First build (2000 dollar budget)

any suggestions for video card(s)? im at 1542 for my first gaming rig with everything but a gpu(s). i have a 2000 dollar budget.

im leaving out the video card because im still unsure what i want to do. im leaning towards two msi ocv4 gtx 260s. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127430

i would like to run empire total war on high graphics. im not an avid gamer, but when i do play, i want to play right.

my wife will also be using this computer for photoshop and other stuff luike surfing the net. i want something powerful that will last me a couple years.

Hanns·G HG-281DPB Black 27.5" 3ms Widescreen HDMI LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824254026
$329.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824254026

Rosewill RNX-N300 IEEE 802.11b/g/n Wireless-N 2.0 PCI (1T2R) Up to 150Mbps Data Rates/ WPA/WPA2 (AES, 64,128-WEP with shared-key ... - Retail
Item #: N82E16833166038
$24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6833166038

Logitech EX 110 Black USB + PS/2 Standard Cordless Desktop Keyboard & Mouse Kit - Retail
Item #: N82E16823126174
$24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126174

Rosewill RTK-045 45 Piece Premium Computer Tool Kit - Retail
Item #: N82E16899261003
$19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6899261003


OCZ Platinum 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop
$94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227381



Scythe S-Flex SFF21G 120mm Case Fan - Retail
Item #: N82E16835185065
$12.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185065


ZALMAN CNPS9900LED 120mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail
Item #: N82E16835118046
$74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835118046


COMBO
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116488
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136319
$154.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.186064


COMBO
XCLIO GREATPOWER X14S8P4 850W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready 80 PLUS Certified Modular Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817189017
XCLIO Windtunnel Fully Black Finish 1.0 mm SECC Chassis ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811103011
$214.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.187898



COMBO
ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131365
Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
543.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.190227



right now without the video cards, my total price is $1542 including shipping. my budget is still 2000.

also, whats up with the rumors i heard about the asus p6t deluxe screwing up all the time?

hmm. I would get 1 gtx 285 now and another later if needed, the gfx you need are in 1 of those cards.

thanks for the advice gentleman. sorry about the links, truthfully, i dont know what the hell im doing so i dont know why they do not work.

im goping to look into both those video cards. i am making the purchase june 1st, so i will follow the prices of them both, check reviews and compare benchmarks. i hear excellent things about both of those video cards.

what do you guys think about two gtxz 260's in sli for 350 bucks?

The CM 690 Proximon linked will without a doubt.

There really is very little meaning to the designations "mid-tower" and "full tower" any more. Many mid-towers are very roomy, especially those from Cooler Master.