $700 is preferable. Right now it comes in at about $698 after rebates (and not including shipping). One of the two rebates requires purchase before 6/16, so I'm looking to order in the next couple of days.

For a refresher, I'm not looking for killer gaming here, just general use, MS Office, Dreamweaver, Flash, Photoshop, music editing, maybe even some video. The only gaming might be NASCAR or Flight Simulator, and even that is rare.

Priorities are stability, performance and upgradability. Please let me know if I've got any stuff paired up here that's not likely to be friendly with one another.

Thanks again for all your help guys!!

- Scott

buy a new case. and a new video card XFX seems to be doing bad atm. go with evga and overclock it. the case seems like no good airflow.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129021

*note evga ALLOWS OCing*

It's almost perfect.

Get this RAM:
OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB), $80 after rebate and shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227267

Much better deal than that 2GB of DDR2-1066 for $101. This is 4GB, you know...


Also, this Gigabyte 8800GT at $155 after rebate and shipping is a better deal than the 8800GS at $123 after rebate and shipping. It's a much better card, and you get Neverwinter Nights II with it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814125088

The Sonata does have poor air flow,you could go with something like a Antec 300 for $50.00 ish and then get a psu in the $80.00 range for the same price and have 3 times the airflow.

Thanks for the feedback folks!

Aevm: I appreciate the specifics, I'll look into those components tonight.

Gadgetnerd: Thanks for the warning about the case, I see it has been seconded. I'll double check on the VidCard issues and shop for a better one. I'm not worried about ability to OC, as I really don't need or plan to, but I like what I've read about EVGA so I'll check it out anyway.

Any more opinions out there?

Here's a possible solution for the cooling problem:

RC-690 case + 650TX PSU, total about $207 (after rebate and shipping)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=650tx

The Sonata is $159 (after rebate and shipping). For $48 more you get a bigger case with great airflow and a PSU of about the same quality but more likely to support your next video card in a couple of years.

There's also a 550VX PSU that I like a lot, but it's actually a few cents more than the 650TX at newegg after rebates and shipping and in that case the 650TX is preferable.

There's also a StealthXStream 600W for $55 after rebate and shipping. Not a bad PSU. Not quite as good reviews as the 650TX or 550VX, and it has an annoying blue light, but great value at that price.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341010

Interesting, but as someone pointed out on the first system I posted here a few weeks ago, that's almost 28% of my total budget just on the case and the PSU. I'd have to cut back on other stuff that's more performance related in order to pull that off.

What do you guys think of this case/PSU Combo:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811156209

?

That would cost $125 after rebate and shipping.
The case might be a bit too small for some video cards like the 8800 series - based on a newegg review. Raidmax PSUs get bad reviews and are ranked tier 5 (i.e. bad). All in all, it doesn't sound too good.
http://www.tomswiki.com/page/Tiere [...] ngs?t=anon


How about Antec 900 ($90 after rebate, free shipping) and that StealthXstream 600W?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ntec%2b900
Total $145, and absolutely worth the extra $20.

Warning about this solution: both the case and the PSU have blue lights. Not so good in the bedroom...

i showed him that case he didnt like it

There could be some changes.

1: Whats up with that ugly case.
Get the Antec 900. Its cheaper better. also has wayy better airflow.

2: For the GPU. take a look at the new 9600 GSO's. They give the same performance as the 8800gt's in many cases

By the way you might want to consider 4gbs of Ram. It will only be about and extra 20-30 bucks

Hi guys, I think I have it finally figured out.

Gadget, I don't mind the Antec 900 and I did consider it. It looks fine but I could live without the lights. Even though It will be under the desk, I don't really want something that generates enough light to perform surgery by. I'm not worried about what it looks like. It'll be under my desk, and only me and my wife will see it. I have a pretty ugly one now, but it does the job.

I think I've solved the case/psu issue with the combination of the:
Coolermaster Centurion case which has received good reviews, all the front panels are perforated for superior airflow, and hey, it actually looks kinda nice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119047

and the OCZ StealthXStream 600W Aevm pointed me to... I think has plenty of power for what I need it to run:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341010

This case/CPU combo comes out about $25 less than the Sonata, so it's actually better on the budget.

I settled on the EVGA GeForce 8600 GTS 512MB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130286
Remember, I rarely do any gaming. Is there any other reason I would need a super powerful GPU? My main need here is the dual DVI for my twin Samsung 19" LCD 1440x900 monitors.

Kicked up the memory to the OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) Aevm suggested. With the rebates totaling $85 (Memory: $25, PSU $30, VGA $30) I'll get enough back to cover the shipping and then some, so I'm back down closer to the $700 price point I was shooting for.

Thanks for your help guys. Feel free to make any final comments or suggestions. The order will be placed tomorrow afternoon.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/ [...] Title=SAS2