1st Gaming Rig Build, need suggestions

[creflo]

I posted a previous build on these forums but then I had to study for finals (which I kicked butt at) and I also had a few different choices in parts so here goes:

XtremeGear / CoolerMaster RC-1000 Cosmos Silent Gaming Tower Case

Newegg.com - EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 130W Quad-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

3X
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
(2 for Raid 0, and one for Data storage)

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, cUL, TUV, NEMKO, BSMI, FCC - Power Supplies

2X
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners

2X
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
in SLI


The reason I choose to go for a QX9650 is because I am not familiar with overclocking as I have had this pos Dell for 8 years now. So in that regard, I will be running this system at stock for the first 3 weeks or so before I start tinkering with overclocking...maybe longer.

Now for my RAM selection, if I'm running at stock speeds would pc8500 be a better choice?

I know my PSU is overkill, however I want this system to be highly upgradable.

Going with Cosmos Silent Gaming Tower because the Dell I have now is LOUD and I hate it.

What cooling fans, heatsinks, thermal paste/grease, should I go with? I'm not savvy on cooling setups and my tower will have multiple spots for fans (they come with fans but I heard they aren't good quality).

I have a $3k budget for this system.

Any suggestions?


Thanks.

 

[Prototype]

I posted a previous build on these forums but then I had to study for finals (which I kicked butt at) and I also had a few different choices in parts so here goes:

XtremeGear / CoolerMaster RC-1000 Cosmos Silent Gaming Tower Case

Newegg.com - EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Intel Motherboards

Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz 12MB L2 Cache LGA 775 130W Quad-Core Processor - CPUs / Processors

Newegg.com - Crucial Ballistix Tracer 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

3X
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Internal Hard Drives
(2 for Raid 0, and one for Data storage)

Newegg.com - COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, cUL, TUV, NEMKO, BSMI, FCC - Power Supplies

2X
Newegg.com - SAMSUNG Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - CD / DVD Burners

2X
Newegg.com - EVGA 512-P3-N845-AR GeForce 8800GTS (G92) KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Desktop Graphics / Video Cards
in SLI


The reason I choose to go for a QX9650 is because I am not familiar with overclocking as I have had this pos Dell for 8 years now. So in that regard, I will be running this system at stock for the first 3 weeks or so before I start tinkering with overclocking...maybe longer.

Now for my RAM selection, if I'm running at stock speeds would pc8500 be a better choice?

I know my PSU is overkill, however I want this system to be highly upgradable.

Going with Cosmos Silent Gaming Tower because the Dell I have now is LOUD and I hate it.

What cooling fans, heatsinks, thermal paste/grease, should I go with? I'm not savvy on cooling setups and my tower will have multiple spots for fans (they come with fans but I heard they aren't good quality).

I have a $3k budget for this system.

Any suggestions?


Thanks.

for me most of the stuff u have picked are overkill. y waste 3k if it performs similar to a 2k system or even lower. why get an extreme edition if u dont have experience with overclocking. maybe a Q6600 or Q6700 those are great for overclocking. I good thermal compound is MX-2. if u need us to get u similar parts cheaper, we can. if your going to upgrade soon after u build it, maybe a core 2 dou.

 

[thirdshiftdj]

if you really want a psu that high I would suggest
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Toughpower W0172RU 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, FCC, TUV, cUL - Power Supplies
96 amps on the 12v
I don't see why you would need it though. What do you intend on powering?

edit: or you can save a few bucks
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Power Supplies

 

[creflo]

I've decided to switch up the RAM to this:
Newegg.com - OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Desktop Memory

and I've decided to take your advice on the PSU and get this:
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Power Supplies

I would really like to know what you recommend for cooling the processor though, what are some good cooling solutions?
Also, why would a QX9650 not be better than a Q6600? When I start overclocking won't it make a HUGE difference?

 

[Sora]

if you really want a psu that high I would suggest
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Toughpower W0172RU 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, FCC, TUV, cUL - Power Supplies
96 amps on the 12v
I don't see why you would need it though. What do you intend on powering?

edit: or you can save a few bucks
Newegg.com - PC Power & Cooling S75QB 750W EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, ULC, CE, CB, RoHS - Power Supplies

Please don't tell people it;s 96 amperage on the rail when it's really not becuase of efficiency loss...i sometimes tell people that their system needs X amount of amps on the 12's to run. If i tell a person their system needs 35 amps to run and you or sometime else tell them that a PSU with two 18A rails combined is 36amps and they buy it....in actuality the amps are probably lower more like 32 or 33 which puts them under. So make sure you watch how you say things.

If you want an 850W PSU then get this one
Newegg.com - XCLIO GREATPOWER X14S8P4 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, TUV, cUL - Power Supplies

The PCP&C is an amazing psu i'm sure though