New Gaming Build for about $2,000

[TripleAAA]

1. What PC Will Be Used For: Gaming, Internet, and Media (Movie Viewing and Music)
2. Budget is $2200 Max unless there is something crucial that I'm neglecting/missing on the list below.
3. Country will be buying parts from: USA (Using Newegg unless significant price difference on particular components)
4. Brand Preference: Intel for CPU, but that's it.
5. Will use no existing parts, everything will be purchased new
6. Yes, I've read posts and have used the System Builder Sticky (thanks modoheo) as a starting point/reference
7. I do plan on a little bit of overclocking, but am completely new to it so I don't plan on being extremely aggressive with it.
8. Plan to make the purchase in early August so I realize prices may change/drop on some of the components below

Current thoughts/questions/comments: This is my FIRST ever build. I've done a couple of small upgrades in the past (video card and RAM) but that's it. Obviously the video card is pricey, but I'm sure it will drop a bit. It's something that I don't want to skimp too much on as well as "future-proof" a bit. I want to basically load up games and start up/shut down computer as quickly as possible hence the RAM and HD. Should I get a SATA dvd burner or am I good with the one I listed? Note that the total price does include a new monitor. Please feel free to openly comment or make suggestions. Thank you very much for any assistance.


G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) Dual Channel Kit
$129.99 -$45.00 Instant $84.99

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
$159.99 -$50.00 Instant $109.99

BFG Tech BFGEGTX2801024E GeForce GTX 280 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
$649.99 -$20.00 Instant $629.99

Western Digital VelociRaptor WD3000GLFS 300GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$299.99 $299.99

BenQ G2400WD Black 24" 5ms, 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
$399.99 $399.99

ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
$36.99 -$10.00 Instant $26.99

RAIDMAX SMILODON Extreme Black ATX-612WEB 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case - Retail
$89.99

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$149.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
$189.99

LG 20X DVD±R Super Multi DVD Burner Black ATAPI / E-IDE Model GSA-H55NK - OEM
$22.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM
$109.99 -$10.00 Instant $99.

Total Price Comes to $2104.89

 

[Chosonman]

Raptors are a waste of munee so is that graphics card. Get a 4870 when it's available.

 

[Chosonman]

I'm a case aficionado I never liked Raidmax cases much they felt cheap and plasticee. I prefer Coolermaster, Lian Li, Silverstone, Zalman, Thermaltake, or Antec. (and Gigabyte which looks to be made by Coolermaster).

edit: However this one looks better than the others I've seen...

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: Chosonman
Raptors are a waste of munee so is that graphics card. Get a 4870 when it's available.

Just curious why you think the Raptor is a waste? I know I can get a larger capacity drive for much less, albeit slower. I don't have much need for more than 300gb so the extra GB isn't an issue, just the speed.

I agree on the graphics card somewhat, but the main thing drawing me away from the new ATI cards is that they apparently run extremely hot and on some of the reviews you have to change the fan speed and it seems like a complicated process unless they come out with some software for them.

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: Chosonman
I'm a case aficionado I never liked Raidmax cases much they felt cheap and plasticee. I prefer Coolermaster, Lian Li, Silverstone, Zalman, Thermaltake, or Antec. (and Gigabyte which looks to be made by Coolermaster).

edit: However this one looks better than the others I've seen...

On the case, it's the first one I came across in which there was no negative reviews. Every Lian Li, Antec, etc seems to have some type of complication whether its cable management, spacing, or location of different drive bays with certain mobos.

 

[Chosonman]

Originally posted by: TripleAAA

Originally posted by: Chosonman
Raptors are a waste of munee so is that graphics card. Get a 4870 when it's available.

Just curious why you think the Raptor is a waste? I know I can get a larger capacity drive for much less, albeit slower. I don't have much need for more than 300gb so the extra GB isn't an issue, just the speed.

I agree on the graphics card somewhat, but the main thing drawing me away from the new ATI cards is that they apparently run extremely hot and on some of the reviews you have to change the fan speed and it seems like a complicated process unless they come out with some software for them.

Don't take this the wrong way but... I'm sure I don't have to explain why anyone would want to pay 5 times the prices for something that doesn't give you that kind of return for less total storage space. That's up to the person who wants it. Personally spending $2000 on a new computer is a total waste of money. That's up to the person who needs it.

On the case, it's the first one I came across in which there was no negative reviews. Every Lian Li, Antec, etc seems to have some type of complication whether its cable management, spacing, or location of different drive bays with certain mobos.

Reviews are one thing owning it is another. I can't say I've ever owned the perfect case, but based on my experience I prefer those brands over Raidmax.

edit: My favorite cases are the CoolerMaster Centurion, Thermaltake LanBoy, Anything from Silverstone or Zalman

 

[modoheo]

Looks like a good build to me. As mentioned, you could save yourself a full 500 bucks by going with a WB AAKS 640gig HD and a ATI 4870 GPU, and you'd have essentially zero NOTICEABLE drop in performance, but price aside, there's absolutely nothing wrong with going with the velociraptor and GTX280. You could also save 20-50 bucks by going with a mobo with only one PCIE X16 slot since you don't plan to crossfire or SLI. Nothing wrong with the one you chose though.

Overclocking with that GPU/mobo will probably be as simple as going into the BIOS and changing the FSB to 400 and bumping the vcore volts slightly - like magic, you'll most likely then have a stable overclock to 3.6GHz. Just watch your temps, and upgrade from AC freezer pro to Xigmatek if you want extra leeway.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The GTX 260 has already dropped $70 after rebate (see video forum), and the 280 ought to drop at least $100 (with 150 -200 more likely) if you wait awhile. It's not much faster than the 4870 which is selling fro $310 right now.

The WD 640 GB is ~$100 and almost as fast as a raptor, but if money is no object then raptor away.

 

[DSF]

I think the question that you need to answer for yourself is whether you're willing to spend a lot of extra money for only a little extra performance. A lot of people shoot for bang for the buck, which your build currently doesn't accomplish. Some people are willing to lay down the extra cash for the bragging rights of having the best.

 

[TripleAAA]

Originally posted by: DSF
I think the question that you need to answer for yourself is whether you're willing to spend a lot of extra money for only a little extra performance. A lot of people shoot for bang for the buck, which your build currently doesn't accomplish. Some people are willing to lay down the extra cash for the bragging rights of having the best.

Yeah, I think you guys are right. Either way, I'm not doing the build for another month so I'll just re-evaluate probably at that point and see where the prices are.