Dear tgFORUMZ, Please Critique My New WORKING~GAMING Rig!

[Blueduck577]

Hey guys,

Here's my preliminary setup for my new comp that will be used for everything from work to gaming (and I would hope to have this be able to run Crysis at high settings @~1280x1024 when it comes out). I'm most likely going to take the convenient option and buy everything off Newegg (plus, they have some decent rebates for the parts I want).

SETUP:

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115003

COOLING:
ZALMAN CNPS9500 AT 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835118003

MOBO:
ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131045

PSU:
Antec True Power Trio TP3-650 ATX12V 650W Power Supply with Three 12V Rails
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817371001

RAM (2x of this for 4GB Total):
2x CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145034

VIDEO CARD:
EVGA GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130072

SOUND CARD (To me, this is absolutely necessary as I have high quality speakers and can hear the difference between onboard sound and good audio cards):
Creative 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102005

STORAGE (3x of this for 1.5TB Total):
3x Western Digital Caviar SE16 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822136073

CASE:
Antec Performance One P180B Black
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129017

VARIOUS OPTICAL DRIVES AND FLOPPY:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152076
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16821103203

KEYBOARD AND MOUSE (might as well include):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823175001
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826104178

Note: With these parts, I am within ~$100 dollars of my budget cap.
Now, I have a couple of questions:

1. HEAT - I plan on OCing the E6600 to at least ~3.1-3.2GHz. Will I be able to do this with the case and cpu fan/sink I've selected? Also, for anyone experienced with the Antec case, will there be any problems with airflow dynamics, being that the massive 8800GTX is in there? (And for anyone who has bought this particular Antec case, does it come with the 'optional' fourth 120mm fan for the front, as the manufacturer's website (but not Newegg) suggests?) As I do realize that I must remove the upper HD cage to fit the 8800GTX, will there be any problems with heat when I put three 500GB drives together in the lower cage?

2. COMPATIBILITY Will I have any serious compatibility issues between these parts, especially with regard to the RAM I've chosen, which uses 4-4-4-12 timing. Can the motherboard support it?

3. OS - Since I have 4GB RAM, does that mean I must use Vista 64-bit (I need Vista, not XP, because I will eventually be playing stuff running DX10, and do not plan on reinstalling an OS later.)

Any critique/comments/advice will be much appreciated!

 

[scoot241]

I don't think you'll have a heat problem with the three 500GB hard drives in the bottom, especially if you put a fan in the front at the bottom as well as the middle fan. I also believe it only comes with three case fans.

The motherboard and RAM work well together.

I don't have experience with the Zalman heatsinks. The Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme is the best heatsink out there right now, but it'll run you a good $80 between it and and an excellent fan for it (no fan included).

The Tuniq Tower is another highly recommended heatsink.