Computer shopping list

 Old OP

I managed to get a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate for practically free, so I'm most likely to go the buy-by-parts route for my new computer once I get a stable source of income... which is hopefully soon if the plans work out. (I'm currently on unpaid internship with the state)

Nearly any knowledge of computers and shyts is earned from my brothers and whatever I found on the internet, so I'm not exactly a superstar with knowing what hardware does what. That's where you guys come in! My current shopping list and priorities are outlined below, and I'm looking for any advise or corrections, tell me what I'm missing, etc.

Budget: $750-$1000 or so?
Objective: A gaming computer I can use for a long while. Not a hardcore top-line one; don't need Crysis on high specs. Overclocking may be used later on.
Primary hardware:

• Motherboard - PCI Express, generally advanced capabilities (still needs research).
• Graphics card of justice! I heard ATI Radeons are generally better.
• Power supply so that mtherfker graphics card can be happy and fed.
• 2x Processors. Aka dual core.
• Hard drive with decent RPM. I would like to do some pilot testing on Fraps and mass data processing for yet another future computer.
• Ethernet adapter. I don't trust Comcast, and the connection via wifi has been utter garbage these days.
• Speakers (for some reason not a single salvageable one can be found in my house).
• Keyboard (ditto).
• 4 Gigs of RAM.
• CD/DVD drive of some sort.
• Computer case with matching form factors.
• Fan, or two.

Secondary hardware:

• New monitor
• New mouse for gaming
• Mic, for VOIP and Mumble stuff in generalSound card of not-crap. Even though I've played the piano and violin, I could hardly give a rat's ass on sound quality above and beyond the standard. Just so long as I don't get static and I don't have to use an integrated sound card on the mother board =P

Alright, excluding the externals and neglecting internet connectivity, I've completed my list! Please scrutinize it for incompatibilities and any serious issues that it may have, such as power and dimensions. Comments and suggestions are also welcome.

 Image of list

Hardware	Model	[CENTERS]Price[/CENTERS]
Motherboard	ASUS M4A79XTD	$118.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
Processor	AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana	$74.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
RAM	WINTEC AMPX 4GB (2 x 2GB)	$67.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
Graphics Card	XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870	$129.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
Power Supply Unit	SILVERSTONE ST45SF 450W SFX12V	$79.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
Case	Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case	$54.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
Hard Disc Drive	Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS	$64.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
DVD Burner	Lite-On iHAS-324-98	$21.99 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
	Subtotal	$613.92 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
	Shipping	$22.53 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
	Rebates	-$45.00 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]
	Total	$591.45 [NOPARSE][/NOPARSE]

 Alternative parts

Hardware	Model	Price	[CENTERS]Notes[/CENTERS]
GPU	???	Free	Apparently my older bro is getting a new GPU, and may hand me down his old one if I ask. It's along the lines of the Arstechnica Budget Box 2009 guide.
CPU	AMD Phenom II X3 740	$88.99	Does not come with a fan
Case	Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case	$44.99
Case+PSU	Antec Sonata III ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply	$104.99	Beware combo deals
HDD	Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS	$69.99	If DOA, will be a supreme hassle to get corrected if ordered from Newegg. Will use short stroking.

Reasonings:

CPU was basically a bang for buck deal. I probably would have went Phenom II, but the deals were significantly more expensive in comparison.

PSU could have definitely went cheaper, but I didn't exactly want to face hardware destruction if it should fail. So I went to overclock.net and took a look at the recommended selections, backed by sheer comprehensive review mass and good ratings.

Case also could have went cheaper, but... I got tired of looking at that stuff after a while. The one I've selected has plenty of opportunity to expand cooling capacity, minus the bottom mounted PSU (eww).

HDD does not require a lot of capacity. Taking my laptop as an example, I've only used 75-80% of its HD capacity of 110GB, and it's been 2 years. I've never really cleaned it out either. Given the generous data splurge I might do with a gaming rig, 640GB should be way plenty.

 Complete description name list of parts

Code:

[U]Main                                       [/U]
MOBO: ASUS M4A79XTD EVO AM3 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU:  AMD Athlon II X3 445 Rana 3.1GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX445WFGMBOX
RAM:  WINTEC AMPX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 3AXH1333C9WS4GK
GPU:  XFX HD-487A-ZWFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card
PSU:  SILVERSTONE ST45SF 450W SFX12V 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
Case: Rosewill CHALLENGER Black Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ,comes with Three Fans-1x Front Blue LED 120mm Fan, 1x Top 140mm Fan, 1x Rear 120mm Fan, option Fans-2x Side 120mm Fan
HDD:  Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive
DVDD: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 24X DVD Writer

[U]Alternatives                               [/U]
CPU:      AMD Phenom II X3 740 Black Edition Heka 3.0GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor HDZ740WFK3DGI - OEM
Case:     Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Case+PSU: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
HDD:      Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

This project has been like a 6th college class to me x_X. But thank you everyone that's responded so far! Even if your suggestions were sub-optimal to my interests, they were still comparisons, and I could see what a working system should look like.

I'll probably look at bare-bones later to see how I did in savings (not buying one), after getting a mechanical keyboard squared away (where can I find those?).