How's this build? (is everything compatible, and am I missing anything?)

[Baskervore]

Earlier this week, I planned on buying a custom built PC, but I changed my mind. I'm going to build it. The following is what I'm planning on buying, along with my reasoning behind all the parts. If there is a compatibility issue or something that I forgot or something you recommend differently, please speak up. Also, I want to make sure all of the brands I chose are good ones, if not the best.

My intents for this system are for it to be completely SLI ready (in the future, all I need to do is get a duplicate card and stick it in, don't need to change power source or anything). I also intend for it to be a pretty good gaming system, though not top-of-the-line. I intend for it to have a high degree of upgradability. I do not intend to overclock anything, at least while it's still under warranty. If I do, it'll only be a little bit.

System

Antec Performance 1 Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129154
--I like the sound dampening feature here, along with its look and its seperate compartment for the PSU. (it doesn't say this on newegg, but go to the Antec's site and it'll show you)

Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103931
--This is a SLI-certified power source. I needed to get this because the case doesn't have one. (plus, this is SLI-certified!)

ASUS A8N SLI Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131517
--They were out of A8N SLI regulars.

Socket 939 Athlon64 3700+ San Diego
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103539
--I prefer single core over dual core because I am the type of person to close most other applications before gaming.

XFX Geforce 7800GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150108
--I figure this will last me a while, and it'ts not that much less in performance than a GTX.

Corsair XMS 2GB RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145486
--Allows me to upgrade to 4GB later on, and I hear Corsair is a good brand. (If there's a better brand for competitve price, please tell me!)

Maxtor DiamondMax 200GB 16MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822140168
--I wanted a Maxtor because I hear they're reliable, and this was the smallest 16MB cache HD they had.

NEC IDE DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152039
--I hear NEC's a good brand, and the price is good also!

Windows XP Pro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16837102153
--Umm...yeah...I prefer a more stable OS, but, I'm not sure one does, short of some Mac OS.

Accessories

ViewSonic 17" LCD 4ms (grey-to-grey); 6ms (white-black-white)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824116359
--Needed to be a DVI, ViewSonic's a good brand, and I figured the few extra dollars are worth the less 10-12ms. I'd prefer a CRT, but in a dorm...you know...

Logitech X518 Optical Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826104178
--I prefer right handed mice that have two buttons on the left side for the thumb. That, and, they were out of X500s (though I know X518s are much better!)

Logitech X-230 2.1 Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121119
--I know they aren't the best, but in a dorm room, you have to think about space!

I already have a keyboard and floppy drive waiting to be installed. Actually, I'm not sure the floppy drive works. Oh well who cares. lol.

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

I sound like a repeat, I am making the EXACT same suggestions as I did earlier today on a build

Motherboard: Asus are flaky, unreliable, problematic. I recomend the DFI Lanparty SLI-DR.

Video card: XFX are bad quality. Recomend eVGA, Leadtek or BFG branded cards.

Hard Drive: Maxtor are unreliable, but fast. If loosing your data isnt an issue, it's a good drive. I recomend Seagate or Western Digital.

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

Oh yeah, if you change timings you can also get better memory overclocks. This overclock is using THE CHEAPEST CRAPPY TIGERDIRECT RAM.

I reached a nice DDR464 speeds. http://img339.imageshack.us/my.php?image=valueram5ll.jpg

Tightening them more, I reached DDR500 speeds

 

[idiotec]

Tightening them more, I reached DDR500 speeds

You mean loosening? If they OC higher with tighter timings those are some pretty nice chips lol

 

[septoid2]

Why get an SLi enabled motherboard if you aren't gonig to take advantage of SLi itself?

I don't reccomend ASUS at all anymore, if you want a solid, dependable board go for MSI or DFI.

 

[PZEROFGH]

DFI nF4 ultra-D if you arent gonig to sli about 70 dollars cheaper, and if you are going to SLi some people can mod it into a Sli

 

[Baskervore]

My intents for this system are for it to be completely SLI ready (in the future, all I need to do is get a duplicate card and stick it in, don't need to change power source or anything).

For upgrading in the future. I am definitely going to get a duplicate 7800GT and SLI it with the one I am getting now. Right now it's just not in my budget.

Thank you all for posting; I'll definitely rethink my motherboard. I originally heard that ASUS is a good brand for motherboards, but now that I've asked again, everyone seems to be saying to go DFI.

 

[truebe]

Western Digital 250GB 16MB Cache $120

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

You mean loosening? If they OC higher with tighter timings those are some pretty nice chips lol

Umm yeah, I was thinking about other thing's

 

[Baskervore]

Western Digital 250GB 16MB Cache $120

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

Nice suggestion there...I like it alot, but I decided to go for the Western Digital 160GB 8MB SATA 3.0Gb/sec because of money constraints. I also want to try out the new SATA; I've read it's faster.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144415