Yet another build post - please critique

[ingumc]

Hi,
I'm trying to upgrade my 4-year old system and have read a lot of the posts in this forum. I see a lot of similar component choices and have come up with this configuration. Some of them use the more popular component choices, while others are a little less mentioned.
Please let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

Motherboard
MSI P45 Neo-F
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130181

- There are some reviews that say this mobo may have problems booting. How rampant is this?

Power Supply
Corsair CMPSU-750TX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006

CPU
Intel Core2 Duo E8400
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

CPU Cooler
Cooler Master Hyper TX2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835103031

- I'm not planning on overclocking much, if at all. Would this be sufficient? Also, this cooler already comes with a pre-applied thermal compound. Should I just keep that or use the ARCTIC COOLING MX-2?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

RAM
Corsair XMS2 DHX 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145194

DVD Drive
Sony NEC Optiarc SATA 20X DVD with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827118004

Hard Drive
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F1 HD753LJ 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152100

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3750330AS 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148298

Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

- I'm kinda undecided on this. I've heard some good things about the Samsung Spinpoint but couldn't find a 500GB version with 32MB Cache on Newegg.

Video Card
PNY VCG88512GXPB-FLB GeForce 8800 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133224

- I got this for $149.99 at Best Buy and some help from a gift card, thought it was a pretty good deal without dealing with rebates.

 

[Why_Me]

Nice build. I have that same cpu, and I did a mild overclock...actaully I just moved up the FSB to 3.6 (8x400) and love it.

There's a few things I would change with your build.

1) That heatsink comes pre applied with MX-2 thermal compound, and it's perfect for what your wanting to do with this rig.
2) That PSU you have chosen is serious overkill. That PSU you have up there is for people running SLI and/or major multi media rigs with alot of harddrives.
3) if your willing to spend another $20, that motherboard has a much better northbridge cooling system and it won't overheat.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134 $26.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 $109.99 ($99.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180 $119.99
MSI P45 Neo3-FR LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

 

[dirtmountain]

it's worth the $5 to have thermal paste on hand in case you have to dismount your HSF for whatever reason and reattach it. Can also use it if you get an aftermarket VGA cooler for the 8800GT.

 

[ingumc]

Nice build. I have that same cpu, and I did a mild overclock...actaully I just moved up the FSB to 3.6 (8x400) and love it.

There's a few things I would change with your build.

1) That heatsink comes pre applied with MX-2 thermal compound, and it's perfect for what your wanting to do with this rig.
2) That PSU you have chosen is serious overkill. That PSU you have up there is for people running SLI and/or major multi media rigs with alot of harddrives.
3) if your willing to spend another $20, that motherboard has a much better northbridge cooling system and it won't overheat.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134 $26.99
ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 $109.99 ($99.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180 $119.99
MSI P45 Neo3-FR LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Thanks for the response. I realize that the PSU is overkill, but I did find this deal at Buy.com where you can buy the 750W for the price of the 650W. So, no reason not to get the better one, right?
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html

The $20 saved from the PSU deal above can be used to get your recommended MSI mobo, so it works out well.

As for the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro, are there any issues with mounting this on the MSI mobo? I've read reviews where the bottom 3 fins might interfere with tall components.

Thanks again for the input!

 

[Why_Me]

Thanks for the response. I realize that the PSU is overkill, but I did find this deal at Buy.com where you can buy the 750W for the price of the 650W. So, no reason not to get the better one, right?
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply/q/loc/101/206178325.html

The $20 saved from the PSU deal above can be used to get your recommended MSI mobo, so it works out well.

As for the ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro, are there any issues with mounting this on the MSI mobo? I've read reviews where the bottom 3 fins might interfere with tall components.

Thanks again for the input!

To be honest I haven't used that heatsink on that board. But the heatsink down below fits on every board I have used it on, and it does a great job at cooling. Just make sure you order that bolt up kit along with it.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233001 $24.99 ($14.99 after $10.00 Mail-In Rebate)
XIGMATEK HDT-S963 92mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019 $6.99
XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020&Tpk=mx-2 $6.99
ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail

 

[ingumc]

Looking at the mobo selection, what's the difference between the MSI P45 Neo3 and the ASUS P5Q Pro? On Newegg, the price comes to about the same if I get the E8400 CPU (combo deal with the ASUS). So, which would be the better choice? I'm going to use an nVidia 8800GT so the Crossfire issue doesn't even come in to play. Any other benefits of either, e.g. stability, heat, OC'ing?

Thanks!

MSI P45 Neo3-FR LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299&Tpk=asus%2bp5q-pro

 

[Why_Me]

Looking at the mobo selection, what's the difference between the MSI P45 Neo3 and the ASUS P5Q Pro? On Newegg, the price comes to about the same if I get the E8400 CPU (combo deal with the ASUS). So, which would be the better choice? I'm going to use an nVidia 8800GT so the Crossfire issue doesn't even come in to play. Any other benefits of either, e.g. stability, heat, OC'ing?

Thanks!

MSI P45 Neo3-FR LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130180

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299&Tpk=asus%2bp5q-pro

Since your not going to use Crossfire, I would say the MSI. It's $30 cheaper, and that $30 can help pay for your shipping, or be applied to something else that catches your eye on newegg. Or better yet a large pizza or Chinese take out to eat while your building your rig.

 

[ingumc]

I do get a $20 combo discount for getting the ASUS and E8400 together, and there's no shipping charge on the ASUS. So, it comes to about the same price as the MSI (which has shipping). So, was just wondering if there's anything else to consider between the two with the price being the same after everything's taken into account.

I do agree on the food though, gotta have some nutrition while building this baby up!

 

[Why_Me]

I do get a $20 combo discount for getting the ASUS and E8400 together, and there's no shipping charge on the ASUS. So, it comes to about the same price as the MSI (which has shipping). So, was just wondering if there's anything else to consider between the two with the price being the same after everything's taken into account.

I do agree on the food though, gotta have some nutrition while building this baby up!

Seeing how you get that discount, then you really can't beat that Asus board, ..you never know when you might to with ATI down the road, and Asus makes a great board...especially if your going to overclock sometime down the road.