NEED ADVICE First Intel Gaming system build

[coolhand83]

I did have this as part of another thread but it wasn't the main thing so I didn't get much help figured I'd repost on its own !

I've never built an Intel system, and I'm wondering if the spec I've chosen below is the best I can get (I have a budget of £650) I want to build it around the Q6600 and the 8800GT with as few bottlenecks as I can. I'm intending to overclock, and add a second 8800GT by the summer and I would ideally like it to last me about 18 months, bearing in mind my current system is 18 months old and all I've done to that since I bought it was get a Zalman 9500 for the overclock and it plays COD4 @ 1280x1024, high at 100fps on average

(Note: PLEEEEEEEASE don't say "You might as well buy a **** for an extra £100" had that before, I'm working on a budget here guys !)


Proposed build specs:

CASE: Thermaltake JR Armor
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...00000,40730000

PSU: OCZ Technology 600W Active PFC GameXStream SLI Ready
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4L04

MOBO:Asus P5N32-SLI
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...80000,43850000

CPU: Intel Q6600 SLACR
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131823

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200RPM 32MB Cache
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...40000,45560000

Video Card: Gigabyte GeForce 8800GT 512MB GDDR3 PCIE Dual DVI 700MHz /1900Mhz
http://www.dabs.com/productview.asp...ode=1&NavigationKey=11137,4294956286,48070000

RAM: OCZ Technology 2X1GB 240DIMM PC2-6400 CAS4
http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?quicklinx=4L2V


And a couple of SATA DVD drives, and probably the Zalman 9700 (Nvidia one with the green LED like the one ive got)

 

[coolhand83]

yeah thanks for the help -_-

 

[Duffman]

seems like a decent list of components. The link for the mobo no worky tho.

 

[Hawk1]

Yeah, looks fine to me and should be good for 18 months.

 

[WakeUpDead]

I agree, but if you are adding a 2nd GPU you may want a 700+w PSU, not saying the 600w wont handle it! It could cause issues, after adding a second card and if then you want to push high overclocks, you may have issues with stability at the least! Save a bit with a smaller HDD and spend it on a 700+OCZ instead! Adding a second HDD, when you wouild need it, is simple compaired to replacing a PSU! Heck after buying a second card, then finding out you need a PSU, it could cause money issues at that point!

I did have my SLI 7900's on a 600 OCZ but it just felt like it was at its limit and OCing never went well. Then I put a 700w on that rig and It just felt more powerful, overclocked well and I know I can add more parts without having to replace the PSU first or along with it!

Just a thought!

I like the Armor jrs., well Ive looked at them, post some pics when you do your build!

Good choices, OCZ is my pick for Ram and PSU's always!

have fun now!

 

[bruins004]

Nice list I must say.
I just want to note 1 thing to you.

OCZ does make good PSUs, however, the GameXStream line does suffer from high ripple which causes issues when you try to OC or when you are close to using all of the wattage avail on the 12V line(s).
If you see this as a potential issue then you may want to look at another PSU.
Two great quality brands that are affordable are Corsair and FSP.

As for SLI with those I believe the 600W had problems with 2 8800GTSs 640mb versions.
Meanwhile, the Corsair 650W had no problem with 2 8800GTSs.
So I would also suggest the 700W if you pick the GameXStream and SLI.

 

[coolhand83]

Thanks a lot guys, I think you may be right about the PSU, perhaps 700 might be better, but I do quite like the idea of having a 32mb cache drive and the smallest ive found is 500gb! Hopefully I will have enough to do both anyway, time will tell. I've been planning this for months so I've been checking up on reviews and stuff but I just wanted to check what they were like in the "real world". Does anyone have any comments on the video card ? I'm hellbent on cooling at the moment and I've heard the stock 8800GT coolers just don't cut it for an overclock, so I thought the gigabyte with the Zalman fan might be a good option, if anybody has one please feel free to let me know what you think.

Thanks for the help guys, I was beginning to wonder if anyone would reply, and then I started to figure nobody was commenting cos it was all good stuff