My Soon To Be Computer (Any Suggestions Before Build?)

Bravius

Case: Nzxt Alpha Gaming Tower Case

PSU: 800 Watt -- Power Supply Quad SLI Ready

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q8400 (4x 2.66GHz/4MB L2 Cache/1333FSB)

Processor Cooling: Sunbeam Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooling Fan System

Motherboard: [SLI] Asus P5N-D Nvidia nForce 750i SLI Chipset w/7.1 Sound, Gb LAN, S-ATA Raid, USB 2.0, IEEE-1394, Dual PCI-E MB

Memory: 4 GB Corsair XMS2 Xtreme w/Heat Spreader

Graphics Card: Nvidia GTX 275 (896 MB Dedicated Memory) with DVI + TV-Out Video

Hard Drive: SATA-II 500 GB (7200 RPM)

CD / DVD Drive: LG 22X Dual Format/Double Layer DVD±R/±RW + CD-R/RW Drive

Microsoft XP Home Edition

 

I am planning to overclock so I am purchasing a temperature gauge to install as well. The fan comes with a fan control so I can manually set the fan speeds.

Cleffy

You are using a Mobo thats being phased out, a processor that is beat by its competitor, more ram then your OS can support, and a PSU that is more then your system needs.

noquarter

Damn Cleffy so negative :P

I think it's a fairly cost effective build, though Cleffy is right it's not quite as speedy as the equally priced Phenom II X4 940. The socket may be on its way out but how often are you lucky enough to be able to upgrade without having to switch mobos anyways.. well, AMD has done really well with the AM2+/AM3 socket for upgradability.

The OS is slightly more of a problem because the video card has so much RAM.. there is a 4GB limit of addressable RAM in a 32-bit OS which includes hardware addresses and video RAM - it's not quite as big a deal with older 256mb cards but you're really eating into your available system ram at 896mb. You should really pick up the 64bit version, or better yet just download Win7 from Microsoft and use it free till next year and then you'll be able to use DX10 as well.

btw do you have the brand of PSU or is it a generic type?

DeserttFoxx

You dont need an 800w psu.

 

The q6600 is a better investment then the q8400, its easily overclocked and has a better cache.

 

ocz Vendetta 2  is a better cooler, but it might conflict with your case

NCIX is selling 1tb black caviars for 100bucks, better investment then a 500gb

Your vidoe card is good, ncix has been doing some crazy sales on the gtx275 overclocked models, making them cheaper then the stock, you should watch for them.

 

The cm690 is a better case in my opinion but that is up to you., better cooling options, i got 8 fans in mine, the 8th is ghetto rigged, it naturally fits 7,i just didnt want to throw away a 120mm fan. My compuer runs cpu 24c idle gpu 44c and 35c cpu load/ 56c gpu load. I play some graphic intense games in a window while watching moves, all air cooling the case is great. And i can garuntee the gtx275 will fit, since it is a very long card, i dont know if it will fit in that case you choose there.

 

The motherboard may be getting phased out, but it does its job and will do its job for a long time to come, personallly i still use a p5b deluxe, i thin I7 processors are unnessairy unless you are some benchmarking freak who likes to post 3dmark scores in his sig.

 

You should be looking into windows 7, but thats something to discuss later.

noquarter

Yea, usually better off with a quality 650W PSU instead of a generic 800W PSU, and 800W is overkill for a 2x SLI mobo.