Building First Computer: Advice with Components?

[zcbgameshark]

I've just finished picking out the parts for my first self-built computer. I'm making the computer with high-end gaming in mind but at a moderately affordable price. Since this is my first computer where I am choosing the parts individually, I would really appreciate some help/advice with my components, since I really don't know if they're the right pieces or not.

This is my current build (prices are after MIR):
* CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103773
$164

* Motherboard
ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP
ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131011
$178

* Memory
Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
(PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220144
$57

* Hard Drive
Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial
ATA150 Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136011
$185

* Video Card
EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express
x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130038
$280

* Computer Case
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
$130

* Power Supply
COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power RP-650-PCAR ATX from factor 12V V2.01 650W Power Supply 115/230 V Safety Nemko, TUV, cUL, CE, BSMI, FCC, CCC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171014
$40

* CD/DVD Drive
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106055
$31

My main questions are:
(1) Are the Power Supply and Motherboard good choices? I know very little about either component.
(2) Will I need a Cooling System in addition to the case? If so, I was thinking about the Sunbeam / Tuniq T-120 CPU Cooler http://www.xoxide.com/tuniq-t-120-hsf.html.
(3) I also wasn't sure about the Hard Drive; it seems good to me, but I have heard that 150gig may not be enough.
(4) Will my Graphics Card be good for high-end gaming, or should I consider buying an 8800GTX or a GTS with more MB memory? I remember reading about some new ones coming out soon, so I didn't know if it would be worth investing in the more expensive GPUs out now.

If you have any other suggestions about my components, please tell me.

Thanks a lot for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

[b3rt_d4ni3l]

Btw, any particular reason you are not going for Intel build? Because as of now, Intel is dominating the performance.

If you need a bigger hard drive try searching one that has lower RPM (like 7200RPM). As for size, you can go as big as 1TB but that would be overkill I guess. So for normal usage, 750GB should be OK.

 

[zcbgameshark]

Btw, any particular reason you are not going for Intel build? Because as of now, Intel is dominating the performance.

If you need a bigger hard drive try searching one that has lower RPM (like 7200RPM). As for size, you can go as big as 1TB but that would be overkill I guess. So for normal usage, 750GB should be OK.

I chose AMD because I heard from several places that it was better for gaming; I don't know what the difference is.

My current HD is 50gig and I still have like 5gig free, so I thought 150gig would be enough. Also, wouldn't a 7200rpm HD slow my computer down compared to a 10k rpm HD? Or would there not really be a difference, because I chose the current HD mainly because of the 10k rpm.

Thanks for your response.

 

[zcbgameshark]

If Intel really is better, then I was thinking maybe:
[Overclocked] Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Conroe 2.13GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115016
$198

and
XFX MB-N680-ISH LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813141003
$220 and free game

or

GIGABYTE GA-G33M-DS2R LGA 775 Intel G33 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128053
$135