I'm looking into building a computer, mostly for gaming. My price range is about 1,000 - 1,700. I've never built a computer before so I don't really know what I'm doing. This is what I've been looking at so far. processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor graphics: EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card motherboard: EVGA 123-YW-E175-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i FTW SLI ATX Intel Motherboard memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory harddrive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive powersupply: HIPER HPU-5K680 680W ATX12V v2.2 / EPS12V v2.91 Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC fan: COOLER MASTER RR-CCH-L9U1-GP 92mm Hyper TX2 CPU Cooler DVD: LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 20X DVD±R DVD Burner case: NZXT Apollo Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case windows xp: Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C for System Builders Like i said, I'm completely new to all this and I'm really not sure about the motherboard/fan/ or power supply. does all this look good? is there anything i can improve on? any tips? My total price now is about 1.5k and I'm pretty happy with that. is there anything else i need? (besides a monitor, keyboard, mouse) links work now
nvidia chipsets don't tend to sell well round here, you usually see better results with Intel based boards, especially in the midrange. I'd suggest this board instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131297 The graphics card is ok but way overpriced for what it does, these are a much better buy: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102748 The board I have outlined also allows the later possibility of adding a second HD4870 in crossfire. The rest of your components are mostly very good, but I would recommend the following power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817194030 if you intend to use dual graphics, this one if you don't: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001 I'd also suggest at least the following CPU cooler: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134 but if you intend to overclock the system, I'd recommend this combination instead: http://www.ncixus.com/products/23531/ULTRA-120-EXTREME/THERMALRIGHT/ http://www.ncixus.com/products/17749/SFF21F/Scythe/ This set of parts is all you need for a working PC tower, minus the peripherals of course.
Basically keep the CPU, HDD, DVD Rom, and Windows XP. You have a big budget. Sam made a good choice on the graphics card. You have a good range, and I would suggest getting two 4850. BUT the board I am going to have to differ on. Get something like a GA-X48-DS4 for two 4850s. As far as case goes, I think this is a better choice. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137 Get 4GB of RAM(Stick with OCZ Reapers or Corsair). Get a Corsair 620HX or 650TX for your PSU. The 620 is more expensive but it's modular(meaning you only use the cables you need, and you can unplug the rest). Sam's choice on the cooler are good. If you want something cheaper and almost as good get the Xigmatek S1283, but do buy the Retention Bracket(search on newegg, it's separate).
Ah, I didn't spot the budget. My mistake on that one, yes go with the X48-DS4 over the Asus board, and certainly go with a pair of graphics cards, the 4850s first spring to mind. Here's a revised full list of components: CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042 M/B: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128336 RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194 GPU: 2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102747 PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002 HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262 ODD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228 OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116400 Cooler: http://www.ncixus.com/products/23531/ULTRA-120-EXTREME/THERMALRIGHT/ http://www.ncixus.com/products/17749/SFF21F/Scythe/ Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047 Going with two graphics cards, the case I have now included is probably the best buy of the lot. This now comes out around $1650, but with $115 of rebates included to cut that down a bit.
