New build critique appreciated.

[messiah33]

Hey, I finally got my account activated this morning and now I'm going to post my PC and my goals with it. First of all, I'm ordering everything off of ncix except the surge protector which is APC brand and I'm getting it from futureshop and everything will be in CAD prices. Anywho, this build is a gaming build and I will be using a OEM copy of vista home premium 64-bit. In the future I plan to overclock it so while your overlooking my build just tell me if it works well together for overclocking. I also am planing on hooking my xbox 360 to my monitor with the xbox 360 VGA cable, and I'll use a optical cable to plug into my input connection on my soundcard to play the sound out of my speakers. I probably forgot to mention something but I'm sure I'll remember as I go along. I'll start with the basics then move onto the main computer last.

Mouse: Logitech MX518 GAMING-GRADE Optical Mouse 1600-DPI USB
931352-0215 $57.79

Keaboard: Saitek Eclipse Keyboard Black USB
PZ30AU $54.83

Mic: Logitech Desktop Microphone USB
980186-0403 $26.39

Speakers: Logitech Z2300 Speaker System 2.1 200WRMS 400W 8IN Subwoofer
970118-0403 $143.75

Monitor: Acer AL2216WBD 22IN Widescreen LCD Monitor Black 1680X1050 700:1 5MS
ET.2216B.0D0 $274.99 (w/ express coverage)

Now its power time!!

Case: Antec Nine Hundred Mid Tower Gamer Case
NINE HUNDRED $117.02
Added a Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120MM Cooling Fan 1600RPM 28.0DBA 63.7CFM FDB (SFF21F $14.99)
for the side intake.

DVD Burner: Samsung SH-S203B Black SATA DVD+RW 20X8X16 DVD-RW 20X6X16
SH-S203B/BEBN $41.02

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2 3GB/S 7200RPM 16MB Cache
ST3320620AS $93.83

PSU: Corsair CMPSU-620HX 620W ATX Triple 12V 50A 24PIN
CMPSU-620HX $164.99

Mobo: Abit IP35 Pro ATX LGA775 P35 DDR2 2PCI-E16 2PCI-E1 3PCI SATA2 RAID
IP35-PRO $203.65

Sound Card: AuzenTech X-FI Prelude 7.1 Sound Card PCI 32BIT Eax 5.0
PRELUDE $199.99
Hoping that I can plug xbox 360 into this and it will play it out of my
speakers, I know some sound cards do this, but I never head of this one
doing it.

RAM: Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC2-6400 2GB 2X1GB DDR2-800 CL4-4-4-12 240PIN
BL2KIT12864AL804 $159.99 X2


Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor
BX80562Q6600 $279.99 (bundle price)
Thermalright ULTRA-120 Extreme 6 Heatpipe Cooler
ULTRA-120-EXTREME $64.98
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120MM Cooling Fan 1600RPM 28.0DBA 63.7CFM FDB
SFF21F $14.99

Video Card: EVGA E-GEFORCE 8800GTX 575MHZ 768MB 1.8GHZ GDDR3
768-P2-N831-AR $596.64
Thermalright HR-03 Plus 92MM 6 Heatpipe
HR-03 Plus $53.33
With a Thermaltake A2017 90MM DC Fan 1300-4000RPM
A2017 $16.50
And a Cardkeeper CK03-1225 to give support for the heavy HS.
CK03-1225 $19.50

Arctic Silver 5 HIGH-DENSITY Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound 3.5 Gram (AS5-3.5 $12.47) for the Processor and video card heatsinks. Can it be used on the video cards RAM?

I'm also ordering a static wrist strap cause if I screw something up I'll probably end up bouncing off the walls. There ya have it, have fun over viewing my build.

Edit: I removed the 2 Scythe Kama Thermo Digital Thermometer's and im getting a couple cold cathodes instead.

[Loony]

I'm not a fan of Logitech mice, but if you prefer them then stick with it. I like Razer's options better.

Instead of the mic you could get a headset with microphone, I say this because I'm guessing you're going to be gaming and using the mic for VOIP, which I think is best with a headset.

Instead of AS5 TIM, you should get the better MX-2, I think it's also cheaper.

The first two are just opinions, the last I'd say is just better.

EDIT: I don't know if you need that wrist strap. I've never run into any static electricity problems while building computers. If you do have a doubt, just touch the PSU for a second, it should take any charge you have out of you.

[Fujimitsu]

Never used the wrist straps either, they're bull IMO.
Never had static ruin any pc components, they're surprisingly pretty tough.
I love logitech mice, but razer is a good choice as well.

That said, doesn't look bad at all.

Few minor things:
Get a headset w/ a mic, those desk mics are ugly and annoying.
I'd look at a klipsch promedia 2.1 speaker set for that price, I love mine, but its more personal preference.

Where are you getting these prices from? they all seem a tad high.

[messiah33]

Never used the wrist straps either, they're bull IMO.
Never had static ruin any pc components, they're surprisingly pretty tough.
I love logitech mice, but razer is a good choice as well.

That said, doesn't look bad at all.

Few minor things:
Get a headset w/ a mic, those desk mics are ugly and annoying.
I'd look at a klipsch promedia 2.1 speaker set for that price, I love mine, but its more personal preference.

Where are you getting these prices from? they all seem a tad high.

Ok, I'll ditch the strap, as for the mice I have looked at razer but logitech feels a lot better in my had. There isn't any MX-2 on ncix, so I'll just stick with the AS5.

I looked at the klipsch promedia 2.1 speakers, they are nice but no remote and a little bit more money. Whats a good headset I should get?

[perkam]

ram....2gb...not more than $130 pls.

Other than that, its fine.

