Hi folks, first post in the forums 
I'm looking to order some bits over the next few days to build a new PC for gaming. Below is a list of the parts I'm looking at - I'd really appreciate input from you guys as I'm unsure about a few things:
Asus P5K Deluxe WiFi Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-8500 1066MHz Reaper HPC Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR10662GK) x 2 for 4Gb total
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.67GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme (Socket AM2/LGA775) Heatsink + Arctic Cooling Arctic Fan 12L 120mm Fan - 3 Pin
OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Thermaltake Toughpower 850W PSU
CoolerMaster Stacker 832 - Black Trim (No PSU)
Samsung SM-226BW 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Glossy Black
Optiarc NEC AD7170S Serial ATA 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM
Sony Floppy Drive - Black
Logitech G15 Gaming-Grade Illuminated Keyboard - Retail
Razer Copperhead Tempest Blue 2000dpi High Precision Gaming Mouse - Retail
I'll keep my existing soundcard (a Soundblaster X-Fi Fatal1ty) even though the drivers are bloody useless in Vista64
Also I have a 3ware 9650SE PCI-Express RAID card for my HDDs so don't need any more for this build as I'll just move the RAIDs across.
As you may have noticed the graphics card is a bit weak - but I'm saving myself for either the ATI R670 or NVidia G92 cards that will HOPEFULLY be out around Q3/Q4. Plus it should still outperform the ATI X1900XTX I currently have (I think).
The PSU won't be sourced from OcUK (for some reason they don't stock them - pity as apparently they are the best PSUs going atm).
Now here are my main concerns:
The memory. According to the ASUS website the P5K isn't certified to run all four slots at 1066 speeds - only 800. BUT a number of folks in the forums that have recently bought a P5K Deluxe seem to be running all four slots fine at high (even overclocked) speeds - am I likely to be able to do the same or were they just lucky and got a particularly tolerant motherboard??
The monitor. Due to the confusion over panel types (A, C and S) what are the odds of me getting an S panel? Are all the new stock S or is it still a bit of a mixed bag and would I be better sticking with my trusty 20.1" Belinea for a bit longer until Samsung sort out their panel supplies?
One last thing: one option I've been looking at is water cooling. I'm VERY wary of going for this (the idea of fluid and electricity accidentally getting intimate with each other in a brand new computer and frying the lot really doesn't appeal lol) but my room does get a bit toasty in the summer. I did have a look at a complete kit solution like the Thermaltake VD4000SWA LCS Aluminium Kandalf Full Tower - Silver
Would this be a good option for a VERY nervous first-time water builder? Or even in a room in the mid to high 20's in the summer would the air cooler I've specced above be more than adequate?
Many thanks for your time (and patience!) with this post - any constructive criticism or advice welcome as I'm off next week and hope to get the bits by then for a leisurely build
Charles
I'm looking to order some bits over the next few days to build a new PC for gaming. Below is a list of the parts I'm looking at - I'd really appreciate input from you guys as I'm unsure about a few things:
Asus P5K Deluxe WiFi Intel P35 (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC2-8500 1066MHz Reaper HPC Edition Dual Channel DDR2 (OCZ2RPR10662GK) x 2 for 4Gb total
Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 "LGA775 Conroe" 2.67GHz (1066FSB) - Retail
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme (Socket AM2/LGA775) Heatsink + Arctic Cooling Arctic Fan 12L 120mm Fan - 3 Pin
OcUK GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB GDDR3 HDTV/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail
Thermaltake Toughpower 850W PSU
CoolerMaster Stacker 832 - Black Trim (No PSU)
Samsung SM-226BW 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Glossy Black
Optiarc NEC AD7170S Serial ATA 18x18 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) - OEM
Sony Floppy Drive - Black
Logitech G15 Gaming-Grade Illuminated Keyboard - Retail
Razer Copperhead Tempest Blue 2000dpi High Precision Gaming Mouse - Retail
I'll keep my existing soundcard (a Soundblaster X-Fi Fatal1ty) even though the drivers are bloody useless in Vista64
Also I have a 3ware 9650SE PCI-Express RAID card for my HDDs so don't need any more for this build as I'll just move the RAIDs across.
As you may have noticed the graphics card is a bit weak - but I'm saving myself for either the ATI R670 or NVidia G92 cards that will HOPEFULLY be out around Q3/Q4. Plus it should still outperform the ATI X1900XTX I currently have (I think).
The PSU won't be sourced from OcUK (for some reason they don't stock them - pity as apparently they are the best PSUs going atm).
Now here are my main concerns:
The memory. According to the ASUS website the P5K isn't certified to run all four slots at 1066 speeds - only 800. BUT a number of folks in the forums that have recently bought a P5K Deluxe seem to be running all four slots fine at high (even overclocked) speeds - am I likely to be able to do the same or were they just lucky and got a particularly tolerant motherboard??
The monitor. Due to the confusion over panel types (A, C and S) what are the odds of me getting an S panel? Are all the new stock S or is it still a bit of a mixed bag and would I be better sticking with my trusty 20.1" Belinea for a bit longer until Samsung sort out their panel supplies?
One last thing: one option I've been looking at is water cooling. I'm VERY wary of going for this (the idea of fluid and electricity accidentally getting intimate with each other in a brand new computer and frying the lot really doesn't appeal lol) but my room does get a bit toasty in the summer. I did have a look at a complete kit solution like the Thermaltake VD4000SWA LCS Aluminium Kandalf Full Tower - Silver
Would this be a good option for a VERY nervous first-time water builder? Or even in a room in the mid to high 20's in the summer would the air cooler I've specced above be more than adequate?
Many thanks for your time (and patience!) with this post - any constructive criticism or advice welcome as I'm off next week and hope to get the bits by then for a leisurely build
Charles
