My First Build, Version 1.0

[vale]

Hi everyone... I've never built a computer before, but my home PC just died and rather than attempt to repair that dinosaur, I've decided to build a high-end gaming machine.

Here's what I've got so far... please give me your thoughts! If you see where I can trim the price, that would be great.

All components from newegg. I'm trying to build a high-end machine, and am trying to keep everything SLI compliant (in case I go that route in the future).

Case:
Coolermaster Ammo-533 Gaming Tower $65 w/discount
Power Supply: No
Motherboard: ATX 12" x 9.6"; Micro-ATX
(1) 120mm fan
19.9 x 8.5 x 18.1 (inches)
22 lbs

Processor:
E6600 Core 2 Duo (Conroe) $310
2.4GHz
Heatsink and fan included
LGA 775 socket type


Motherboard:
Asus P5N32 $208
Supports Core 2 Duo, SLI
4 x 240pin RAM slots, with DDR2 800 standard
(2) PCIe x 16, (1) PCIe x 4, (2) PCI x 1, (2) PCI slots
ATX, 12.0 x 9.6 (inches)
(4) USB slots
Supports SATA 3 Gb/s
I selected this motherboard because it seemed the most reasonably priced SLI-compliant motherboard.



MSI NX8800GTS $450 w/ $20 discount
640MB
(2) DVI ports, HDTV
Supports SLI
I play games at 1280x1024, and there doesn't seem to be much of a performance difference between the GTS and the more expensive 8800GTX at that resolution.



Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS $75
250GB
16MB Cache
7200 RPM
I could salvage a 5400 rpm, 2MB cache Wester Digital hard drive from my old machine. If I did that, I wouldn't have to purchase another version of Windows (I don't have the install Windows XP install CDs - they didn't come with my old computer when I purchased it from Circuit City.

Memory:
Patriot 2GB (2 x 1GB) $282
240-pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)


Power Supply Unit:
Not sure! Selecting the PSU has been the most difficult decision yet. It would seem I need three 12V connectors (one for the 8800 GTS, second for a dual 8800 GTS if I go that route, third for the hard drive) but the GTS requires a 12V connection with a lot of amps [have read 26A is recommended but have not been able to verify], and the PSUs capable of supplying 20+ amps generally just have two 12V connection. I may move this question to the PSU forum.

Read/Write DVD:
Hope to salvage low-end component from old machine.

CD-Rom
Hope to salvage low-end component from old machine.

Monitor:
17-in. LCD, not worried about selecting model yet.

Sound Card:
Not certain.

Speakers:
Not certain.

 

[UAL3312]

Case: i us3e a CM stacker, your choice looks fine though

Core 2 Duo E6600:Good CPU BUT i would highly reccomend an aftermarket Cooler, i use the Zalman 9500 available here

Motherboard: for gaming you may want to consider the 680i boards, i have the eVGA one and it works awesome

for the GTS, go for it, i dont particularly like MSI though, ASUS eVGA and BFG are generally who i aim for in graphics

keep the WD 250Gig i personally use 2 WD raptors in RAID 0 but the Caviar works great

for the RAM i guess its kinda what suits you but Gskill and Corsair in my opinion would be a better brand

PSU: get a Thermaltake 750 Watt i use an Enermax 1000W but the 750 is fine for what your powering DVD writer, if it suits you to strip the old go for it

Sound card isnt required for alot of boards but the X-fi is good from Creativei added one speakers whatever is in your budget