My First PC Build. Need help/advice.

[jgame]

I'm in the process of building a PC from the ground up for the first time and I really need some help/advice. I've been on newegg.com for the past week seeking out the different parts/hardware that I'll need to start building. I'm a hardcore gamer, but not really interested in overclocking anything, at least not as of now.

Anyways, here is what I have come up with so far. (note: I don't have everything picked out yet, as you'll see). Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

CPU- Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0 GHz. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115028

CPU Heatsink/Fan- Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro (I don't intend to overclock so I don't know if this is neccessary).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

Thermal Compound- Arctic Cooling MX-2. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186020

Video Card- EVGA GeForce 8800 GTS (G92) 512 MB. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130312

Monitor- Acer AL2223Wd 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor HDCP Support 300cd/m2 800:1 Contrast Ratio.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009102

Windows Vista Home Premium (32-Bit) Operating System

I still don't know what hardrive, cd/dvd burner, memory, motherboard, power supply, or case to get. As for cases I would like a mid-tower, but I'm afraid things will overheat or the graphics card will be too big. Again, any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advace!

[shadowpr]

Good list so far.

I would forget the cpu heatsink and just use the retail one that comes with the processor. Also forget the mx-2 then. Those are needed more if you're going to oc.

This is what I would recommend:

MB: Asus P5K-E
Ram: Corsair DDR2 800 2x1gb
HD: Seagate 7200.11 500gb sata OEM
DVD: Lite-On dvd burner sata retail
PSU: Corsair 550

[jgame]

Will that hardware fit into a mid-tower case without too much problem? Any case suggestions. I would like a case that has pretty good cable management.

[shadowpr]

Case is a personal choice.

I like full size cases, and that way i'm sure I won't have problems with the video card.

[jgame]

I want to build a computer from the ground up and I've never done this before. I've always wanted to, but I've always gone with pre-builts. So with that said, I will be purchasing most if not all components from newegg.com. I just need help or suggestions in my new build. I don't really have any parts picked out, but I have a general idea of what I want. I'll give you guys some info so you know what I'm trying to build, and what I would need to do so.

First off, my budget is a max of $1,750

What I will be using my PC for:

Gaming- Lastest and future releases for RTS games, MMORPG (Warhammer Online), and FPS (don't really need to play Crysis on max with full settings) I'm not into too many FPS games on PC, I stick with consoles for that...

Internet- Surfing, email, downloading, uploading.

Software/Apps- Photo and video editing/capturing, music, and Microsoft Office.

Operating System- Vista Home Premium (32-bit).

I"ll be getting a 22" LCD Monitor and I have a keyboard and mouse. I would also like my new PC to be somewhat future proof (around 2-3 years before I have to upgrade), and have some expandablity. I do know that I want a Core 2 Duo Proccessor or one of those quad-cores. Any help, suggestions, advice would be greatly appreciated and I hope I offered you guys enough information. I really look forward to building my first PC and I want to make sure it's everything I want it to be. Thanx in advance.

[Masaki 7-11]

For RTS games, you'll want to get a quad core since most RTS games work best with a quad core. RTS games require a good processor and are taking advantage of quad cores since they usually have many AIs which can be distributed across the cores. The parts you picked out and the parts recommended should work fine, but like I said you should take a look at a quad core. Regarding a case, it's a good idea to get a full tower since it has more room and better ventilation. For reference take a look at this case:http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119103

[bd1886]

Good reference Masaki. That is a nice case! (I have a case that has some of those features but is no where near the quality or looks of that one.) Would run with some quieter components because that case looks like it can hold a lot of 'em!

[andper10]

I would get:
Q6600
$275 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

8800GT 512MB
$270 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318

Asus P5K (plain or a nice version if you want)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nd&Order=PRICE

Corsair 520 Watt PSU
$108 - http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-520w...203270716.html

Seagate 7200.11 Perpendicular Recording Hard Drive (500GB)
$120 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148288 (Might want to sign up for the newegg e-mai newsletter b/c they have been having coupon codes for this lately)

LiteOn SATA DVD Burner Retail
$38 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072

Corsair 2GB DDR2 800 Cas 5
$67 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590

Vista Home Premium 32bit OEM or XP Home OEM

Nice "Gamer Cases"
(Cases are a personal thing so just pick one you like, not necessarily one on this list)
Antec 900 - $120 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021
Thermaltake Armor - $135 w/o side 25cm fan - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133154
- $170 w/ side 25cm fan - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133021
Coolermaster Centurion 5 - $45 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119077
Enjoy your build!

[jgame]

Thanks for the replies so far! I don't want to get anything from newegg that is OEM, because I've never built a PC before and I'm gonna need the instructions. I've heard that the new 8800GTS (G92) 512MB won't fit in any mid-tower case, is this true. I'd hate to purchase a full-tower case, they're huge and I'm more of a mid-tower kind of guy, lol. Also, not to distract you guys from the topic, but how are games affected by widescreen monitors? What I mean is, if I'm playing older games do they have to have the same native resolution as my monitor? Just a quick answer, but don't want to distract from the original topic of building my first PC.

[flanzig1]

"Mid-tower" is sort of a generally discription for cases that can be 7 to 8.5"w x15 to 18"h x 16 to 19"w. The Antec cases will take the 8800GTS(may need to remove the drive cage fan housing).
As for older games on a widescreen, they may appaer stretched/appear normal with black barson the sides/work with wide screen. It all will depend on the game.