Please Comment On My New Build

[mikey0727]

Would Like comments / suggestions on improving this build, and if anything in the configuration is a bottleneck, or extreme overkill when added to the rest of the components.

Would Like to run it stock for a while, but be able to overclock a little later .
I use the PC for everything... Gaming / Part of my entertainment center / software development. I dont upgrade often (I had the PC im on right now for 5-6 years) so when I do, I want it to last me a while -



CPU: Q9450

Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY DK X48-T2RS
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813136047

RAM: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 (PC2 8000)
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820231145

Video 1: EVGA 01G-P3-N897-AR GeForce 9800 GX2 SSC 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130344

Video 2: EVGA 256-P2-N758-TR GeForce 8600GT SCC 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130311
(This Card is just so I can run extra displays in 2D - Not trying to SLI)

PSU: Antec TPQ-850 ATX12V / EPS12V 850W Power Supply 100
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817371009

HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822148288
Times 2x for raid


The 2 things im most unsure about are the ram and PSU

1 - Is that an OK ram for running 1:1 with the FSB at 4x400, but still leaving a little room to OC later?

2 - Is the PSU overkill for the system?

Thanks !
Mike

 

[tiraides]

Which monitors are you using? What are their (native) resolutions? And which monitor is your primary one?

The reason why I ask is because if you don't game at a 1920x1200 or greater resolution, then you may not even need the 9800GX2. You could also (probably) get away with using a motherboard that uses a PCIe x4/x8 slot for the secondary video card (which could be enough to power the 8600GT). (An example of what I'm talking about is a board like the ASUS P5K. Out of curiosity, why did you choose the X48 board?)

Also, what's the most you can spend on this build?

I recommend buying an after-market CPU cooler. It would be one less thing to buy in the long run and it would cool better (especially when you start overclocking) than the stock HSF. Here are some options:

Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja HSF - $36
Xigmatek HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle HSF - $37
Tuniq Tower 120 HSF - $45
ZEROtherm Nirvana NV120 120mm HSF - $50
Thermalright Ultima-90 HSF - $46 & Panaflo FBA09A12M 92mm Fan - $3
Noctua NH-U12P HSF - $60
Thermalright Ultra-120 Extreme HSF - $57 & Scythe S-Flex SFF21E 120MM Case Fan - $14

The power supply is a bit much... price-wise. A quality 750W power supply, like the ones from Corsair and Silverstone (among others), could get the job done just as well for much less.

The DDR2 1000 RAM is fine, but make sure that you have a 64-bit operating system handy -- otherwise, you won't have full access to your RAM. (With a 32-bit OS and your listed setup, you'll only have around 2.5GB-2.8GB of "usable" RAM available.)

 

[mikey0727]

On the MoBo:

I chose the x48 board because it got good reviews as an overclocker and supports a 1600 Mhz FSB, so I can push the system a little harder later on OC. Also - bad personal experience with Asus and Nvidia in past, so Im staying away from that one.- is 224 for a Mobo on a beefy system really that expensive these days? I guess I have to get out more and look at this stuff LOL

On the video cards:

Primarily Id be gaming on a 1920 x 1080 display (My TV) - I dont know what the displays for the second card will be - Havent bought them yet - but I got some suggestions to get a cheaper card just to drive extra 2d displays, Any thoughts on that?

On the Budget:

Budget on the build is 2.5K MAX, but of course - I priced it on newegg at 2.3K, but thats with all the bells and whistles and silly stuff not mentioned here, case / A blur ray reader, wireless keyb / mose / wireless nic card, blah blah blah - (even thermal Paste)

Im ok on money, I just dont want to WASTE any... or build a system where One bad choice slowed the guy down and created a bottleneck

On the PSU:

I got that comment a few times - seems like I should change it - Dont know much about PSUs was always told to go thermaltake or Antec... Not sure about things like how many +12 volt rails I should have, etc.. Can you suggest a replacement?

On Aftermarket cooler:

I am getting one right after I build the thing, it seems very difficult to judge the room in the case for it with all the fans / blah blah blah - I figured Id snap it together and take a measure .
I chose this: GIGABYTE 3D AURORA GZ-FSCA1-ANB Black Aluminum ATX Full Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16811233002

On the OS: I will have several things running on here, some 64 / some 32 - but I am aware of the RAM that goes into the void (Thanks Though)

Thanks A LOT!