If anybody remembers, I was in a dilemma on whether to get a fucking awesome laptop or a fucking awesome desktop + a meh laptop. Well, I decided for the latter. I got a $700 HP laptop that's actually really nice, but not what I'm looking for in a computer aside from being good for travel and school. Now comes the task of obtaining a fucking kickass gaming quality desktop, and I've been starting to think that building it is the best/cheapest method. The problem is... I've never built a computer before. As far as that stuff goes, the most I've done is add a hard drive/RAM/a video card. What I really need someone to do for me is to compose a list of EVERY part I'd need to build a computer. All the necessary components that I'd need to buy. Sound card, video card, heat sinks, fans, everything. I just need to know exactly what needs to be bought before I can start shopping. Any help?

case (most come with all the fans that they'll fit, but there are some exceptions)
power supply
motherboard
cpu (retail ones come with a hsf, oems come as bare cpus so you'd need to buy a hsf)
video card
ram
optical drive(s) (retail come with cables and sometimes software oem does not)
hdds (same as above)
cables (ie ide/sata cables if your drives are purchased oem or you just want better cables)
soundcard if you aren't satisfied with onboard or want those extra couple fps

other things:
monitor
keyboard
mouse/mousepad
speakers/headphones

and how much are you wanting to spend?

Cost-wise, I think something in the $1500 range would be good. But that's really just a blind guess, I'd have to see what $1500 can buy me before my decision's more solid. All I know is that I want this baby in it:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819115017
(or, if you can manage to find something like that for a better price, feel free to indulge me)

The stuff you listed as "other things" isn't much of a problem as I just bought a new mouse two days ago, I love my speakers, and my current keyboard and monitor will work just fine.

Depending on the price and the difference getting one would make compared to going with onboard, I might consider investing in a sound card.

The Q6600 is $286 on zipzoomfly

well here's a list of stuff on a newegg wishlist, lots of it might be cheaper at zipzoomfly or other e-stores:
https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/WishLi....asp?ID=4737114
$1282.92 before shipping

there are little things that you can change like getting an overclocked version of the video card, i just didnt add the one i would have picked cuz it was oos, i didnt pick a soundcard, you can change the case to whatever you want obviously, and i didnt pick out any cables

and i definitely encourage you to check other sites like zipzoomfly and clubit and whoever else cuz that psu for example is like $40 cheaper on zzz last time i checked

edit: well for some reason i can't get that wishlist to go public so i'll just post what i picked out i guess
case
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16811112040
mobo
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16813128050
vidcard
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16814130082
psu
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16817139002
cpu
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16819115017
ram
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16820231065
hdd
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16822152052
burner
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?...N82E16827131047

Well... looking at that list, that's a pretty sextastic rig other than the fact that it lacks an audio port on the front of the case, but I can live without that. Just to make sure, though, there's two USB ports on the front, right? That makes things so much easier.

Anyways... with tax and shipping added in (assuming I was to buy just off NewEgg), the total comes to $1407.15 (also excluding an OS - I just might have to pirate one. Maybe Vista Ultimate). You know what that means? I can add on some more stuff. Could you help in recommending a good card or something so that it can have wireless capabilities?

Also, am I gonna have to buy any extra cables for all this?

you'll need a pair of sata cables.

and here are some other cases, I just picked that particular lian li cuz it's inexpensive and nice and simple. here's another lian li midtower that says it's got usb/firewire/audio:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811112116 ($130)

here's a gigabyte tower with decent reviews also with usb/firewire/audio:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811233002 ($120)

and here's the case i have (thermaltake full tower), also with usb/firewire/audio:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16811133143 ($170)

my case is very solidly built, has plenty of drive bays, removable motherboard tray, is light as a feather, cools well, etc. that lian li is also really nice though, has the same amount of internal 3.5" bays, includes two additional fans so it probably runs cooler and also isn't as flashy looking which i consider a plus. i don't know anything about the gigabyte tower, i just picked it to give you another option.

i dont' know anything about wireless networking, but here's a highly rated super cheap 802.11g card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16833158017

all the draft-n stuff on newegg is pricey and has crappy reviews so i'm not gonna pick any of em :/

but yeah don't forget to check out zipzoomfly and all that cuz with all the free shipping and maybe cheaper stuff, you could save like $80 or $100 or whatever

Sweet. This'll all come in handy for when I decide it's time I needed a new computer. Which shouldn't be too far off from now. Much thanks.

But you're sure that the fans and everything will make this stuff cool enough to run? I think of my biggest fears going into this is to have something overheat and get ruined.

unless your room is super hot and you are blocking all your fan ports, you should be fine

Excellent. I've checked through everything you've recommended and it all seems solid. The only things I changed was the wireless card and the case (I opted for the second one you posted).

Building the thing should be fun when I get around to it. I've never actually dealt with SATA cables before. It'll definitely be a learning experience, at least.

EDIT: Also, would it be worth it to shell out the money for the 640MB version of the 8800GTS over the 320MB?

sata cables are like 1000x easier than ide cables. they're like 50x smaller, much more flexible, and just connect from your mobo to the device.

and about the 640 MB version of the card, no, unless you have like a 24"+ monitor and are planning on playing at 1920x1200 or something, because at 1600x1200 and below, the cards are virtually equal.

http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_200...8&chart=278
the 640 usually gets only a couple frames more than the 320, and sometimes it's actually behind. and as you can see, the overclocked versions of the 320 gets a few more. of course, there are also oc'd 640s, but those are pricey and not really worth it.

but be sure to order one of the overclocked cards unless you plan on doing it yourself, since they're all near the same price. i'll go ahead and link you to a couple of em:
one from xfx -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814150173
one from foxconn -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814186020
one from evga -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814130038