$2000 Gaming Build

[Istasi]

Well, it's finally time to take the plunge. I'm putting together a primarily gaming build for $2000. I want this thing to be future-proof. After lots of research and deliberation, I've put together this build. 'Cool & quiet' is key for this build. However, if I have to sacrifice a little silence for performance, it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Mobo: DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D ATX AMD Motherboard
$124.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX
$313.00
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16819103562

GPU: ATI Radeon X1900 XT 512MB Dual DVI/VIVO PCI-Express Video Card, Retail
$511
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=AT-X1900XT

RAM: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model F1-3200PHU2-2GBNS
$169.00
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231047

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$110
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16822144701

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card
$121.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16829102188

Case: Antec Performance I P180 Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$124.99 (-$10.00 instant savings) = $114.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16811129154

Monitor: SAMSUNG 740B Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor
$235.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824001070

PSU: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply
$89.99 (-$5.00 instant savings) = 84.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produ...N82E16817103931

Floppy Drive: SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive
$9.45
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16821103203

Keyboard: Saitek Black Wired Eclipse Keyboard
$46.95
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16823175103

Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser 931376-0403 2-Tone 6 Buttons 1x Wheel USB Laser Mouse
$53.65 (-$5.00 instant savings) = $48.65
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16826104191

Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
$5.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835100007

Heatsink: Scythe SCNJ-1000 CPU Cooling Heatsink
$39.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835185122

Fans: 120mm Sleeve Bearing Case Fan - 5 Pack (These are re-branded Yate-Loons so they should be very quiet)
$18.00
http://www.voyeurmods.com/index.php?action=item&id=2218&prevaction=category&previd=7&prevstart=0

SilenX Ixtrema Pro 80x15mm 14dBA Fan
$14.95
http://www.voyeurmods.com/index.php?action=item&id=2235&prevaction=category&previd=7&prevstart=0

Total: $1,974.93

I don't need an OS, speakers, or CD drive. I plan on ordering this within the week, so any and all input is very appreciated. This is a first-time build, so if anything seems out of place, please tell me.

Thanks in advance!

 

[sickness]

Things I would do...

Change the GPU to Nvidia
Cheaper sound card
Get a 3700+ or X2 4400+

 

[Istasi]

Things I would do...

Change the GPU to Nvidia
Cheaper sound card
Get a 3700+ or X2 4400+

The X1900XT is more powerful than any nVidia card in that price range.
Sound is VERY important to me. Not going to sacrifice it.
I really want dual-core. I can do some mild OCing if the 3800+ isn't powerful enough.

 

[HAVOC]

pff looks fantastic to me. Great buy for $2000.00

Actually... I've seen some benchmarks that show the X1900XT performs extremely well paired with the NF4 Chipset.

Buy it. Everything is prefect.

 

[Vybuni]

Looks great.

Originally posted by sickness
Things I would do...

Change the GPU to Nvidia

why do people just say stupid things like that. The X1900 is the best video card out there. Think before you type next time.

 

[Brtnboarder495]

Yea, and $150 cheaper than the 7800GTX 512.

 

[Flanker]

Why the heck would he want to change the GPU to Nvidia? Thats one of the most ridiculous comments I've heard in a while...

Looks great, go for it. Nice pick on the X-Fi but you need good speakers, or a nice headset to get the most out of it.

 

[dirty harry]

ya i'd agree if you spent more cash (wich you definitely don't need to lol) i'd go for higher than 3800+

 

[laurieny]

I just finishing building a similar setup with my son this weekend, so I had to add my 2 cents about the case. The case you chose was in my top 5 picks too, but I went with the CM Stacker 830 and I am so glad I did. Granted it is ridiculously expensive ($290 + $25 shipping) but it is top of the line in every way. When you spend so much on great components you want the case to indicate that. Not that the Antec case isn't good too, as it made my top 5 list, but it is no where near as awesome as the Stacker.

Pictures of it http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119103 don't do it justice. This is the BMW? Lexus? of cases.

And you did say you wanted to future proof-if such a thing is possible?!? The Stacker supports BTX boards as well as ATX. It is so big that I think I could fit my friends micro tower inside it and still have room to spare. But if we move to water cooling in the future-no problem-not that you probably need to consider that with all the metal mesh openings in this case for great air flow. Nine drive bays that have a fantastic tool-less design with easy to move sturdy drive plates. The mobo tray that glides in and out like a dream. THe swinging side door with built in compartments for more fans also makes accessing and working in this case very easy. Cool and quiet were my requirements and this case met and exceeded them! I highly recommend this case!

 

[Vybuni]

Thats a pretty nice looking case, but $300. Kinda expensive, and it doesnt even have a PSU. The least they could do is put in a decent PSU for that much $$$.