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   Hi.  I would appreciate any thoughts on the following configuration.  I intend to use it for gaming - Fallout 3, Crysis, Mass Effect, Oblivion - photo editing, and general home office applications.  My monitor would be approx. 20 inches.  Please let me know if there are any areas for savings that will not affect performance too significantly for an amateur gamer.  I'm hoping to spend between $2000 - $2500.  Thank you.  

Chassis: Antec 900
Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish
Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache)
Motherboard: Asus P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi-AP (Intel P45 Chipset) (Supports CrossFire)
System Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz
Card Reader: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 1: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA)
Hard Drive 2: - No Thanks
Raid Option: - No Thanks
Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks
Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition)
Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks
Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections)
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB
TV Tuner: - No Thanks
Sound Card: Razer Barracuda AC-1 (Recommended) 
Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink Upgrade (Copper Heatpipes)
Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes)
Modifications: - No Thanks
Boost Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor
Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s)
Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory
Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system
Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts) 
Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based)
Protection: - No Thanks
Office: - No Thanks
Benchmarking: - No Thanks
Install/Test Game: - No Thanks
LCD Display: - No Thanks
Surge Shield: - No Thanks
Speakers: - No Thanks
Keyboard: Microsoft Multimedia Desktop 2.0 (Multimedia Keyboard + Optical Wheel Mouse)
Mouse: - No Thanks my keyboard comes with a mouse
External Storage: - No Thanks
Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

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drumdog20816 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Quote Reply Topic: First Build Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 12:00am
	Hi. I would appreciate any thoughts on the following configuration. I intend to use it for gaming - Fallout 3, Crysis, Mass Effect, Oblivion - photo editing, and general home office applications. My monitor would be approx. 20 inches. Please let me know if there are any areas for savings that will not affect performance too significantly for an amateur gamer. I'm hoping to spend between $2000 - $2500. Thank you. Chassis: Antec 900 Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition) Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache) Motherboard: Asus P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi-AP (Intel P45 Chipset) (Supports CrossFire) System Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz Card Reader: - No Thanks Hard Drive 1: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Hard Drive 2: - No Thanks Raid Option: - No Thanks Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 4870 512MB TV Tuner: - No Thanks Sound Card: Razer Barracuda AC-1 (Recommended) Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 2 (Silent Artic Cooling Heat-sink Upgrade (Copper Heatpipes) Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes) Modifications: - No Thanks Boost Processor: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my processor Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium (64-Bit Edition) (For Enthusiasts) Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based) Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Benchmarking: - No Thanks Install/Test Game: - No Thanks LCD Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: Microsoft Multimedia Desktop 2.0 (Multimedia Keyboard + Optical Wheel Mouse) Mouse: - No Thanks my keyboard comes with a mouse External Storage: - No Thanks Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

widdlecat Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List DS Veteran Joined: 11 Mar 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 840	Quote Reply Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 12:49am
	Nice config for your needs. If you do a lot of photo manipulation, you may consider an overclock of cpu and mebbe memory. If you want to save on rendering time that is. If so, I'd recommend going to at least stage 3 cooling for a good OC. Otherwise, it looks good!


drumdog20816 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Quote Reply Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 9:16am
	Thank you for your input. I appreciate it.

drumdog20816 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Quote Reply Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 5:54pm
	Good thought. I was torn over whether to go with two HDDs. I think I will have a couple hundred dollars of flexibility in price, but would like to go economize where possible. Would you suggest that the HDD running the OS be a faster one? Also, would dropping the soundcard in favor of integrated audio be a mistake. Thanks again.

drumdog20816 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Quote Reply Posted: 15 Aug 2008 at 5:56pm
	You answered my question before I asked it. You guys are good. Thanks.

drumdog20816 Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 Aug 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 9	Quote Reply Posted: 16 Aug 2008 at 9:40pm
	Hi all - I was AFK for most of the day. here is my revised build based on Harleyman's suggestions. I think I will put a video card in myself to save a few $ and keep me within budget, unless you all think I'm making a mistake. One final question, how significantly will OC'ing the processor affect its life if using Stage 3 cooling? Thanks for all the feedback. p.s - forgot to add 64 bit Vista to use 4 GB Ram Chassis: Antec 900 Exterior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Interior Finish: - Standard Factory Finish Power Supply: 750W Corsair HX (Dual SLI Compatible) (Silent Edition) Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz (1333MHz FSB) (12MB Cache) Motherboard: Asus P5Q3 Deluxe WiFi-AP (Intel P45 Chipset) (Supports CrossFire) System Memory: 4GB DDR3 Corsair at 1333MHz Card Reader: - No Thanks Hard Drive 1: 160GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Hard Drive 2: 500GB Western Digital (16MB Cache) (7200 RPM) (SATA) Raid Option: - No Thanks Hard Drive 3: - No Thanks Optical Drive 1: DVD±R/RW/CD-R/RW (DVD Writer 20x / CD-Writer 48x) (LightScribe Edition) Optical Drive 2: - No Thanks Wireless Access: High Speed Network Port (Supports High-Speed Cable / DSL / Network Connections) Video Card: - No Thanks, I will be installing my own video card(s) TV Tuner: - No Thanks Sound Card: Integrated Motherboard Audio Extreme Cooling: Air Cooled Stage 3 WindTunnel (Copper Heatpipe Heatsink & Additional Case Fans) Internal Lighting: Blizzard Internal Lighting (Blue Edition) (Cold Cathode Tubes) Modifications: - No Thanks Boost Processor: Yes, Overclock the processor as much as possible with complete stability Boost Video Card: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my video card(s) Boost Memory: - No Thanks, Please do not overclock my memory Tweak Windows: - No Thanks, Please do not tweak the services on the operating system Windows OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Restore Kit: Digital Storm Specialized Recovery System (DVD Image Based) Protection: - No Thanks Office: - No Thanks Benchmarking: - No Thanks Install/Test Game: - No Thanks LCD Display: - No Thanks Surge Shield: - No Thanks Speakers: - No Thanks Keyboard: - No Thanks Mouse: - No Thanks External Storage: - No Thanks Warranty: 3 Year Platinum Care Extended Parts & Labor Warranty

Tyler Lowe Members Profile Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 14 May 2008 Online Status: Offline Posts: 0	Quote Reply Posted: 16 Aug 2008 at 9:50pm
	Great basis for a killer system. Installing a GPU is pretty straight forward. If you know what power leads you'll need for the card, request those be run to where the card will be installed when it's built so it's as easy as plugging in the unit and powering up.

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