BleepingComputer.com: 1000 Dollar Desktop Build

Hello everyone of this fine community, I would like some critique about this desktop build I put together. Despite the title, the actual budget is 1200-1300 for a desktop with a monitor, keyboard, and CD/DVD drives. Also, I would like a 1TB Hard drive, simply because I need a lot of space.

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16813131402

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819103692

GPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16817139006

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16820227496

Graphics Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16814150454

HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...6-284-_-Product

Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16827106289

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16824254044

Keyboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16823201033

So, have I made any newb mistakes? Do I need a second optical drive? Also, can I modify this build to include an I7 later on?

This post has been edited by Reo Drake: 13 December 2009 - 10:26 PM

It looks fine though you still need an operating system, like Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I would switch the monitor to something else, like the ASUS MS238H Glossy Black 23" 2ms. It costs about $10 more, but runs faster and uses less energy since it is LED. As such, it should have a better contrast ratio. Plus, it looks cool and is from an excellent company. Also, you need a case. Given your graphics card, you should get a full ATX case since it has plenty fans and areas to put components. The Broadway Com Corp R-910 Black thick Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case is a simple and inexpensive case. Finally, note the chipset on your motherboard. If you plan on using Crossfire, you may want to get a 790FX chipset since it has full 16X speeds on the PCI-Express X16 slots. On the one you chose, it has, while both slots are populated with cards, 8X on both slots which is slower. However, if you don't plan on using Crossfire, then this is not an issue. If you want a good 790FX motherboard, the GIGABYTE GA-MA790FXT-UD5P AM3 DDR3 AMD 790FX is a good choice, though it is more expensive. This is an AMD motherboard, which means it can only take AMD processors in the AM3 family. Honestly, unless you're going for the extreme high-end of the i7 line, there is no point in upgrading to that CPU from a Phenom II 965. You only need to add a second optical drive if you want to playback Blu-Ray's. If you want to burn Blu-Ray's you can get a combo drive that will read and burn standard DVD's too.

This post has been edited by DJBPace07: 15 December 2009 - 10:18 PM