New Computer w/ Grad Money - Critiques and Help Please

Goals: This computer will be used most for my media content and even recording shows. I will also play games on it and want to be able to run the newer ones without a problem

Budget: $1200...This isn't a strict budget. If you can save me some money somewhere that's always great. If I need to spend a little more and it will give me a good performance boost no big deal.

What I Already Have: Mouse, keyboard, OS, Monitor, and Speakers, and DVD Burner

My Choices thus Far (from Newegg):

Case: Antec 900 - $90 (After MIR)

MoBo: GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS4 LGA 775 Intel X48 ATX Motherboard - $235

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9450 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 12MB L2 Quad-Core - $340

Power: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V - $100

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit - $80

HDD: WD Caviar 500 GB - $90

Video Card: EVGA 01G-P3-N869-AR GeForce 9600 GT 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - $215

^^^This were i need the most help. I'm not sure if this is a fine card to use for the money or if i should drop down to an 8 series and get a higher card for the same price.

TOTAL: $1150 < that's after mail-in rebates

Hello,

Most of the items you've selected seems to be pretty fine. The case is perfect for cooling, and an awesome CPU. To answer your question on the Graphics Card, its totally worth it. You can run pretty well all the new games on High Detail like Crysis, CoD4, etc. Another good thing is its not one of those fat looking cards. Its more of a longer looking card designed to fit in your case easily. For that price, I say you should go for that.

George

At that price, definately get an 8800gts 512mb. This MSI 8800gts 512mb costs a little less and is much faster, the rest of your system looks great though.andyroo08

Isnt a 9600 a better model though?

[QUOTE="andyroo08"]At that price, definately get an 8800gts 512mb. This MSI 8800gts 512mb costs a little less and is much faster, the rest of your system looks great though.BelatedNoob

Isnt a 9600 a better model though?

Never! The 9600 is about the 8800GT. The 8800GTS is near the 9800GTX.

[QUOTE="andyroo08"]At that price, definately get an 8800gts 512mb. This MSI 8800gts 512mb costs a little less and is much faster, the rest of your system looks great though.BelatedNoob

Isnt a 9600 a better model though?

Nope, just because it's in the 9 series doesn't make it better, it's a mid range card of the 9 series. The 8800gts should really be called the 9800gts imo. Have a look at this comparison, hope it helps. http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=548&card2=557

After talking to a few people I decided to change a few things. I'm going with an X38 MB. I was told the only big advantage and reason to get a X48 is for DDR3 support. So I'm getting a little bit better DDR2 ram also. My HDD i'm going to upgrade to a 640gb WD one. And I'm going to go with a 8800 GT for $130 so that'll save me some money.

Any thoughts on my processor? Do you think I'm overpaying for what I'm getting and should just get a Q6600 for a lot less?

Good rig man, congrats on finding 4G of RAM for $80.

2 things: id say drop your CPU to the Q6600, its a little over $200 ($5 to be exact) and its getting amazing benches right now...so i'd say look into that.

Another thing: WHERE THE HELL DID YOU SEE A 9600GT FOR $215?!?!??!? Im getting mine for $140!!! (XFX) I say if ur looking for something that'saffordablethat's pretty dam close to the 8800GT, for for the 9600GT. if not, well...get 8800GT's

EDIT: i am aware that i justcontradictedmy signature but w/e....

[QUOTE="BelatedNoob"]

[QUOTE="andyroo08"]At that price, definately get an 8800gts 512mb. This MSI 8800gts 512mb costs a little less and is much faster, the rest of your system looks great though.andyroo08

Isnt a 9600 a better model though?

Nope, just because it's in the 9 series doesn't make it better, it's a mid range card of the 9 series. The 8800gts should really be called the 9800gts imo. Have a look at this comparison, hope it helps. http://www.gpureview.com/show_cards.php?card1=548&card2=557

yeah think of the 8800gt as the 9800gt it has the same gpu as the 9 series and is considerbly faster than the 9600gt

The 8800GT's are technically better than the 9600GT however if you want to save 40 bux by buying a 9600 you probably won't notice much of a difference depending on your monitor size (21 inches or under). Another place you could save a bit of money is by buying hte coolermaster 690 Case. I have one, it's great you can put 7 fans in it so lots of cooling and its about 30 or 40 bux cheaper than the Antec case. In regards to your major parts I'd say they are quite good, when reading your initial couple lines I was thinking 9600GT and Q9450 cpu and that's whta you had. Other than that, I'd say your motherboard you could probably skimp on a bit, I honestly don't know much about it but for 245 dollars you could probably get one comparable for much cheaper.

*** SOrry should have read your post a bit clearer, don't buy the 1 gig 9600 gt it isn't worth it, buy a 512 they are 140 bux, if you still want to spend around 215 buy an 8800 GTS 512 it's a better card for the money