Very First Gaming PC Build

[Blank_Man]

Hello, I've been browsing around the site for a while and have looked at what people are suggesting and saying about certain products. I've been looking at building myself a gaming pc (Since right now I have a basic HP computer I bought for school about 2 or 3 yrs ago). I'm not looking to spend a ton of money (Like more than $2000) but I also don't want to be cheap and would like this computer to last me a while. Anyway, I have a basic set-up of what I'm looking at getting with a few parts missing. If anyone could critique my set-up and give any info on other things that work better that would be great, thanks.

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068

Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931
or
OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341001

ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

eVGA 512-P2-N573-AR Geforce 7900GTO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130065

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

Acer AL1917ABMD Black 19" 8ms DVI LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824009083

So far that's what I have, I'm still confused on what RAM to buy (in terms of speed and whatnot). Also if anyone has any Optical Drives that are good and any cooling system that would be great. I hope someone can help me on this, I'm not really that computer savvy and am basically relying on what others tell me is good or bad.

 

[Bob_Gates]

Why two psu's?

 

[Petro2342]

Im glad you are getting it from Newegg.com. They have the best deals and shipping is awesome! I pretty much placed an order yesturday and its on its way here today! Pretty much free over night shipping lol if your lucky you'll get that too.

I would sugguest getting wide screen LCD just because its the new style. I work in a retail store and we replaced our square lcds for widescreen over the summer. Plus its awesome for movies and gaming. Same price really. Other then that your setup looks top notch.

 

[Inziladun]

Looks good, personally I would go for the OCZ. I have the 700W version and it's great. DDR2-800 would be good for that setup, what brand depends on what you're looking to do with the setup and your price range.

Also, don't use the Speakers on the Monitor. Not only are they worse than buying a cheap 2.1 setup, they can damage the Monitor in the longterm.

 

[ProSlayer]

Case - Good choice
PSU - Your call, if you plan on upgrading a lot, you are going to need 600W. Both are good brands.
Motherboard - Do you need WiFi? If not, you are better off getting a cheaper mobo, maybe the Gigabyte 965P DS3.
CPU - I would upgrade to the e6600 since it has an xtra 2MB Cache. It is better if you don't plan on upgrading for a while.
Video Card - Good choice (Might run out of stock soon)
HD - I don't recommend buying OEM because it doesn't come with a manual, cables, etc.
Optical Drive - Just make sure you get a decent brand (Lite-on, Sony, etc.)
RAM - If you plan to OC, then Corsair XMS 1/2GB is the way to go. If not, any decent (G.Skill, Patriot, OCZ, etc.) 2GB RAM works.

Comments: There are many sales just around the corner. Halloween, Black Friday, and if you don't need it for a while, Christmas. Also, there is a new series of video cards coming out so it may be worth it to wait till at least those come out in a month or so.

 

[Blank_Man]

Ok, thanks for the info. I was thinking of going with the e6600, but I thought I'd save a bit of money and go with the e6400 instead, but if I do end up going with a cheaper motherboard like suggested then I'll probably put the money saved from that into the better e6600. Also, I'm a rookie with computers, so I've never overclocked anything before and don't really know how to. Would it be a good idea for me to look into doing that? One other thing, what does OEM mean? Is that like an open-box item?

 

[TheOtis]

With the components you've selected for it, and some good memory, ( I personally like OCZ), then you could definetly get a good overclock. Make sure you read up alot about how to do it correctly first. Also consider getting an aftermarket heatsink. You don't have a need to go watercooling.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118223

I've heard nothing but good things about that one.

Theirs "OEM and "Retail". OEM means you just get the product.

Say you were to go out and buy a 7900GT. The retail version of the 7900gt would come a fancy box, the video card, the cd with the drivers, some free or trial software, maybe a 4 pin to 6 pin molex connecter.

The OEM version will come with possibly a plain jane white box that's just big enough to hold the video card and cd for the driver.


Same exact video card, no extras.

 

[Blank_Man]

Ok, well if I made those changes then I would be looking at something like this:

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811119068

OCZ GameXStream OCZ600GXSSLI ATX12V 600W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB/CE/CSA/UL/FCC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16817341001

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

eVGA 512-P2-N573-AR Geforce 7900GTO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16814130065

Acer AL1917ABMD Black 19" 8ms DVI LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 Built in Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16824009083

ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED 92mm 2 Ball Blue LED Light Cooling Fan with Heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118223

I still haven't picked out the memory yet, still deciding between 1 or 2 gigs. I'll also have to look for another Hard drive since that one was OEM (unless it really is a decent Hard drive and then I'll just find it somewhere else). Other than that, how does this system look?

Also, for gaming purposes, is there any difference in what Operating system I choose? (Such as XP home or XP media, etc.). I'm also wondering if I'll have to buy an audio card as well? if so what is decent one that I could look at that's still a resonable price?

Thank you all very much for you input and responses so far, you're helping me out a lot with this.

 

[KBlair]

If you're going to do a lot of business networking in your house and whatnot, Windows XP Professional would be best, if you want to be able to use TV tuners and such in the future (Along with that fancy Media Center dohickey), you would want to go towards Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005.

 

[Blank_Man]

Ok cool, thanks a lot, I think I have a Windows XP disc lying around somewhere, I'll just have to find it. But once again, am i going to have to buy an audio card? if so what are some decent ones to look at?

Also, how does this memory look? is it compatible with the motherboard I'm thinking of right now?

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231065