Hello everyone,

So I'm about to build my very first computer ever... I've read and researched for what seems like forever (2 months) and finally came to this build, which to my knowledge seems to fit what I plan to use it for. I haven't had a good computer since like 2002 when I got the screamin' Dell with a p4 2.8ghz and 512mhz ram! So I think this will be a welcome improvement to that and my Sh**ty dell notebook i'm writing this on now. Pretty much, I want to have a decent gaming machine and also browse the web and word process. I figure there's not much of a point to spending absorbinent amounts of money right now since Intel is going to release their entirely new chipset or whatever it is. Also, I don't see a need for SLi or RAID, so that's why I chose the DS3L motherboard.

Board: GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128059

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119068

GPU: MSI NX8800GT 512M OC GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127329

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core Processor Model HH80562PH0568M - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115018

HS/F: ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 92mm CPU Cooler - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6835186134

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145176

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822148288

Optical Drive: LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-05 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106073

PSU: Corsair VX550
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-vx [...] 52646.html

Peripherals:
Logitech MX 3200 Black USB RF Wireless Standard Desktop Laser Mouse Included - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6823126007

SAMSUNG 2253BW Black 22" 2ms(GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6824001268


I welcome any suggestions for other components, especially in the monitor and keyboard departments, since these are areas where actual experience is vital. I might just scrap the monitor altogether and just plug into my 42" Aquos 1080p... but if that is the case, I need a wireless keyboard and mouse that will reach like 15 feet or so. anyway, if you guys could just look this over, I would appreciate it greatly! I'm excited to build my first system !

Oh and I'm probably going to try overclocking the cpu, so if that affects any of your opinions...

Man, the simularities between your build and and my "fantasy" build are very striking. In fact, the only major differences are that I am going for a DDR21066 RAM to match the FSB of the Q6600 and mobo, slightly difference case (mine includes three 120mm fans), I've opted for a 320GB hard drive, I've selected a different monitor (the LG L226WTY), and I'll be reusing a PSU I already own (a Noisetaker 2 485W unit). I've decided on a quad CPU to make my system a bit more future proof; I believe that future computer games will be designed to take advantage of multi-core units so a quad core is a good investment right now (the price between the Q6600 and E6600 are almost negligable compared to the total cost of the system). I'll be interested to hear what others think about these components.

BTW, ANN ARBOR'S A WHORE! ON WISCONSIN! :-) Just some friendly school rivalry.

Yeah I agree about the quad core, I'm a little worried about the 65nm chip though since 45 seems to be what's next, but I don't know what the difference in performance is between the two sizes, power consumption maybe?

I have wisconsin in the final four in my tournament bracket btw, but football is a whole other story my friend. GO BLUE!!

My compliments on you choices, the only thing I would change is the cooler;
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/skusear [...] ia=BA24691

I had thought about the xigmatech cooler, but I was afraid it wouldn't fit in my case, so I went with the well-respected Arctic cooler. I will look around to see if others have used that cooler in the centurion 5 case.

Looks good. . Check out: P35-DS3L OCing HOw To for OCing help,etc.

Thanks shadow, I have actually been through that guide multiple times and its saved in my bookmarks for when i get ready to do it. it's a great guide btw

Does anyone have objections to the RAM? I chose it because the general consensus of the reviews was that it was pretty over clockable, and since I'm probably oc'ing the cpu, I figured this ram was good if i have to mess with it...

You are going to keep that rig for how long? If you think you will keep it for 3 year or more go for the quad... otherwise might go with e8400 a little bit cheaper ( well if you can find one ) and then change it earlier than the quad.

And go for an 9600 GT, like a EVGA or something, for the step-up program if you want to upgrade it this summer for cheap when the new 9800s come, and they are a bit cheaper ( at least here in canada they are a by a lot 50$ and even 100$ with MIR for almost same performance ).

The memory's ok, but i'll go for crucial ballistix or even cheaper mushkin.

I believe it will fit, I read somewhere that the case needs to 7.5" wide. I read a lot of reviews on this cooler and I don't recall which one it was.

I'd like to echo the question of the RAM (this is probably answered somewhere else on the forum but I'll ask it here since I know it's relevent to the OP). Is there any advantage/concern raised by using RAM that is slower than the CPU's FSB? I was under the impression that it was always best to match RAM speed and FSB. Is there a significent penalty for not matching?

Umich2010-
I've got two words for ya, Appalachain State!
LOL however I must give congrates for winning your bowl game. I always cheer Big Ten in bowl games no matter who it is.

In a word, no.

It's not significant at all. Even a tiny amount of overclocking will provide far greater performance boost than a perfectly synced system. Besides, oc throws everything off anyway. Don't let that determine what parts to get.

That's pretty much what I thought, isn't it common to lower the ram frequency in order to maintain a stable cpu overclock or something like that?

I would also like to point out that App St. were national champions by 4 touchdowns... a worthy opponent i say!