New Build.. last minute critiques?

[s0lace]

Okay... all critiques and replies are much appreciated! Let me know if you see something I don't.

CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 CPU BX80562Q6600, 8MB L2 Cache, Quad-Core
http://www.directron.com/bx80562q6600.html

Motherboard
ASU S P5K DELUXE/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131182

Hard Drive
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136012

Ram
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129154
(I'm going to buy 4 gigs)

Power Supply
FSP Group (Fortron Source) FX700-GLN ATX12V V2.2/EPS12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817104015

Graphic's Card
XFX PVT80GGHE4 GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150172

Case[ /b]
Antec Performance One P180 Silver cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129154

Opera ting System
Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202

I'm planning on reusing my Optical Drive
Also, I'm going to use onboard audio (until creative figures things out with Vista)

 

[emp]

I'd go with a Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R, ASUS are so pricey and they really don't live up to my standards to be honest, on the other hand gigabyte is probably making the best mobos at the moment.

FSP make decent PSUs for the money, but once you hit that $100+ range there are PSUs with better quality and stability:

SeaSonic S12 Energy Plus SS-550HT ATX12V/EPS12V, 80Plus, Active PFC, RoHS, 2PCI-E(6Pin), 550W Power Supply - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151027

Corsair 620w SLI Certified Modular ATX Power Supply - CMPSU-620HX

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-620w-sli-certified-modular-atx-po wer-supply/q/loc/101/203270718.html

Corsair 520W SLI Certified Modular ATX Power Supply - CMPSU-520HX

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-520w-sli-certified-modular-atx-po wer-supply/q/loc/101/203270716.html

Antec NeoPower 500w ATX 12v Power Supply - NEO HE500

http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-neopower-500w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/ 101/202014022.html

Antec NeoPower 550w ATX 12v SLI Ready Power Supply - NEO HE550

http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-neopower-550w-atx-12v-sli-ready-power-sup ply/q/loc/101/202014042.html

Antec NeoPower 650w Blue ATX12V V2.2 + EPS12V Power Supply - NEOPOWER650BLUE - Customizable Power!

http://www.buy.com/prod/antec-neopower-650w-blue-atx12v-v2-2-eps12v-po wer-supply/q/loc/101/204871751.html

The NeoPower blue doesn't have any reviews yet because it is a newly released product in the Neo family for more power demanding systems (since the Antec NeoHE 550 was struggling with SLI GTX). I currently own the Antec NeoHE 500 paired with my GTS-320 and I must tell you that it runs like a dream. I'd go with any of the antecs I posted because I simply prefer antec, but ALL of the PSUs above are being manufactured by Seasonic, so you get their High quality standards on all of them.

Note: The reason I used Buy.com as a link to those PSU is because they sell PSUs slightly cheaper than newegg.com

 

[s0lace]

Thanks for the quick reply, what about the rest of the system? You sig says you're an advocate for 64 bit OS....

Also, I have no idea why, but it won't let me edit my original post to fix the 'mistakes' in it, is this board notorious for having tech problems?

 

[wingsofzion]

Ram
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129154
(I'm going to buy 4 gigs)

First off don't buy 4GB. Its a waste of money. Your getting the 32-bit version of Vista and it will ONLY see 2GB of memory and nothing more. A 32-bit OS cannot use more than 2GB of memory so getting an extra 2GB will do nothing for you. This of course does not apply towards the 64-bit version of Vista which can see and use 4GB of memory.

Operating System
Microsoft Windows Vista 32-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116202

Be a little careful here with a OEM for the OS. Vista isn't like XP. It's a one install per CD deal this time around. A OEM version of Vista is very different from the retail version. The product key that comes with the OEM is a one shot key, meaning it cannot be reused if for some reason you need to reinstall Vista again or decide to install it on another machine. Now the retail version's product key can be used i think 3 times. After 3 you need to buy a new CD. Sucks yes but that's the new thing with Vista. Aint like XP where you could call Microsoft and get a new product key over the phone. So i'd suggest you get the retail version instead of the OEM. The money you save on NOT getting 4GB of memory can be used to buy the retail version instead. This choice is up to you but it just may save you in the long run.

Case
Antec Performance One P180 Silver cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129154

Just my opinion but maybe look into a full tower version instead of mid tower maybe. Your 8800GTS is 9 inches long and it may either hit your Sata drives or be touching your HDD's. I say this only because i've seen it happen on three builds co-workers made that i had to correct. I always suggest a full tower case with these cards. The cost between a mid and full tower is really small so this shouldn't be an issue.

