NEW PC Build needs some help

[big_BDS]

Hi this is my first PC build from scratch. I have done a ton of mods and helped friends with there pc build before but never done my own from scratch. I am a gamer and a 3d /Photoshop user and need a good system for both. I will be overclocking it but not sure how high I can go safely. Here is what i have kinda decided on for parts I am open to suggestions:

Case: COOLER MASTER Stacker RC-832-KKN1-GP Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

Motherboard: ASUS Striker II Formula LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Vdeo card: (2) MSI NX8800GTS 512M OC GeForce 8800GTS (G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Power supply: ?? thinking either PC Power & Cooling PPCT860 860W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail
or COOLER MASTER Real Power Pro RS-850-EMBA 850W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CE, cUL, TUV, NEMKO, BSMI, FCC - Retail

CPU: Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650 Yorkfield 3.0GHz LGA 775 130W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569QX9650 - Retail

Heetsink: Thermalright XFI -14

RAM: (2) Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 - Retail

OS hard drive: Western Digital Raptor X WD1500AHFD 150GB 10000 RPM SATA 1.5Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Fans: Scythe SY1225SL12M 120mm "Slipstream" Case Fan - Retail
1 for heet sink 2 for side for case

and thinking artic silver cleaner and thermal compound

I want to go with the 8800 GTS & 4 1 gb RAM because will run in dual channel mode and because of cost and room to expand it later and I have not decided on os yet vista or xp and may get an after market VGA cools later as well

Thanks for any help or advice I can get

 

[aevm]

Between the PC Power & Cooling and Coolermaster PSUs: absolutely no contest, go with PC P&C.

QX9650 is a waste of money. You can get a Q6700 for about $700 less and overclock it to 4 GHz.

Which country are you in? If you're not in the USA you better say so, or you'll get newegg links in replies.

Good choice of cooler, it's one of the 3 best performers out there. The others are Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme + SFF21F and Noctua NH-U12P.
http://www.ncixus.com/products/27130/NH-U12P/Noctua/
However, for much less money, the Xigmatek HDT-S1283 does an excellent job too as far as both temps and noise.

Personally I like the XFX 780i more than the Asus. At newegg the XFX is $60 less and gets 5 stars, while the Asus gets 4.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813141005

Nice case, nice video cards.

Get 2x2GB of RAM, so you still have two slots free and can expand to 8 GB later. Especially if you get Vista.

Raptor X disks are so obsolete. Either get a WD6400AAKS (almost the same speed for small files, higher speed for bigger files, several times cheaper/GB), or wait for the new Velociraptor with perpendicular recording.

Check out the SFF21E and SFF21F fans too. They use a more recent technology. I'm using SFF21E because I care a lot about noise. SFF21F is a bit noisier but moves more air.

MX-2 is a better paste than AS5.

I wouldn't bother with after market VGA coolers for the 8800GTS G92, they're pretty well cooled already.

 

[sprucebr1]

I agree with the PSU choice, PCP&C is the better buy. Also I agree with the CPU, the QX9650 is likely not worth the money, when you can get the same or better performance out of a Q9450 or Q6700 or even the Q6600. Good choice with the 8800GTS 512 (G92), and everything else looks good.

 

[big_BDS]

the only question that I have is if I get a Kentsfield not Yorkfield will that work with my motherboard choice?

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813131255

says "Supports Intel 45nm multi-core processors" ?

also I an not buying parts for pc tell September so cost of Yorkfield is supposed to drop in august

 

[aevm]

Kentsfield means Q6600, for example, and that works fine on the Striker II Formula.

You should really ask again in September. Whatever advice we can give you now is guaranteed to be wrong by August, because things change very fast.

 

[big_BDS]

not realy going to change the build just waiting for price to come down a bit is all

 

[uguv]

There will likely be different video options in September that will be better for your build. ATI may be a decent alternative by then.