shadowplay0918

Distinguished
Feb 7, 2009
14
0
18,510
Below is my build after making some changes from some other posts I have had read. I'm trying to keep it around $1K but I'm not sure I'm getting the best I can for that money. Also, is the on-board sound good enough and should I go with XP or Vista?

Thanks in advance for your help.


Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $119
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor - Retail $279.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041

Power: PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI NVIDIA SLI Certified (Dual 8800 GTX and below) CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703009

RAM: CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail $56.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145184

Video: GIGABYTE GV-R485ZL-512H Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125238

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500410AS 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $64.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148377

Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129032 $25.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129032
 
+1 for replacing the PSU.

Also, replace the hard drive with the WD6401AALS:
[url[http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319&Tpk=wd6401aals[/url]

Seagate is a little iffy these days - some firmware bug that kills their drives. The WD6401AALS also has better speed and a better price/GB.

 
Here's 3 cases that would save you anywhere from $30 to $75, all with good cooling.

NZXT Tempest $90 after rebate, very comparable in looks to the Antec 900, great cooling, bigger in size.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146047
Coolermaster 690 $80 Good cooling, more conservative looks, e-sata port.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
Antec 300 $60 has free shipping! Good cooling really a decent case, especially for the money
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042