Building my first PC (gamer)

[zootso]

Hi everyone. This is my first time posting here, but I've lurked around a lot while researching and found everything here extremely helpful. I'm working on building my first PC and I plan on using it primarily for gaming. I will be overclocking my CPU, but I'm afraid to try with my video card/RAM. I am on a budget of about $1200 though. This is my setup so far, so if you have any suggestions or if I messed up somewhere please let me know. Thanks in advance. Also, the case has quite a bit of cooling, but will I need more cooling? My gaming sessions tend to go pretty long.



CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
-Also getting an AC Freezer 7 Pro with some SC silver 5 thermal grease.

Mobo: ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel

RAM: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit -- I'll be getting 2 of these for windows 64 bit.

Video Card: ASUS EN9800GT ULTIMATE/HTDP/512M GeForce 9800 GT 512MB

IHD: Western Digital Caviar 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit

Case: Antec 900

PSU: OCZ GameXStream 700W

DVD/Rw: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA

Keyboard: Razer Lycosa

Mouse: Already on the Razer DeathAdder

Monitor: LG 22" LCD

Headset: Any suggestions?

Wireless Card: Any suggestions?

 

[slomo4sho]

The Antec Nine Hundred is currently bundled with the Antec NeoPower 650 for $154.98
http://secure.newegg.com/Shopping/AddToCart.aspx?Submit=ADD&ItemList=Combo.136598

I would also recomend going with a 4850 over the 9800:
ASUS EAH4850 TOP/HTDI/512M Radeon HD 4850 512MB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121272

G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Chan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209 is a better choice than the Corsair ram in my opinion

 

[geofelt]

For a gaming system, spend your money on the vga card first. Your system is good, but the cpu can drive the fastest vga card out there. See if you can add some funds to the vga component to get a more balanced system.

To save a bit, consider the Antec 300 case.

 

[aeiouandxyz]

The mobo you chose will support crossfire but not SLI. Plus, the 4850 kicks the 9800gt's keister in almost every benchmark and game. You don't need 8 GB of DDR2 ram for a gaming PC especially since Core i7 is coming and DDR3 will be new standard.

 

[kamkal]

scrap the 9800

get a 4850 instead

 

[ahslan]

1. You dont need a 700w psu...a solid 500 will suffice...
2. I would go for an HD 4850 rather than the 9800gt
3. Dont go with 8 gigs of ram...4 will do...(would also look at the Gskill Pi black RAM that Slomo4shO recommended)

 

[kamkal]

for a wireless card (im guessing 802.11g.n) i would go with
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127218

if you dont need N you can get this instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833127145


the N will get you faster speeds between you and your N router, that's the biggest advantage to it but then you also need an N router
the N is useful if you have more than one computer on your network and want to transfer files back and forth

in fact, if you can get by without wireless, it's even better
gigabit ethernet is *cartman voice* "uber pwnage"

 

[thrak]

Build looks good. I think the power supply is a little overkill unless you're going to be using a multi GPU setup down the road. 9800gt is a great card. Sure there are better but for the price you can't beat it. My 8800gt is still going strong!