Trying to spec a new build, need help with MB/RAM selection!

[Smithdogg1]

First off I will say this will be the second computer I have build (for myself anyway), so I already own a copy of XP SP2 that I plan to use, I also already have a nice 20” LCD and wireless KB/Mouse set, so this build is only for the computer itself. I also have quite a few parts that I will be re-using from my current build, without gutting it and still keeping it running as a secondary comp. That said I have most of it spec’d out, but with any new build I always have a tough time trying to decide on the motherboard, and also what RAM will match up and work best with it. I am looking to start with 2GB of RAM, then upgrade to 4GB later on if I need it. But my current build (listed in my sig) used to have 1.5GB of ram and I doubled it by upgrading to 3GB and barley noticed a difference, so I think 2GB is fine for now, with XP at least.

Also, my overall budget is $1,500 max for this build, it is geared towards mainly media and gaming, I have tons of music, videos and pictures on my machine. I also like to edit pictures with Photoshop and would love to get into video editing. Finally I do a lot of DVD ripping with DVD Shrink or DVD Decrypter, while I am doing this forget doing anything else, my CPU is pretty much pegged, which is one area I would love to improve. I would like to be able to tweak my system and overclock it and bit, but still have it stable, both the CPU and GPU. Finally I want to be able to multitask like crazy basically, which is why I hope the quad core will be great for this, because I was also considering the E6850 Core 2 Duo 3.0 GHz for the CPU, but I think that the Q6600 will be better for multitasking, esp. if I OC it to 3.0, which I have heard it can stability do on air cooling. Hopefully this gives you enough info on what I am looking to achieve and if my proposed build will satisfy my needs. So to get on with it, here is what I have so far...

Case: Antec 900 (Already Purchased)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811129021

Power Supply Unit: CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX 620W (I want to buy this tomorrow unless you talk me out of it)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817139002

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 (With Zalman CNP9500 Heat Sink that I already own)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16819115017

Video Card: Evga 7900GS (With Zalman VF900 Heatsink that I already own)
Here is the deal, I currently own this card, and I plan to use it for this new build for the time being, because I want to see what new nvidea based cards are coming out this year, otherwise I would just get the Evga 8800GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130319
But I am leaving aside $300-350 or so in the budget for the video card.

Hard Drives: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136218&Tpk=22-136-218&cm_sp=HomepageLB-_-BannersCategory-_-http%3a%2f%2fpromotions.newegg.com%2fBanners%2fCat egory%2f620x130.jpg
I also already own a WD 3200KS 320 GB HD as well as a Seagate 7200.10 320 GB HD which I plan to reuse, this gives me over a TB of space, plus I have 500 GB and 120 GB external drives for backups of my most important data. The 750 GB's job will be to house all my media, and I may add a second drive in the future if needed.

Optical Drives: Lite-ON SATA DVD Burner


This puts me at a total around $700, with a need for a Motherboard, RAM and eventually Video Card. I figure $250-300 for the MB, $300-350 for the Video Card and $100-150 for 2 GB of RAM, this should put me just above or below the $1,500 mark.

For the motherboard I was thinking of going with something Asus or Evga but not sure what would be best and chipsets really confuse me, maybe this?
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813131227
I want something with PCI-E 2.0, an optical out for sound, also built in WIFI would be nice and save me a PCI slot. I also want to be able to overclock easily while still keeping the board stable. In my $250-300 price range everything else I want seems to be pretty much standard, IE 6 SATA ports, Firewire, ect.
Asus just has so many boards I have no idea what to get.

For the RAM I will prob go with Corsair XMS2, something like this 4 GB kit
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820145184

Hopefully I did not give TOO much info, but I am putting so much planning into this that I wanted to give as much as possible without making it too long to read. I am really just stuck on the MB and RAM combo here, so any suggestions that would meet my needs would be great and if you have questions please let me know. And please keep in mind that I am not in a huge rush to build this, so if better parts are right around the corner I will wait a bit, but I would like to get the power supply very soon so I can start planning out my cable management so please let me know if that Corsair will do the job fine. Thanks so much!

[cloned]

Case: Good
PSU: Why would you want us to talk you out of it? It owns.
CPU: You should look at a E8400 instead since quad cores are a bit of a waste compared to dual cores right now. Although a quad core would future-proof it better after OCing it.
Video card: Why wait? There is always something new right around the corner so waiting is just stupid. Pus my 8800 GT plays everything but crysis at 1440 x 900 at high settings with no problems. And you could go with EVGA's step-up program incase you want more power.

For the motherobard, get the same chipset version from abit or gigabyte instead. ASUS has been crappy lately.

