*Parts Being Approved: Core 2 Extreme QX9650, EVGA GTX 295 CO-OP Superclocked, etc*

I decided to do a retro Gaming PC Build based around what is arguably the best hardware of that year(s). I went with an Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 (Launched November 2007) and an EVGA GTX 295 OC Edition (Launched January 2009). As the main hardware on Gaming PCs is and has always been dictated by the CPU & GPU, I chose to give a 12-14 month allowance in Hardware. Meaning its logical this would be a build you could have completed around 2008/2009. Its common to grab a GPU later and suffer with an older card for a year.


Consider the cost of a QX9650 at launch was $999 and the GTX 295 was $500 or $1800 for both of them today.

I tried to match the EVGA Green color. Hard to do when there isn't a solid reference point for the color itself. The cooler is also rare and huge. I hope you enjoy the thought and effort put into this retro build.


To keep the PC Cool, we added a 200MM Cooler Master Fan up front. The CPU is cooled by an extra thick 140MM Delta Server fan. I will have to update later when I find the part number as the fan is no longer coming out of the case as it took 4 hands to get it to fit.