Building my first computer (for college and gaming)

[ODST27]

I finally convinced my dad to let me build my own computer, and just in time for college. I'll be mainly using it for gaming and maybe some photoshopping and 3D rendering (for modding some games). My budget would be around $1300 I guess. I'm not going to use any parts from my old computer either.

Motherboard: ASUS P6T Intel X58 - $249.99
Newegg.com - ASUS P6T LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards
CPU: Intel i7 920 2.66GHz - $288.99
Newegg.com - Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor - Processors - Desktops
PSU: Rosewill RP500 500W - $59.99
Newegg.com - Rosewill RP500 500W ATX12V v1.3/ EPS12V Power Supply - Power Supplies
Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 260 896MB - $179.99
Newegg.com - EVGA 896-P3-1260-AR GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
RAM: Corsair 6GB (3x 2GB) DDR3 - $98.00
Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory
HDD: Western Digital 640GB 7200RPM - $74.99
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
Case: Antec 900 - $109.99
Newegg.com - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases
Optical Drive: LG - $24.99
Newegg.com - LG Black 22X (CAV) DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X (CAV) DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD±R DVD Burner - CD / DVD Burners
Monitor: Acer 22" LCD - $159.99
Newegg.com - Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2500:1 - LCD Monitors
OS: Windows Vista 64 bit $99.99
Newegg.com - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - Operating Systems
Total: $1346.91

I'll be buying a keyboard and mouse from Best Buy, that way I can test out how they feel. Any help would definitely be appreciated. You could even suggest a totally different one.

 

[Thresh25]

That psu, although may look cool is total crap. Only 26A on a single 12v rail. It also comes with a free case, which is too small to use anyways, but thats a sign of a gimmick.

Grab any PC power and cooling or corsair psu. 500 watts is actually close to pushing it for i7 as well, and very much limits the expandability.

That 260 is the 192 core edition.

Get this one, Newegg.com - XFX GX260XADJF GeForce GTX 260 Core Edition Core 216 896MB 448-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
216 cores, runs cooler, and XFX is a great brand. Double lifetime warranty

 

[kobe24]

is other thing is the ram i would change that to ocz platium 6gb there cheap from newegg.

 

[ODST27]

Thanks for the help. I found a different PSU, Corsair, and I upped the wattage to 650W. Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Power Supplies
I changed the Video Card as well.

And I got the OCZ Platinum RAM. Newegg.com - OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

 

[Prisonbreak94]

Looks like a good build
Enjoy your new PC =)

 

[Wrench]

The 650tx corsair will also be a lot quieter then the Rosewill unit as well as a lot more stable.
You could also save or out off the price of the OS by Downloading Win 7 RC Beta from Micro soft it is a lot snappier then Vista and very stable.

 

[ODST27]

You could also save or out off the price of the OS by Downloading Win 7 RC Beta from Micro soft it is a lot snappier then Vista and very stable.

I was thinking of doing that, but I wasn't sure how many of my games are compatible with Windows 7.

 

[Pinscher]

Definitely go with Windows 7. It is totally stable and all of my games work on it (steam games, cysis, AoC, Dawn of War 2, and more). It is already better than Vista and its not even final yet. You will be happy with it and it will save you $100.

I would go with a 4870 too, it has pulled ahead of the GTX260 with the latest drivers for about the same price.

Newegg.com - XFX HD-487A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

 

[wafflehammer]

Definitely go with Windows 7. It is totally stable and all of my games work on it (steam games, cysis, AoC, Dawn of War 2, and more). It is already better than Vista and its not even final yet. You will be happy with it and it will save you $100.

I would go with a 4870 too, it has pulled ahead of the GTX260 with the latest drivers for about the same price.

Newegg.com - XFX HD-487A-ZDFC Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards

already over budget, no need to add more


all looks good..done yourself a favor by going with a different PSU

EDIT: that monitor is on sell for $150 now...btw, i own the exact some monitor and i couldn't be happier. I know it's not 1080P or anything..but it's great for me

 

[kobe24]

nice build looks great now, are you going to overclock?