A few questions on my new build

[[SF]MKM]

Alright, so this is the next PC I'm gonna build, just a few final questions.

Will Asus do fine or would you recommend getting EVGA/BFG/XFX etc instead for my mainboard and GPU?

As for the air cooling I'm going with the standard fans coming with the case, any risk of overheating my memory or any other component not connected to the water cooling system (going to water cool the CPU, GPU and harddrive)?

I'm going to replace the fan on the 8800gtx with a water block my self, anyone got any experience doing this, is it hard?

Any other comments and toughts are appreciated, and if you know something about water cooling feel free to recommend any brands to look for when buying the pump, radiator, tubing, etc.


Videocard: Asus Extreme GeForce 8800GTX 768MB DDR3 TV-out HDTV DUAL DVI SLI-ready RETAIL PCI Express
Newegg.com - ASUS EN8800GTX/HTDP/768M GeForce 8800GTX 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.40GHz 4MB FSB1066 Boxed (with cpu-cooler!) Socket 775
Newegg.com - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz 4M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail

Mainboard: Asus Striker Extreme nForce 680i SLI 4DDR2-DIMM 2PCI 4PCIe SATA Raid Audio GB-LAN Firewire Socket775 ATX
Newegg.com - ASUS Striker Extreme LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX The Ultimate Gaming Motherboard - Retail

Memory: Corsair TWIN2X2048-8500C5D Dominator
Newegg.com - CORSAIR Dominator 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

Harddrive: Raptor WD740ADFD 74Gb 10000rpm 16Mb cache S-ATA
Newegg.com - Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

PSU: Corsair HX Series Modular Power Supply 620W
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC Class B, TUV, CCC, C-tick - Retail

Optical drive: Asus DRW-1814BL Dual-Layer DVD
Newegg.com - ASUS Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail

Case: Thermaltake VA8003SWA Armor FullTower Silver ATX without PSU
Newegg.com - Thermaltake Armor Series VA8003SWA Silver ATX Full Tower Computer Case w/ 25CM Fan - Retail


GPU Cooler: Innovatek Cool-Matic G80-GTX (8800GTX) GPU+RAM+BRIDGE+SPG Cooler

CPU Cooler: Innovatek G-Flow Water-cooler - Socket 775 (intel)

Harddrive Cooler: Innovatek HDM L-Pro Hard Drive Cooling and Decoupling (Noise Reduction Box) 5,25

[b1gapl]

Theres no risk for the any of the components not connected to the watercooling system, cooled by the fans.

Why not get this 8800GTX, instead?....it's cheaper and a great company:
Newegg.com - EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

Don't get the Striker Extreme. It's too expensive, and not worth it. Theres alot of cheaper motherboards out there, capable of doing what the Striker can do, in terms of performance. So I would suggest something like the MSI P6N Platinum:
Newegg.com - MSI P6N SLI Platinum LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
or
Newegg.com - ASUS P5N32-E SLI Plus LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 650i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

That RAM set is way too much, when you can get something better, for less:
Newegg.com - G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
The G. Skill HZs, will be able to overclock to DDR2-1066 speeds.

You don't need a Raptor. It's too much money, for the amount of space you get...and it's not that much faster. Just RAID 0 two Seagate 7200.10 320gb hard drives, and you'll get similar performance to a single Raptor, for much less and much more space:
Newegg.com - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

[[SF]MKM]

ok, I have to admit that I don't know any much at all about RAID, so, is it possible to achieve the same loading speeds in games with some sort of RAID setup?

I also kinda like the idea of having my 250mm side fan blowing on those quad copper heatpipes of the striker, but yeh, thanks for the reply.

[Bot2011]

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S OEM BK - $32.99

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - $7.99

(x2) Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250620AS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $139.98 ($69.99 each)

Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX 12V V2.01 Power Supply -$60.99 after $10.00 Instant

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ -$104.99 after $40.00 Instant

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - $134.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6420 - $186.00

Tuniq Tower 120 P4 & K8 CPU Cooler - $59.99 after $5.00 Instant


This is what I would recommend seeing as you don't sound like you have alot of experience with watercooling. This setup would allow you to still get the case you want with a cpu that will OC like mad and a mobo that does not support SLI but can OC that cpu easily. Also the GSKILL ram is the best bang for the buck right now as you can easily OC the ram past 1066 and it cost alot less. Going with the Raptor is fine if you are not worried about storage but a RAID setup with the 2 seagates would give more storage and very good speed for about the same price.

These are just my suggestions.

Dammit b1gapl!

[b1gapl]

Originally Posted by [SK

MFM]ok, I have to admit that I don't know any much at all about RAID, so, is it possible to achieve the same loading speeds in games with some sort of RAID setup?

Yes....RAID 0 is similar in performance, to that of a single Raptor.



I would agree on Bot2011, with the e6420 and P35-DS3R motherboard. Those two together can get you a massive overclock. Plus being a lot cheaper. The e6420, can get to 3.5+ GHz.

[Bot2011]

One of these times I will beat you to the punch b1gapl. Trying to work and follow the forums is slowing me down... I'll get to a post like this before you.. one of these days!

[b1gapl]

Originally Posted by Bot2011

One of these times I will beat you to the punch b1gapl. Trying to work and follow the forums is slowing me down... I'll get to a post like this before you.. one of these days!

lol...Why are you so hard set on trying to beat people, at posting first. What matters is that you're giving advice and helping the person. I don't give a........if you beat me. Just help the guy out.

[vernong1992]

Originally Posted by b1gapl

Yes....RAID 0 is similar in performance, to that of a single Raptor.



I would agree on Bot2011, with the e6420 and P35-DS3R motherboard. Those two together can get you a massive overclock. Plus being a lot cheaper. The e6420, can get to 3.5+ GHz.

imagine what he would get with the e6600 ??

[b1gapl]

I'd agree....It's just that the e6420, is more bang for the buck than the e6600....but seeing as he does have the money, he can go for the e6600, if he wants to.

[vernong1992]

Originally Posted by b1gapl

I'd agree....It's just that the e6420, is more bang for the buck than the e6600....but seeing as he does have the money, he can go for the e6600, if he wants to.

ya... is he still getting that water-cooler....

also doesn't that build up there... look like the build Khan, "false-witnessed"??