Final check on $1500 Q9550/HD4870 system

[kingfeta]

Hey. Just a quick check before I order to see if I missed anything or if I'm about to make a mistake.

Notes about this build:
-air cooled
-not overclocked too much(heat, hardware lifetime, and noobie fears limiting this)
-no RAID
-no plans for crossfire(figure newer, faster single cards will be out later)
-run on a 22" LCD monitor(not purchased yet)
-run on Vista Home Premium 64(or Ultimate 64...haven't decided)


Here it is:
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 Yorkfield 2.83GHz LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor Model BX80569Q9550

Mobo: ASUS P5Q Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P45 Intel Motherboard

Video: VisionTek 900244 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card

Memory: 2 x OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2RPR800C44GK (8GB total)

Hard Drive: 2 x Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

CPU Fan: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler

CD/DVD Drive: ASUS 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model DRW-2014L1T

CPU Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

Cables: 2 x BYTECC 18" Serial ATA-150/300 Cable w/Locking Latch Model SATA-118C


Questions:
1. The power supply has only 1 12v rail...is that an issue?
2. Is the power supply sufficient?
3. I'm using 8GB of 800mhz DDR2 memory...should I go with 1066 memory with the cpu and motherboard I'm using?
4. Do I need any more fans or cables to put this together(I got two SATA cables because the hard drives are OEM)?
5. Any weak links in the build I should upgrade?

Thanks.

 

[iluvgillgill]

i would get the Q9450 and OC it to 3Ghz thats a VERY CONSERVATIVE OC that wont hurt the hardware at all. and save the money to get the GTX 280 for better single card setup.

save on the DDR800 and leave the 1066 because you wont get any better performance with higher speed ram unless you get higher FSB through OC.

get a better cooler such as Xigmatek S1283, it will be so much better and for not that much of price increase.

the PSU should be enough for your setup.

you will want OC more once you start OCing thats the bad thing about it.OC it to a higher speed WILL decrease life span BUT no one have clearified this not even the manufacture.

it would save you time and money if you buy the slightly more expensive but much better kit at once. its a bad idea to get something that just enough and when you need extra you need to go out and buy some new once and need 2 get rid of your old one.

 

[iluvgillgill]

oh btw you will need 64bit windows to ultilise the 8GB of ram. and dont get vista ultimate home premium is much faster since there are much less useless service that runs at the background.

 

[kingfeta]

Last bump before I buy. Thanks.

 

[DXRick]

I would go to OCZ's web site and see if there are any issues with 8G memory. Generally, you may need slower memory (like DDR2 800 CAS 5) and/or adjust the voltage in the BIOS to get it to work.