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Help with PC build and ~$80 GPU choices

BalgairBalgair Registered User regular
I'm building a PC for my girlfriend. I recently built my own, but went a bit overboard. This time I want to be a little more cost-efficient. Here's the basic setup:


Rosewill R101-P-BK 120mm Fan MicroATX Mid Tower Computer Case = $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147112

GIGABYTE GA-H55M-S2V LGA 1156 Intel H55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard = $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128457

CORSAIR Builder Series CMPSU-500CX 500W ATX12V v2.3 Active PFC Power Supply = $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018

Intel Core i5-650 Clarkdale 3.2GHz LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616I5650 = $190
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115220

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-4GBRL = $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive = $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148395

ASUS ENGT430/DI/1GD3(LP) GeForce GT 430 (Fermi) 1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready = $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121397


Questions:
1. Are there any obvious flaws in this build?
2. Is there a better graphics card within the same price point?
3. Is this power supply sufficient for this build?

I should also mention I've never worked with a micro-ATX case before and don't know its limits, besides reduced air circulation.

Any input would me much appreciated. I'd have posted this in the PC building thread, but I'm not sure if it's been reincarnated yet..

XBL:VOS THE VARG
Balgair on

Posts

  • BalgairBalgair Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Also, before someone asks-- yes, my girlfriend needs the capability of a PC like this. She's a graphic artist and a gamer.

    Balgair on
    XBL:VOS THE VARG
  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Tom's says you want a 5670, so maybe this?

    Djeet on
  • AlectharAlecthar Alan Shore We're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Have you considered going AMD? You can pick up a true quad core Phenom 955 BE for like 40 bucks less than that Intel process, and it should be comparable, performance- wise. You will probably even save a bit on the mobo. With 50 or so additional dollars to spend you could jump up to something like the 5770.

    Alecthar on
  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Yeah, I don't see the purpose of shelling out that much for a dual-core Intel CPU like that.

    Gaslight on
  • BalgairBalgair Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I know it's blasphemy, but I haven't built with AMD before, so I suppose that was my hesitation to investigate. I'll price out with AMD and see what it comes to. Thanks for the suggestions.

    Balgair on
    XBL:VOS THE VARG
  • MuridenMuriden Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Is there a reason you're going with the older core models of the i5?
    The new Sandy Bridge i5s are out and are comparably priced but with two more cores.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115075

    Muriden on
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  • GaslightGaslight Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Is it actually "safe" to buy Sandy Bridge now? :?

    An AMD processor is still a better bargain depending on whether his GF actually needs the performance benefits Sandy Bridge brings to the table.

    But either way there's no good reason to buy an older Core i5, it's true.

    Gaslight on
  • AlectharAlecthar Alan Shore We're not territorial about that sort of thing, are we?Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    Muriden wrote: »
    Is there a reason you're going with the older core models of the i5?
    The new Sandy Bridge i5s are out and are comparably priced but with two more cores.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115075

    For a build around this price, Sandy Bridge is pretty heavy overkill, especially given that it further robs the build of money to use on a GPU. Unless the budget for the build is higher than the value of the original build he quoted us, he's better off with a solid Phenom and enough money to buy something nicer GPU-wise.

    Alecthar on
  • MuridenMuriden Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    I was just pointing out that his selection was an older model and the newer one is a tad bit faster with two more cores for a $10 difference. I am not arguing against going with a lower priced AMD model. Just showing that if he does chose an intel CPU there would be a better choice.

    Muriden on
    MrGulio.332 - Lover of fine Cheeses. Replays
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  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    edited February 2011
    If he's gotta build it now, and source from newegg, then sandy bridge is moot since they aren't selling any 1155 socket boards.

    Djeet on
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