Potential Problems?

[hokie8807]

I'm preparing to build my first system within the next month and am looking for some input (suggestions or possible compatibility issues). Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Case: Antec 300
PSU: Corsair 550VX (550w)
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-EP45T-UD3LR
CPU: Intel Q8400
Memory: Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR3 PC 10600 (CT2KIT25664BA1339)
Hard Drive: 320 GB WD Caviar Blue (WD3200AAKS)
or 500 GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 (ST3500418AS)
Graphics: ASUS GeForce 9500 GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 (EN9500GT TOP/DI/512M)

My goal is to build something for around $600 that will be good at multi-tasking (multiple IE/Firefox windows, windows media player, etc) and light gaming (like the sims 3). I have the above parts priced out at about $560 right now. Thanks

 

[AKM880]

Looks like a nice build overall, are you planning on overclocking?

 

[hokie8807]

No, I'm not really looking to overclock right now, although I wouldn't rule out trying it one day. I'm trying to make something stable with room to upgrade in the future.

 

[hokie8807]

Forgive me for not reading the post instructions first. Better late than never:

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: tomorrow-1 month

BUDGET RANGE: US$500-700)

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: surfing the internet, music, gaming, office, watching movies, CAD

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Monitor, speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, tigerdirect/compusa, amazon

PARTS PREFERENCES: Intel

OVERCLOCKING: no SLI OR CROSSFIRE: no

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1280x1024 to 1600x1200

 

[AKM880]

If you do overclock make sure you have something better than the stock cooler. A 9500GT won't game very well in other demanding games BTW (Crysis, GTA4)

 

[hokie8807]

I dont plan to OC but can you recommend a decent cooler if I decide to go in that direction?

What about this for the graphics card instead?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102820