Please critique my system (E6300 build)

Hi guys

I've been browsing this forum for awhile looking to build a system for around 1200 USD.

My main purposes for this build is to mainly play new games eg: Oblivon and general use such as playing media files.

I'm not looking for the latest and greatest PC but something that will hopefully still be good in a few years time. I'm essentially looking to buy a pc that will be reliable with the best bang per buck parts.

These are the specs and prices of newegg that I've found.

CPU:Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe 1.86GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor$180

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 Express ATX Intel$150

Memory: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory$308
**note price comes with free DVD burner

Graphics: SAPPHIRE 100168L Radeon X1900XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 CrossFire Video Card$249

Hard drives: Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM$160

PSU: Antec NeoHE 500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 100Vac to 240Vac +/- 10% UL, CUL, TUV, CE, FCC, CCC, CB, C-tick - Retail$100

Case: LIAN LI PC-60USB B2 Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case$100

Total: 1247

Questions:

1. I'm not sure if I should buy the 7900GT or the X1900XT? Any opinons?
2. I'm not an overclocker so if there are any parts that would essential still do the trick then please post the alternatives.

Thanks all in advance for the suggestions

I was thinking that you could save on the RAM. The Seagate is a good choice, but no, nothing wrong with what you've picked Chanos. WR2's options will get you a bit more bang for only $13.00 more though, so skip a movie and do that - the E6600 is probably a bridge too far for your budget, but it's my preferred choice for processor.

I have a eVGA 7900GT, it's a good card. the X1900XT is a perfectly good choice too, but be prepared for a louder fan. Both do a good trick on Oblivion (I play that myself), but I think you might like the X1900XT more for that game as you can do HDR and AA with an appropriately patched Radeon card, while all nVidia cards are either HDR or AA.

Thanks again for both of your opinons.

Wr2 - Even though new egg in the specs for the board states that the speed is DDR2 800 there wont be any difference if I chuck the 667 one in?

If you arent overclocking at all get DDR2 533 with low latency (3-4). Expensive RAM doesnt proove any improvement unless youre overclocking.

The Seagate 7200.10 performances on pair (and even beats in some benchmarks) with the Raptors. Get two 250GB ones and run them in a RAID 0 config to get even more performance.

Take a look at the OCZ GameXstream 600W, youll be surprised. OCZ uses the same Fortron hardware as Antec so they perform extremely closely.

X1900XT 256mb > 7900gt in every single way.

Get the E6600 with the money ive saved you hehe