This is my second post. After getting a bunch of feedback on my first one, I re-tooled my component list and hopefully I'm on track now.

My son and I are getting ready to build our first system - zero experience. I would like to get feedback on the components that we've selected (i.e. will they work together, do they make sense for our needs, are there better choices, etc.). Also, am I missing anything obvious?

We are trying to build a system that would allow my son to play games such as Crysis on high settings. My needs are a lot more basic - photo editing, web site design, etc. I'm not going to be the type that wants to upgrade very often - my current PC is five years old..... I really just want to be able to handle some of the cool games out there now plus see me into the future for a little while.

Heres what I ended up with:

• Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - [url] http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ntec%2b900 [/url] - about $100 with shipping
• Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115017 - $210
• Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD7500AAKS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] WD7500AAKS - $130
• mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146785 - $109
• ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299
• ASUS EAH4850/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814121253 - $315 (mobo / graphics card combo deal)
• PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] f%2bEPS12V - $130
• SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 2bSH-S203B - $36
• XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] bHDT-S1283 - $45 (someone noted that I need this on my last posting.... I'm goin' with it for now...)

Any advice that you guys can provide will be appreciated.

Thanks!
Moez

The case and PSU support Crossfire, i.e. two of those HD 4850 cards. Crysis needs two of them for high settings. The P5Q Pro is not a good choice for it, on the other hand, because it drops to x8 in Crossfire. For best results get a P5E Deluxe X48 (or GA-X48-DS4) and add a second video card (now, or whenever prices drop).

The Xigmatek works best if you also buy the retention bracket for it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019

There's a Corsair 750TX PSU for $20 less than the Silencer, and also excellent.