Please help! first build

[regamon]

I've been reading these forums for a little while now and have finally decided to build my own computer for the first time, but I need some input from you guys to let me know what I'm doing wrong:

Uses: Gaming, programming, photoshop
Budget: ~2000-2300 USD

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 - link
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-P35C-DS3R - link
Video Card: EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX - link
Power Supply: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad - link
Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 - link
OS Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3160815A 160GB 7200 RPM - link
Storage Hard drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3500641A 500GB 7200 RPM - link
Monitor: SAMSUNG 245BW Black high glossy 24" 5ms - link
Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS - link
CPU Cooler: Tuniq Tower 120 - link
DVD ROM: LITE-ON Black IDE DVD-ROM - link
DVD Burner: SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner - link

This comes to about $2300 at newegg with $75 of MIRs.

I decided against the Raptors b/c I don't think their performance is worth the price. I'm currently using a 4 year old laptop with a 4200 RPM 40 GB hard drive, so these hard drives will seem like they fly for me. Also, I decided against a sound card right now, just b/c it would put me out of my budget, plus I might get one later.

My one main concern is the motherboard. I picked a new P35 board that has support for the 45 nm processors and DDR2/3. Since this is a new board, has anyone heard anything bad about it? I haven't found many complaints. Would the Tuniq Tower be able to fit into it?

Thanks in advance for any input!

 

[prof_chaos]

Everything you picked looks good. The P35 Gigabyte mobo is a nice board and will fit into any ATX case you get. The only thing I don't understand is why after discovering the wonder of 7200.10 drives you decided to get a 7200.9 as well? It's not like 7200.10 costs more or anything. I'd suggest instead getting 2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB's for $80 ea on Newegg.

You can read a review for the new P35 motherboards here: http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/06/05/pipe_dreams_six_p35-ddr3_motherboards_compared/

 

[regamon]

Oh ok, i didn't realize that it made much of a difference. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[regamon]

Since no one is commenting, I'm guessing everything looks good. I switched over to two 320 GB hard drives, like the prof said, but otherwise, everything else is the same.

I'll go ahead and order...

 

[Daredevil_8]

Everything looks good. I envy you for getting that monitor *drools*.

Getting any arctic silver/other thermal paste for your CPU? Or are you gonna stick with the supplied stuff? Usually ins't bad, the stuff that came with my Big Typhoon was great

 

[regamon]

Thanks for reminding me. I totally forgot to add the artic silver with that.