Mid Budget Build - Opinions Wanted!

So, lets get started

Don't worry about the PSU, the one you picked is good is well (antec is a trusted brand is well) and it's cheap.

CPU is good but don't get the 965, get the 955 it's totally same but clocked a bit lower.

As you picked a CPU cooler, you can overclock it to match the 965 or a bit more.

Also i don't think you looking forward for 4 way crossfire. But as the MOBO is cheap, i don't see why not get it.

The GPU is ok, but if you can afford the 6850 you should deffinitly get it.

The case is spot on.

For HDD get the samsunf f3 1Tb (It's highly recommended).

For RAM you should get this one:
G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL8D-4GBRM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] -_-Product

It has a bit faster timing and is better branded then the one you picked.

Hope this helps !!

Dave

You defiantly do not need a silver or gold 80+ PSU. I'd say an 80+ Bronze or even just standard 80+ is good enough.

A mobo+CPU combo to look into is this. You'll get the SATA 6 (that's not really important right now) and USB 3 (supposed mainstream next year) support.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.564585

As for your card do you plan to crossfire/SLI or just leave it a single card? Also are you looking into overclocking your card?

Your heatsink is good, but the price is gawd awful. Go to amazon for that, free shipping and cheaper by 5$. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ [...] 2B&x=0&y=0

As for your HDD, the F3 suggested above is great. Reason being. Caviar's arent bad. But even the black vers. are slower than the F3 by a bit. The F3 is cheaper for more space. Plus offers 500gb platter sizes, while the Caviar's Black only offer a 320gb platter size. The new SATA 6 WD Black's fixed that, but still not worth the extra money. Go with the F3.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=f3%201tb

Out of stock so... Here is Amazons.

http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Spin [...] 807&sr=8-1

The lower the latency, the better. However, higher latency usually allows for better overclocking ability, thus the one with a CAS of 9 running at 1600MHz, and the one with a CAS of 8 running at 1333MHZ.
That doesn't mean you won't be able to run the 1333 at 1600 though. But in order to do so, you might have to change the CAS timmings from 8 to 9...but you might not have too either. You might be lucky !

I think I'm ready to finalize the build, but I'm wondering if you guys think I should spring for some extra cooling fans for the case. There are 2 fans for the Antec 300 already installed; should I get fans for the two optional slots at the front of the case?

Also, are there any other things I may need to build to this system (other than an OS, keyboard, speakers, mouse, headphones)?

Another quick question: I only plan on running 1 6850 as of right now, but I would like the option to have 2 6850's running in Crossfire in the future. Is the 650w power supply sufficient? What if I also plan on upgrading the ram, so that the final upgrade would have 2x 6850's and 8 gigs of RAM (4 x 2gig sticks)?

I'm pretty sure you can pull it off, and for that price the psu seems great, If you wanted to be a little on the safe side an xfx 750w will do you fine, alas with a price premium.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] xfx%20750w

Don't be embarrassed. Don't be afraid (Unless you're one of those folks where everything you touch turns to dust...)

Couple precautions and some care and you should have no difficulty.

Do realize some of this stuff is delicate. Don't exert excessive force if something seems like it's not going to fit. Figure out why it doesn't fit and address that. Also realize some things will take a bit of effort to seat, like PATA drive power connectors (end even harder to separate.) RAM takes a bit to seat because of the pressure requirement on each and every one of a couple hundred contacts. Processors should not take much effort.

Do realize that many parts are static sensitive, particularly when not assembled. (*) Before putting stuff into the mobo, touch some part of the case to discharge any static. you do not want to discharge static through a RAM stick. A static strap can help, but I've never used one and only ever fried a chip handing it to someone else and not making contact before handing them the chip. Just be aware of the risk from static, particularly during the heating season.

I'm sure I'm repeating information contained in a sticky somewhere in this forum, but I haven't run across it yet so maybe someone else can.

(*) I once reached for an HP laptop and touch was preceded by a HUGE spark to the keyboard. It went dark and required a new system board. Props to all of my Thinkpads that withstood static sparks and never skipped a beat.

Good luck with your new system!