Need advice on my gaming build

[schematics]

Hey everyone,

This is my first build ever, so I'd greatly appreciate any feedback on it. I'm going for a gaming build (not pure gaming because I'm looking to do other things as well), with a budget cap of around $1500 - 2000, and this only includes the computer and the monitor, not the keyboard, mouse, speakers...etc.

Goals for build:
I'm looking for a build that can handle most any high end game at max or near max settings, including ones yet to come out like Fallout 3.
I plan to dual boot the computer with Windows Vista (probably 64bit....not sure) for gaming, and Linux for all other tasks.
Also, I'm thinking of using a LCD flat panel TV for the monitor, to hook up console systems to it as well for switching back and forth.

CPU wise I'm thinking Intel, because I will be doing other tasks such as audio and graphics editing as well.

This is what I have so far....

Case - $110
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...pk=antec%20900
(I'd like something that can be moved around, because I'm a college student living on campus)

Power Supply - $260
CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX 1000W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139007
(This seems like over kill to me, but like I said, it's my first build, don't want to screw up if I don't need so much power I will step down)

Motherboard - $270
ASUS Maximus II Formula LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131319
(Do all motherboard come with network adapters? I'm looking to connect to the internet of course)

Processor - $190
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...5036&Tpk=E8500

Ram - $119
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197

Video Card - $280
EVGA 01G-P3-N891-AR GeForce 9800 GX2 1GB (512MB per GPU) 512-bit (256-bit per GPU) GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130338
(help is especially appreciated in this area, one of the most important aspects of this pc)

Hard Drive - $130
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148274

Optical Drive - $18
LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DH-16D3S-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106261

So yeah, I have no idea if I'm overpaying, or if I could higher and what not. I'd appreciate any help on this. Thanks.

[shadowpr]

Not bad.

A few suggestions would be:

Change the motherboard to a Asus P5Q.

Drop the ram down to a ddr2-800 2x2gb.

Get a retail dvd drive so you get software with it. And a extra cable.

You can drop the power supply down to a 650.

And upgrade the video card to a 4870.

[schematics]

Originally Posted by shadowpr Not bad. A few suggestions would be: Change the motherboard to a Asus P5Q. Drop the ram down to a ddr2-800 2x2gb. Get a retail dvd drive so you get software with it. And a extra cable. You can drop the power supply down to a 650. And upgrade the video card to a 4870.

Cool, so you suggest going ATI instead of NVIDIA for the video card route? Also what do you mean about retail dvd drive?

[shadowpr]

This is the one i recommend: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106265

Retail means it comes with a box, and cables, and software. The OEM that you picked is just the drive wrapped in bubble-wrap. And you picked a dvd drive. I linked a dvd burner.

[schematics]

I'm curious about why you suggest I drop the ram down to 800 from 1066, is the difference not really noticeable?

[minsonngo]

Because your processor's FSB speed will already bottleneck any memory higher than DDR2-667 to 667mhz.

So anything over that amount is essentially wasted... but going with the DDR2-800 is a smarter choice pricewise and it will give you room to upgrade that processor in the long run to one that runs at 1600mhz FSB.

[schematics]

Originally Posted by minsonngo Because your processor's FSB speed will already bottleneck any memory higher than DDR2-667 to 667mhz. So anything over that amount is essentially wasted... but going with the DDR2-800 is a smarter choice pricewise and it will give you room to upgrade that processor in the long run to one that runs at 1600mhz FSB.

Interesting, but looking at the processors on New Egg I see that 1333Mhz FSB is the next step down from the current top of 1600mhz. So unless I'm willing to pay $1000 for a 1600Mhz CPU I can't get any benefit from memory with clock speeds over 667mhz? That surprises me because I see that DDR2 memory ranges in speed from 400 to 1200Mhz, what's the point if most of it can't be utilized? I'm a little confused...

[shadowpr]

It's mainly for people that overclock their processors and raise the fsb. They would need the higher rated ram to stay at 1:1 ratio. For example, when I had my cpu overclocked with a fsb of 450, I needed ddr2-900 just to be at a 1:1. So for me, it made sense to buy ddr2-1000 and give myself headroom.

