[Gilligan123]

I am researching and gathering information for my first PC build. I have a budget of 4K (it was 3K but I have found that this was not realistic). Anyway, I only provide that information to emphasize the point that I really have to get this right as I do not want to make any super big mistakes. I have been reading and studying and am close to being ready to buy the components. I would like to list them here and get feedback as to things I might have overlooked, not considered, or simply misunderstood entirely. I am the first to admit that I am no expert and I "do not know what I do not know". I would like to add that I appreciate any and all well meaning comments and thank you in advance for your help.

So, a couple quick questions, then on to my perspective components list:

1) Would I be better served to try to find an expert to do this given the $$$ I plan to spend or is there a good chance I can manage this myself with a careful approach? (I should say that the primary reason for doing this myself is that I have not been able to find a stock built machine out there with the features I am looking for anywhere near a price point I can afford (and I have always wanted to build a machine myself)).

2) If I should look to have someone else build it, who would you recommend?? (site address appreciated).

OK, so here is what I have so far (Newegg and TigerDirect have been my points of reference for ordering up to now):

Case: Coolermaster Cosmos 1010 (#N82E16811119147) $249.99
Mobo: EVGA NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra (#N82E16813188025) $349.99
Processor: Intel Core 2 Ext. QX9650 (#N82E16819115034) $1,029.99
RAM: Patriot Viper 4GB DDR3 (#N82E16820220286) $344.99
PS: SilverStone OP1000 (#N82E16817256010) $249.99
Video Card: EVGA NVIDIA GeForce 8800Ultra (#N82E16814130346) $519.99 (add a second SLI later)
Physics Card: ASUS PHYSXP1 GDDR3 128MB (#N82E16814121015R) $99.99
OPtical Drive1: Samsung 20X DVD+RW w LightScribe (N82E16827151154) $30.99
Optical Drive2: LG 16X DVD+R Blue-ray RW (N82E16827136133) $179.99
Hard Drive: Undecided - need input (Raid 0 or mirror drives)
Raid Controller: ????
Speakers: Logitech Z-5500 Digital (N82E16836121120) $262.99
Cooling: Need Help here also???? (CPU and Video???)

Well this is how far I have gotten. Thanks again for taking the time to consider and respond. I welcome any discussion on configuration options as well.

Best,

Gilligan

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Hi there,

Welcome to Geeks to Go!

This build is going totally over the top! What are your planned purposes for this machine? I assume you are intending to overclock like crazy?

The 8800 Ultra graphics card is pretty much obsolete by now, you can get similar performance from a cheaper 8800GTS (G92), or there are some 9000 series cards out now - the 9800GTX and the 9800GX2. These 9000 series cards also use the G92 core, with only the cheaper 9600GT using the next G94 core - which is what I would have expected all 9000 series cards to have used...

Plenty more places for comments, but I've got to shoot of to work!

Cheers

Troy

[Troy]

Hi there,

Welcome to Geeks to Go!

This build is going totally over the top! What are your planned purposes for this machine? I assume you are intending to overclock like crazy?

The 8800 Ultra graphics card is pretty much obsolete by now, you can get similar performance from a cheaper 8800GTS (G92), or there are some 9000 series cards out now - the 9800GTX and the 9800GX2. These 9000 series cards also use the G92 core, with only the cheaper 9600GT using the next G94 core - which is what I would have expected all 9000 series cards to have used...

Plenty more places for comments, but I've got to shoot of to work!

Cheers

Troy

[Gilligan123]

Troy,

Thanks for the suggestion. I will give the 9K series cards a look. I was thinking I could save a few $$$ stepping back a bit in this regard is why I thought the 8800 ultra looked good. I need the $$$ for cooling. I understand this is an expensive piece of the equation. I checked out a couple of different configuators and they want like 500 to 1000 for cooling???? Not sure why.

Best,

Gilligan