 

[s0lace]

First off don't buy 4GB. Its a waste of money. Your getting the 32-bit version of Vista and it will ONLY see 2GB of memory and nothing more. A 32-bit OS cannot use more than 2GB of memory so getting an extra 2GB will do nothing for you. This of course does not apply towards the 64-bit version of Vista which can see and use 4GB of memory.

I've read that the 32 goes up to (recognizes) 4 gigs (maximum). This comes as news to me-???

As far as the retail/OEM thing... it basically sucks to buy Vista Retail cause it's so freaking $$$... I'd rather try and rip it off bittorrent than pay what they want for it. Maybe I'll just stay with XP-

In regards to the tower issue, point taken, I thought that it might be close- here are the dimensions for the case

21.3"(H) x 19.9"(D) x 8.1"(W)

 

[emp]

Thanks for the quick reply, what about the rest of the system? You sig says you're an advocate for 64 bit OS....

Also, I have no idea why, but it won't let me edit my original post to fix the 'mistakes' in it, is this board notorious for having tech problems?

Ah you're right, I knew I was missing something to comment on. If you're going to get Vista then get Home Premium 64-bit, getting the OEM/Retail is up to you, however one thing I do have to stress on is to get the 64-bit OS, not the 32-bit. After all, the 32-bit OS is just for legacy hardware, there's really no point using it any further.


If you're into gaming and shooters, I should let you know that the upcoming Crysis will not only make use of multi-core CPUs BUT also will especially benefit from running in a 64-bit OS compared to a 32-bit. This is what Crytek told us in one of their interviews, and I'm happy a Game developer is finally taking the right step with the 64-bit OS, especially with a title so hyped like Crysis.

About the case, you have to be weary of some mid tower cases, however the Antec P180 is one of the finest case choices only matched probably by the P182 and P190. (Yeah I'm an antec fanboy, so whoever doesn't like it can shove it! ) You will have no problems or complains with the Antec P180, so don;t worry.

 

[s0lace]

Friend of mine has the P180 and loves it, I am weary about the fit though of the 8800GTS-

 

[wingsofzion]

Here is an article on the memory limitations of a 32 bit OS that may provide some interesting insite:
http://www.anandtech.com/gadgets/showdoc.aspx?i=3034

 

[xela]

Ah you're right, I knew I was missing something to comment on. If you're going to get Vista then get Home Premium 64-bit, getting the OEM/Retail is up to you, however one thing I do have to stress on is to get the 64-bit OS, not the 32-bit. After all, the 32-bit OS is just for legacy hardware, there's really no point using it any further.


If you're into gaming and shooters, I should let you know that the upcoming Crysis will not only make use of multi-core CPUs BUT also will especially benefit from running in a 64-bit OS compared to a 32-bit. This is what Crytek told us in one of their interviews, and I'm happy a Game developer is finally taking the right step with the 64-bit OS, especially with a title so hyped like Crysis.

About the case, you have to be weary of some mid tower cases, however the Antec P180 is one of the finest case choices only matched probably by the P182 and P190. (Yeah I'm an antec fanboy, so whoever doesn't like it can shove it! ) You will have no problems or complains with the Antec P180, so don;t worry.

Damn, I didn't know that. Been polishing my new build for 2 month now.. guess another revision is needed Never thought they would go 64 bit on us so soon

 

[emp]

Damn, I didn't know that. Been polishing my new build for 2 month now.. guess another revision is needed Never thought they would go 64 bit on us so soon

Umm... they've been pushing 64-bit OS for about 2 years now (Remember the not so succesful Windows XP Pro 64-bit?), but Vista 64 Home Premium/Ultimate (depending on price) is the future now. Vista 32 is just support for those legacy hardware (P4/Athlon XP) users that still can't be bothered to upgrade their PCs, but next windows was announced to be 64-bit only. Sooooo yeah.

Anyways! Who gives a damn about M$! I just want my Crysis running on 64-bit now

 

[s0lace]

: )

Anyone else?

 

[wingsofzion]

Be careful of going 64-bit only because being in a 64-bit OS is one thing but you really have to get all your drivers on the same page as well. Printers, usb devices, external drives, etc... all have to have 64-bit drivers. You cannot install a peice of hardware and install 32bit drivers because it will not work (by default a good 90% of all peices of hardware's software drivers are written in 32-bit not 64). For you to plan on running on a 64-bit OS you have to make certain you have all your ducks in a row. Meaning every peice of hardware you have has 64-bit drivers provided by the manafactuar or else your @$$ed out in terms of support. I've seen many people have to rebuy hardware like printers or usb devices (mp3 players, camera's, etc...) because they didn't have 64-bit driver support. Do alot of research before you jump into the 64-bit void. Just cause your ready doesnt mean your printer's ready to jump off that cliff with ya.