Final Build, need final advice

[Atnevon]

Ok. I got down what I believe to be a good system. Any last advice before I order?

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129021
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813188013
EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130072
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817256009
SILVERSTONE ST75F ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822136053
Western Digital Caviar RE WD3200YS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115017
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820227178
OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Micron D7 Chip Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N10662GK - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106073
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835100007
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835186134
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16899261005
Rosewill RTK-002 Anti-Static Wrist Strap - Retail

Subtotal: $1,635.89


Thank you agian guys for your help. I have found you ll to be tremendous help.

-Andrew

 

[Jess Stingray]

Looks good, but you don't really need the anti-static band. Just touch your case metal, does the same thing.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

Looks good, but you don't really need the anti-static band. Just touch your case metal, does the same thing.

I agree it looks good.You don't need anti-static band but it is nice so you can move some when you reach for something and when you are putting the screws in it is worth the $2(i paid $6 for mine)

 

[panchoman]

everything looks good, but micron d7's wtf? try some of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148069 better & cheaper. they have micron d9s, easy ocing and higher voltage accepted..

the evga is a top notch 680i mobo, but why not get a gigabyte p35 chipset mobo for the same price instead, better ocing, though its crossfire and not sli.. also i suggest sticking with a dx9 card untill dx10.1 cards come out. dx10 cards will be useless since many game manufactures are jumping from 9 to 10.1 and so its pointless getting a dx10 card when you can get a dx10.1 card, which will start rolling around christmas time.

 

[Ketxxx]

^Ditto. Remember that intel chipsets can support SLi though, all you need is an SLi bridge and a modded driver.

 

[p_o_s_pc]

^Ditto. Remember that intel chipsets can support SLi though, all you need is an SLi bridge and a modded driver.

r u sure i thought it was crossfire

 

[Ketxxx]

Crossfire officially, SLi unofficially.

 

[error_f0rce]

Oh man, here we go again with the static debate, don't make me post that article again... just get the wrist band, trust me. I work in the professional IT sector and there is a reason why every single certified IBM technician wears one of those: it's safer. Maybe some people don't like it, everyone's got their own opinion, but the fact is you're better off with one, than without.... it's a couple bucks, get it and use it. /end rant

Interesting choice in PSU... why not PC Power & Cooling?
If you are still looking at PSU's, here's a pretty comprehensive list:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

Great looking system!!

 

[OrbitzXT]

also i suggest sticking with a dx9 card untill dx10.1 cards come out. dx10 cards will be useless since many game manufactures are jumping from 9 to 10.1 and so its pointless getting a dx10 card when you can get a dx10.1 card, which will start rolling around christmas time.

Who knows when that is going to be, DX10 has been around since what, january now? And we have a small handful of DX10 games. I'd still rather get a 8800 of some sort and make use of evga's step up program when they eventually start selling the new top dog.

As for any critiques of your choices, I am building a new system myself in about a month, and I considered the same exact RAM as you're choosing, but that was when I was going to go with the e6850. With the Q6600 you're never going to need faster than PC2-6400 RAM. The FSB is 266mhz, when you OC the Q6600 you're not going to be going past 400FSB. I just don't care for DDR2 1066 RAM, it seems they die faster more often than DDR2 800, probably because of the higher voltages they use. Just get some 800mhz RAM with good timings instead. While I was debating the e6850 vs Q6600 for myself, I figured if I was going to get the 6850 I'd opt for DD3 and make that leap, but as long I was with 6600 there was no need to move beyond 800mhz RAM. Just my opinion of course, I'm sure there are plenty of people with that RAM who are satisfied, but again, you see a lot more reviews saying a stick went bad after X months, or wasn't even working when it arrived.

Also that case looks nice but I read through a ton of the reviews and a lot of the people say because of how it is, it attracts dust to the front of the case...which to me sounds pretty nasty. I chose to get an Apevia case, a lot of their cases look cheap and cheesy, but I found one of theirs that looks fantastic. They have it in different colors too, I can't decide between blue or green.

