Hello, I've been doing some searching around and looking at what people are saying on here. I've come to the conclusion that I really need a new computer and I figure that it'd be cheaper and possibly more fun to build one for myself. I use my computer for gaming, web surfing, school work, and some movie editing and music making (but not that much). I've created a list of parts that I'm looking at getting; I'm looking at the whole package here (tower, monitor, keyboard, and possibly speakers). Anyway, here's what I've been looking at so far:
CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 mid-Tower Computer Case ~ $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
PSU: OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240V ~ $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002
MOTHERBOARD: ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard ~ $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 ~ $320
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003
GPU: eVGA Geforce 7900GTO Video Card ~ $256
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130065
HARD DRIVE: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ~ $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140
MONITOR: SAMSUNG 940BF Black 19" 2ms (Gray-To-Gray) DVI LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 ~ $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001230
or
Samsung 931BF - Black 19" Analog/Digital LCD Monitor 2 ms ~ $270
http://www.samsung.com/Products/Monitor/LCD_Digital/LS19MEDSFXAA.asp
OPTICAL DRIVE: SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology ~ $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136
RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory ~ $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034
COOLING: ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED 92mm 2 Ball Blue LED Light Cooling Fan with Heatsink ~ $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118223
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound ~ $6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007
KEYBOARD: Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Keyboard ~ $72
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126179
I believe that totals to about $1849 (not sure if my math is off a bit). But basically I have a few questions about some things.
-How is that Motherboard? Is it compatible with the RAM I'm looking at? Is there any other mobo that I could take a look at?
-Are either of those monitors sufficient? I've seen the 931bf personally at my local best buy and it looks spectacular
-Will the cooling be enough if I plan to overclock a bit? if not what else could I look at using?
-Is that case going to allow enough airflow and keep things cool enough and also have enough space? I've seen it in person and I personally don't really like the look of it, what other cases could I look at getting?
-Would that GPU be good enough to support all the new games and last a good while before needing to upgrade? I was thinking of waiting until the new G80 series come out with dx10, but I heard you need vista to allow the dx10 and I'm not planning on getting vista. Would a g80 series card still be worth waiting for or not really?
-What are some decent speakers I could look at getting? I currently have these Altec Lansing speakers http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details_VS3151_discontinued.asp I was thinking of possibly just keeping these speakers, but maybe not (I don't know how good they are compaired to other speakers)
-would a sound card be something worth looking into buying later on down the road? I was looking at two possible choices:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006
Sorry about all the questions; I'm a complete idiot when it comes to computers, but I'm really trying hard to learn as much as I can about these things. That way I actually know and understand what I'm getting. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I'm really not looking to spend more than about $2000 but I guess I could slightly stretch that limit (I'm looking to keep this system for a few years, so I don't want to cheap out now and regret it later). I also may possibly be able to get some of these parts at a cheaper wholesale price from my friend's father who has some connections with wholesalers (he used to make RAM for a living). Anyway, thank you in advance for any responses.
CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 mid-Tower Computer Case ~ $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119068
PSU: OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240V ~ $155
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002
MOTHERBOARD: ASUS P5W DH DELUXE/WIFI-AP Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 975X ATX Intel Motherboard ~ $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131025
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 ~ $320
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003
GPU: eVGA Geforce 7900GTO Video Card ~ $256
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130065
HARD DRIVE: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ~ $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140
MONITOR: SAMSUNG 940BF Black 19" 2ms (Gray-To-Gray) DVI LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1 ~ $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001230
or
Samsung 931BF - Black 19" Analog/Digital LCD Monitor 2 ms ~ $270
http://www.samsung.com/Products/Monitor/LCD_Digital/LS19MEDSFXAA.asp
OPTICAL DRIVE: SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology ~ $31
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136
RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory ~ $280
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145034
COOLING: ZALMAN CNPS9500 LED 92mm 2 Ball Blue LED Light Cooling Fan with Heatsink ~ $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118223
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound ~ $6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007
KEYBOARD: Logitech G15 2-Tone 104 Normal Keys USB Wired Standard Keyboard ~ $72
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126179
I believe that totals to about $1849 (not sure if my math is off a bit). But basically I have a few questions about some things.
-How is that Motherboard? Is it compatible with the RAM I'm looking at? Is there any other mobo that I could take a look at?
-Are either of those monitors sufficient? I've seen the 931bf personally at my local best buy and it looks spectacular
-Will the cooling be enough if I plan to overclock a bit? if not what else could I look at using?
-Is that case going to allow enough airflow and keep things cool enough and also have enough space? I've seen it in person and I personally don't really like the look of it, what other cases could I look at getting?
-Would that GPU be good enough to support all the new games and last a good while before needing to upgrade? I was thinking of waiting until the new G80 series come out with dx10, but I heard you need vista to allow the dx10 and I'm not planning on getting vista. Would a g80 series card still be worth waiting for or not really?
-What are some decent speakers I could look at getting? I currently have these Altec Lansing speakers http://www.alteclansing.com/product_details_VS3151_discontinued.asp I was thinking of possibly just keeping these speakers, but maybe not (I don't know how good they are compaired to other speakers)
-would a sound card be something worth looking into buying later on down the road? I was looking at two possible choices:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102188
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102006
Sorry about all the questions; I'm a complete idiot when it comes to computers, but I'm really trying hard to learn as much as I can about these things. That way I actually know and understand what I'm getting. Any information would be greatly appreciated. I'm really not looking to spend more than about $2000 but I guess I could slightly stretch that limit (I'm looking to keep this system for a few years, so I don't want to cheap out now and regret it later). I also may possibly be able to get some of these parts at a cheaper wholesale price from my friend's father who has some connections with wholesalers (he used to make RAM for a living). Anyway, thank you in advance for any responses.