Here's what I got so far. This will be my first computer build, I've always gotten preassembled stuff from dell. Should be fun, but so far this is really expensive, I was hoping to get some good value at good prices because I'm building it myself, but already I'm far beyond my initial budget.

Originally, I had made a quad core build on dell, every build seems to come to around 700-800. This build comes to $1600.

What do you think of it so far? I'm planning on using my current vid card to power my 30" and 24", it's worked fine for several years now.

1. Am I missing anything?

2. Are there any areas where I can save some money? TBH, my initial budget was under 800, but the idea of upgrading my own computer in the future and finally understanding it completely has caused me to raise that someone. But 1600 is too much. Obviously, the SSD and raptor is overkill...ugh that ssd sounds so sexy though for startup apps.



Antec Nine Hundred + EA650 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 650W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129064
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$179.99
$169.99


Western Digital VelociRaptor WD1500HLFS 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (bare drive) - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136296
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$179.99


EVGA 141-BL-E757-TR LGA 1366 Intel X58 ATX X58 SLI LE Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813188049
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
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$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$239.99
1

OCZ Diesel 4GB Single Channel Flash Drive (USB2.0 Portable) Model OCZUSBDSL4G - Retail
Item #: N82E16820227331
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$4.00 Instant
-$8.99 Saving
$12.99
$0.00


Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116678
Return Policy: Software Return Policy
$189.99


Intel X25-M SSDSA2MH080G1 80GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid state disk (SSD) - OEM
Item #: N82E16820167005
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
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$349.99


Intel Core i7 920 Nehalem 2.66GHz LGA 1366 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80601920 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115202
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
CORSAIR DOMINATOR 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TR3X6G1600C8D - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145224
Return Policy: Memory Standard Return Policy

what do you guys think about this build as well? in your opinion is the first one worth all the extra money? this one is $750.



Antec Nine Hundred + EA650 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 650W Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811129064
Return Policy: Limited Replacement Only Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$179.99
$169.99


Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drives - OEM
Item #: N82E16822136284
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
$94.99


ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813131398
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy
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$99.99


AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HDX945WFGIBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103696
Return Policy: CPU Replacement Only Return Policy
-$10.00 Instant
$179.99
$169.99
1

CPU Mag Gift - 6 free issues of CPU Magazine - OEM
Item #: N82E16800995076
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-$35.94 Saving
$35.94
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Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders w/ Tech Guarantee - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116678
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nobody can really give advice unless you break down what you're going to be doing with your comp.

fair enough. It's mainly going to be used for multiple poker sites with many windows open, with itunes and/or movies running. Gaming is not a concern of mine, the vid card I have now powers a 30 and a 20", so that should be fine for either build.

It mainly needs to be a stable poker computer that can run multiple apps/processes that are resource hogs. I was interested in SSDs because obviously it would be sweet to just be able to click on everything and have it load super fast.

I like the second build better because I'm cheap.

I obv. like the first build, but only if you can afford it. I have a strong preference for Intel > AMD.

You will need is a good CPU cooler so you can overclock your i7 CPU without losing any stability. It will give you a good performance boost if you OC to 3.4 Ghz (even though you could probably go to 3.8) while still remaining stable. It will plow through anything you give it.

IMO this is currently the best rated CPU cooler for LGA 1366 boards:

Scythe MUGEN-2 SCMG-2000 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooler - Retail
Free Scythe fan w/ purchase, while supplies last - $36.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185093

The only other thing you need is a CD/DVD drive:

SAMSUNG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner - OEM - $30.99

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151187

From everything you've selected the only real place you can save money is on the HD & SSD's. This is 100% personal preference though and something you'll have to decide. Will you see a difference? Yes. So you have to pick you poison and decide if faster load times etc. are worth it to you for the price you're paying.

Drop the VelociRaptor on build 1,.. just add a 1TB Western Digital Caviar Black for storage/media files. It costs half the price of the VelociRaptor.
Since you already have the Intel X25-M G2.

Consider building a Intel i5 system. It's cheaper than the i7 and a lot faster than the build 2 AMD.

those are ridiculously different systems, why not look at an i5 or a Q9550 if you want to save a few bucks?

You can download Windows7 from torrent and get free product code through microsoft until Oct 21, 2009. Through some sites buying XP OEM is available if at least one PC part is purchased. I have seen price of about $89.

When building a new computer I have found that getting the least expensive CPU for the particular socket will be such a big speed increase from probably what you are using now that the new machine will be good. Wait about 6 months until the next performance level CPU for your motherboard socket comes down in price. Sell the CPU once the higher performance CPU comes down in price. Then you might only be out $25 for a faster CPU right about the time your hard drive is getting fuller. Put in the new CPU and it will be almost like a brand new machine.

SSD are nice but input-output(IO) is currently faster than what the rest of the computer can handle. So SSD will be great in the future when the rest of the computer speeds up.

Hitachi 1TB SATA drives run about $69. Good drives for the money. Could get two 500GB drives and run RAID1(mirror) if motherboard offers. Chance of failure becomes close to impossible.

Are you in Henderson, NV?