Upgrading - Advice needed

So here are the items I have decided upon so far; just want to hear whether this is reasonable, or whether there is something I'm missing or should swap for some other item (items are from newegg.ca):

GIGABYTE GA-Z68X-UD3P-B3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Core i5-2400 Sandy Bridge 3.1GHz (3.4GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I52400

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 12GB (3 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-12GBRL

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black 1.0mm SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Foldout MB Computer Case With 500W Power Supply

4x Recertified: Western Digital Caviar Blue RFHWD5000AAKX 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional SP1 64-bit - OEM

I already have 2 DVD drives, and an ATI HD4850 that I will be using with this.

Much thanks for any feedback.

Oh and my objective here is to get as powerful a computer as I can for as little as I can. Trying to keep things under $1000 if possible. Currently this is at $989 including express shipping.

 

I guess the lack of replies means there's no obvious problems with what I've chosen? Mostly I'm interested in whether you think I am wasting money or not, or buying notoriously bad hardware or something.

 

Well one obvious problem I see is that you have not posted a video card, and that motherboard does not have any on-board video.

Unless you already have a video card you plan on adding to this build?

EDIT- Sorry, didnt see the Ati HD4850 at first.

Everything looks ok, however those Raidmax power supplies included with the case arent always the best.

 

IMHO, I would never buy a case that comes with a PSU. Also, remember that OEM = married to the hardware. Can't migrate it to another computer.

Also, why go with 3x4 ram, instead of 4x4?

Looks like I agree with Nico_palm, on yer case/psu.

 

hmmm, thanks. After reading about this, I guess I can't legally install the OEM version on my own computer, and it costs over $300 for the retail version... guess I'll have to bite the bullet and get retail, unless I should just buy XP pro, which it looks like I can get for $40, but that seems like a waste to put XP on brand new hardware...

maybe I should just get win7 home premium and not pro? except I use remote desktop all the time...

with both the ram and case+psu, I was trying to minimize the cost.

switched the ram to

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (4 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9Q-16GBRL

also with the case and psu, I'm not exactly sure what I should pick

going with

AZZA Solano 1000R Black / Red Japanese SECC Steel/Metal mesh in front ATX Full Tower Computer Case

and

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V v2.2 SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply

thanks for the help and for any more comments you might have.

 

The build looks good -- except for the choice of "recertified" hard drives.

The so-so buyer reviews for this drive are on par: For $30, you're buying a drive another customer sent back as defective to WD that was erased and went through a quickie diagnostic ("Does it spin?" - recertified! :-D).

If buying four, it isn't "if" but "how many" will either arrive DOA or die quickly. Many of the drive issues I deal with as a repair tech are only caught using a long version test of Data Lifeguard, SeaTools, etc. - something that is not done during must "recertification" tests. Finally, note that even WD isn't too sure about the quality of these refurbs since they only back them with a 90-day warranty.

The extra cost of buying newer, high-quality drives is dirt cheap compared to the time (and hassles) of diagnosing errors, reloading data and paying return shipping on DOA units.

If your budget allows it, go for the WD Caviar Black 500GB (highest customer rating, 5 year warranty) @ $65/each. If not, spend the extra $10/drive and get the new Seagate 500GBs @ $40/each.

Hope this helps.

 

the Caviar Black is limit 1 per customer, so I switched to the seagate. thanks, I wasn't sure what difference 'recertified' would make, but $120 for four hard drives seemed like an excellent deal. this is barely more expensive anyway.

 

Many people don't understand the OEM aspect of buying microsoft. They see OEM, see the cheaper price, and go for it. Then they transfer that license to another machine, when they upgrade. Legal? No, but they do it anyway.

Go for OEM. windows 8 is coming soon anyway, so, by the time you upgrade, go for it instead.

Personally, I've gone from retail (all thee) xp, vista, and 7. Also, ultimate with vista and 7. Yes, I use most of everything with vista and 7.

 

I bought a 2TB Caviar green HDD for $78, too bad I came in late here. http://ncix.com/products/?sku=49591&vpn=WD20EARS&manufacture=Western Digital WD&promoid=1339