Conroe build for first time builder, any suggestions?

[Phrydom]

I've been hanging around the forums here and reading articles from this site and anandtech and think I've got the basics. I plan on using this comp for gaming and audio recording, so I'm looking to add more SATA HDD's in the future. I know that many firewire sound interfaces have problems with the built-in mobo firewire so I'm going for an add-in card. If you see any incompatibility issues, PLEASE speak up, I'd love to get this ordered by the weekend. Thanks in advance

Case - Thermaltake VA8003SWA
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811133020

Power Supply - OCZ GameXStream 700 Watt
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817341002

Motherboard - Asus P5B Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131028

Processor - Intel e6700
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2280511&CatId=2397

RAM - Corsair XMS2 2GB DDR2 800 4-4-4-12
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145034

HDD (x2) - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA 300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

DVD+RW - Samsung SH-S162L
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827151118

Video Card - EVGA 7950 GX2
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2231778&CatId=2306

Monitor - Acer 2016W Widescreen 20"
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824009085

Mouse - Logitech G5
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104191

Keyboard - Logitech G15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126179

Any and all advice/suggestions are welcome. Thanks!!!

 

[alpine_sc]

Wow you've got money to burn! :twisted:

You don't need 700 W power supply.

 

[k-]

Keyboard G15 is SHI*. Trust me and just buy a logitech multimedia keyboard for like 10-25bucks.. Much better...

 

[enforcerfx]

Keyboard G15 is SHI*. Trust me and just buy a logitech multimedia keyboard for like 10-25bucks.. Much better...

I disagree. I own a g15. The Macro keys are alright, but i dont use them. LCD screen is ok for showing ram and CPU usage. Thats alright too. Course i got mine for 45 bucks off tigerdirect, and this was about 4-5 months ago, when they 1st came out.(some sort of special giveaway thing, idk) The 700w PSU is a little hefty, but i would keep it i guess. About that case. That 25cm fan seems like it doesnt do much. Thats just my opinion. I'd just go with the standard TT armor, and save yourself the 60 bucks. Motherboard, go with this one, since your only getting 1 video card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

Unless you really need the wi-fi support, than stick with what you have.
Processorrop down to a E6600, and just overclock it to the speeds of the E6700 or better. The stock intel fan will do just fine. Rams good, harddrives good. DVD drive is good. Everything else looks fine. Have fun.

 

[The_Prophecy]

Suggested Changes:

Power Supply: Antec Truepower 550W <--- 700W is overkill. You won't ever need that much power.

Motherboard: Asus P5B <--- There is no reason to get the Deluxe version of this board unless you need the Wi-Fi accessory that comes with it...

CPU: Drop to an E6600. There is no reason to get the E6700 either. It's the exact same chip with a slightly higher clock speed.

Video Card: eVGA Geforce 7600GT <--- There is no sense in wasting $500 or more on a 7950 GX2 with the DX 10 cards so close. Sit on this card for 8 months or so and go nuts once the DX 10's arrive.

Keyboard and Mouse: I have both the G15 and G5. They are the best keyboard and mouse I have ever used, and I will never go to something else unless another company produces a better keyboard with every single feature both of these have and more.

 

[faded]

Yeah I agree with prophecy on most of those..
The E6600 is by far the best value per performance chip. Smashes the FX-62, and highly overclockable too.
The only thing I may change is get a 7900GT for now, they aren't too much more expensive and will run every game really well till DX10 cards are out.

 

[The_Prophecy]

I would personally not like spending $300 on a video card i'm only going to use for 8 months..... if i'm going to drop that much money on a card, i'd like to use it for at least a year. That's why I recommended a 7600GT.

 

[Phrydom]

Thank you all so much for the suggestions, they saved me quite a bit of money =)

I decided to go with the VA8000 case, 550w antec Truepower2, but will still get the 7950 gx2.

I ordered my e6600 from Tigerdirect (OEM) and it sounds like I'll need some Thermal Paste and some cooling. Sounds like the Arctic Silver 5 is the way to go, does anyone have a suggestion for cooling?

I planned on ordering the Asus P5B (non-deluxe)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131030

Looks like the corsair ram I had in mind is out of stock at newegg so instead I'll settle for G. Skill 2GB DDR2-800
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820231065

Thanks so much for all the help

 

[Mr_Breeze]

That video card should warrent a better PSU, and you should need a SLI capable mobo. :roll:

 

[Phrydom]

Hmmm it was my understanding that the 7950gx2 is a single card solution which requires only one PCIe slot, and therefore no SLI capable mobo. Using the linked PSU calculator in the forums I came up with 410 watts as a rating.

 

[The_Prophecy]

You're right, a 7950GX2 would not require an SLI capable board, but I still think it's a HUGE waste of money with DX 10 getting so close. SLI in itself is a huge waste of money anyway...just another way for Nvidia (and ATI with Crossfire) to suck as much money out of consumers as they can.

 

[Phrydom]

Luckily I received the 7950gx2 for free =). Otherwise I'd probably agree with you and purchase something to get me by in the meantime. After seeing the initial benchmarks of Quad SLI, I can guarantee that I won't purchase a second.

 

[The_Prophecy]

Wow.... how did you pull off a free 7950GX2?

 

[Phrydom]

I get "spiff" cards at work which can be redeemed at only select sites on select products, luckily the 7950gx2 was one of them... as was my e6600, among other components

Still have that question about cooling, I don't think the OEM versions come with stock cooling, any suggestions?

 

[The_Prophecy]

OEM version of processors do not come with the stock coolers. I would try to get a retail one if possible, because the stock cooler is more than enough to keep the E6600 happy, but if it's just not possible, get an AC Freezer 7 Pro

 

[Phrydom]

Right on, thanks Prophecy! \m/ You rock. I have everything on order now and should receive everything within a week (yes, shipping to Alaska sucks).