New Build, would like comments

[aj_86cc]

It's well past the time I needed an upgrade (it is now a completely new machine). Here are the specs I'm looking at atm:

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136320

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231166

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115036

Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371016

EVGA 896-P3-1255-AR GeForce GTX 260 Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130434

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119047

Logitech EX 110 Black USB + PS/2 Standard Cordless Desktop Keyboard & Mouse Kit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126174

SAMSUNG 2333SW High Glossy Black 23" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 DC 20000:1 (1000:1) w/ HPCP Support
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...314&Tpk=2333sw

A couple of notes:
-the monitor is the only thing I've bought already. I bought it on dell's site for $162.
-the total of everything listed (excluding the monitor cost) is $774.92. I'd like to keep it around $1000.
-I will be using this primarily for gaming.
-All the decent dvd rw drives seem to be sold out on newegg.

[aj_86cc]

Forgot to talk about the OS...you guys always ask about that and I STILL forgot. I was planning on running Windows 7 on here as I've heard it can use all the Vista drivers and can run most games. Good/bad idea?

[vtfanmv5]

Originally Posted by aj_86cc Forgot to talk about the OS...you guys always ask about that and I STILL forgot. I was planning on running Windows 7 on here as I've heard it can use all the Vista drivers and can run most games. Good/bad idea?

I think that's a fine idea. You can run the RC until November/December or whenever it's released, it seems to be very well polished at this point.

No other complaints with your build, it all looks good. Although I do see you have some room under your budget, are you interested in trying to fill that budget out intelligently, or content to be under-budget?

[glc]

Dial that ram back to DDR2-800 unless you plan on overclocking.

DVD burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136152

[aj_86cc]

Originally Posted by vtfanmv5 I think that's a fine idea. You can run the RC until November/December or whenever it's released, it seems to be very well polished at this point. No other complaints with your build, it all looks good. Although I do see you have some room under your budget, are you interested in trying to fill that budget out intelligently, or content to be under-budget?

I'm fine with running under-budget. I typically try to shoot for major components (e.g. video card and processor) to be just under or around $200 each. I typically build around those things.

Oh and I'll probably go with the 640GB caviar black since it's on discount today.

[aj_86cc]

Originally Posted by glc Dial that ram back to DDR2-800 unless you plan on overclocking. DVD burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136152

How does this look:

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231209

[LeftyAce]

I'd go with this corsair: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145238

It's $10 cheaper (you don't need the crazy metal cooling if you're not overclocking), and I've had great experiences with Corsair.

[aj_86cc]

How much does the CAS latency and timing affect performance? Is going from 5/5-5-5-18 to 4/4-4-4-12 worth $10?

[glc]

Nope. That mobo is happiest with 1.8 or 1.9 volt ram.

[aj_86cc]

I was actually thinking about going with this instead:
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814161276
HIS Hightech H489F1GP Radeon HD 4890 1GB 256-bit PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

Do I need to change anything (i.e. PSU)?