New Build $2000, Critiques?

[NightSurge]

Ok, here are the specs for a new build I am going to buy soon. Let me know any changes you would suggest. My overall budget is $2000, and the system below is $1700 (before mail-in rebates; After rebates = $1600) so if there are any small changes you recommend let me know. All these parts and prices were from newegg so if you find them cheaper somewhere, let me know.

Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS ATX Full Tower - Retail - $150
Mobo: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail - $260
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M - OEM - $240
HS/F: Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - Retail - $45
Video Card(s): 2 -- MSI N9600GT-T2D512 OC GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail - $330 ($165 each)
RAM: Crucial Ballistix 4GB (4 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel 4-4-4-12 BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail - $134
PSU: ENERMAX INFINITI EIN720AWT ATX12V/ EPS12V 720W Power Supply - Retail - $220
HDD1: Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $170
HDD2: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM - $80
CD/DVD1: HP 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DVD1070i - Retail - $35
CD/DVD2: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail - $33

Total Cost: $1703.86 (before mail-in rebates; After = $1593.86)

The only thing I really had in mind to possibly change would be the graphics cards. Let me know your suggestions for changes that keep this build below $2000.

 

[BennyV04988]

Drop the board (overkill), drop the quad-core (pointless), drop the 9600GT's (slow cards), drop the 4gb of ram (won't be recognized).

Get a cheaper board ($150 range) , get an E8400 (3.0GHZ dual core and won't bottleneck SLI), get 8800GT's (best card for $), get 3gb of ram.

 

[Ste]

Processor choice depends on when an upgrade is next planned.

Q6600 if your not going to upgrade for a long time.
E8400 if your going to upgrade to a newer quad core in less than a year.

Q6600's are not pointless.

 

[gurusan]

Drop the board (overkill), drop the quad-core (pointless), drop the 9600GT's (slow cards), drop the 4gb of ram (won't be recognized).

Get a cheaper board ($150 range) , get an E8400 (3.0GHZ dual core and won't bottleneck SLI), get 8800GT's (best card for $), get 3gb of ram.

Actually I think his build is pretty good. 9600GT cards in SLI are freakin destroyers

 

[NightSurge]

Thanks for replying, but I guess I failed to mention a few things. First off, I will be getting Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit so the 4GB will be recognized.

Second, the E8400 is never in stock or else I WOULD get it. I would much rather have a 4GHz+ E8400, but since they are never in I am going for the Q6600 and overclock it to 3.4GHz or higher. Quad core isn't quite as pointless these days because newer games are actually coming out with quad core support.

Third, the board is probably a bit overkill, which I will look around for a different one, but it is also a very reliable, fast, and performance proven board, which is really good for SLi gaming.

Fourth, the 9600GT's are only slightly less in performance than the 8800GT's but are much cheaper. I will see what 2 8800GT's will do to the overall cost.

Which is better? 2-9600GT's SLi or 2-8800GT's SLi?

 

[gurusan]

Well, things I would change:

-Cooler...this one performs on par with the TRUE
Newegg.com - XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

-hard drive....no need for the Raptor....a good 750gb drive is almost as fast
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

-RAM....this is a 2x2gb kit, VERY good.
Newegg.com - OCZ ReaperX HPC 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Also, you might want to consider getting a different motherboard that doesn't have a Nvidia chipset, something like the P5E (x38 chipset), and get the 9800GX2. The P5E is a much better motherboard, IMO.

- Newegg.com - ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

- PNY 9800 GX2 | PNY 9800 | PNY VCG98GX2XPB GeForce 9800 GX2 | VCG98GX2XPB

Also this is a better and cheaper PSU

Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S75QB EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Retail

 

[BennyV04988]

That's 300 vs 530 in gfx. A bit steep.

 

[gurusan]

yes but the motherboard is so much better.

TBH a single 8800GTS 512mb and the P5E would be sufficient.

 

[NightSurge]

Can I afford the 9800GX2? I have seen it's benchmarks and they are very good! In most cases better than the HD 3870x2! I'll look into your suggestions and post an update build tonight. I'm off to dinner right now. Thanks so far for the tips guruan!

 

[Drizzt]

For your cpu cooler do not buy the tuniq tower... go for the TRUE... You can ask most people on the forums... the TRUE performs better and is easier to install.... I have a tuniq btw but wish that i had known about the TRUE when i picked my cpu cooler.

The TRUE just performs better, nothing wrong with the tuniq.