[Rapolyne]

Hello - I think I've managed to "somewhat" finalize my list.

Here are the components:
Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131297

Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814129113

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115017

Memory (x2, 8gb total)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231145

Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136218

Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824009125

CD/DVD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151173

Sound Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829271001

Heat Sink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835233003

I already have:

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...nine%20hundred

Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126021

Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826104178

Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836121014

If you could review this list and give any suggestions, I'd really appreciate it.

Some specific questions:
-Did I pick the correct memory to match the motherboard?
-Is a sound card necessary, or is onboard audio sufficient?
-Will this video card allow my to play games like Crysis max settings?
-Should I go with E8500 instead of Q6600?
-Should I go with a 9800 GX2 instead of the HD 4870?

Thanks so much for reading and enjoy your Sunday.

[thingie2]

Motherboard: Fine

Video card: Almost there, however go with the 1GB version of the 4870, the 512MB version is noticibly worse.

PSU: Very good choice, can't get much better

CPU: For gaming the E8500 would be a much better choice.

RAM: Unless you are planning on overclocking a lot, go for 800MHz RAM, will save you money, any extra is wasting.

HDD: Very good choice.

Monitor: All looks very good.

Optical Drive: Very good choice.

Sound Card: looks very good, but for the speakers you have, I would say it's a waste, you won't notice the difference over the onboard audio on your motherboard.

Heatsink: Very good choice.

Did I pick the correct memory to match the motherboard?

mentioned above.

Is a sound card necessary, or is onboard audio sufficient?

Also mentioned above.

Will this video card allow my to play games like Crysis max settings?

It depends on resolution, on that monitor, at max resolution, I don't think any card can play crysis at full settings at a frame rate of 40+ (a comfortable rate), but the 1GB version of the 4870 will be the best card for it (without doubling at getting the 4870x2, and even that I don't think performs much better)

Should I go with E8500 instead of Q6600?

Yes, as mentioned above.

Should I go with a 9800 GX2 instead of the HD 4870?

No, the 4870 performs better.


One last thing, which OS are you going to use? because you haven't linked to one at all there.

[Rapolyne]

Thanks for the detailed information thingie2 and to answer your question, vista 64.

[serverguy]

What thingie said is basically everything I would have said. Nice one thingie I'm sure Carbon would also pretty much agree.

Just make sure you swap the Q6600 out for a E8400 / E8500.

[thingie2]

Originally Posted by Rapolyne

Thanks for the detailed information thingie2 and to answer your question, vista 64.

Ok, that's fine, i just wanted to make you you had one, and that it was 64bit to use all that RAM.

[Carbon]

Yeah, you're not likely to see too big of a sound difference with the card on some $20 speakers. I have some nice Z-2300s and use my sound card's virtual surround and stuff often, but those are $100-$150 speakers.

Also have to recommend the 1GB 4870. The consensus is quickly approaching that 1GB cards are going to become pretty mainstream with games like Clear Sky, Far Cry 2, etc running much better under 1GB than 512MB.

Looks perfect otherwise.