Ordering tomorrow, would appreciate a critique

[gojo99]

I'm building my new gaming rig and have a budget of around $1200.
After much reading (mostly here) I've come up with the following:

Chip $219:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115037

MB $100
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128059

Video Card $250
XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814150252

Memory $95
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820148069

I already have a case/power supply & SATA hard drive so won't need those.

Looking for advice on keyboard/mice if you have any.

I'm pretty happy with what I've selected, but would welcome any advice as it's been AWHILE since I've built (+3 years)

I also want to thank all the helpful people who give of themselves by offering free advise.
It's GREATLY appreciated.

-Gojo-

 

[yabyab]

Excellent build. I have the same motherboard and this motherboard is great! First I thought its low quality considering its price but I was wrong. If I were you and I had a $100 extra I'd buy the EVGA 8800GTS 512mb card(comes with Crysis).

One thing I'd be worrying about is your PSU. I'd strongly recommend a quality PSU, if your old PSU isn't that good I really suggest buying some quality PSU.

 

[akhilles]

If you're overclocking, get a thermalright ultra 120 extreme + a scythe 60cfm+ 12cm fan. If you're not, you're wasting money on the ram.

 

[Shadow703793]

^Agreed. Unless OCing the RAM is a waste. Everything else looks good. See below for OCing how to the P35-DS3L:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum2.php?config=tomshardwareus.inc&cat=29&post=245679&page=1&p=1&sondage=0&owntopic=3&trash=0&trash_post=0&print=0&numreponse=0&quote_only=0&new=0&nojs=0

 

[chuckm]

DDR2800 ram will be fine, you can get some Corsair 2X1 for $30 at newegg. What kind of power supply do you have?

 

[gojo99]

Thanks for the responses!!
I've decided to get a new PSU as the one I was getting seems fry motherboards...

Looking for advice here as I've upgraded my video card to a 8800GTS 512 (for pretty much the same $$$)

I'm staying with the ram, there's now a $25 MIR so that brings the price down to $69, which isn't bad.

Could use some help in choosing a good PSU, don't want to break the bank here but want one that'll do the job.

Thanks again!

 

[happy_fanboy]

Check out FSP group, aka Fortron source. Super reliable PSU's and don't break the bank.
Also, get more wattage than you think youll need. You don't want your power supply to have to run your system with "just enough" power or it will run hot and with lower reliability.

 

[Shadow703793]

PSU: Corsair 520HX/550VX
any one of the top tire PSUs listed here will be good:
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

 

[chuckm]

Buy.com has very good deals on all Corsair PSU's right now. You can get the modular 520HX for $100, best price I've ever seen on it.
http://www.buy.com/retail/searchparametric.asp?loc=62043&ra=zm01,p01,op01,nf01,em01&ze01=5185&em01=984

 

[akhilles]

I had a feeling chuckm would post a link to the good Corsair PSU. Make sure you have a brand name 425W 28A or higher.