Building a gaming computer

Why do you only have the links instead of actually telling us what the parts are? I doubt too many people are going to take the time to click on every link. Just a suggestion.

LOL at the Coolmax PSU. Try a reputable brand, like Corsair 1000HX or a PC Power & Cooling, Seasonic, Silverstone.

The GTX 260 you linked is deactivated. I suggest a GTX 280 or HD 4870 1GB instead.

Don't get Windows XP. The 32-bit version will be completely handicapped when you add one or two high-end video cards with lots of RAM. The 64-bit version may not even run some games. And either way you don't get DirectX 10. YOu want Vista Home Premium 64-bit, or Ultimate 64-bit.

64-bit Vista, are you sure?

I've heard a lot of bad things about it, particularly how it hurts game stability.

Also, would it be worth it to invest in two graphics cards or is that overkill

For the motherboard what about this one
EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188039

and this for the RAM
G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231222

New Revised List:
Parts

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202
289.99

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188039
299.99

Total: 589.98

G.SKILL 3GB (3 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231222
78.99

Total: 668.97

EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130365
304.99

Total: 973.96

Antec Twelve Hundred Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129043
199.99

Total: 1173.95

Power Supply
Antec Signature SG850 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply
219.99

Total: 1393.94

Windows XP Home edition
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6837116193
179.99

Total: 1573.91

Acer H213H bmid Black 21.5" 5ms HDMI Widescreen 16:9 Full HD 1080P LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 ACM 20000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009157
189.99

Total: 1763.92

-50.00 discount (Power Supply & Case)

Total: 1713.92

A couple of things, if you are going to build such a powerful machine it doesn't make sense to go with just a 32bit OS. Go with a 64bit version of Vista. I guess you could also go with the 64-bit version of Vista but I find it a little finicky myself. Also you selected Dual channel RAM and while you can use it the system is fastest while using tripple channel RAM like this 3GB set for Corsair or 6GB from Mushkin

CORSAIR XMS3 3GB (3 x 1GB) 86.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145221

mushkin 6GB (3 x 2GB) 133.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820226040


If you really want to stick with XP 32 bit then go with the 3GB of tripple channel RAM as it will be faster than that 4GB of Dual channel RAM and 32-bit windows won't be able to see more than 3GB anyway especially with a card like to 260 taking up over 800MB in address space. You don't need 1000W+ unless you want to do tripple SLI, and for that I would go with a good PSU like this corsair rather than risk shorting it all out with that cool max you picked

CORSAIR CMPSU-1000HX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139007

If you only plan on using a single card or only using 2-way SLI then just get a good unit from Corsair, FSP, or Antec with the appropriate power. As for the board you picked out you can't do 3-way SLI on it. If you look at the last two PCI-E slots they are too close together. You can't even really use that bottom slot if you are using cards that have dual slot coolers. The only 3-way that board can do is 3-way crossfire with some 4850s. If you want to use 3-way SLI you need a board with the proper spacing such as this

DFI LP UT X58-T3eH8
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813136063

It's a top quality product. Very expensive at $220.

How about we talk about the monitor first, then about video card(s), then about the PSU? It's the logical order and it helps.

Your monitor can play games at 1920x1080. An upgrade to a 24..28" would allow 1920x1200, not much difference. If your eyes are good then the monitor you picked is a good choice. If not, consider a 25.5" model instead (larger pixels).

Assuming you stay with this monitor, you'd need more graphics power than the average gamer who plays at 1680x1050. For 1920x1080, one of these combinations would make sense IMO. I listed them with the weakest and cheapest first and the strongest/most expensive last. Depending on game and settings the order may not be quite as I wrote it, but it's not very important.

HD 4870 1GB
GTX 280 (or GTX 285)
two HD 4870 1GB
HD 4870 X2
GTX 295

two GTX 280

three GTX 280
two GTX 295

For the first 5 combinations, you could simply get a $70 PC Power & Cooling 750W S75CF from Newegg.

For two GTX 280 I'd pick this $170 Silverstone 1000W:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817256043
There's also the Corsair 1000HX, also suitable here, but why pay $250 when $170 will do.

For the last two combinations we're talking about 1200W or close. You probably don't need that much graphics power. It won't scale well in games either, with 3 or 4 GPUs.

Back to the $220 Antec Signature 850W now: it makes no sense for the first 5 combinations because the $70 Silencer 750W can do that job. It's too small for the other combinations.

There's a second PC P&C 750W too, called S75CF, for only $70. OK, it's a horrible red, but I have one and I know it's good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=S75CF

Do you need the features of the Ultimate Vista? You can save ~80$ by getting the Home Premium instead. Ultimate is basically Home Premium + business.

Any reason why the 1080P? Give your GTX 280 a nicer friend like a 24" monitor, either Acer P243WAid (good price) or SAMSUNG ToC T240HD (better connectivity)

Gaming Computer: Final Draft
Parts

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115202
289.99

EVGA 132-BL-E758-A1 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813188039
299.99

G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231225
159.99

EVGA 01G-P3-1280-AR GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130365
304.99 (Quantity: 2)

Sunbeam Transformer IC-TR-US-BA-WOPSU Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811166004
44.98

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116488
99.99

Vigor Monsoon III LT Dual 120mm Fan CPU Cooler Socket 1366 Ready
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835702007
59.99

SILVERSTONE OP1000-E 1000W ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS 12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817256043
199.99

Acer P243WAid Black-Silver 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor with HDCP Support 400 cd/m2 3000:1 ACM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824009125
329.99

Discounts:
-25.00 (Graphics Card&Processor)


Total: 2094.89

I don't think that case is suitable for two GTX 280 cards. Some newegg reviewers had trouble fitting 9800GTX or GTX 260 cards in it.

Much better. Yeah, that one will do very nicely.