computer builders, I'm a noob. Halp.
 

Update:
4/17: It's alive.
4/14: Asus P5N-D motherboard ordered @ Newegg $139.99. Combo ordered an Asus HD-DVD rom for $10 more.
4/10: Q9450 order placed @ Microcenter.com ($300 + tax, free shipping)
4/10: Q9450 order canceled @ ShopBLT.com ($350 + tax & shipping)
3/20: Arctic Freezer Pro 7 CPU fan purchased. ($23)
3/20: Harmon Kardon AVR 240 receiver purchased. This is needed for the optical in's.
2/24: Need mobo opinions.
1/17: Nothing new, just more deals ... look below.
1/16: Memory assistance needed on page 2. (starting at post 41)
1/15: Antec case opinions needed.


PC Budget: was ... $300 - $350 :doh2:
All prices after applied MIR's and shipping
$045.00 - Antec P182 Case - Frys.com
$040.00 - Antec NeoHE 550w PSU - Frys.com
$055.00 - OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800, SLI Certified - Frys.com
$300.00 - Intel Core 2 Quad 9450 12mb L2 cache, 2.66 GHZ - Microcenter.com
$051.00 - PNY Verto GeForce 8600 GT, 256mb DDR3, SLI - Best Buy (B&M)
$051.00 - PNY Verto GeForce 8600 GT, 256mb DDR3, SLI - Best Buy (B&M)
$048.00 - Logitech MX5000 Bluetooth Keyboard / Laser Mouse - Best Buy (B&M)
$023.00 - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro LGA775 CPU fan
$140.00 - Asus P5N-D 16X SLI Motherboard - Newegg.com
$009.00 - Asus HD-DVD rom - Newegg.com
$011.00 - Motorola Wireless-G PCI card - Target
$000.00 - Western Digital 160gb, 7200 RPM, PATA HDD - gift, free
________
$773.00 :thumbup:

If I were to pay MSRP ... all prices from pricegrabber.com, 5 star retailers(4/18)
$147.00 - Antec P182 Case (Mwave.com)
$099.00 - Antec NeoHE 550w PSU (Directon.com)
$091.00 - OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2-800, SLI Certified (Newegg.com)
$350.00 - Intel Core 2 Quad 9450 12mb L2 cache, 2.66 GHZ (Newegg.com)
$180.00 - PNY Verto GeForce 8600 GT, 256mb DDR3, SLI (JR.com)
$180.00 - PNY Verto GeForce 8600 GT, 256mb DDR3, SLI (JR.com)
$104.00 - Logitech MX5000 Bluetooth Keyboard / Laser Mouse (Buydig.com)
$031.00 - Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro LGA775 CPU fan (Xoxide.com)
$140.00 - Asus P5N-D 16X SLI Motherboard (Newegg.com)
$100.00 - Asus HD-DVD rom (Newegg.com)
$050.00 - Motorola Wireless-G PCI card (MSRP in stores)
$065.00 - Western Digital 160gb, 7200 RPM, PATA HDD (BHPHoto.com)
________
$1,537.00 :down:

Outside of the PC:
$128.00 - Harmon Kardon AVR240 - 7.1 CH Audio Rec. - CC.com (was $499.99)
$048.00 - Harmon Kardon DVD 38 - HDMI 720p / 1080i upscale - BB (B&M) (was $199.99)
$018.00 - Harmon Kardon Bridge - iPod to Rec adapter - Target (B&M) (was $69.99)
$070.00 - Sony SA-FT1H - 5.1 speaker system - CC (B&M) (was $349.99) (image)
________
$264.00

Images:
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ld-Table01.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...ld-Table02.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...Zoom-Parts.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...Zoom-Antec.jpg

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e2...oom-Harmon.jpg




[spoiler=older posts]
2/24:
Yesterday I purchased 2 SLI video cards from Best Buy for $51 each down from $184.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage....=1176507039644

Last week I pre-ordered the new 45nm Core 2 Quad 9450.

Last bit needed is an SLI motherboard that accepts the new 45nm chips. Halp!

ORIGINAL POST
http://shop3.outpost.com/product/5178456
was $159, now $95 - $50 MIR = $45 in 6 to 8 weeks. :hs:

I've never had an Antec case, but the design looks baller.

Better pictures here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129025


Thoughts? Worth it?[/spoiler]

seems like a good price, but i've never liked cases with the door on the front.

i <3 antec cases

used them for my last 2 builds. They hold up well & look great. Mine always have tons of room inside

I actually like the door because it hides my multi-colored drives. :hs:

I hate seeing a beige CD-RW next to a silver DVD-RW.

How's the sound deadening?

pull out the drive, remove just the front plate, and spray paint. that's what i did to one of my beige drives. it looks great!

i don't think i'd be that crazy about the door on the machine either. but it does look cool.

I had a front open door for that reason as well and after awhile it started to bug the shit out of me having to open and close it all the time.

If I were to build a system again I would go Antec. LOVE their stuff.

The dell case that I have right now though is actually pretty :cool: how it works internally.

i too hate multi-colored drives :hs:

as for sound deadening ... sometimes mine can get a bit loud, but then mine is an older no frills case & i have 4 case fans, a upgraded cpu fan & a cooling box for the HD that has its own fan ... so if i push it she can get a bit noisy, but nothing too extreme.

I have a hard time spending that much on a case. I went for a multi-fan gamers case and shoved it under my desk. That saved $100 for other stuff.

The thing I'm choking on is the MIR. If I can get over that, $45 (shipped) for an aluminum, brand name case, is a steal.

I can't even find shitty cases for under $35 shipped.



My goal is to build a dual core machine this year for under $300.

I missed the MIR part and the discount. Rough morning i guess. For that price, I agree.