Green...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144181

Blue...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811144180

 

[panchoman]

i have an apevia x-plorer, nice case, but for a serious airflow person, you're better off with the 900(or an armor by thermaltake) . as for the dx10.1 cards, they are suppossed to be a huge improvement, an improvement so huge that dx10 cards wont be able to support it, so thats why i suggest just wait till christmas(which is when they are planned to be released) for your grafix card. static debate: just stick with the strap, its 5 bucks, and may save you loads of money in the case that you do something to fry the system. silverstone is a decent psu company, though you want a seasonic psu, they make the best psu's out there, pc power and cooling is a rebranded seasonic, and it works like that for many other companies too, like sparkle, coolermaster, antec, etc. all seasonic. thought fsp and topower psu's are almost as good as seasonic ones. but make sure your psu oem is decent.. http://www.computerforum.com/90112-psu-rebranding-guide.html

get a seasonic if you can, though fsp and topower are really good too. dont settle for any other oem..

 

[craigo]

nice choices in hardware...stick with the wrist strap...it all depends on what type of carpet you have and the climate my new place is staticy..and i havent set up my work area...so i was building in the kitchen (better light no carpet)...every one was like WTF...i was like i havent unpacked my tools.....

 

[keakar]

i would go with MX-2 instead of AS5, i heard it was much better

 

[panchoman]

hearing isn't everything, you want concrete evidence before saying something. i still say as5, because its still controversial of mx2 vs as5 after the break in period, because the mx2 is suppossed to deteriote after the break in or some junk like that. so for now, unless someone who has used mx2 for a while can actually say that it outperforms as5 and its worth getting, im sticking with as5, since its a standard in the industry and its been tested hundreds and hundreds of times to show that it was superior untill now so... thats just me 2 cents..

 

[DrunkenMafia]

^ amen brother...

AS5 is tops in my books too....

 

[Atnevon]

WOW!!!

Thats alot of replies. Here is my reasoning for everything:

I got hit by lightning and my laptop got fried. Insurance is covering what I payed for it, which was 15-16 hundred. I'm a graphic design student, so I want to optimize the best I can for Video, Graphic, and Photoshop work. Quad seemed to be better from what people said.

Yes DX10 is not really existant except for a few gamnes. but the card is great for what I need out of it. And when AfterEffects is in full swing, I'll know where I put my money. Gaming too, but the card will do extremly well for DX9, so what truely is the big deal. This is my first built, so I wont OC for a good while. Hey, later on I can SLi another one ( I heard you can do a 8800gts with it, but just PM me if i'm wrong, I don't want to discuss that here) and be in good shape. Cards Wil be cheaper then 2. So in 2-3 years I might have to just spend say 300-400 or so and still be is great shape.

Yes it isnt the best gaming machine out there, but it will do fine. Better than my laptop: 3.0 P4, 1g ram, x600 ATi, you get the idea.

Basicly, I think this wil work. I was intrigued by the comments about RAM. I have heard toss ups. I personally will never OC my ram because, well, I never hear great sucess storys. 60 fps to 60.5-61 isn't worth it.

I hope I don't sound defensive. I just want to reiderate that I have a budget, I sorta am paying for it, and will be hella better than what I had for what I am doing. I just want to truely know if everything will work when I put it together (following the guide someone put together about putting parts in, powering up, and repeating with different parts at different steps)

Really, If it will process Video, play games very well (a 7.5+ on a 10 scale would be fine. As long as I get more than 30+ fps in say WoW) I'll be happy there.

Whew...that was a long reply.

As to everyone who left a reply, this ones on me

-Andrew

 

[vega22]

no bad advice above tbh just the part about as5 v mx-2....im not sure i can see the logic behind your arguement. i have as5 and mx-1 and have tested both in the same system and there is very little between them at idle but under load the mx-1 is about 4c cooler for me. i find it hard to understand how you claim it turns to junk when it lasts seven years + but to keep as5 at its peak i was refitting mine every 6 or 8 months. as5 is old, it was the best then but has be overtaken by many other types of tim, even asakas newwer stuff (4500 somthing or other) can perform as well as as5 and that is dirt cheap to buy. like i said mx1 performed better for me than as5 did, mx2 is ment to be even better and if i could get some here i would refit my whole sytem with it.

 

[OrbitzXT]

I got hit by lightning and my laptop got fried.

