Building a gaming computer

[Chalenge]

See my recommendations above.

First of all, don't but a Pentium 4.  This is old technology.  Get even the lowest Core2Duo processor and you'll be much happier, preferably with a 1333 FSB but not required if you're on a budget.

Do not get a Serial ATA hard drive.  Get a SATA3.  No price difference and the transfer speeds are higher.

I can't even find that motherboard so no comment.

As humble mentioned, I'd try to stay away from integrated case/PSU deals but if you're budget constrained then go ahead, just make sure the PSU has enough wattage and enough amps as per my outline above to run your system.

What on Gods green earth? SATA3 is just a planned HD (with access of 600MB/s) from what I can find on the net. Do you know where to get one? I believe your thinking of SATA2 300MB/s (listed as 3Gb/s in some places).

[Chalenge]

I just recently bought this one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147087

Notice the PSU is at the bottom and in front?    No problems hiding all the wiring and keeping it out of the airflow through the case. Its noisier then my Antec P180 but also no where near as heavy!

Newegg screwed up though. I ordered the case and a Rosewill 120mm fan w/ speed control. They sent me the case and two fans and then also double shipped so now I have two cases and four fans. They told me to keep them. 

[Skuzzy]

Quad core processors are about bragging rights and offer little substance to the overall performance of the computer.  Yes, you can find benchmarks which show a quad core CPU kicking a dual core all over the place. Of course, if running a benchmark is what you like to do, then I suppose a quad core CPU would be the thing to get.  I prefer applications to run better than a benchmark myself.

Higher clocked dual core CPU's offer better bang for the buck.

The thing about high end systems today is they are very picky about power.  The better quality the power is, the cooler they run and more stable as well.  I have seen a lot of people spend a lot of money on their systems, only to go cheap on the power supply and they regret it.

[33Vortex]

The better quality the power is, the cooler they run and more stable as well.  I have seen a lot of people spend a lot of money on their systems, only to go cheap on the power supply and they regret it.

Agree to all but this is very important. Consider the PSU as vital as everything else in your system combined.

[Skuzzy]

You also have to be very careful about how the power supply is rated.  The marketing folks at many of these companies have some very clever ways to present the capacity to you today.

For instance, a multi-rail power supply can show its three 12V ralks at 30A each.  Then you find out later the actual capacity is 30A TOTAL for all three rails.  Which means you only have a maximum of 10A per rail.  Some go further to market this as an advantage and call it "flexible scaling" of the rails.

Now, some power supply companies actual advertise thier total capacity based on the maximum rating of the rails.  They will take those 3 12V rails they rate at 30A each and actually add those up to get the total power handling capability.  It is a lie, but it is a neat marketing trick to make thier power supply seem like it will do more than it actually will.

Most all of them will finally have the real rating, somewhere in their documentation.  You would be surprised how many power supply companies are using these tricks today.

[humble]

YUP....

I'm not an expert but I look for 2 things....a tag on the PS that actually shows total amps available for each...

exp 4 x 12V with 72@'s total 12v

2nd is a "continous power" rating in watts. My understanding is that is the sustainable output of the unit vs the peak or burst output.

I've seen alot of "750 Watt" power supplies that actually only produce on the order of 500W's of actual stable output. Thats why you see so many PS's fail at only ~65% or so of "capacity". The lable says 750Ws, and the PS can actually produce 620...but only sustain 520W's long term. Even a continous load of 550W's for even a few seconds will fry the PS...