[SoulnStyle]

Hey guys, I've been doing as much research as possible during my free time, trying to get to know as much as possible before I start building.

Here are the parts I'm looking to buy (all in Canadian dollars):

CPU: Intel Pentium E2160 1.80GHz - $132.99
Tiger Direct Link

RAM: Ultra 1024MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz Memory x 2 - $85.94
Tiger Direct Link

Hard Drive: Seagate / Barracuda 7200.10 / 500GB / 7200 / 16MB / Serial ATA-300 / OEM / Hard Drive - $129.97
Tiger Direct Link

Motherboard: EVGA nForce 680i SE SLI (TR Version) - 212.99
Tiger Direct Link

PSU: Ultra / X-Finity / 500-Watt / ATX / 120mm Fan / SATA-Ready / SLI-Ready / Black / Power Supply -$49.97
Tiger Direct Link

DVD Burner: Sony DRU830A Retail DVD Burner - $42.97
Tiger Direct Link

Graphics Card: XFX GeForce 8600 GT XXX - $149.97
Tiger Direct Link

Case: Ultra Black Aluminus ATX Full-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Firewire and Audio Ports - $49.97
Tiger Direct Link

All together with taxes all this will run me about $975. I have a Tiger Direct outlet store so shipping is not a problem.

Honestly, I feel like I could get a better system for the money that I'm looking at above. However, I do want to keep the cost low.

Should I just get a ready built system of a comparable price, or should I further pursue this?

Note: 1 Canadian dollar is 0.96 US dollars, but the prices are SO much higher here. It's ridiculous how much they gouge us here.

Any recommendations on the parts will be appreciated, I am just getting started so nothing here is final.

[jfenwick]

If you're in the GTA and are using one of those TigerDirect outlets check out Canada Computers first:

Canada Computers - Your Neighbourhood Computer Store and Service Centre - PC Systems and Hardware Components, Notebooks, Electronics, and more.

Their prices are generally lower than anywhere else (always exceptions) and have a number of stores in the GTA for pick up rather than delivery. That's what I've done and its saved me atleast $150.00 on my build over TigerDirect.

[edit] And they price match as TigerDirect wont unless your ordering your entire system from them at once...and then it's just a discount if you make a good argument. [/edit]

[SoulnStyle]

Thanks a lot, just by doing a quick search I found I can get the same cpu for $30 less, will definitely look into it.

Recommendations on parts will also be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Going with the E4300 instead of the E2160

[darksideleader]

as for the graphics, if your willing to $150, you could get a lot more out of your money.

x1950PRO
Canada Computers - Video Cards > PCI-Express Cards > Powered By ATI : Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 Pro 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphic Card.

7900GS
Canada Computers - Video Cards > PCI-Express Cards > Powered By nVidia : BFG GeForce 7900 GS OC nVidia GeForce 7900GS Chipset (525MHz) 256MB GDDR3 (1320MHz) PCI-Express Graphics Card 20 Pixel Shader Processor SLI-Ready Windows Vista Ready.

x2600XT
Canada Computers - Video Cards > PCI-Express Cards > Powered By ATI : Sapphire ATI HD 2600 XT 256MB DDR4 Dual Display PCI-Express Graphics Card.

The x2600XT will be future proof DX10 put perform worse than other ones.

And if your willing to put in an extra $50, you will be getting the x1950XT. Which has the power of the 8800GTS but that is another $100.

Canada Computers - Video Cards > PCI-Express Cards > Powered By ATI : Sapphire ATI Radeon X1950 XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express Graphic Card (Retail Box).