My first custom-built PC!

[Nojiko]

Hey everyone, long time user, just don't post. But I'd like your opinions on the computer I am planning on building in the next month.

Tower Case: Antec Twelve Hundred (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129043) [Purchased]
Power Supplies: PC Power & Cooling 750w (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703019) [Purchased]
Motherboard: eVGA nForce 780i (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188024)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052)
CPU Coolers: Xigmatek HDT-S1283 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003)
Memory: G.Skill 4GB / 2x 2 Gigs (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122) [Purchased]
Video Card: eVGA 9800 GTX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130339)
Hard Drives: N/A
OS: Ubuntu 64-bit 8.04 (Hardy Heron)

Total price: ~$850

Purpose: Budget-Gaming and upgradability into the future.
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I want to stick with nVidia for my Graphics card, despite the recent ATI cards that have been released.

I am willing to budge on pretty much anything else (except what I've already purchased of course!), thanks for any input you might be able to give me.

The case is a little extravagant, but it was on sale for around $150 when I bought it and I like it a lot. I also might be drinking the kool-aid when it comes to the 780i, because I've read mixed reviews on it being worth the premium price they charge for those, but I still feel like I'm willing to pay a little more if the Overclocking features and cooling the board has, on top of the 3rd chip-set that's on-board end up making it not so bad of a price for what you get. Welcome any criticism.

 

[effel]

Have you looked at the evga 750i ftw motherboard? Apparently it overclocks very well. If you're going to be running < 22" the 8x pci-e 2.0 with SLI shouldn't cause any issues-if you ever plan to SLI that is. This should save you a decent bit from the 780i.

How about switching the graphics card to the 9800GTX+ and the processor to the e8400?

 

[evongugg]

Add a DVD burner, unless you already have one:

LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X 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 with LightScribe - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106265

 

[chechnyan]

i agree with effel
e8400 or e8500 is a greet they do have nice overclocking potentials
its ok if want to stick with nvidia
but if you are not into SLI in the future with 9800 or even 9800+
Crossfire board with HD4850 could be cheaper and faster

 

[Shadow703793]

Imo, swap out the 9800 to a 4850/4870 and get a CrossFire board (P45/preferably X48).

Also for those promoting the 750i that chip set isn't well known for OCing.

Everything else looks good.

 

[effel]

It overclocks fine. 3.6ghz on air on a q6600 is pretty nice :O
http://www.guru3d.com/article/evga-nforce-750i-sli-ftw-for-the-win-review/4
This is the part where I could poke fun at you Shadow, but eh, I'm sure you hadn't read this article.

The OP made a point in sticking with Nvidia, which is where my suggestions came from. Personally, I'd do a P45 with a 4850 and a e8400 on a 19" Monitor. But I'm trying to help the OP pick what he's comfortable with.

 

[rasmusp123]

Its gonna be a pain in the ass to get new games to work on Ubuntu...

 

[evongugg]

If you get the ASUS P5Q3 (P45) you will need to install Ubuntu from a USB drive, because Ubuntu 8.04 will hang and will not mount the CD-Rom drive.

 

[skittle]

why are you getting a 9800gtx and using ubuntu :|

 

[skittle]

If you get the ASUS P5Q3 (P45) you will need to install Ubuntu from a USB drive, because Ubuntu 8.04 will hang and will not mount the CD-Rom drive.

On the P45 chipset you need to enable AHCI in order to load from the Live CD.
Its a pain, but it works.

 

[Nojiko]

Thanks for the reponses, guys.

I forgot to mention that I am dual-booting Windows XP Pro SP3 along side my Ubuntu installation and will likely upgrade to Vista 64 in the near future. I just like Ubuntu for when I'm doing anything that _does_ work on Ubuntu. Steam and WoW run on it pretty well, actually.

Anyway, yes I'd like to stick with nVidia and I'll look into the 750i ftw board as an alternative.

And yes, I already have a DVD Drive / HDs that I want to use.