First PC Build ever - Feedback

[cardhu]

So, I'm a first time builder looking for some feedback on what I currently have. I've had significant help from my friends with this already, but I think I'm going to wait for the new 45nm processors. Probably going to get the Q9300, since its the same price as the Q6600. Will everything that I have be compatible with this new processor? Any help would be greatly appreciated, since I'm pretty clueless. Oh, a couple other things. Can someone recommend a set of speakers? I'm getting kind of tired of this headset. And also, if you would recommend any sort of Blue LED things to make my computer look cooler, thatd be great as well. Thanks in advance!

EVGA 122-CK-NF68-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
EVGA 512-P3-N841-A3 GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003BWS Black Full Tower Case w/ 25CM Fan - Retail
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - Retail
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ - Retail
SILVERSTONE ST85ZF ATX 12V 2.2 & EPS12V 850W SLI Certified Power Supply - Retail
Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty Professional Series - Retai
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM
Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - Retail
Scythe DFS123812-3000 "ULTRA KAZE" 120 x 38 mm Case Fan - Retail
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
LOGISYS Computer CLK4BL 4" Blue Cold Cathode Light Kit - Retail
LOGISYS Computer CLK15BL 15" Blue Deluxe Sound Activated Cold Cathode Light Kit - Retail

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I'm old and cranky and get anbnoyed when things don't work and / or TS gives me a run around.....so I really try hard to match the MoBo and Vid Card when I can which I see you have done but I also generally will try and match Case, PSU and case fan vendors if I can....saves with "fit" issues. As for the Blue thingies, Antec for example has really nice enthusiast cases with blue LED fans preinstaleld with PSU's with blue LED fans and also others bluey odds and ends.

http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15900 Gamer Case
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=28651 SLI Certified 650w w/ blue light
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=27850 SLI certified 850W w/o LED tho
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=77042 Blue LED Fans
With today's 7200 rpm big drives taking the speed crown from the Raptors, I don't see a reason to use them. Also down on WD with their latest shenanigans. When ya CPU is shipping, look at www.storagereview.com and check the leaderboard and buy that.

Haven't check the CPU / memory compatibility stuff as you say you bare going to change ya mind....until the new processors here, and tested on ya MoBo for memory compatibilities (See vendors QVL), I'd not wanna be in the position of making recommendations.

Speakers, the Logitech 5500's are hard to beat for their price. First 4 or 5 times a mob sneaks up behind you in a game , you are guaranteed to need change of shorts.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836121120

The lights will get old. My 3 kids have em and they are now unplugged. But I was the coolest Dad on the block for the 1st tree months after I built their machines with them.

Might wanna throw in a floppy. I had to sue 1 to install SATA drivers for SATA CD/DVD drive so Windoze would install.....may not be req'd if CD has SP2 on it. Plus if ya get a floppy / memory card reader, it will come in very handy.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813998514

Grab a round cable for the floppy.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104016

 

[cfvh600]

Isn't the 680i chipset getting a bit dated?

 

[ausch30]

As of now the 680i chipset doesn't officially support Intel's soon to be released CPU's. The 780i and future 790i boards do support the 45nm processors. If you want support for the Penryn CPU's your best bet would be either a P35, X38 or 780i board at this time.

I agree with JackNaylorPE, lights get old. I have a pile of cold cathode lights and led fans in my spare parts box and will more than likely just end up throwing them away someday. In the same box I also have a Vantec Nexus fan/light controller and if your dead set on lights you might want to look into one.

 

[aevm]

Don't buy the 680i mobo until the Q9300 is out and verified to work on it. There have been articles about incompatibilities.

If you're not interested in SLI you could get something cheaper based on P35.

Edit: good PSU, but you don't need 850W for that setup. Check out the PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610W or the 750W version.