Another Build Question

[Gus the Bus]

From reading past post I know the best route is to build a computer but that is not an option for me because I'm a computer idiot. Which system below would you recommend? I would like it to run Company of Heros and not be outdated too bad for a few years.

Alienware Area-51 7500 $2100
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz 8MB Cache 1066MHz FSB
Alienware® Standard System Cooling
Alienware® 750 Watt Multi-GPU Approved Power Supply
512MB NVIDIA® GeForce® 8800 GT
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM at 800MHz - 2 x 1024MB
Alienware® Approved NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI Motherboard
500GB SATA 3Gb/s 7,200RPM 16MB Cache
20X Dual-Layer Burner (DVD±RW)
NO MONITOR

Dell XPS 720 Black $1850
Intel® Core™2 Q6600 Quad-Core (8MB L2 cache,2.4GHz,1066FSB)
512MB Nvidia GeForce 8800 GT
2GB Corsair Dominator DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz OC'd to 1066MHz-2 DIMMs
500GB - Seagate 7200RPM, SATA 3.0Gb/s, 16MB Cache
MONITOR - 22 inch UltraSharpâ„¢ 2208WFP Widescreen Digital Flat Panel

Thanks for your help.

 

[atomic tofu]

if you really want to try...it's REALLY quite easy, just a matter of reading. And simple reading...it's just most people don't like to read manuals, lol

ic2q 6600 - Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - OEM $255
mobo - Newegg.com - Intel BOXDG33FBC LGA 775 Intel G33 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $105
psu - Newegg.com - Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, CB, C-tick, CCC - Retail $80 > $50 (rebate)
gpu - Newegg.com - ASUS EN8600GT SILENT/HTDP/512M GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Super Silent Video Card - Retail $139
ram - Newegg.com - PNY OPTIMA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $45
hd - Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $100
opt - Newegg.com - ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail $39 (has combo deal with media)
case - Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $120 > $80 (rebate)

monitor - Newegg.com - Acer AL2016WCbd Black 20" 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 800:1 - Retail $190
kb - Newegg.com - Saitek PK02 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard - Retail $50
mouse - Newegg.com - Microsoft SideWinder HKA-00001 Black 9 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired 2000 dpi Mouse - Retail $65
OR Newegg.com - Microsoft BX3-00008 Slate 3 Buttons Tilt Wheel USB RF Wireless Optical Notebook Mouse - Retail $22
speakers - Newegg.com - ALTEC LANSING VS3251 70 Watts 5.1 Powered Audio System - Retail $46
HSF - Newegg.com - Scythe SCASM-1000 120mm Sleeve Andy Samurai Master CPU Cooler - Retail $35
OR $70

gpu has a combo thing with an asus mobo:
Newegg.com - ASUS P5N-E SLI LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $120

$936 total without monitor, w/ cheaper mouse and hsf
$1126 w/monitor

easy! and maybe needs some extra cables...didn't check

 

[Gus the Bus]

Wow! Thanks for all the info and work. I'm going to have to reconsider building one.

 

[DawnOfDoom]

instead of that scythe i'd get the Thermal Take Typhoon or Extreme for cooling that C2Q keeps things nice and cool. im not to sure about PNY ram try to stay with OCZ, Crucial, Corsair if overclocking. Seagates are much quieter and faster than WD's.

Powersupply recomendations taken straight out of B1gapl's recomended PC parts from teh High End Rig chapter

Link to Thread: http://www.techist.com/forums/f76/recommended-pc-components-159027/ (there are different chapers for what you wana do its just a list of parts and he keeps it updtated)

Power Supplies
Modular
Corsair 520HX[N] or 620HX[N]
Thermaltake Toughpower 650W[N]

Non-Modular
Corsair 550VX[N]
SeaSonic S12 550W[N]
Antec Tru Power Trio 650W[N]
FSP Group FX600-GLN V2.2/EPS12V 600W[N]
Silverstone SST-ST56ZF 560W[N]
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W[N]

If you wana know what modular is its like pluging in only the cables u need without having extras dangling around

 

[atomic tofu]

oh, btw, keep in mind that was me just doing a list...not really telling you what you should get just went for similar things you had

if it's important to you, just pay attention to whatever mobo you pick to match to your q6600, serves your drive needs (sata variants), whether it has enough USB for you, onboard audio (i prefer on board, yeah I'm weird for many, but eh), if you need one that has firewire/1384 (most do nowadays), etc etc

oh and get an OS ...I would suggest Vista Home Premium

so you'll notice i have different stuff from yours...but that was just example...enjoy! it's easy

also take note of OEM vs Retail, since you may need additional things like screws, cables, etc if you go OEM.

just need a philips and some thermal paste

oh, and if you want to make it garish like some of us with the funky lights and what not

I also sleeved my cables...but I suggest you do that only after you're comfortable building your pc. And if you do make it and make it great...next step...sleeving

 

[Gus the Bus]

Thanks for all the help guys! I think you may have given me the courage to try and do this on my own.

 

[DawnOfDoom]

good luck the PC building world is quite easy once you've done it a couple times. and for some of us its an addiction.

 

[veedubfreak]

Gotta start somewhere, after your first machine its easy.

 

[thirdshiftdj]

It only looks intimidating. Infact it's easier than taking a sh!t.