First Home Build

1) mobo, id avoid nvidia based MOBO unless you plan on doing SLI later
id opt for an x38 based mobo instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131219
ASUS P5E LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
You can OC on these pretty well, you just cant do SLI, but you can do Crossfire

2) PSU, thats kind of over powered (and pricey) for your system
you could get this instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139006
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

3) GFX card, the money you save from changing your PSU and Case (look below), you can get yourself a better GFX card like an ATI 4850 or GTX260 or something better than the 9600GT you have listed

4) mem looks good

5) HD looks good

6) dvd burner all good

7) OS is good

8) kinda sketchy on the cooler, you only need an after market cooler if you want to OC, i hear those zalman ones are a b!tch to mount

i personally have this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835109125
Thermalright Ultra 120

and I've got my e8400 CPU @3.8GHZ with no problems on this heatsink

you will also need a 12cm fan such as this for it
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811999614
Vantec 120mm FAN
Best part is that you can slap on any 120mm fan, so if the one on it dies, you just get another one from anywhere

9) your case is ok but you can swap that for this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
its similar to the antec 900 but cheaper and comes with 2 fans and space for like 4 more


10) cpu is decent, its the 45nm Wolfdale you've got listed so you should be able to OC that to at least 3ghz


other than that i think you are good IMHO.

damn, i wish we could order from newegg up here in canada, f*ckers have got everything at the click of a mouse

For a gaming system, spend your money on the best graphics system you feel comfortable paying for. With your budget, I would look at the GTX260,4870/9800GX2 class cards, going for about $250. For examole a EVGA GTX260 superclocked for $225.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130372

You can save a bunch on the PSU. You can't beat the PC P&C silencer610 for $79.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703005

I like the Antec 900 case, but the Antec 300 cools as well, and is cheaper. $54.95. No "bling" though.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129042
There is a good combo deal which gets you the case and an Antec 650w psu for $114.94.

4gb is good, but DDR2-800 is cheaper, and will perform just as well.

The zalman cooler looks nice, but it is a bit pricey. A more effective and cheaper cooler is the Xigmatek 1283 for $39.99.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233012
I would recommend the optional backplate also. Pushpin mounts are tricky.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835233020

The monitor is OK, but can you get a 24" monitor. It is worth stretching a bit for a monitor; you will use it for several generations of PC. I have seen some good reviews of the SOYO 24" monitor, sold for $299 online.
http://benchmarkreviews.com/index. [...] 3&Itemid=1
---good luck---

+1 shortstuff, very nice build.

Hate to sound unoriginal alinger but the build by shortstuff is excellent with the only possible changes being to for preference only. It will give you more speed, much better graphics card, better RAM (DDR@ 800 @ 1.8v), faster HDD, better cooling etc. And if you want to be around the $1400 mark you can keep the Antec 900 and still upgrade to the x48 board he has listed above.

FYI, I have the x38 version of the board he has listed above and it makes OC'ing very easy, even for noobs like me.

I would get the x48 and switch your video card to a 4870. If you are stuck on the nvidia card then get the 780i MOBO.

also, spend the extra $10 and get the HDD from shortstuff's post.

go with a 640gb HDD they are only $10 more (the current platers are 320gb each so the 500 is the same as the 640 but with parts of the plater disabled)
+1 fore the 4870 but 260 still is good