Need opinions/review on build~

[monagi]

Looking to make this build in ~2-3 months (hoping for a few price drops). Starting w/just 2GB ram and 1 512 8800GT (can always upgrade ram + add another 512 8800GT in the future for upgrades, yay SLI). I also have a 150gb WD raptor ready to put into it.. the HD I am buying below will be primarily for storage. Only thing I am not too sure about is the mobo...can't seem to make a choice on one. Suggestions? Comments? Thanks!

Case: Newegg.com - Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan - Retail

PSU: Newegg.com - Thermaltake toughpower W0117RU ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, CB, TUV, FCC, UL, CUL, and BSMI certified - Retail

RAM: Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

CPU: Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail

CPU Fan: Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS9700 LED 110mm 2 Ball CPU Cooler - Retail

HD: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar RE WD3200YS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Vid Card: Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N802-AR GeForce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Mobo: Newegg.com - ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 C55+MCP55P; a.k.a. nForce 650i SLI & nForce 570 SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

DvD-RW: Newegg.com - Pioneer Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 10X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 20X DVD±R DVD Burner - OEM

Monitor: Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 700:1(DC 3000:1) - Retail

 

[900RR]

Looks good I just ordered 4gb of that ram tonight, rebate ends tomorrow.

hdd good, mobo good, vid card I would save $20 get the standard and overclock it yourself. CPU fan is ok if you can fit it in with the side fan Tuniq would be better but oly if you can fit it, not worth losing that big nasty 25cm over.
You should get a SATA DVD-RW instead of an IDE, SATA has better data transfer rates

EDIT: nm, I ordered the 800Mhz TRACER RAM. $40 after mail in rebate for each set

 

[monagi]

Looks good I just ordered 4gb of that ram tonight, rebate ends tomorrow.

hdd good, mobo good, vid card I would save $20 get the standard and overclock it yourself. CPU fan is ok if you can fit it in with the side fan Tuniq would be better but oly if you can fit it, not worth losing that big nasty 25cm over.
You should get a SATA DVD-RW instead of an IDE, SATA has better data transfer rates

I am not too knowledgable when it comes to overclocking, is there much to it? If not I'll just go with the standard.

If the CPU fan doesn't fit, I can always move that 25cm to the outside of the side panel to free up space, no biggie

Good call on the DVD-RW, I'll change that up to this: Newegg.com - ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail

 

[900RR]

nah, there's not much too overclocking, just going into bios and adjusting frequencies, multipliers and occasionaly voltages, pretty much. That is a decent board for overclocking too from what I've read. Most all Asus are. It wouldn't really be worth getting the Zalman or the Tuniq if you're not overclocking.

 

[monagi]

I'd been planning to, just makes me nervous heh. But I'll have plenty of cooling, and I'll just do plenty of research first, so it should be fine.

 

[phucng_10]

Everything looks great for the build you're about to put together! Good job on researching. :happy: Love these techies who can research for themselves and post up a solid build.

 

[900RR]

Apparently Newegg just got these in and doesn't have all the specs for them up yet, but it's only $10 more than the hdd you posted up and it has a 32MB buffer versus 16MB, and 80GB more storage. Easily worth $10 more.
Newegg.com - Seagate ST3400320AS 400GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

 

[monagi]

Oof, yeah that is definitely worth the $10, just never been a big fan of Seagate is all. But I may just have to give them a try for that.

Question... should I perhaps add a sound card to the mix? It would be an upgrade down the line if anything. I don't have much knowledge on the difference they make, but I will mainly be gaming / listening to music with Plantronics )) Computer )) Computer Headsets )) .Audioâ„¢ 770 Virtual Surround Sound Headset

 

[thirdshiftdj]

I would get one. SB audigy 2zs or X-fi. I have the platinum pro with the external hub. Getting harder to find.
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Platinum Pro Card

 

[Ste]

A list of better power supplies of same price OR less:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
Newegg.com - SILVERSTONE OP700 ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V RoHS, FCC, CE - Retail
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Black) EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Retail
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail
Newegg.com - SeaSonic M12 SS-700HM ATX12V / EPS12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC - Retail
Newegg.com - SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-650HT ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC - Retail
Newegg.com - ETASIS ET850 ATX12V / EPS12V True 850W, Max 950W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, cUL, CB, TUV, MEMKO - Retail
Newegg.com - SeaSonic M12II SS-500GM ATX12V 2.2 /EPS12V 2.91 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX ATX12V / EPS12V 650W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail

Now, I could go on for a very long time, BUT, I think you get my point.