first build since my 486dx!

unfortunately, i don't have the cash to go hog wild. i'd prefer to get another laptop, but it seems kind of silly to pay more for less machine when i'm on a budget, and already have a laptop that's a perfectly serviceable traveling box.

ideally, i'd like to stay in the neighborhood of $1000. less would be spectacular, but slightly more would be acceptable. i'll primarily be using the box for gaming and graphic design, and would like to dual boot windows and some flavor of linux (i have not yet checked any of the hardware for linux compatibility, i figured i'd get a good starting point and then make adjustments if necessary).

my main question is in the areas i really know nothing about - gpus. i'd like to get a nice gpu, but have very little interest in having the omgsweetest thing out there. i'm accustomed to a mobility radeon 9700, so anything significantly better than that (which i assume is most gpus at this point) will probably make me pee myself.

anyway, here's what i've found in my brief episode of browsing (prices aren't exact, just ballpark rounded up to account for tax/shipping)...

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - $100

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - $200

CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - $150

VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - $200

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $100

ASUS VW222U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor - $250

Saitek PK02 2-Tone USB Standard Eclipse II Keyboard - $50

and BALLS! i'm already up to ~$1050, without a psu or case. (if anyone can recommend a quiet, efficient, and reliable psu i'd appreciate it.)

basically, despite all my rambling at the beginning, i'm just wondering this - am i spending too much in any area, or perhaps skimping where i shouldn't be? see any lemon parts i should avoid? i could also use some cooling advice before i start trying to find a case - do i need/want thermal paste for the cpu, cooling for the gpu, a case with ventilation aplenty, etc etc...

thanks

edit: i also haven't really shopped around yet, just newegg and mwave. their prices are essentially identical, though mwave doesn't carry the keyboard, and newegg advertises about $80 in mail-in rebates for my current parts list. any other vendor suggestions?

edit2: should i bite the bullet and get vista? or can i keep coasting on my 5 year old copy of xp pro?

thanks for the feedback, pdonket...

i'll probably take your advice on the memory, and switch to the G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000) for $80 - almost as fast, and half the price.

the E8400 is only $20 cheaper than the E8500, so i might stick with what i've got - i have no experience with overclocking, and although i'd like to try, it's probably better to assume my lazy ass won't put in the extra work...

i'm still trying to wade my way through the sea of monitors available - so thanks for those suggestions. though the asus is the first one that caught my eye, i'm not sold on it by any stretch (admittedly, i feel kind of guilty for not getting an asus mobo, i'm a bit of an asus fanboy)

thanks, buck and z.

@buck - is the only reason to pick the 4850 over those other cards the crossfire ability? i don't see myself going for crossfire, though it would probably be more forward-thinking of me to not rule out the possibility.

the case will either be on or under my desk - probably depending on how loud it is. the best combo of cool and quiet would be my preference. a mid-tower is probably the size i'm aiming for, though i don't have any restrictions for size, other than preferring a case that's both small and easy to work in.

right now i'm looking at this case, which includes a 500w earthwatts psu (rebranded seasonic, iirc). it's on crazy sale, is WHITE (why are 99.4% of cases black now?), and from what i've read, the psu is quality (linky). i plan on adding a hdd cooler (will also double as an intake fan, to complement the 120mm fan in the back of the case), and a cpu cooler.

i'm thinking that that should be more than adequate for cooling while also remaining pretty quiet (well, not too loud, anyway). thoughts?

edit: i had been looking at pcp&c earlier in the day - i'm still tempted to go with them (probably the one you linked to), provided i can grab it and another case i like (sans psu) for the same ballpark price. if the pcp&c psu was noticeably quieter, i'd definitely go that route...time for more research!

updated potential parts list: http://secure.newegg.com/WishList/Pu...stTitle=newbox

it's actually a little cheaper in my cart (mobo/cpu combo deal), and has $50 in mail-in rebates - so it's not too far above my ideal cost, and within my absolute limit for total cost (incl tax/shipping)...still researching though, so i might switch it up and pare back a little.

(the pci pcmcia card is for my echo indigo sound card)

from what i've read today, it seems like the 9800gtx+ is probably the way to go - especially since it can be had at newegg for the same price as the 4850, and comes bundled with a free copy of crysis...

it also seems that the 9800 runs a fair bit cooler than the 4850, which is nice. i'm a little concerned about having this much heat in a mid-tower case - am i just paranoid?

parts list updated. triple post. every minute i spend researching parts, i get a little closer to poverty.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130347

$125 after MIR, it looks like it sends hot air right out of the case, and it would make it so the video card isn't 1/6 of my budget...

thanks for trying to keep me out of the poorhouse, pd.

cool, thanks for all the gpu and fan advice guys!

re-working my potential setup again...i'm not sure what i'll do with myself when i finally order something

updated parts list

wasn't sure if the 610 watt pcp&c would be adequate if i added another 4850 in the future, so i threw the 750 in there. would be an easy $50 saved if the 610 would get it done (and a $200 tragedy if it didn't).

it now comes to $1500 incl tax + shipping, which is more than i planned on spending, but not more than i can afford - this happens EVERY TIME i get a new computer

i fell like i'm finally about settled on parts (but still open to suggestions!)...time to start shopping around...

@zx81 - i'm a little wary of open box items, especially for something as critical as a mobo...am i nuts? i've seen plenty of open box deals that i considered, but in the end shied away from...

you're my hero; ygpm.

@z - i'll probably use my computer for listening to music more than i'll play games, so good sound quality is important to me. i haven't heard much good about any onboard audio, which is why i threw in the sound card. however, i'm seriously contemplating dropping the asus card, and going back to my original plan of a pci to pcmcia card to house my echo indigo. not the greatest for games, but i love the music quality. and $80 cheaper. if it's not adequate, i can always grab the sound card later...and i'm convinced!

i also just found a p5k deluxe that has sound and wifi onboard for $120. open box, but i still might go for it. more savings!

abandoned the sli/crossfire pipedream - i'm a 1 video card guy. lowered psu to 500w, lowered gpu to 8800GT. starting to feel better about the price

found a 8500/ram bundle that's $10 cheaper than the 8400 + ram i was looking at. ram seems decent, so i may go with that.

under $1200! (and that's with everything purchased from newegg - mwave has the p180 case for $80, maybe some other parts cheaper as well )

list

i'm starting to think that if i ensure good case cooling, i'll skip on the cpu cooler until i decide to OC...