1st time builder help?

[bensamgold]

Hello, am a complete newb at building computers however have a lot of experenice in software. Budget around 2-2.5k. Primary use is graphic design (Photoshop, Illustrator,Indesign) though will break out a game occasionally..

Here's what I've selected so far:

Graphics Card: EVGA 01G-P3-N895-AR GeForce 9800 GX2 KO 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail (already own two 24" inch monitor's capable of 1920px-1200)


Motherboard: ASUS Striker II Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI DDR3 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 3.0GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail

RAM: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail


Would like to setup RAID 1, have no idea if controller comes with software or how to do that?..

RAID Controller:3ware 8006-2LP PCI 64-bit SATA 2-port SATA RAID Controller RAID 0/1 JBOD - Retail

2 Hard Drives: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST31000340AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM



Case , Power Supply, Cooling Fan help? No real prefence other then would like case to look somewhat "cool" and power supply/fan to be reliable. Anything else I'm missing?

Thanks,
Ben

 

[Gustave5436]

motherboard: Biostar I45
CPU: Q9550
graphics card: 4870X2
RAM: 4GB DDR2
PSU: corsair 750TX

Amounting to ~$1250 or so

The CPU and graphics card I listed are a bit expensive in my opinion, you could drop down to a Q6600 and 1 GB 4870 or something. Just because you have a 2k budget doesn't mean you need to use/waste it (and spending $550 on a CPU, $400 on a motherboard, etc. is definitely wasting it).

 

[zedman3d]

Yep id say the one Gustave5436 posted is the generic rig we recommend around here with the exception of the 4870X2, we would usually just say go with the 4850 but yeah, with that budget the above is perfect for you.

Here's also a 'look at me' case while not being overly stupid:
Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER HAF 932 RC-932-KKN1-GP Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Computer Cases