It's usually a good idea to also just have one step above 1:1. So with a cpu that has is 1333, you would be one above 1:1 with ddr2-800.

[schematics]

Thanks, that makes sense. I'm also wondering why you suggest I switch to P5Q motherboard?

[shadowpr]

I suggested the switch, because in my opinion, the difference in price isn't worth the extra slots if you're not using them and an audio card. I think the P5Q is a better value.

[schematics]

Newly updated build

CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache

MOTHERBOARD
ASUS RAMPAGE FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Intel Motherboard


RAM
mushkin XP ASCENT w/ eVCI technology 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800


HARD DRIVE
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

GRAPHICS CARD
EVGA 01G-P3-1282-AR GeForce GTX 280


CASE

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower


POWER SUPPLY
Thermaltake W0116RU 750W

DVD DRIVE
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R

OS Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM


Any suggestions? From the graphics card standpoint I hear that the Radeons 4870's are better suited for gaming, but I also hear Nvidia is better all around and I plan on doing non gaming tasks as well that may require good visual support. The motherboard I want something with enough space for upgrades, and a good amount of slots. I'm not sure if I have a good version of Vista, basically i want the 64 bit with as basic a feature set as possible.

[schematics]

bump.

[David M]

I liked your first configuration better.

I'm very happy with Vista 64. I have been able to run every software application that I have. At this point in time, Vista has a bad rap from people who tried putting it on older computers and slower computers and from a deservedly bad reputation it had before SP1. Vista simply does not work well on old hardware or under powered hardware.

Your board has a divider so that you will be able to separate your CPU speed from your RAM speed. Therefore you will be able to overclock your CPU and not worry about running up your RAM speed beyond its abilities. I would go with the faster RAM anyway. Vista 64 is able to recognize 4 gigs of RAM, so why not utilize that capability? RAM is so cheap now anyway.

The E8500 is a very overclockable CPU so go for it. Its common for that CPU to hit 4GHz on air cooling.

I dont care for Thermaltake PSU's. I would take your PSU up a notch in quality and specifications and get A PC Power and Cooling 750 watt unit for about the same price. These are top of the line PSU's. Power supplies cause more problems than you can imagine so buying a really good one is money well spent.

http://www.amazon.com/Cooling-S75QB-...d_i=B000VVVNNQ

Also, dont bump posts. It's against the rules.

Check out my computer specs in my signature. We have some similarities.

[schematics]

Originally Posted by David M I liked your first configuration better. I'm very happy with Vista 64. I have been able to run every software application that I have. At this point in time, Vista has a bad rap from people who tried putting it on older computers and slower computers and from a deservedly bad reputation it had before SP1. Vista simply does not work well on old hardware or under powered hardware. Your board has a divider so that you will be able to separate your CPU speed from your RAM speed. Therefore you will be able to overclock your CPU and not worry about running up your RAM speed beyond its abilities. I would go with the faster RAM anyway. Vista 64 is able to recognize 4 gigs of RAM, so why not utilize that capability? RAM is so cheap now anyway. The E8500 is a very overclockable CPU so go for it. Its common for that CPU to hit 4GHz on air cooling. I dont care for Thermaltake PSU's. I would take your PSU up a notch in quality and specifications and get A PC Power and Cooling 750 watt unit for about the same price. These are top of the line PSU's. Power supplies cause more problems than you can imagine so buying a really good one is money well spent. http://www.amazon.com/Cooling-S75QB-...d_i=B000VVVNNQ Also, dont bump posts. It's against the rules. Check out my computer specs in my signature. We have some similarities.

ah ok thanks for the heads up about bumping posts, and thanks for the reply.

I thought I had 4 gigs of Ram in a 2x2 configuration?

Also I was thinking quad core because I like the idea of being able to multi task different programs at once more easily, and as far as gaming goes I feel 2.83 ghz is good enough? I don't know if I will overclock because it's my first build but maybe down the line I will. I will also check out that PSU you linked too.