My first Rig, help a brother out here.

[wyldwabyt]

This computer is going to be used for gaming and gaming only. Here is the set up I was looking at.

Processor: $1049.99
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz LGA 775 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569QX9650
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115026

Mother Board: $349.99
ASUS MAXIMUS EXTREME LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131235

Power Supply: $269.99
SILVERSTONE OP1000 ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V 1000W Power Supply 100 - 240 V - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256010

Video cards: $229.29x2
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318

Memory: $200.00
CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10600) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145183

Hard Drive: $69.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262

DVD: $26.99
Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118002

Case: $119.99
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

Total: $2544.72

This is my first attempt at building a computer. Before this I've done a few upgrades and that is about it. So needless to say I'm pretty nervous about doing this.

I'm sure that there are parts I could swap out for a better price and I would love any info to help out there. However my budget is around 2500, so I'm not really upset about the price.

My bigger concern is getting the right parts and then getting those parts together properly. If everything looks good here my next concern is heat. Maybe the stock fans on are going to be enough maybe no, I dont really have the experience to tell. If they ok now, what about if I try to start dabbling in OCing down the road?

Any feedback would be EXTREMELY helpful!!! Also any guides about building up a good computer would be awesome too. Ive read a few now, but not having any experience building myself I don't think Im really a good judge of what is a good build or not.

[Alaron]

Welcome to PCMech.

Your list is pretty good as is, but you could really trim down the budget with minimal loss in performance.

The first issue is that the Maximus doesn't support Nvidia's SLI, only ATI's Crossfire. If you wanted multiple cards, those 8800GTs won't work. However, we don't recommend SLI anyway. You can get great performance from one card and upgrade it later. Plus, unless you game on a massive monitor at a huge resolution, SLI is overkill. I'd pop in one 8800 card for now. You could also look at the 9600GT. Great bang for the buck and you can upgrade it when the new 9800s come out soon.

Also, DDR3 is not ready for primetime. Check out a simpler setup, including the Asus P5K motherboards, DDR2-800 and an Q6600 chip. Then you could drop the PSU down a notch or two, we recommend Corsair units for single video card systems.

The Antec 900 will keep your system cool enough. If you want to seriously overclock, I'd look into a new heatsink for your CPU then. Build the system and run it stock first.

[wyldwabyt]

Ok read a bit more and took into account what you said above. Thought that going with DDR3 would be a good thing for future.

Bout the mother board I picked was a noob mistake to miss that it didnt take SLI vid cards, thanks for catching that. Speaking of video cards, why do suggest Crossfire over Nvidia? Ive always ran with Nvidia, and never had any problems there... I guess I just fear change. Also I guess I dont really understand how run two video cards at once. Not something I have to do off the bat, but would like to understand better if you had any suggestions there.

After considering what you said and not going with two video cards and the DDR3 memory I put together another list. I didnt see an edit key on this forum... So instead of editing my list at the top Im just reposting here.

I looked at the mother board you suggested as well also was eyeing the one I listed below, what do you think there?

Processor: $254.99
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

Mother Board: $249.99
EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188024

Power Supply: $269.99
SILVERSTONE OP1000 ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V 1000W Power Supply 100 - 240 V - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817256010

Video cards: $229.29
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130318

Memory: $114.00
CORSAIR 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145183

Hard Drive: $69.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148262

DVD: $26.99
Sony NEC Optiarc Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827118002

Case: $119.99
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

Again thanks for any help.

[Dave21]

Fix your links, you didn't link them properly.

You don't need a 1000 W PSU. Get a corsair 620 W. Even 520 would be sufficient.

You do know that you need a 64 bit OS to run 4 gb of ram?

For HDD, get the newer seagate 7200.11 with 32 mb cache rather than 16 mb.

Look into lite-on drives.

[wyldwabyt]

Originally Posted by Dave21 Fix your links, you didn't link them properly. You don't need a 1000 W PSU. Get a corsair 620 W. Even 520 would be sufficient. You do know that you need a 64 bit OS to run 4 gb of ram? For HDD, get the newer seagate 7200.11 with 32 mb cache rather than 16 mb. Look into lite-on drives.

Ya I know that I need the 64 to get the full 4g, and Im not planning to go up to that till its more stable.

Was pretty sure i was over kill on the PSU.

Sorry about messing up any links

[Dave21]

Originally Posted by wyldwabyt Ya I know that I need the 64 to get the full 4g, and Im not planning to go up to that till its more stable. Was pretty sure i was over kill on the PSU. Sorry about messing up any links

64 bit is actually quite stable. You wouldn't have problems with drivers if you know for a fact that your hardware supports it. But yea not many developers are using it yet so 32 bit is the way to go for sure.

[Alaron]

Fixed your links for you. The Edit button is in the bottom right of every post.

I agree with Dave21's recommendations for the PSU/Hard Drive/Burner. Be sure your DVD Burner comes with Nero. The "Retail" ones do, not the "OEM"s.

I don't recommend any dual card setup. I should have clarified that before. The 8800GT you've chosen will be a fine card.

Your RAM link still goes to DDR3. This the DDR2-800 you want: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145184

Finally, there is no reason to spend so much on an SLI board when you have one card. Check out this Asus P5K-E instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131225