RAM, i'd go with crucial ballistix instead

[zanzabar]

u should stay waway from the NV chipsets for intel boards (refrence like evga and xfx is the worst of the worst for reliability)i would suggest an x38 or p35, i would go dfi x38 LT (its still at ncix it wont available for much longer) or a maximus

for ram i would stay away from balistex unless u get it in person and especially from newegg since u will get the single sided sticks (667mhz c3 might not those are the highest bin), and i would lean to getting something used with gmh or team extreme (non dark), while i havnt a good experience from tank guys myself and wouldent go again they are the best place for good ram (i wouldent order the team group no spreader)

[Major_A]

Couple of suggestions (DISCLAIMER: MY OPINION HERE SO TAKE IT HOW YOU WILL)...

1) I'd ditch the WD HDD and pick up a Samsung drive. I just purchased the 750GB Samsung 32MB drive and it's pretty impressive. It might not have the burst speed of that WD drive but it's a hell of a lot quieter and runs much cooler.

2) Unless you are trying to break SuperPi times RAM timings/speed aren't that important. If you are overclocking and hit a wall with your RAM just run a divider. 95% of "real world" applications respond better to a faster CPU.

3) For your motherboard I'd look at the ASUS lineup. They make boards that come with WIFI cards and overclock pretty well. Like the guy above me said I'd just steer clear of nVidia based motherboards for the time being.

[AbuSom3a]

PSU: For starters, you can buy a 1KW PSU for less(((link)))) (http://bensbargains.net/deal/58747/), and the HX620 can be bough for a cheaper price from vendors other than newegg. Now look for better/cheaper alternatives since $170 is simply too much for a 620w PSU

HDD: I agree with Major_A. The Samsung F1 750GB is better all-around than the WD.

Motherboard: Unless you are going quad CF, ditch X38 and buy a decent P35 board. P35 overclocks, performs, and provides the stability you expect from any X38. I might go further saying that the 3GHz OC you are aiming for is doable on P31 or even P965... Also, if you need Wi-fi, don't limit your choices andpay a premium for a board that comes with it. Instead, buy a wi-fi card you can keep when you decide to sell the mobo.

RAM: Go with this instead:
$77 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211188) (FS) - A-DATA 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

[Smithdogg1]

Thanks for the input, I will def consider a gigabyte board, they look very nice. As for some of the other parts mentioned, sorry but I do not trust Samsung drives at all, maybe they are good now, but I will not sacrifice speed over reliability and only use Western Digital or Seagate.

The 620HX can be had for $140, which I do not think is bad, I do not need a 1kw, and I think that Rosewill is a much lesser brand than Corsair and again I am going for quality parts in the build and will pay extra for them.

[Virous]

ive got my maxmimus formula, C2Q q6600. 24/7 use atm is 3.2ghz at stock voltages. Since my room temp is quite high lately. Waiting on my water kit.

one thing you do if you get a maximus, before you put it together. Remove the stock heatpipe over the NB/SB and reseat it with your own thermal putty. i used as5. i also use the standard fan for the mosfets slightly modified to sit over the NB, and now it doesnt go above 45'c. A good mobo imo.

Antec 900, good choice.
PSU: Awesome choice, but if you want to brag you have muscle, the HX1000 coming soon.
C2q 6600. I have one, and i love it.
7900GS: Upto you on this 1, i was on the edge of getting a 8800GTS512, i bit the bullet and bought an ati. Crysis "high" settings, 1680/1050 lowest FPS 32-35.

[Major_A]

Check out www.silentpcreview.com all they recommend is Samsung drives because they are so quiet.

[Smithdogg1]

ive got my maxmimus formula, C2Q q6600. 24/7 use atm is 3.2ghz at stock voltages. Since my room temp is quite high lately. Waiting on my water kit.

one thing you do if you get a maximus, before you put it together. Remove the stock heatpipe over the NB/SB and reseat it with your own thermal putty. i used as5. i also use the standard fan for the mosfets slightly modified to sit over the NB, and now it doesnt go above 45'c. A good mobo imo.

Antec 900, good choice.
PSU: Awesome choice, but if you want to brag you have muscle, the HX1000 coming soon.
C2q 6600. I have one, and i love it.
7900GS: Upto you on this 1, i was on the edge of getting a 8800GTS512, i bit the bullet and bought an ati. Crysis "high" settings, 1680/1050 lowest FPS 32-35.

I was thinking about waiting for the HX1000, I hear it is due out the end of the mouth, but I really do not need that much power, on Corsair's site they reccomend me the HX520 for my setup. The 1000 is really geared towards people who are running two or three powerful GPU's. Plus it will cost around $280, which is a bit much.

And again on the Samsung Hard Drives, I don't care how quiet or fast they are rated, I simply do not trust them at all.

[AbuSom3a]

If you don't like Samsung, try the new WD 640GB drives