Alright this is my first real build from nothing.
This is gonna be used mainly for gaming and i want it to last a decent amount of time (about 2-3 years).
The main upgrade i plan to do will be the graphics card with a 9 series.
Alright first ill start with the things i am fairly certain about.
I do plan on overclocking nothing crazy but a decent amount so if anything does not seem right for that let me know.

CPU:Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (I plan on ordering everything from Newegg anyway i can make sure this is G0 Stepping?) ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115017 )

Mobo:GigaByte GA-P35-DS3R Motherboard ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128050 )

GPU:nVidia GeForce 8800GTS 320MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082)

PSU: NeoHE 550w (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817103941)

case: Cooler Master Centurion 5 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119077 ) From what i understand these cases have very good airflow + i like the look.. Does an 8800 fit in here comfortably?

The case comes with the case fans i need correct?

memory: G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820231122 ) ( any recommendations for higher quality or whatever welcome )

hd: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] AS%2b320GB )
Is the chirping problem discussed in the 2 reviews a real problem? otherwise this seems to be a good choice?

cd: ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 18X%2bSATA )

cpu cooling(any other recommendations very welcome): Thermalright Ultra-120 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835109140 ) + Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] n%2bSFF21F )
+ Arctic Silver 5 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835100007 )
If there is anything i did not list that i may need let me know (anything lol)

Will this fit along with the 8800?

Anyone recommend a <20$ good gaming keyboard?

Not exactly sure what windows to use.. i am thinking vista just to get it out of the way since i am sure ill want dx10 eventually... is ultimate really needed/useful?

I am also still looking for a monitor i am thinking either 22 or 24.. i do not really want to spend more then 500 so i am leaning towards 22", also for higher fps playing in native res. however i suppose i could go a little more if the quality is real high since a monitor is going to last a pretty long time. I want a decent <5ms response time. any recommendations?

Thanks in advanced for all the help ill be checking back as often as possible to reply to comments.

Looks like a good build. You did your research . Get a nice Antec NeoHE 550W. Its on sale for like $60 at newegg. It depends on the 8800, but you cna get the Corsair 470W if you are getting an 8800GTS 320MB, that's a great PSU.

If you have any questions let me know. Message me on aim or yahoo at anytime . I sent you a pm

take your pick...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817139002

ole reliable...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130082

may i suggest this one instead...yes, it has fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811133154

these will uncork the CPU....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145043

That chirp is a bird in their case, i use 2 of these in RAID(1)

Yup, your gonna want a cooler for that 8800GTS.....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835109136

And 3 more fans....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811999479

And a 3.5" FDD....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6821103203

Folding@Home

There is no need what so ever so a cooler for the Graphics card unless you are Ocing it by a lot as well. The cards do no heat up that much. The stock coolers are just fine. Don't waste your money. 2-3 good fans inside a quality case are just fine, you don't need 3 extra ones to go with the ones already inside the case, that's just too much for no reason since you Ocing only moderately.

The case you picked is just fine, it has 2 Fans. If you like you can add another one or just change out the 80mm one to a 120mm one so you have 2 120mm fans.

Do i really need ddr2 1066? wouldnt that really only come into play for a really high overclock?

unless the cooler master has something really wrong with it i do not want to spend 100 more on a case.

As for the psu i know its never a place to skimp on money but if i can get a tier 2 one for 60, 100 before rebate. is it that much of a difference?

I would suggest ordering your Q6600 "G0" stepping cpu from www.Clubit.com as they guarantee the stepping version whereas newegg doesn't.

Yeah, if you have good RAM you should only need DDR2-800. I don't know how good that Gskill is at Overclocking. I would pick Corsair XMS2, Crucial, and Super Talent for Ocing.

About the PSU if you are talking about the Antec NeoHe that's a good unit, I would go with it. Or look at the Corsair 470W it should be just fine for your system.

There is probably something i am missing but not exactly sure what, if my fsb is 400 then the q6600 is gonna be at 3.6ghz correct? i really do not plan on pushing it any further then that as that seems to be the place alot of people settle(unless the g0 stepping has a notably higher comfort zone and they are referring to the old stepping?). so for ddr2 800 would i even be pushing it at all with 400fsb? I understand i could tighten the timings a little with something better but from benchmarks iv looked at it doesn't seem to make a noticeable difference except in benchmarks.

for the power supply, this is just for my own knowledge... to figure out how much can be supplied on the 12v rail do i just add up what is listed for 12v*? ie +12V1@18A, +12V2@18A, +12V3@18A = 54A?

also 550 watts leaves a pretty good comfort zone for an upgrade to a next gen card correct?
Thanks for all the help

I have updated it to reflect some things i am more certain of now, still a bit confused on the ram and if the power supply is somewhat 'future proof.'

Also i am fairly certain i want to buy a 24" while deciding on which one has become a project of its own, will i regret buying a 8800 gts for 1920 x 1200? I do not need to have every single option turned to max but i would like things relatively high. I have looked at the charts and compared various games at the different resolutions and it seems like the gts can hold its own at 1920x1200 but just want to make sure...

would this be an alternative for cooling if i am ocing to 3.6? ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835185041 ) from what i have read its pretty good and a decent amount cheaper