New $1K Build - Ordering Soon! Final Thoughts?

[DigitalD]

Alright.. here's my new build which I'm looking to order shortly. I'm looking to get some final thoughts and perhaps get a few questions answered.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo 8400
$170 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Mobo: Asus P5N-D nForce 750i SLI
$150 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131232

RAM: Mushkin 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz
$77 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

GFX: MSI GeForce GTX 260
$240 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127361

HD: WD SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB OEM
$80 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218

PSU: Corsair CMPSU-550VX 550W SLI-Ready
OS: Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit OEM
$100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Case: Antec 300 ATX Mid Tower
$55 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Fan: XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
$37 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003

OS: Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM
$100 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488

Total: $1009

Rebates: GFX ($40), RAM ($20), PSU ($20) = $80


What do you think about these components? The GTX 260 for $200 (after rebate) seems like a good deal. I plan to go SLI in the future so I chose the ASUS-P5N. Good idea?

One concern I have is case and the cooler. Will everything fit okay?

Also, what is this retention bracket? Do you think I should get one?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019

To everyone who has helped me make these decisions, thank you!

 

[johnyeah]

People use retention bracket because the push pins design for the CPU Cooler is really hard to use (you can even bend your motherboard a little sometimes).

The HDT-S1283 is a bit big for the 300. You can make it fit, though.

Everything looks fine.

 

[DigitalD]

Maybe I should get a smaller cooler?

 

[dirtmountain]

I'd bump up your PSU for your eventual SLI with the GTX260. 2 GTX260s will be at 272watts just for the graphic cards at load.
http://forums.atomicmpc.com.au/index.php?showtopic=264
http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp

order the corsair 750w from here, only $4 more and has free shipping
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-tx-750w-atx-12v-power-supply-corsair-tx-cmpsu-750tx-atx12v/q/loc/101/206178325.html
or even the 650w which is cheaper

get the retention bracket, pushpin mounting sucks. yes it's a bit of a pita to install, but it won't come loose, cools better and is worth the $7

good solid build

 

[johnyeah]

Yeah, I missed out on the SLI part. If you're going SLI, definitely get the 750w instead.

 

[DigitalD]

Nice find dirtmountain. I'll definitely be picking up that PSU instead!

 

[lunyone]

Yeah I've been quoting that Corsair 650/750tx PSU's for about a month! Hard to pass up the price!
$50 shipped!
Antec Three Hundred ATX Computer Case
$78 shipped! Much more room and probably slightly better case overall!
Cooler Master 690 without Power Supply - RC-690-KKN1-GP

Personally I'd go with a 4870, but the gtx260 at $200 is pretty tempting. I'd also get the Xigmatek CPU HSF retention bracket, due to the solid contact support that it gives you.

 

[kamkal]

Yeah I've been quoting that Corsair 650/750tx PSU's for about a month! Hard to pass up the price!
$50 shipped!
Antec Three Hundred ATX Computer Case
$78 shipped! Much more room and probably slightly better case overall!
Cooler Master 690 without Power Supply - RC-690-KKN1-GP

Personally I'd go with a 4870, but the gtx260 at $200 is pretty tempting. I'd also get the Xigmatek CPU HSF retention bracket, due to the solid contact support that it gives you.

+1 on cooler master 690

as a proud owner of the same case, i would highly recommend it

 

[cow_moo]

+1 for 750w
+1 for different case
Also ASUS aren't that great my EVGA works much better.
(it's a 780i)

 

[pcgamer12]

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro. Best read reviews to see if that cooler fits it, some motherboards like the Asus P5Q Deluxe won't fit the ACF7P without some modifications. It costs only $19.99 from Newegg.

 

[johnyeah]

Also ASUS aren't that great my EVGA works much better.
(it's a 780i)

Baseless opinion. You're not really saying anything there.

 

[DigitalD]

As for the CoolerMaster case, are two 120mm fans included? Also, does it have audio and USB ports in the front?

 

[Zorg]

Maybe I should get a smaller cooler?

No, that cooler absolutetly will not bend your mobo.

The problem is that the push pin design that mimics the stock cooler retention system is absolute crap. It is a pain to install and often works itself loose.

DO NOT USE THE PUSH PIN RETENTION DESIGN.

That cooler fits well in the 300, I have use it in one, and it works like a champ.

If you decide to use it, then be sure to cover the whole CPU IHS with a very thin film of TIM, because the heat pipes don't allow for proper spreading through contact. An alternative, as per Lupiron, is to run a bead down each exposed heat pipe on the base.

 

[dirtmountain]

The 690 includes 3 120mm fans and the 2 USB, audio, IEEE 1394 and E-SATA are on the top

 

[slntdth93]

Baseless opinion. You're not really saying anything there.

-Heatpipe cooling
-Mosfet cooling
-Stability (even with Nvidia's rep on chipsets
-Warranty
-OC'ing ability
---> X-bit labs

 

[slntdth93]

double post....

 

[DigitalD]

Thanks everyone! I am ordering it now. I decided to change my case to the Coolermaster as suggested and get the 750W power supply, both from Buy.com. I'm going to hold out on the cooler for now but I'll probably pick it up next month or something.

 

[lunyone]

Nice! Hope all goes well. Let us know if it works out for you.

 

[cow_moo]

Slntdth93 told u why I like EVGA more than ASUS + ASUS ARE MADE IN CHINA NOW SO THEY ARENT AS STABLE AS THEY USED TO BE AND MANY MORE DOA's