Perkam

[Fujimitsu]

Ok, I'll ditch the strap, as for the mice I have looked at razer but logitech feels a lot better in my had. There isn't any MX-2 on ncix, so I'll just stick with the AS5.

I looked at the klipsch promedia 2.1 speakers, they are nice but no remote and a little bit more money. Whats a good headset I should get?

I like the logitech mice too, owned many :).
Speakers are a personal preference, I've just found the promedias have a lot more punch and for me they were $150.

Since you said ncix i'm assuming you're in Canada? that would explain it i guess.

As far as a headset i picked up some everglide s-500s on woot.com for $35 bucks and i love them but they're old and not easy to find anymore.
Headphones are again a personal choice, I'd ask around or read reviews. Try some on at the store or something.
Anything seinheiser is pretty much a good choice, but thats about as far as I've ventured.

Just be sure to try out or at least read up on a headset before you buy it, a lot of "gaming headsets" are just really cheap headphones with a mic attached and a $80 price tag.

EDIT: perkam, that quote in your sig is great!

[zanzabar]

ram....2gb...not more than $130 pls.

Other than that, its fine.

Perkam

thats for 2 kits thats why the price is high


dont buy anythng wait till nov12th u will beable to get a faster grafix card for $250 in the 8800gt/new gts or the r670, and new jesus quad cores, with the new ones hipero got a penryn quad to like 4ghz on air

[messiah33]

ram....2gb...not more than $130 pls.

Other than that, its fine.

Perkam

Any reasons?

Edit: Nvm i get it

[messiah33]

I like the logitech mice too, owned many :).
Speakers are a personal preference, I've just found the promedias have a lot more punch and for me they were $150.

Since you said ncix i'm assuming you're in Canada? that would explain it i guess.

As far as a headset i picked up some everglide s-500s on woot.com for $35 bucks and i love them but they're old and not easy to find anymore.
Headphones are again a personal choice, I'd ask around or read reviews. Try some on at the store or something.
Anything seinheiser is pretty much a good choice, but thats about as far as I've ventured.

Just be sure to try out or at least read up on a headset before you buy it, a lot of "gaming headsets" are just really cheap headphones with a mic attached and a $80 price tag.

EDIT: perkam, that quote in your sig is great!

Yep Canada, antd thoese prices are cheap lol. I guess ill take the mic off I have the headset that came with the CE of guildwars and they are really good. I'll buy new ones when i have more money.

[messiah33]

thats for 2 kits thats why the price is high


dont buy anythng wait till nov12th u will beable to get a faster grafix card for $250 in the 8800gt/new gts or the r670, and new jesus quad cores, with the new ones hipero got a penryn quad to like 4ghz on air

I don't really want to wait any longer, I'm pretty sure this build will run crysis at least. 8)

[Fujimitsu]

I don't really want to wait any longer, I'm pretty sure this build will run crysis at least. 8)

While i understand where they're coming from about waiting on buying I dont think anyone can blame you. Theres always something new coming out, and if you need a new PC you need a new pc, when you decide its time just buy it and dont look back.

[messiah33]

While i understand where they're coming from about waiting on buying I dont think anyone can blame you. Theres always something new coming out, and if you need a new PC you need a new pc, when you decide its time just buy it and dont look back.

Yep!:yepp:

[adamsleath]

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor
BX80562Q6600 $279.99 (bundle price)
Thermalright ULTRA-120 Extreme 6 Heatpipe Cooler
ULTRA-120-EXTREME $64.98
Scythe S-FLEX SFF21F 120MM Cooling Fan 1600RPM 28.0DBA 63.7CFM FDB
SFF21F $14.99
nice bundle :hehe:

Yorkfields are January 08...and will offer 'minor' gains [IMO] over q6600.
8800gt is 29 October...a mere 8 days in the future :yawn:

[messiah33]

nice bundle :hehe:

Yorkfields are January 08...and will offer 'minor' gains [IMO] over q6600.
8800gt is 29 October...a mere 8 days in the future :yawn:

I'll stick with my q6600, but I just looked up that 8800gt and boy it looks gooood. ONE SLOT!! Chances are that im not ordering till after the 29th, so I'll wait to check out the price and read over a few reviews.

[mike8913]

ditch the case. I have a Nine Hundred and it took HOURS of modding to make cable management even work. Antec had a nice idea but the plastic is poop, go for something else.

[cloned]

ditch the case. I have a Nine Hundred and it took HOURS of modding to make cable management even work. Antec had a nice idea but the plastic is poop, go for something else.

cable management always takes hours and i'd rather mod my case with custom routing holes and know that it works great than work around pre-made holes that try to work for every set up but fail :down:

also you do know most cases have plastic front bezels and the antec 900 has very little plastic on it compared to some cases

also the 8800 GTX will destroy the 8800 GT so just stick with that. also i recommend the scythe ninja heatsink but the one you have picked out is great

[mike8913]

also you do know most cases have plastic front bezels and the antec 900 has very little plastic on it compared to some cases

actually, i own the nine hundred, I've also owned many a case before it and am well aware that most have plastic bezels. Fact O'The Matter is that the Nine Hundred is not worth the effort you have to put into to it to make it a great case.

[messiah33]

ditch the case. I have a Nine Hundred and it took HOURS of modding to make cable management even work. Antec had a nice idea but the plastic is poop, go for something else.

What makes the cable management in this case any harder then most other cases?

[messiah33]

also the 8800 GTX will destroy the 8800 GT so just stick with that. also i recommend the scythe ninja heatsink but the one you have picked out is great

I'll take your word for it but I'll still check out some reviews, for overclocking does the 8800GTX cool good with stock cooler, do I really need a aftermarket cooler?