Tips & Advice: New Computer

[Motam.co.uk]

Hi,
im building a new computer, just want everyones advice on whats good and whats not. i currently have a list of specs of what im most likely going to get at the moment.
Main use for the computer is gaming. im having trouble deciding what motherboard to go with.at the moment im looking at the asus boards. PC budget is around £12000ish (not inc monitor, keyboard etc)

see spec summary edit.

Any suggestions are welcome, just looking to be pointed in the right direction for the motherboard mainly, the rest will fall in place. Any tips advice greatly welcome.

many thansks


Edit:

Updated Spec Summary So Far:

CPU: Intel Quad Core Q9450 2.66Ghz, planning to Overclock.
MOTHERBOARD: Asus Maximus Extreme or Formula X38 chipset
PSU: Corsair 620W HX
GARHPICS CARD: XFX GeForce 9600GT 512MB DDR3 XXX, will upgrade to a 9800 gtx card when they are out later this year or next year.
CASE: looking at the NZXT Hush case.
RAM: 4GB ...type depening on the mobo
HARD DRIVE: 320GB seagate barracuda.
DVD drive: Sata, Samsung SH-S203

 

[helmutcheese]

Welcome and Claimed

The Mobo IMO today is the hardest item, there is a few helpfull peeps who love to do the "Spec me Up Threads", so hold on.

 

[Chimerical]

Stay well away from those Striker boards. In fact, best stay away from any 680i/780i Nvidia chipsets as they have caused numerous reports of faults and breakdowns.

If you really want SLI, the MSI 780i board is "supposed" to be reliable, as is the XFX reference board.

Alternatively any Asus P35/X38 board is recommended by me; espeically the Maximus Formula.

NZXT Apollo looks tacky imo and full of plastic. Lian Li PC7 or Antec P182 are excellent choices.

Really big cases include the Silverstone TJ-09, Coolermaster Stacker 832 which, although expensive, offer loads of space.