Building my first system need advice

[airbabed]

I'm trying to build my first computer and want it to last about 3+ years. I will be doing some light gaming, and converting videos and burning. My budget is around $1k for the computer parts and planning to buy a 22'' monitor.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz $189.99

HD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB $79.99

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R $119.99 - $15 rebate = $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

Video Card:SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB $239.99 -$10 rebate = $229.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W $99.99 - $20 rebate = $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

Burner: Suggestion- Samsung?/Lite-on?/LG?/Sony?
CPU cooler: Suggestion
Case: Antec 300/suggestion

Questions:
1. If I don't really game that much, so would it better of getting the 4850 and do I need crossfire in the future to play games. I'll be probably playing SC2, and some other games.

2. For the Memory I see people on the forum say go with DDR2-800 rather 1066, and some say 1066. So what is the better choice.

Thanks in Advances~

 

[ppriyank]

hey, i'm fairly new at building computer (workin on my first project as we speak) with the help of people on here, this is what i came up with, and it looks fairly like ur system...

PCP&Cooling 750W PSU - $115 @ Tigerdirect
Intel Q9550 w/ FREE FarCry 2 - $309.99 @ Tigerdirect
Logitech Wave Keyboard - $49.99 @ Tigerdirect
SAMSUNG 22X DVD±R - $22.99 @ Newegg
COOLER MASTER HAF - $159.99 @ Newegg
WD6401AALS 640GB - $79.99 @ Newegg
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - $5.99 @ Newegg
ASUS Radeon HD 4870 1gb video card - $250 @ Newegg
OCZ Platinum 4gb (2x2gb) DDR2 1066 ram - $63 @ newegg
Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3P mobo - $137 @ newegg
LG Blu-ray - $120 @ newegg

TOTAL w/ Shipping and after rebates comes out to---- $1247.98

the memory that u have selected, is what i picked originally, but today on newedd i saw the OCZ ones for like $63 (w/ $30 mail in rebate) so they come out to $30, so that saves u bout $20.

as far as your video card is concerned, I'd just stick to what you have (i have same one for same price after rebate, but its ASUS). you said ur not big of a gamer, so just one of this card will last u long time, and u won't have to buy another one for crossfire, if ur not a big gammer.

another thing...the PSU that you have is for the same price as mine (after rebate) so if you want, you can spend the same amount and get a 750W PSU instead of 650 (if you do crossfire in future, you will need atleast 750W PSU).

about your memory question, i'm not sure if its true or not, but according to your MOBO link, the standard memory supported by ur MOBO is 1066/1366. so idk if 800 will work (i think it would but not sure). If you see the MOBO that i have selected (after rebates its $106) its very similar, but also has a eSATA port (idk y, but i wanted that in my MOBO).

everything else looks pretty much the same, from the money u saved from buying a Q6600, and not having a blu ray drive and also a cheaper case, you can buy a HDTV/monitor and still be under your budget.

For cooler, i'm not sure, but most likely your Q6600 cpu will come with it, and you won't need to get an after market cooler for your needs so you should be good with that.

i think that's all i got for you! good luck with everything...
Dr. P!

 

[airbabed]

Which of the following optical drive is good?

LG Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

SAMSUNG Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

LITE-ON Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263

Thanks

 

[ppriyank]

i think the LG one...although both LG and samsung are pretty similar.

 

[airbabed]

For the CPU cooler I think about XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

and people say that it need a bracket, so XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

If I buy a case like Antec 300 will the CPU cooler fit in it

And I'm still want to know what ram to get the 800 or 1066?

Thanks

 

[airbabed]

I am thinking about this G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) is it good for the price?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231209

For my PSU I listed the CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W for $99.99 - $20 rebate = $79.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005

and right now at Amazon the PC Power and Cooling S75CF Silencer 750W Quad Power Supply is selling for $99.99 - $35 rebate = $64.99 freeshipping/tax free
http://www.amazon.com/PC-Power-Cool...1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231997334&sr=1-1

Is the PC Power and Cooling the better deal. On newegg the PC Power and Cooling PSU is the same price at $79.99 with the Cosair TX650W PSU. Many people are having DOA, assuming its due to bad rough shipment.

 

[Akebono 98]

Get the G.Skill Pi Black DDR2-900, it is $50 on Newegg. You are unlikely to exceed 450 FSB on the Q6600 anyways.

The PCP&C 750 is the better deal, and you can use it for your next build.

The Xigmatek cooler definitely needs the backplate, and you can use the Thermalright LGA775 Bolt-Thru kit if yours is out of stock.

And yes, it fits in the Antec 300.