First build, need some help

[Hyopia]

Well I am tired of my currnt computer a dell that I seem to have payed too much for. I plan on playing a lot of games so this build is going to be based around a gaming machine, games like Bioshock and Battlefield2, also I plan on doing some video editing and a lot of photoshop. I read around on this section and managed to make my own build but id like to save some money and get som criticism. The total is upto I have no idea how I got 1210 but its actually 1499, but id like to go down to 900 while still being able to play games at a good setting.

HDD Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive $200
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011&Tpk=wd%2braptor

Video card EVGA 640-P2-N825-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $394
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130080

Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor $289
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115017

Ram CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $107
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034&Tpk=ram

Mobo EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard $220
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813188013

PSU CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail $169
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817139002

Case Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $120
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129021

[shadowpr]

could change for this MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180

and if not going to OC, could down the power a bit and get this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001&Tpk=520hx

and this HDD for less, but more space: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

what about monitor, keyboard, speakers, mouse, and OS.

Don't forget an OS.

[Hyopia]

could change for this MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180

and if not going to OC, could down the power a bit and get this PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001&Tpk=520hx

and this HDD for less, but more space: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

what about monitor, keyboard, speakers, mouse, and OS.

Don't forget an OS.
Well I dont think im going to need too much space so i might stick with the raptor, since im really like the 10,000 rpm. As for the mobo and PSU im sure I can switch to that since I don't plant to OC monitor, mouse, keyboard, OS, and optical drives, I already have from my other computers.

[shadowpr]

if you don't need that much space you can still get a lower capacity seagate for a lot less money.

but it's up to you.

and remember that if you have an OS that came with a pre-built or something like that, then it won't work on your new build.

[Hyopia]

if you don't need that much space you can still get a lower capacity seagate for a lot less money.

but it's up to you.

and remember that if you have an OS that came with a pre-built or something like that, then it won't work on your new build.
Damn, more money to spend on another OS now.. What If I buy a even lower size HDD , like this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148048 and use my other HDD on my old system as a slave? Or even get this one, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136033 and send for the mail in rebate.

[shadowpr]

get one that's an oem. they're cheaper.

[Chazell29]

First off, welcome to PC Mech!

Secondly, go with this 250GB Western Digital SATA Hard Drive, you don't need the raptor, and this will save alot of money.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136055

If you want to save some more money on the video card, go with the 320MB 8800GTS. Still a great card.

Quad core processors are overated. There isn't much that takes advantage of the 4 cores, so going with a fast core 2 duo will save you money, but sitll give you really good performance. Try this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

[Gen.Ben]

Yeah, You can get rid of the 10k rpm disk. They are unessisary and you wont notice much of a difference between a 7200rpm disk.

I would also change the motherboard to what shadowpr recommended.

You also dont need that big of a power supply. A 520 watt PSU would work fine for your setup. The one that shadowpr recommended would be great.

What size of monitor will you be using? If it is 1600x1200 or 1680x1050 or lower, you could get away with getting the 320MB 8800GTS, playing at those resolutions and under you wont notice a difference if you were using the 640mb version.

If you still need to chop some money away, you could get a Dual core processor instead of the quad core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

[Hyopia]

Yeah, You can get rid of the 10k rpm disk. They are unessisary and you wont notice much of a difference between a 7200rpm disk.

I would also change the motherboard to what shadowpr recommended.

You also dont need that big of a power supply. A 520 watt PSU would work fine for your setup. The one that shadowpr recommended would be great.

What size of monitor will you be using? If it is 1600x1200 or 1680x1050 or lower, you could get away with getting the 320MB 8800GTS, playing at those resolutions and under you wont notice a difference if you were using the 640mb version.

If you still need to chop some money away, you could get a Dual core processor instead of the quad core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029
Ill ber running on a 1024x768 setting, so i guess I could downgrade to teh 320mb, and since your the second person to tell me to switchc to a 7,200 I guess its only responsible that I listen to you guys. I could just go with the one shadowpr reccomended and save myself the need of using a slave drive whilst gaining a lot more gigs from my original build, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

[Chazell29]

Yeah, the 7200RPM will be fine. If you don't know, the PC doesn't run on the hard drive, the CPU pulls the info from the hard drive to the RAM, and it runs on the ram. So the speed is only the speed in which is puts the info from the hard drive onto the RAM. I have a 7200RPM and load times are really quick on my E4400 proccessor and 3GB's of RAM while loading Battlefield 2 on all high with AA x2

[Hyopia]

Well with all the help from you guys I managed to go down to 1060, which is pretty reasonable for me. I also found from Chazell29's post and some quick research that quad cores arent yet used to their full extent, so my new build. I'd still like some crticism on it. You guys have been so helpfull.

HDD $80
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

V card $289
EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082

Processor $205
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

Ram $107
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034&Tpk=ram

Mobo $134
ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180

PSU $125
CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 520W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001&Tpk=520hx

Case $120
Case Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $120
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811129021

[Gen.Ben]

That is a very solid list. I can not say one word bad about it.

Good luck with your build :)

[Hyopia]

That is a very solid list. I can not say one word bad about it.

Good luck with your build :)
Thanks, I can't thank everyone else that helped enough either. Hopefully this build will go great and ill be playing my games in no time!

[shadowpr]

i like that system.....just about what i have now.

don't forget the os

[Gen.Ben]

oh! Dont forget the OS!

Edit: Darn you shadow! Your like a freaking ninja.

[Chazell29]

Yes, you'll need an operating system. Get either Windows XP System Builders OEM (like 90 form newegg) or [I recommend] Windows Vista Home Premium System builders OEM (111 on newegg).

Also, you need an optical drive to run your discs. Go with a Lite-On. I'd recommend this LiteOn that is a DVD/CD burner with lightscribe:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106072

[Hyopia]

Yeah I think im just going to go with Windos XP Proffesional or can I run vista on this setup? Edit sweet I can run vista, so overall with the OS and the Optical drive, better off getting a new Optical drive anywyas, itll be just above $1200, good enough, Ill just have to saveup a bit more and buy everything next weekend, Ill be reporting how the build gues once i get everything.

[Chazell29]

Yeah I think im just going to go with Windos XP Proffesional or can I run vista on this setup?
Yes you can run WIN Vista. See my previous post for the info on the OS's.

[shadowpr]

oh! Dont forget the OS!

Edit: Darn you shadow! Your like a freaking ninja.


i try....i try....

[Gen.Ben]

Lol! Woot I Got Sigged!

[Hyopia]

Yes you can run WIN Vista. See my previous post for the info on the OS's.
Yeah I saw that after I posted, you guys reply too fast, lol.

[Chazell29]

Yeah I saw that after I posted, you guys reply too fast, lol.
thats because we have no life :p
haha jk, dont' forget the optical drive.