Need some help on a gaming computer build. Thanks!

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What kind of graphics card are you planning on buying? For $1680 you could definitely afford either an Intel Core i7 or AMD X6 processor, both are better than the AMD X4. My i7 930/RadeonHD 5870 build cost $1400 and has 6GB RAM and a 640GB SATA 6.0Gb/s hard drive. The only thing I didn't put in mine was an aftermarket heatsink for the CPU (to be honest, i7 930 with stock heatsink will probably get more performance than an overclocked Phenom X4, I can get my i7 930 to over 3 GHz on the stock heatsink).

If you're planning on using the integrated graphics on that motherboard forget about gaming, you'll need a graphics card and you'll want a good one. I would recommend a Radeon HD 5870. It's the second best single graphics processor on the market (the first is the GTX480 which costs more). It costs around $400 but is a very good card. For $600 you can get a GTX480 or possibly a Radeon HD 5970 (this is just 2 Radeon HD 5870 chips on one card).

Also, do you have a monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers? If not you need to factor these into your budget. My $1400 was just for the PC, I had a monitor, PS/2 keyboard, Bluetooth mouse, and 2.1 speakers that I reused with it.
 
i second everything that calc said. and i thnik you should look around for a better case... look into the HAF 922, or the Antec 900... both cases i think look way better and have better airflow and cable managment. also, an i7 is an extremely high end processor. for the price there is nothing that can compete with it. But the best bang for your buck would be the AMD phenom II 1055 or 1090, both of these are 6 core processors. the 1090 has an unlocked multiplier so its easier to over clock. also, the stock AMD CPU heat sink is garbage, id go with a CPU cooler.

here are the links to things i think you should consider.

Antec 900:

Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

HAF 922:

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

I7 920:

Newegg.com - Intel Core i7-920 Bloomfield 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor

AMD 1090:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor

CPU cooler:

Newegg.com - Thermalright TRUE Black 120Rev.C CPU Cooler

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Hyper 212 Plus Intel Core i5 & Intel Core i7 compatible RR-B10-212P-G1 120mm "heatpipe direct contact" Long life sleeve CPU Cooler

Newegg.com - Noctua NH-U12P SE2 120mm SSO CPU Cooler

Graphics card.

5870:
Newegg.com - XFX HD-587X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

5970;
Newegg.com - SAPPHIRE 100280SR Radeon HD 5970 (Hemlock) 2GB 512 (256 x 2)-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

480
Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GV-N480D5-15I-B GeForce GTX 480 (Fermi) 1536MB 384-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card
 
Ok, thanks for the help guys. I've changed out the CPU and the case. Here's everything I have so far. Does it look like a decent build? Total cost will be $1636. Any other suggestions anyone can throw at me? Thanks again.

CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X6 1055T Thuban 2.8GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor

Case: Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN1-GP Black Steel + Plastic and Mesh Bezel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Motherboard: Newegg.com - ASUS M4A89GTD PRO/USB3 AM3 AMD 890GX HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard

Video Card: Newegg.com - XFX HD-587X-ZNFC Radeon HD 5870 1GB 256-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card

Power Supply: Newegg.com - Rosewill BRONZE series RBR750-M 750W Continuous@40°C, 80Plus Bronze Certified,Modular Cable Design,ATX12V v2.3/ EPS12V,SLI Ready,CrossFire Ready,Active PFC "Compatible with Core i7, i5" Power Supply

RAM: Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Desktop Memory w/ Blue LEDs Model BL2KIT25664TB1337

Hard Drive: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Heatsink: Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9900ALED 120mm 2 Ball Low-noise Blue LED CPU Cooler

Optical Drive: Newegg.com - LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk LightScribe Support

Monitor: Newegg.com - ASUS MS226H Glossy Piano-Black / White 21.5" 2ms Ring Stand & Ergo-Fit HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 ASCR 50,000 :1

Keyboard: Newegg.com - Logitech Deluxe 250 Black 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Keyboard - Keyboards

Mouse: Newegg.com - RAZER ABYSSUS Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical 3500 dpi High Precision Gaming Mouse

Thermal Compound: Newegg.com - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - Thermal Compound / Grease
 
whaaaat that ram is cool! blue LEDs! thats dope!

might want to do a quick google search to make sure the 5870 will fit in the 922, i cant imagine it not fitting, but it would be a ***** if it didnt. just make sure real quick.

im pretty sure this is a better Heat Sink, but it doesnt come with a fan, so if you get this heat sink get a fan with it;
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
FAN:
Newegg.com - Rosewill RFA-120-BL 120mm 4 Blue LEDs LED Case Fan

or this Heatsink:
Newegg.com - Noctua NH-U9B SE2 92mm SSO CPU Cooler

other than that it looks like a solid build!
id go with a Samsung monitor, heres a bigger one for less money, plus its samsung so FTW

Newegg.com - Recertified: SAMSUNG 2494HM Glossy Black 24" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 50000:1 (1000:1) Built-in Speakers
 
Yeah, the blue LED on them is pretty sweet. I'm trying to blind anyone that looks into the computer case.lol I replaced the heatsink with the first one you suggested as well as the monitor. Thanks again for all the help it's much appreciated.
 
i did a quick google search and the 5870 will git in the HAF 922.

good luck, when are you going to purchase all this?
 
Waiting on the money to come in so I should be able to purchase by the end of this week and receive it by Monday or Tuesday of next week.
 
i would get this ram instead.
Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL7D-4GBRM
it's about $20 cheaper and runs at a faster 1600mhz with similar cas7 timings as the crucial.

this thermal paste instead.
Newegg.com - Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound

and i'm not too sure how good that rosewill psu is.
i would get these.
Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!
with this combo, you get a tried and true 750w corsair with a larger 640gb wd black hdd and you would actually be saving $15.
 
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