Make my PC build better?

What I have already: 64 bit windows xp pro OS

DVI 1080p LCD Monitor

Surround Sound System

1 TB External firewire harddrive

Logitech g5 gaming mouse

680 watt Avevia power supply



Primarily this computer will be used for games, I do not care to run them on the highest settings just being able to play the game and the game looking decent is enough for me, but this will also be for school and minor video editing but nothing to extensive so judge my build on those features, also do only suggest changes to my build that will not increase my total cost cause I have pretty much pushed my limit on spending, however if it is around 5 or 10 dollars more and the product is that much better than please suggest it. I want to order off of newegg as I get their shipments around 2 days and I need to order and have this build within the next week. Thanks and here it is:



Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



(I realize the future of gaming is quad core, however should I just get a dual core right now that is 3.0 ghz or around their with good hypertransport speed and just upgrade a year down the road to a quad, in this area I am a little confused on what to do, I did not want to spend 100 on a quad for a gaming computer)



Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



(I would like to cut cost down here so if you have a keyboard that is much cheaper and quality(Wont break within a year) but also allows you to use more than two buttons at a time, please recommend it)



Harddrive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



I do not want a Seagate, or anything less then 120gb but I do not want anything over 500gb as if it is around 50$ and over 500gb it probably is not highest quality



Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



how will this run with my CPU)



Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



(has to be Sata no IDE!, but I really do not do much burning, personally I would rather have just a CD burner and DVD reader)



Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



( I want some sort of case that glows for appeal, my preference which is a stupid way to shop but its what I like so I want a LED one, however it also needs a good amount of fans(three good ones would be nice), and atleast 1 usb front port. And as long as it has the option for 4 internal hardddrives and atleast 2 cd drives then it is all good)





Thanks, you do not have to make suggestions on all. Take a good look and tell me what you think this system will run in terms of current games like COD 4 or 5, Crysis, and any others that you can think of and also how what areas I could reduce costs)Make my PC build better?
Ok, let's start with your CPU. By FAR a better value for your money is the Phenom II x3 720 BE. A terrific compromise between quad and dual core, and because it's a Black Edition, you can quite easily overclock it just by turning up the clock speed in your BIOS when you want to squeeze more performance out of your CPU.



And on the subject of Penom II, you may as well make a DDR3 system. Value DDR3 kits are low enough in price to be worth going with the newer technology which is supported by AM3 sockets.



CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



And since you'll be needing some DDR3 Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



I've chosen the PNY simply because of the price and the DDR3 speed. In the grand scheme of things, memory is memory is memory, and your money is better spent elsewhere, if at all.



Now, you've picked a HD4850 card, but you have a 1080p monitor (or TV, doesn't matter), so from personal experience, you'll be sacrificing a LOT of graphics quality. My 1080p tv needs more than a 4850 to run everything smoothly (COD4 being an exception, but just barely). That means that as newer graphics engines come out you're going to need to upgrade too soon. I HIGHLY recommend at least a 4870 with 512 MB of onboard RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



Though Powercolor is not the best manufacturer for quality, I understand your need to keep your prices down, so this is about as good a value as you're going to get in a GPU that can fill your 1080p screen.



Your assumption about quality based on storage capacity of an HDD is quite confusing. I would emphatically encourage you to consider the 640GB Blue from WD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.as



It's a 2-platter design and has some of the best seek times, energy efficiency, temperature and acoustic rages of any value-oriented HDD on the market and it's a great price for it too. I also appreciate that you have extra storage via Firewire, so this change is not essential, but the $/GB ratio is much better on the drive I've chosen for you.



Case and Optical drive I won't even bother with. You get the case you like, too personal a choice to recommend something. Optical largely makes very little difference. Choose between Lightscribe or not and you're set.



Hope you find this helpful.