First build, budget $2000+

[bryan240g]

So this will be my first build, in approx. 1 month. Tell me what you think. I already have (2) 80gb Raptors, and (2) EVGA 8800GT Superclocked, so you won't see them in my list.

SILVERSTONE TJ10-BW Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811163089

LG Black 20X DVD+R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136117

SILVERSTONE OP1000 ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V 1000W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256010

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

Patriot Viper 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220286

EVGA 132-CK-NF79-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI DDR3 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188025

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz (OEM version SOLD OUT)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

(4) Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120mm Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185006

ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118019

I picked these components because they have very good reviews, I realize that some are more expensive than others, and I realize I could probably get other items as good but for less. But this is it, tell me what you think. Thanks for looking. By the way this will be a gaming only machine, that I will be overclocking once I learn more about it. Also in the future plan to switch to watercooling.

 

[rockstone1]

If you can afford it, it looks wonderful.

 

[oushi]

You've got deep pockets my friend...

 

[bryan240g]

Great thanks. Not deep pockets, but IRS refund plus I have been saving awhile for it. It's gotta last me several years. My wife is in college so I can't spend like this very often. Glad you guys approve. Keep the feedback coming.

 

[mihirkula]

Why do you need a kilowatt of power supply?.. lol...$200 extra is a lot.. you might as well use that cash to get a Q9450...

 

[aznguy0028]

wow you sure are insanely rich...why are you going ddr3? not only is it expensive, i don't even think its potential can be used at this point. unless you are taking your FSB into the 500's and beyond for OC???? like the post above me mentioned...do you need 1k PSU? if i were you (just my opinion) i would get ddr2 800 memory, and cheaper mobo because i honestly don't think you need ddr3. even if you need good ram, i say ddr2 1066 at most. and go for a q9450 with the money u saved i'm sure if you're trying to future proof your system, and you know multi-threaded games and programs are definately going to be the future.

 

[bryan240g]

The reason I am buying ddr3 is because I want a mobo that will last me several years. And that mobo uses ddr3. The reason I am buying such a large power supply, is because in the near future, I will be upgrading to more coolers, and most likely a third video card, and also I will be using watercooling. And to be honest, if there's a few items I don't wanna have to purchase everytime I wanna build a new machine, it is the power supply, and the case. And hopefully I can get several years out of the mobo aswell. The reason I am not getting the Q9450, is because this is strictly a gaming machine. I have a dell that I use for everything else. And the Quads are not fully utilized in games yet, and within 2 years I will probably upgrade to a faster processor. You see I don't stay satisfied with one thing for long, I always want something bigger and badder. But thanks for your feedback keep it coming.

 

[bryan240g]

I am thinking about either adding another 8800GT and running 3 in SLI, especially since the price is going down, or do you think it would be better, to just send these 2 cards back to EVGA and upgrade through their 90 day upgrade option and get 2 better cards? This machine is strictly for gaming. And are there any coolers made for the GT to OC?

 

[oushi]

Don't believe you can run 8800GT's in tri-SLI. The 9800GTX was just released... you could trade up to that...

 

[diplodink]

On one of the reviews on Newegg someone mentions that the Zalman cooler doesn't fit the 790i mobo.

I just purchased the 790i mobo myself but I'm holding off on a cooler till I can find one that for sure will work. It's so new that I haven't confirmed one that can work yet with anyone.

If you know a good cooler that for sure fits the board, please let me know

My only other suggestion is that you might be able to sneak by for a year or so on 2 GB of ram (the 4 GB of DDR3 is like 3 times as expensive as 2 GB making it kind of uneconomical right now) and hope that by the time games are demanding more ram of you ddr3 goes way down in price. That's my plan. The other consideration regarding that too is the 790i has crazy memory speeds, like up to 2000 or beyond, and that kind of memory exists right now but is crazy expensive. In 2 years though we'll have the mobo to run it still but the prices will be much much lower and we can take full advantage of our (hopefully) future proof mobo. If you're buying 1333 memory anyway, chances are that memory is sunk costs because at some point you'll fully upgrade to 8gb of 2000. So really the question is will the point where the 8gb of 2000 is relatively cheap coincide with needing 4 gb - if you think those things will happen around the same time I think you'd be better off saving some money and getting 2 gb. That's my hope anyway. Best laid plans...

Other than that looks like a fantastic setup.

 

[grieve]

If you plan to go with Water you might want to do it before installing everything in case.

-No Vid Cards?
-No Sound?
-No HDD's?

You can make a pretty sick water cooling setup for about $500'ish