You...got hit..by lightning? How'd that feel

 

[niko084]

Looks good but I don't know why you are burning the money on OCZ ram... You can get Crucial Balistiks or Tracer cheaper and its the same chips

 

[keakar]

hearing isn't everything, you want concrete evidence before saying something. i still say as5, because its still controversial of mx2 vs as5 after the break in period, because the mx2 is suppossed to deteriote after the break in or some junk like that. so for now, unless someone who has used mx2 for a while can actually say that it outperforms as5 and its worth getting, im sticking with as5, since its a standard in the industry and its been tested hundreds and hundreds of times to show that it was superior untill now so... thats just me 2 cents..

ok i will rephrase myself for you then.....

i didnt hear it i "read" it in a review comparing mx1 & 2 to as5 that artic silver 5 had higher temps and less heat transfer than mx2 but was about the same compared to mx1. where the bonus of mx1 & 2 have over as5 is in that mx 1 & 2 is completely non-conductive so anyone who gets sloppy has nothing to worry about if it gets in places it shouldnt. the drawback of mx2 at this time is in that it is not widely stocked by online retailers yet so it may not be readily available to everyone at their favorite site so you may have to search for it. this reported shortage in supply was said to only last a couple of weeks. this review was put out 8/20/07 by pcword.

now as just my own opinion i am comfortable with using as5 since i always had good results using it and also i have plenty on hand but if i needed to buy some thermal paste i would definately look into mx2 unless i see them come out with as6.

as for the comment "the mx2 is suppossed to deteriote after the break in or some junk like that" this is a statement used by people who for whatever reason believe after the breakin period is when the paste loses some heat transfer ability when actually it is just the opposit, cooling improves after break in. many well meaning people with no facts to back up the argument then spin yarns to justify excuses why they must reapply thermal compound.

all thermal paste made today, even the cheap ones, last 15-20 years before they begin to break down and dry out so in half that time you "might" be justified to replace it, that is of corse if your 8 year old cpu is still working lol.

this idea that you gotta replace the thermal paste argument keeps coming back like bad cheese lol.

years ago when we only had thin grease this grease would ooze out and dry up over time and if the surface was not even then it may not get even heat transfer to heatsink but unless you have a pentium 1 this situation hasnt existed for years.

although i guess if people who have nothing else to do can keep replacing perfectly good thermal paste on their cpus every few months then maybe it will keep them from taking the television set apart lol.

 

[HookeyStreet]

Looks good, but you don't really need the anti-static band. Just touch your case metal, does the same thing.

I always touch my cooker to remove any static lol

 

[panchoman]

i may try some of the mx2 stuff if i can find legit info saying that its better, i'm running outta as5 anyway, so i'll let you guys know there.. and about the memory, drop the 1066, and get some ballistix ddr2 800, all you need to do is raise the fsb/ speed of the memory and waa laa, its the same chip in both the ddr2 800 and the ddr2 1066 so go figure..

 

[HAL7000]

Well it looks good ...but within a month or so all the newer hardware will be trickled out,,,how are you going to feel when the question you raise is , why didn't I wait....you have no DX10.1 support ...but its your money, the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe X38 looks awesome...but it is your money,

This is my advice, save your money, buy in a month or so, your system will rock ....

 

[panchoman]

probably a good idea. i'm looking forward to the new chipset, though dx10.1 isn't till christmas, so i say just get a nice newegg rep. who wont charge you the restocking fee when you return your vid card to buy a 10.1 one...

 

[HAL7000]

Use your existing video card until the new ones come out. I would wait for a completely new system. Right now I have customer's who wanted a new system , but I talked them into waiting as well. People get the itch for new, same with me, I want new but am waiting as well.

Buy it as it comes available, piece meal is better than leftovers .....

 

[Atnevon]

Well it looks good ...but within a month or so all the newer hardware will be trickled out,,,how are you going to feel when the question you raise is , why didn't I wait....you have no DX10.1 support ...but its your money, the ASUS P5E3 Deluxe X38 looks awesome...but it is your money,

This is my advice, save your money, buy in a month or so, your system will rock ....

Have a laptop now, but I lost it to lightning. And I NEED a compy asap. So I dont have a current card. Insuranse is paying for it. Thats why I need to get as much as I can for 1600 about.