mid/high end gaming computer

[marsh242]

this is the most expensive computer I've ever built so i don't want to make any mistakes
Price range: < 2600
reason: mid to high gaming
case: antec twelve hundred http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043 $214.95

mobo: ASUS P5E3 WS PRO LGA 775 Intel X38 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131282 $ 279.99

cpu : Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115042 $339.99

cpu cooler: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134 $26.99

gpu: GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127360 $656.99

memory: Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 1333 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220286 $219.99
grease: Arctic Silver Ceramique http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100009 $4.99

cd: Pioneer 20X DVD±R DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129018 $32.99

hdd: Western Digital Caviar 640gb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218 $99.99

power: Antec TruePower Quattro 1000W http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371012 $299.99

total: $2,112.85

please tell me if I missed anything, bottlenecks or any anything else it will be greatly apreciated

 

[chris312]

Since you aren't doing SLI and (IMO) DDR3 is much less performance for the price compared to DDR2, I would switch to a much cheaper P35 motherboard and DDR2 memory. That's $300 right there, almost enough to get a nice 24" monitor to go with that GTX280. Or, if you already have a monitor, think about another hard drive for Windows.

You could also probably get away with a PSU between 600 and 700 watts depending on the brand,

 

[akhilles]

That depends on how long you're gonna keep the pc. If say for years, yup go for it. If it's until Nehalem, pick up P35 + DDR2.

 

[evongugg]

X38 is a Crossfire board. You are getting a Nvidia card.
Do you want to switch to AMD?
Or do you want to go the 790i route?

 

[marsh242]

how do you know if its crossfire or not

 

[MoeDaKilla]

Please do not get a P35 mobo. Go for an X48 for best performance. It appears as if you are willing to pay top dollar for your parts, so here is what i recommend. Good choices for everything except mobo and cpu cooler.

Here are my recommendations:

Thermaltake Armor+ (it has a removable mobo tray)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133056

Gigabyte X48 mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128330

G Skill (2x2GB) at tight timings RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231167

CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835202007&Tpk=vendetta+2
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835887011

Thermal Grease Artic Cooling MX2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=artic+cooling+mx

DVD Burner (Samsung is much better and cheaper)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151154

PSU (modular Corsair and cheaper)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139007

HDD (Samsung Spinpoint [32 mb cache] and faster than Caviar and quieter)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100

I personally have a Q9450 myself but its a pain to overclock. However, the Q9450 is a great cpu. You can easily OC it to 3.2 GHz amd have it run in 1:1 with your RAM at 1600 MHz speeds. However, anything more than 3.5 GHz will require days of work. Most people experience FSB limitations after ~460 FSB. I haven't been able to get past 450. Hope this helps and by the way I doubt you will experience any lag in games since you're gettin a GTX 280.

 

[rubix_1011]

X38, P35, X48 = Intel; support Crossfire and sinlge nNvidia only

650i, 680i, 780i 790i = nVidia; single ATI and SLI capable

DDR2/P35 = cheap and good

DD3/X48 = expensive and a little better. But a lot more expensive.

 

[MoeDaKilla]

btw theres a combo deal on the q9450 with the psu i just posted its a $30 instant rebate

 

[spotless]

rubix_1011 : iam using MSI 750i, looking forward for great performance / value & good IQ card

 

[qwertycopter]

I think you're spending too much on the case, probably should look at a Xigmatek s1283 Cooler over the Freezer 7, and would be better served at less cost by two 9800GTX in SLI (but not on that motherboard).