$1000 Dollar Gaming Computer, Will These Parts Work?

Hey, I recently decided to put together a gaming computer for about a thousand bucks or less. I think I've selected a good setup, but I need to make sure before I buy that all the parts will be compatible. Heres my list:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.0GHz - $170

GPU: VisionTek Radeon HD 4870 - $260

Motherboard: ASUS P5Q Pro Intel P45 ATX Motherboard - $140

RAM: OCZ Reaper HPC 4Gb (2 x 2Gb) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM 1066 - $130

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 250Gb 7200rpm 16Mb Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s - $60

DVD: LG Black 2Mb Cache SATA 20x DVD Burner - $25

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W SLI Certified CrossFire Ready PSU - $110

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel ATX Mid Tower - $50

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2B for System Builders - $85

Total Cost with mobo/cpu combo - $995

Will this setup work? Are there better parts for the price than I have here? I will be doing some gaming (hoping to be able to max crysis at 1280x1024), some 3D work, as well as some web design.

I'm not really sure whether to get Windows XP with SP2 or SP3. I have heard that SP3 might have slightly worse performance than SP2 for games, but not by much. I am leaning towards SP2 as I don't need anything in SP3, and it saves $5 :).

Thanks for the help, and I appriciate all comments.

I would prefer Vista myself as well on a new build from scratch. There are cheaper parts on the Newegg site, I know because I was planning a build myself for a $1000 dollars just like you. 2 Zotac 8800GT's ($117 each for two) in SLI will work better than that 4870 and they are cheaper also, they are what I want. Your hard drive is inexpensive but a tad small, you may want more space very soon, so I recommend at least a 500GB HDD unless you want to add another one soon. Also, you can get the exact same parts cheaper from other online sites like your Core 2 Duo. I wanted the same one but you can get for $20 less or so new, just use Google Shopping search to find it. You also forgot your keyboard and mouse and you might want speakers also. I want a 1080P Westinghouse 47" TV for my computer but if you don't want to spend that much, here is a link to an awesome cheap 1080P monitor.

Inexpensive 1080P monitor

looks great buy don't waste your money and a dying os, vista is much better and get vista 64 so you can use more than 3.3-3.7gb of ram. everything should work fine together.

if you already have xp by all means use it but don't buy a new version of xp its like flushing $$ down the drain

Are you kidding me? Windows Vista for a gaming PC? No way, I have Windows Vista 32 bit right now and I can't game on most games because it's not compatible. ...StealthKing93

You must be doing something wrong. Vista can play nigh every game flawlessly, including ones that preceeded the OS.

Thanks guys, I appriciate the help :).

I kind of forgot to mention that I already have a keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers. I am getting Windows XP because I have several older games and programs I would like to be able to run, and also it's very possible to get the few Vista exclusive games running fine on XP. I basically don't want to give up performance by choosing Vista.

Also, the hard drive should be fine for me. I've been using an 80gig one for years, so I should be fine with just 250Gb. I will look around a little to see if I could get the CPU, etc. a little cheaper, but I'm getting it and my mobo in a combo deal that saves $35, so it may still be cheaper from Newegg.

If I wanted to get a different case, are there any you would reccomend?

Thanks guys, I appriciate the help :).

If I wanted to get a different case, are there any you would reccomend?

Trebuchet111

Cooler Master 690

Performance between vista and xp has been 1:1 for quite some time. Performance difference between DX10 and DX9 is another story, but you can always un DX9 under vista. Also, I don't know what kind of old games you are talking about, but the old games that I play (diablo II, Starcraft) all work on vista.

Nothing wrong with going XP, but new > old is generally the case with anything technology.

good luck on your new build!

[QUOTE="StealthKing93"]Are you kidding me? Windows Vista for a gaming PC? No way, I have Windows Vista 32 bit right now and I can't game on most games because it's not compatible. ...WDT-BlackKat

You must be doing something wrong. Vista can play nigh every game flawlessly, including ones that preceeded the OS.

Brothers in Arms BiA/EiB won't run because it is Vista

Call of Duty 2, somewhat laggy gameplay

Company of Heroes- Game shuts down when cutscene begins

Btw It's also pretty hard patching & modding, you should install your games into Program Files because Program Files is so restricted that access is denied to anything you modify. And yes, I am the only user and marked as admin.

[QUOTE="WDT-BlackKat"]

[QUOTE="StealthKing93"]Are you kidding me? Windows Vista for a gaming PC? No way, I have Windows Vista 32 bit right now and I can't game on most games because it's not compatible. ...StealthKing93

You must be doing something wrong. Vista can play nigh every game flawlessly, including ones that preceeded the OS.

Brothers in Arms BiA/EiB won't run because it is Vista

Call of Duty 2, somewhat laggy gameplay

Company of Heroes- Game shuts down when cutscene begins

Btw It's also pretty hard patching & modding, you should install your games into Program Files because Program Files is so restricted that access is denied to anything you modify. And yes, I am the only user and marked as admin.

do you have uac turned off? worst idea ever on ms part

Change your os. windows xp home doesnt support dual core microsoft even says so. Also i have tried it with a e4600 an oly 1 core is reconized. Get at least proferret-gamer

Are you sure? I thought it supported dual core, just not dual CPU sockets.

[QUOTE="ferret-gamer"]Change your os. windows xp home doesnt support dual core microsoft even says so. Also i have tried it with a e4600 an oly 1 core is reconized. Get at least proTrebuchet111

Are you sure? I thought it supported dual core, just not dual CPU sockets.

People are bad mouth vista cause of early teathing problems, its not bad once your used to it