So, i've been wanting to build a new computer, for college. Since i'm going to a tech college and i'll be doing System and Networking, and I needed a super computer for my hardcore gaming needs, and just something to get me through college.

The specs are as following:

- Antec 900 ATX Case
- EVGA 780i Triple SLI Motherboard
- Western Digital 250GB Internal Hardrive
- Corsair 650W Power Suppy Unit
- Geforce 9800GTX Graphics card
- Lite-on DVD/CD Burner
- E8400 Core 2 Duo at 3.0ghz
- Corsair x2 1GB Ram sticks
- 22" Samsung 2ms 8000:1 LCD Monitor
- Logitech 5.1 surround sound speaker system

Thats the main stuff, heres a little stuff for my overclocking needs.

- Freezer Pro 7(Heatsink/fan)
- Artic Silver 5(Thermal paste)

I'm now running my E8400 processor at a whopping 4.0ghz just on air cooling, at 49c and 56c max load (Like playing Crysis, or doing something really heavy that stresses my processor)

But, this computer runs like a dream. There is seriously nothing it can't handle. It can run Crysis at 1680x1050 resolution(max) and max graphic quality and I usually get anywhere from like 35 ~ 43 fps when playing. it runs soooo smooth, and I can't get enough of the game lol.

It cost me $1,700 to build this baby, and it was worth it. I sold my old computer I built about 2~3 years ago for $600, and my laptop for $800. So most of it was paid for.

I just wanted to show off my new rig, and I have an album of pictures if anyone cares to see the beast lol.

http://s41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...cksu/Computer/

If anyone has any questions, weather it be about my new rig, computer help, or anything. I'd be happy to help.

 

i say up the memory (why not? lol)

 

Yeah, alot of people have asked and told me that. But, heres the thing. Its kinda pointless on XP, there wouldn't be much gain, since I baraly use any memory as it is, and XP doesn't use the 4 Gigs of memory really if I had it. But if I ran Vista, and went to more, it would be more efficent and make use of the memory. Its hard to explain, especially since i don't rememeber most of it lol.

 

ohohoh, didn't see that you were running xp, yeah, you don't need any more than 2 for a xp system. i personally like vista 64 for gaming, but hey, i'm not much of a computer gamer, but i do know a bit about computers.

 

Yeah. I forgot to mention I was running XP Pro SP3. Eh, I never really liked Vista too much.. Seemed like a Windows version of Mac OSX, for dummies or something lol, and it was a resource/RAM hog. I never liked 64 since I had alot of compatiablity issues sometimes, so I stuck with 32-bit. But, to each his own lol.

But, Windows 7 looks promising though. Like Vista on steroids without the bugs, haha.

 

yeah, there are a lot of compatability issues, but i love it. but right now i'm using xp, so i'm really (really,really,really) fond of.

 

Haha, nice. I'm still debating over XP Pro 3, and XP Home SP2, since XP Pro has more useless programs, but is more stable and stuff with SP3. But Home SP2 I can use Window Blinds and StyleXP(Visual themes) without a problem, but with XP Pro SP3, I can't. I've ran on XP Home for 3~4 years, and just ran XP Pro SP3 since it came out to try it, and its okay, but I kinda like XP Home a little more.

 

I havent been having any problems running vista, but I have heard of a lot of driver issues. but I went ahead and got home premium anyway and its working fine for me.

I'm also running the same board as you and I love it. I got a evga 8800 gtx and a Q6600 core 2 quad and 4Gb Corsair XMS2, and it runs like a dream. super fast and the graphics are beautiful.

hopefully soon i'm gonna buy another 8800gtx and run them in sli, but i don't know if I want to spend the money cuz i can already max out all my games and still run a high frame rate.

 

also I just looked at the pics and saw that I am about to buy the same case that you got. good choice.

but I would recommend, if you haven't already, upgrade the CPU heatsink and fan to something other than the one that comes with the cpu, especially if you are going to be overclocking. I really like some thermaltakes as well as some of the Zalmans.

 

I would have went with a Q6600 or another Quad core processor. The Q6600 is a 2.4GHz quad core processor, runs about $200. I would get another GB of memory if you are running a 32-Bit processor. If running 64-Bit then another 2GB or more if you can afford it.