Hey guys

This is going to be my first build and I figured better to build a standard system for my dad (his Bday), before I get into a complicated gaming rig.

My limit is ~ $1,000 (not including monitor) and the plan is to make this a somewhat powerful, good all-around, last a good couple years pc that I can game on it (COD4) when I visit.

I picked out the entire system so far except for the monitor I was hoping for suggestions for that.
I'm looking to buy a widescreen 19-22" monitor.

My main worries and the reason why I am posting is compataibillity issues and if all of the parts I have picked will fit well into the chosen case.


So here it goes:


CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 90-KKN1-GP
COOLER MASTER RC-690
$84.99
Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] EPS%2b610W
PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W
$119.99
PROCESSOR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115018
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz
$194.99
Processor Cooler
~$30
?????
I have no idea
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] U%2bCooler
or this maybe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] U%2bCooler


MOTHERBOARD
1 ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131297
$209.99
I am also not positive about the motherboard, any better suggestion?

GRAPHICS CARD
1 SAPPHIRE 100242L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814102747
$194.99
RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145194
CORSAIR XMS2 DHX 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2
$109.00
HARD DRIVE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136073
Western Digital 500gb sata 3
$79.99 or if I raid 2 of them 160
DVD BURNER
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106266
Lite-On 20x
$33.99
THERMAL PASTE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ING%2bMX-2
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail
$6.99

Internal Card Reader
$14.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820223073

Total= 1079.99 (1 Hard Drive w/o Monitor)
So to reiterate: I am not positive about my motherboard choice and which cpu cooler to choose. I am also looking for monitor suggestions (19-22 inch widescreen)

I am mostly looking for someone to say "The list looks good you shouldnt have any problems and you will be happy" Or "You should try this instead"

Also This forum has provided invaluable info on how to pick the right build and how to research info on different hardware.

Thanks go to WR2 and Why_Me, both of your posts in the pasts few days have really helped me decide what I wanted in this system.

I see you want asus p5q PRO but you took the price and the link of p5q DELUXE. It can lower your a bit

Does you dad game at all? the 4850 is a gaming card and will be wasted otherwise, if this is going to be used just for office stuff and the internet a 8600gt would work fine for about half the price.

Looks great otherwise. Good luck on your first build, it's really not as hard as it first seems.

This cooler http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233003
but also buy the retention bracket for a new build. Much more secure especially if the system gets moved around
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233019
the P45/P43 mobo is a very good choice

Thats def a good point about the gpu. My dad gets into photo editing (Adobe Photshop), but not much else otherwise. I figured I would build a pretty decent system that would last a few good years.

and for the motherboard
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] ntel%2bP45
$149.99

that drops about $60 off original price
so 1010.00 would be the final build price

It's not that I'm worried about assembling everything together, I'm worried about buying all these parts for a decent amount of money and then finding out that part a doesnt interface with part b lol

I would look at a p35 mobo. There is no reason to get p45 unless you are going to use crossfire. P35 are usually cheaper as well.

The XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 has a good reputation as an after cooler for sure. I would also suggest the Termalright Ultima 90, which I am using and I am very satisfied with. Perform almost on part with the top guns but for almost half the seize and weight.

Nothing wrong with your choices at all and all fully compatible.
For a possible 2 card crossfire option: ASUS P5Q Pro $150 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131299
For just a single card: ASUS P5Q $140 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131295

The RC-690 case is very easy to work in and around. It will take all you have on your list easily and have plenty of room left over.
The only RAID I'd recommend for a family member is RAID1. I'd actually prefer a backup HDD with a bootable partition setup.

If you're not overclocking you can get away with just the stock Intel HSF. For aftermarket choices I'd go with either:
The Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro has pre-applied MX-2 thermal compound for easy, fast installation.
The Xigmatek HDT SD964 would be good. It's the same 92mm size as the AC F7 Pro.

The PC P&C S61EPS 610W is a good choice and powerful enough for dual 4870s. For a single 4850 you could easily use
the Corsair 550VX and save $40. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139004
Its way more than actually needed and will handle a mid-life GPU upgrade with the 4850 next-gen follow on video card.

Put the savings into a great monitor
I really like the Dell 20" UltraSharp 2008WFP http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna [...] u=320-6140

This is the system I have been putting together for people in the $1000 range. For 98% of what normal people do on a PC a faster Dual Core CPU will get them a better user experience than a slower quad core.

The 9600gt will play COD4 just fine for when you visit also =)

Antec P182 Gun Metal Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129025
$139.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115037
$189.99

XFX PVT96GYDDU GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814150307
$159.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231166
$119.99

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148288
$89.99

LG 20X DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH20NS10 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827136142
$24.99

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128344
$149.99

Antec Neo Power 500 500W ATX12V Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817103940
$99.99

Subtotal $974.92
Tax $70.68
UPS Ground $19.94
Order Total $1,065.54

Thanks for all the quick responses and new ideas, I was pretty set on what I was planning to buy before, but I'm def going to do a little more research before the plastic comes out.