This is my first build from the ground up I have done upgrades on previous computers and completed some other systems. But i have decided to build my first Computer and need some advice, especially with the power supply and case. I will not be doing any overclocking and wish to be able to pretty much set it up and go without extensive software upgradeing and such, I will be playing games and cruising the internet with it mostly. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I already bought the cpu and sound card so those I cant change. I'd like to to keep it around 1500 hopefully less.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz 2 x 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor - 300.00(268.00)

Cooler/Fan: ZALMAN CNPS 9700 NT 110mm 2 Ball Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler - 59.99

Will this keep the cpu cool enough, fit in the case, do i need anything alse to make it work?


Motherboard: ASUS MAXIMUS FORMULA LGA 775 Intel X38 ATX Intel Motherboard - $259.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131227

Like this motherboard, because of the upgradlbility of it, the 2 PCI 16 Slots 2.0, is there a better choice out there? Can i use penrynn on this mb if i ever decide to try it out?

RamMemory: Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - 89.99(MIB20.00)69.00
Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - 89.99(MIB20.00)69.00

Will this work in the motherboard, is there another typee out there that would be better?

Video Card: BFG Tech BFGR88768GTXOCE GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - 445.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814143080

What can I say, decent price, brand, happy with this choice.

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - 80.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6829102006

Hardrive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KSRTL 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - Retail – 79.99

Optical Drive: ASUS Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe - 38.99

Power Supply: Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1000 ATX12V / EPS12V 1000W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, FCC, TUV, CE, C-tick, CCC, CB - 219.00

*A little pricey is there another brand as good as antec that might work?
*Is this to much power for this setup? How much do I need? What type of power supply am I looking for?
*Will this plug-in to everything fine, I've read about some people getting or having the wrong type of plugins for the Geforce 8800 's?

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel Atx Mid Tower Case- 109.00
Cooler Master Cosmos 1000 RC-1000-ksni-gp Black/Silver Steel Atx Full Tower Computer Case-189.00
*Will everything fit in these cases? Is this the type of case I'm looking for?
*Will they keep enough air flowing to keep everything cool?
*Which would be better? Do u have a better choice?

Like I said this is pretty much my first build and I'm looking for any advice u can give me, suggestions on parts(better choices, less pricey), anything I'm missing.
I found everything on newegg, if your wondering
Thank You for your time.

You dont need DDR 1066, especially since you're not overclocking. Get the DDR2-800 like me, it runs very well in the maximus. Make sure you set the memory voltage to 2.1 and manually set the timings to 4-4-4-12. Also set the Northbrigde voltage to at least 1.4V to support 4 sticks of memory.

You only need about a 500-600W powersupply. I would highly recommend a modular one like the corsair 620HX, you will never go back.
Antec 900 is a great case, look into mine as well, the p182, everyone raves about it, and I love it.

The maximus will run newer processors, but you will just have to update the bios. I would also recommend updating it even with the Q6600. All you do is download it off of the asus website, put it on a usb flash drive (FAT32 formatted) and plug it into the computer. When you get into bios, run asus EZ flash and in less than a minute your bios will be up to date. I ahd to do this because my E8400 wasn't supported until I flashed it to 0907.

Everything else looks solid, you will have a great time building this, and if you ever have problems, you can always ask people around here for help!

If your playing games as opposed to editing and rendering, things that are CPU intensive, you'd do just as well with the E8400. I'd get at least a Tier II PSU. Either of these Antecs would work and have module cabling, which is really nice. A P35 mobo would save you a bundle, something like the P5K E that really has a load of features and with the most recent BIOS should run everything the X38 except faster Crossfire and ease of overclocking.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817103940
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817103941
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forum [...] p?t=108088