Still deciding on Video Card/MB. Please advise.

[tkfrmadmin]

Got the following for my new build today:

2x WD 250GB Cavier SE16 HDDs SATA
1x Lite-On 20X DVD-Burner SATA
1x 550W Modular Power Supply
2x 1GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2-800

But I'm still kind of bent on a MB and Video Card. Processor will be a E6750 when they are released. The 2 HDDs will be in a raid 0 with XP. I'll probably throw another SATA HDD into the machine for Vista and doing some testing for work. I plan on playing some games (Civ IV, MS FSX, WoW) but mostly just internet, quicken, etc.......

Heres my choices in the Video Cards:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150189
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130038

I will only be running 1 monitor (a Samsung 206BW). Price differences aside, if I don't plan on doing most of my gaming in DX10 in the mean time, wouldn't I be better off buying the 7950? And if I do go for the 8800, I might as well spend an extra $80 and get the model with 640MB of RAM, agreed?

As for MBs:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128048

Is it just me, or does Gigabyte own this market now? Any reasons not to go with the Gigabyte. Anyone have any better recommendations?

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[emp]

Go for the 8800, no question on that. As for the 320mb vs 640mb thing, it really depends on the resolution you plan on gaming with, if it's higher than 16x12 then most likely you should get the 640, otherwise stick to the 320.

and about the mobo, here's one that is $30 cheaper from gigabyte, you should check it out too (I consider this to be a better choice, considering features and price)

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128050

 

[tkfrmadmin]

Good point on that MB. I don't see why I'd spend another $30 for DDR3 compatibility when I don't plan on using it anytime soon.

SOLD!!!!!

I'll by running my Sammy 20" at 1680x1050 so I think the 640MB Card might do the trick. eVGA seems to be very popluar. Plus the $30 saved from the MB offsets the a bit.

Anyone have some good recommendations on quiet fans with Blue LEDs?? I'm buying a 4 fan controller as well with the machine, and would like to add 3x80MM and 1x120MM quiet fans to the case. I'll be using rubber washers on all screws to cut down on some of the noise as well.

 

[skyguy]

Coolermaster 120mm fans, blue LEDs. Best-kept secret out there. They're QUIET and CHEAP, have some good airflow, highly recommended.

Here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103022

And pay no attention to the newb reviews at Newegg who say there's some strobe effect. My A$$. The human eye cannot detect anything much above 60 hertz (cycles). So having 7 fan blades rotating at 1200 RPM is NOT going to be seen. I've owned these and used them in friends' builds, it doesn't happen. They're GREAT fans. Don't listen to the Newegg reviews, they're sadly mistaken.