C2D Budget Build

[6535]

What does everyone think:

C2D E6400 Conroe 2.18GHz (LGA 775)
Intel BOXDG965RYCK (LGA 775) intel G965 Express
Corsair XMS2 1GB(512x2) DDR2 800
BFG GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 GPU
WD 200GB 7200rpm 3.0Gb/s SATA HDD
NEC 16x DVD+-R Optical
FSP (Fortron) AX500-A, v. 2.0, 500W PSU

I have a case and OS. I don't need top of the line--I play some games (don't need maxed settings, just decent) and school work with very non-intensive video/audio/image stuff. I plan on keeping this system for 4 years w/out having to do major updates (can't build a whole new system for 4 years). Plan on adding another 1GB of RAM when my budget allows and new GPU when DX 10 arrives (maybe other updates in the future).

Above is w/in my budget at $800-900. A good setup for my needs/budget?

 

[1Tanker]

What does everyone think:

C2D E6400 Conroe 2.18GHz (LGA 775)
Intel BOXDG965RYCK (LGA 775) intel G965 Express
Corsair XMS2 1GB(512x2) DDR2 800
BFG GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 GPU
WD 200GB 7200rpm 3.0Gb/s SATA HDD
NEC 16x DVD+-R Optical
FSP (Fortron) AX500-A, v. 2.0, 500W PSU

I have a case and OS. I don't need top of the line--I play some games (don't need maxed settings, just decent) and school work with very non-intensive video/audio/image stuff. I plan on keeping this system for 4 years w/out having to do major updates (can't build a whole new system for 4 years). Plan on adding another 1GB of RAM when my budget allows and new GPU when DX 10 arrives (maybe other updates in the future).

Above is w/in my budget at $800-900. A good setup for my needs/budget?

Yes, that looks like a decent budget system, and should fill your needs nicely. One suggestion...Core2Duo runs great with the RAM running synchronously(1:1..RAM/FSB speed), so you could get away with DDR2-533. You would likely save a little money going this route, and could either add a little more money to top-up to 2GB, or you could take the savings and put it towards a little bigger hard-drive...say 250-320GB. There won't be much price difference, and audio/video files can eat up hard drive space in a hurry. GL

 

[i8blarg]

wow you can do all that for 800-900 bucks? i'm new to this and looking to build and this is a good reference point to start. are you guaging your pricing off of newegg or somewhere else?