Building computer, $2k budget

[otepvashj]

I am building a new computer, and I am just making sure that I have things correct. I'm also very responsive towards suggestions.

A few parts have already been ordered (case, graphics/sound cards, CD rom drives, keyboard/mouse)

Processor: Intel Q9450 (Jan 08) - $316 projected
Motherboard: Asus P5N32-E 680i SLI - $205
Storage: Western Digital 250gb HD - $70
RAM: 4gb G.Skill - $150
Sound card: X-Fi Fatal1ty Champion - bought
Video Card: XFX 8800GT - bought
Monitors: (2)Samsung 2232GW 22'' LCD - $700
CD Drives: (2)Samsung 20x - bought
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610w - $130
OS: Vista 64bit - $180
Keyboard/Mouse: Saitek Eclipse II & Logitech G7 - bought
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 - $300

Total: ~$2k

I understand the new intel processors coming out are very heat tolerable and i've seen articles on E8500's OC'd to 4.7 on air already. It would seem stupid not to OC the quad I plan on getting, question is - I have never OC'd before (although i'm not afraid to)... would the components that I have support a decent overclock of the Q9450?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[broomcorn]

"Storage: Western Digital 250gb HD - $70"

Suggest you use the above noted drive as your 2nd HD for Storage and add a Western Digital Raptor 10,000 rpm HD as your main HD.

 

[akhilles]

If you plan to get over 4ghz out of it, you would get the exact same parts as the oveclocked one you read about. Most of them crazy o/c's are done on X38/P35. But you can try.

These are good 22" deals:

http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplay?zipCode=20002&jspStoreDir=Staples&splCatType=1&catalogId=10051&productId=200418&cmArea=FEATURED%3ASC3%3ACG4&errorUrl=zipcode&langId=-1&storeId=10001&ddkey=StaplesZipCodeAdd
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5175356

 

[aevm]

You've got some good parts there, good job.

If you add second video card and enable SLI, I don't think you'll be able to have dual monitors at the same time. Not sure about that - do some research.

Have you picked a cooler yet? The case matters a lot here, because the best coolers are huge and won't fit in some smaller cases.

 

[otepvashj]

I am thinking a Zalman 9500 or 9700... it isn't terribly important right now though. I want to get back home and measure the room I have between the CPU and the side of the case. Worse comes to worse, i'll just pick a different cooler.

As far as monitors go, I thought about the SLI configuration and whether or not it'd work with dual monitors. If I find that it wouldn't work, a single 27+ should work for me, having my laptop be the web surfer.

 

[sharp910sh]

There is no proof that the 45nm cpu's will work in a nvidia board

 

[otepvashj]

I suppose that'll be the last few things that I will purchase when I buy my computer components.

 

[akhilles]

The EVGA 680i will have a bios update for 45nm cpu's (which will have native support in 780i), but I'm not sure about the ASUS board.