First time builder looking for advise.

[Will5639]

Hi, I'm new to Tomshardware, and never actually built my own computer before. I used to price out components but that wasn't since the Geforce 2. At this time I'm just price shopping and want to design a machine that would work, and not melt down in the process. :lol:

Case: COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000
Cost: $299.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119180

Motherboard: EVGA E758-A1
Cost: $299.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188039

Processor: Intel Core i7 920
Cost: $288.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115202

Memory: Crucial Ballistix 6GB (3 x 2GB)
Cost: $149.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148278

Graphics: GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit
Cost: $329.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130480

Sound: ASUS Xonar Essence STX
Cost: $199.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16829132010

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM
Cost: $74.99 *2
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Comment: Two HDs for RAID 1.

DVD/CD Drive: Sony Optiarc Black
Cost: $31.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

Blue-Ray Drive: LG Black 8X BD-ROM
Cost: $119.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136162

Networking: LINKSYS EG1032
Cost: $27.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124120


=Begin Extras=

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 - Retail
Cost: $218.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116473

Speakers: Logitech X-540
Cost: $78.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121006

Monitor: Acer X193W+BD Black 19"
Cost: $119.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009127

Keyboard: Logitech 920-000325 Black
Cost: $49.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126035

Mouse: Logitech G5
Cost: $49.99
Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076

=End Extras=


I currently work on a HP Pavilion zd8000, so anything current will be an upgrade. Used for photo editing, programming, gaming. I don't often use my laptop without a headset plugged in but not selling myself short. I have not chosen one but I'll likely pickup a network adapter due to the computers location.

I want a computer that will work well with Windows 7 when released as well get me by for the next couple years. I'm open to any comments, right now the price for above is around $2425 (rounding up, includes "extras") I wouldn't mind knocking the price down a couple hundred if possible. My biggest concerns are:

■Blatant Compatibility of Equipment (Rookie Mistakes)
■Quality of Equipment (Is there something better I should know about?)
■Heat management
■Bang vs Buck (Not to be mistaken for a budged)

This is just my first mockup, there is nothing driving me to get a new computer other then self interest. Not rushing this at all.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

The build looks OK, but you could definitely do better. I would start off by just getting that case without a PSU and add a quality PSU separately. The case with no PSU is $130 cheaper, so you can get a much higher quality PSU than the one that comes bundled with the case.

COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 RC-1000-KSN1-GP Black/ Silver Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119138 $169.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-850TX 850W ATX12V 2.2 / EPS12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139009&Tpk=850tx $139.99 - $30 MIR

If you don't think you'll ever add another GPU in SLI, you could go with this PSU instead:

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005&Tpk=650tx $89.99 - $10 MIR

I, personally, prefer this motherboard to the Evga one:

ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131365 $189.99

You can also get it in a combo with the CPU and save $40.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213701

You can get your GTX 285 in a combo with an OCZ DDR3 1600 kit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205501 $412.98 - $30 MIR's

Buying the Retail version of Windows Ultimate is a waste of money any time, but it's even more of a waste with Windows 7 around the corner. You can get Windows Vista Home Premium with a free upgrade to Windows 7 for $110.

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM (free Windows 7 upgrade)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677 $109.99

Here's a page that compares the different versions of Vista:

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-vista/compare-editions/default.aspx

All modern motherboards have integrated Gigabit LAN, so the PCI LAN card is not necessary. Modern motherboards also have pretty good onboard sound chips. I would hold off on the sound card and try the onboard first. You can always add a sound card later, but I bet you'll find that you don't need to.

I would take some of the money saved and upgrade the monitor. A GTX 285 is MASSIVE overkill for a dinky 19" monitor. I would look for at least a 22" monitor, probably a 24".

Hanns·G Hi-221DPB Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254035 $139.99

ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 1000:1 (ASCR 20000:1) Built in Speakers - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049 $219.99

 

[baddad]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009176

 

[knotknut]

i7 920/ Asus P6T DLX/ 3x2 GB DDR3-1600/ GTX 260 core216 Combo Deal $828.97
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213960

add extra GTX 260 $154.99 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130434

Antec 1200 case/ 1000watt PowerSupply combo $314.48
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.209008

2x Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS $149.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

ASUS VW266H Black 25.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor $289.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236047

Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders $189.99
Includes free Windows 7 upgrade coupon
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116678

Optic drives you pick

KeyBoard and Mouse you pick

Speakers you pick

Networking: LINKSYS EG1032....Dont need

Sound: ASUS Xonar Essence STX....Dont need

 

[Will5639]

Thanks for the quick replies. A lot of those suggestions sound mandatory, better equipment for better prices. I mostly implemented what shortstuff said. I tried knotknut, but details aside some of those didn't work out. (example: The monitor just wouldn't fit on my stand )

Version 2

Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz $279.99
ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 $289.99
Combo Price: $529.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.213701

COOLER MASTER UCP RS900-AAAAA3 900W $169.98
COOLER MASTER COSMOS 1000 $169.99
Combo Price: $289.97
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.208684

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium $109.99
Microsoft Gift - Windows 7 Release Candidate $10
Combo Price: $109.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.208025

EVGA 01G-P3-1180-AR GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit $329.99
OCZ XMP Ready Series 6GB (3 x 2GB) $104.99
Combo Price: $412.98
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.205501

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM $74.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319
Note: $149.98 for 2

Logitech 920-000325 Black 102 Normal Keys $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126035

Logitech G5 7 Buttons $49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826104076

LG Black 8X BD-ROM $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136162

Sony Optiarc Black 24X $31.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118030

ASUS VW246H Black 24" $219.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824236049

Logitech X-540 $78.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121006


==

The new total is around $2050, I'm glad I stopped in for input. But one thing still concerns me is the temperature. I live in central minnesota and while it's been raining all day, a couple days ago it was in the 80s and we don't even have AC turned on. Do I run any risks or with the case choice am I worrying over nothing?

 

[shortstuff_mt]

You could add one of these to the order and you won't have to worry about the temps at all:

XIGMATEK Dark Knight-S1283V 120mm Long Life Bearing CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233029&Tpk=xigmatek%20dark $44.98