Rate my C2D build

[Zugzwang152]

I'm upgrading from an Athlon XP 3200+, 1GB DDR400, and a 6600GT AGP. It's difficult to put together a build that I won't notice a big improvement, but here goes anyway. Please recommend tweaks to drop down to $1000, or good bang/buck improvements to push it up to $1500. I prefer to purchase the entire order from Newegg, or from Zipzoomfly.

Goal: Bang/buck
Overclocking?: No. Stock speeds on everything.
Performance demand?: Mid-range gaming. I play mostly MMORPGs now.
Budget: $1000-1500
Upgradability: Possibly a processor upgrade and possibly video card before I build a brand new machine.

NEC 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Silver E-IDE / ATAPI Model 7170A-0S - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152077

Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136033

XFX PVT71PUDP3 GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 EXTREME Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150202

Thermaltake W0093RU ATX 12V 2.0 Version 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817153028

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N5K2/2G - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820134117

GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128012

Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116202

# Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115003


Total: $1256.93

 

[Roguestar]

Change the 7900GS for an X1950Pro - something like $170 on newegg for the 256Mb iirc.

Also to add a few $$$ to the bill, pick up a western digital 2500KS 250Gb SATA drive.

 

[engiNURD]

Originally posted by: Zugzwang152
Goal: Bang/buck

Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136033

Thermaltake W0093RU ATX 12V 2.0 Version 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817153028

Kingston ValueRAM 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR800D2N5K2/2G - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820134117

Total: $1256.93

Raptors are not "bang for buck" HDDs. You could go with a single 320GB Seagate 7200.10 instead, and get pretty good performance out of it. My 150gb raptor gets 78MB/s avg transfer, while my Seagate.10 gets 65MB/s... pretty fast for a much cheaper drive with over double the capacity. You could also RAID0 two cheaper drives and get near raptor-like performance.
$95 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS 320GB 7200RPM SATA300 16MB Cache

Stay away from non-Toughpower Thermaltake PSUs. Go with the XClio StablePower 500W, GoodPower 500W, or any Antec or FSP models. eWiz has an Enhance 500W for $65, but you said you only wanted the egg and zzf. So, your best choice would be the Corsair 520W (made by Seasonic) from Zipzoomfly.
$106 - Corsair HX Series CMPSU-520HX 520W Modular PSU
$75 - FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A 500W ($85 - $10MIR)
$70 - Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 500W Modular PSU
$70 - Xclio STABLEPOWER 500W PSU
$52 - XClio GOODPOWER 500W PSU

That Kingston ValueRAM is anything but cheap. Go with some $185 G.Skill 2GB DDR2-800 2GBNQ sticks, or even the Corsair XMS DDR2-800 for around the same price (and probably has a rebate for a final price of $170AR, last time I checked).
$180 - G.Skill 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ
$170 - Corsair XMS2 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2-800 TWIN2X2048-6400 ($210 - $40MIR)

//edit: I also agree with Roguestar about the X1950Pro...
$155 - His Hightech H195PRF256DDN-R Radeon X1950PRO 256MB ($175 - $20MIR)

 

[Operandi]

Themermaltake = bad.

Try Seasonic, Enhance, Zalman, PCP&C, Corsair, ect.

 

[Zugzwang152]

Raptor is an exception, true. But I want one 😛 So I forgo a larger drive (I have way more than enough storage separate from my main machine now).

Thanks for the other recommendations!

 

[lyssword]

change 7900gs to 1900gt or 1950pro

 

[chizow]

Total seems a bit pricey for the components chosen.

As others said, I'd look to swap a few parts, otherwise looks fine:

1) Memory: Look over in Hot Deals, there's at least 2-3 recent postings for memory that's as good or better than that ValueRAM and for much cheaper as well (before and after rebate).

2) Video Card: Can do a lot better for a little more money, as others said. X1900+ ATI or 7900GT/X for a little more money.

3) HDD: If you're set on getting a Raptor, BB was running a special this week for the 150GB retail version for @30-40 more with no rebate. 74GB is pretty low in terms of storage by today's standards. 150GB is at least respectable and offers a nice balance of performance and capacity.