Building My Own Computer *UPDATED*

I am gonna be building a PC for my senior project and would love some advice. I have a few parts already but need almost everything. Below is what I am considering or already have. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Hoping to spend around $800.

Case 10-Bay Eagle Sidewinder ATX Mid Tower Case (Bought - Free)
MoBo GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard (Bought - $$97)
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz 4M shared L2 Cache (Bought - $193)
PSU Ultra X-Finity 600W Power Supply (Bought - $14.17)
Video EVGA GeForce 8800GT Video Card (512MB DDR3, PCI-E 2.0, DX10, OpenGL 2.0) (Bought - $237.69)
Memory Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-6400 800MHz 240-pin DDR2 Memory (Bought - $49.99)
HD Seagate 500GB 3.5-inch SATA II (Bought - $84.99)
Optical LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Model LH-20A1L-06 (Bought - $36.99)
CPU Heatsink COOLER MASTER GeminII RR-CCH-ANU2-GP CPU+ Board Cooler (Bought - $6.33)

Total Price = $720.16

What do you plan on using this computer for?

I am hoping to make it good enough for games but don't want to make it that expensive.

What kind of games?

Like Halo 2 perhaps

Would this work for a video card?

EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP
http//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130290

I believe nVidia is coming out with a new line of chip sets, you should wait until mid november before making a decision on a graphics card. I'm trying to build one as well, but I've put it on hold until I figure out whats going on with nVidia

I really don't want to spend more on a video card then I do on the monitor and I plan to spend around $200 on that.

I'd just recommend to get a 256-bit video card.

Oh, yeah if you're not looking for a high end card then yes go with what TFOAF said

Well I don't want to go all out for the video card but I don't really want something cheap either.

Should I bother with an audio card for music? I have a 5.1 Yamaha surround sound system i plan to plug it in to.

the 8600 GT is a good card and you will not struggle with Halo 2 at all. Were you planning to run Vista or XP cause Halo 2 is a Vista only game (unless you plan on cracking). I have a 7600GT at the momemnt and it can run Halo 2 really well. I am starting to look at parts for my new system and I was debating between a 8600 GT and the 8800 GTS, I personally am going to go with the 8800, but it is about 150 more than the 8600. but both are great cards.

I have a better idea than building a computer - use that money to pay up on your trades
http//forum.freeipodguide.com/viewtopic.php?t=65107

The 8800 GTS are going for about $250 currently I have noticed an XFX and an EVGA for that price after MIR.

lol

doylnea is such a silly alabaster

8800gts, Get it. Should run everything very well + It'll last a few years easy.

I went with the new EVGA 8800 GT for $240

I meant 8800GT. Im actually getting a similar rig. Hows it holding up for you? I'm getting same everything almost, except I opted with the Quad core QX6600.

[quotea3e397b507="coolvaughan"]I went with the new EVGA 8800 GT for $240[/quotea3e397b507]

sweet, was that instead of paying back your debts?

[quote58ea02a523="KnightTrader"]I meant 8800GT. Im actually getting a similar rig. Hows it holding up for you? I'm getting same everything almost, except I opted with the Quad core QX6600.[/quote58ea02a523]

Well I just put it together tonight and couldn't get anything to show up on my monitor. Everything including the video card was receiving power so I'm pretty confused.

You deffiently will save over 1000 in making your own CPU. My friend and i did that just a few weeks ago, MAKE SURE YOU GET AN ANTI STATIC WRIST BAND, IF NEEDED I COULD SEND YOU MINE.... but on another note make sure your sizes all FIT FIRST, its very frustrating to buy all the parts and realize they do not fit lmao...

ALSO WE USED THIS LINK.
http//www.atozincomputer.com/Productinfo_files/Build%20your%20own%20computer.html