Ready to buy my computer, your opinions on config.

Here is what I was planning on buying. This system will be primarily for gaming (currently playing Half-Life 2, BF2, WoW, and CS:S)

As you can see below, im still not sure which route I should take for cooling my CPU.

Also, I'm planning to try and overclock my processor to some degree, however this will be my first time OCing so I probably won't be able to reach the same heights as the THG Guru's on here. Also, in terms of budget I can afford to spend about $100-200 more than what is listed below. The reason I had chosen the x800xl instead of the x850xt is that I can order the xl direct from ATI through my work (cost is only $179).

Anyway, please let me know what your opinions are on the below configuration. Any advice or comments you have are extremely appreciated. If there is any information I failed to include please let me know and I'll get it posted ASAP.

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154" target="_new"> Antec P180 Chassis </A>

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103924" target="_new"> Antec Neopower 480W PS </A>

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152" target="_new"> DFI LanParty Ultra-D </A>

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103531" target="_new"> Athlon 64 3800+ (Venice) </A>

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835106056" target="_new"> Thermaltake Sonic Tower </A>
or
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835109118" target="_new"> Thermalright XP-120 </A>
with:
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811999122" target="_new"> Thermaltake 120mm Fan </A>
or
<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835180019" target="_new"> Panaflo 120mm High CFM </A>

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227213" target="_new"> OCZ Value VX 1GB Kit </A>

<A HREF="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102509" target="_new"> ATI Radeon x800xl </A>

Western Dig. 120GB SATA HDD (from previous system)

-Dan

Get the XP-120 and the Panaflo... other than that everything looks great. Should be a fun build.

<b><font color=red>Go date P4man or something, bye!</font color=red><b>

Does RAM speed affect OCing of the CPU or RAM (or both) ?

I was only planning to OC the CPU and not the video or memory unless I had a compelling case to do so. From what I've heard (correct me if im wrong), OCing memory gives a slight increase in performance with a big decrease in hardware life.

Ram specified as PC4000 is specified to run at these speeds. You still have a lifetime warranty!
As mention you overclock the bus of the ram thus making the cpu run faster, you can alaways use memory divider to run your ram slower...
With AMD64 you get almost no performance hit but with other platform(with no on die memory controller), you loose quite a bit of performance.
IMO keeping the Ram "synched"(1:1 rati) with the CPU is alaways the best option

Asus P4P800DX, P4C 2.6ghz@3.25ghz, 2X512 OCZ PC4000 3-4-4-8, MSI 6800Ultra stock, 2X30gig Raid0

It also looks like the RAM will be sitting underneith the overhang of my thermalright-xp120. not sure how much cooling this will offer to the memory (if any).

Dan

Interesting, I wonder if that air tube would fit over my HSF and mobo. I see someone listed problems getting it to work on the DFI LP.

Why is it you don't like the P180, Wusy?