Critique this Q6600 Build

[ZombieRitual]

This is my build so far. I have yet to pull the trigger on anything, save the Q6600 itself (bought off mwave.com, 300 bucks after tax/shipping). I just need to know if everything looks like it's squared away.
Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80562Q6600 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16819115017
ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16813131180
SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16814102067
OCZ Vista Upgrade 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Chennel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2VU8004GK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16820227195
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16822136073
ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817194003
ASUS 18X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe and 14X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model DRW-1814BLT - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16827135146
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16832116204
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16811119106

Oh, one more thing, is this Coolermaster a good case for the build? Looks like the total will be about $1400 after taxes/shipping. Thanks guys!

 

[ViRGE]

The fact that the memory SPD doesn't have any settings for DD2 800 is a big red flag. I'd spend a few dollars and get something that actually knows how to run at such a common speed.

 

[ZombieRitual]

Thanks for the catch, what about this memory?
Patriot eXtreme Performance 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PDC24G6400ELK - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16820220227

 

[ViRGE]

I'm not fond of rebates myself, but that's the biggest hole I can find in that memory. I'm not personally familiar with the brand though.

 

[Smartazz]

Very nice build, I assume that you're not going to overclock that Q6600, but if you are, you're going to need some better cooling.
My current build is in a Centurion 5, it's a great case overall for the price, but there's two problems I distinctly remember. I had a lot of trouble installing my media card reader into the floppy bay drive and the tool-less clips to hold in the cards don't work well at all. My sound card and video card move around when I plug things into them, but you might be able to use regular screws instead.

 

[gigahertz20]

I would change a few things in your build personally:


The processor and motherboard are fine.

The x1950xt video card is $200 and Sapphire rebates are supposedly some of the worst to actually get. I would either get a 320Mb Geforce 8800GTS for $60 more or buy a Geforce 7900GS then upgrade it later to a DX10 card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130082

I don't know much about the memory you have chosen, but I would make sure it's on the Asus P5K compatibility list, Asus mobo's can be touchy with memory.
http://usa.asus.com/100/downlo...ducts/1637/1637_10.pdf

Change the hard drive to the Samsung 500GB, Anandtech just did a review on it and it's better then the Western Digital you have chosen.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16822152052

Change the power supply to a Corsair 520W, it's one of the highest rated power supplies on the net along with its 620W brother.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817139001

Why choose that cheap case for this nice build? Buy a better case then that like an Antec P180 or Antec 900.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: gigahertz20
I would change a few things in your build personally:


The processor and motherboard are fine.

The x1950xt video card is $200 and Sapphire rebates are supposedly some of the worst to actually get. I would either get a 320Mb Geforce 8800GTS for $60 more or buy a Geforce 7900GS then upgrade it later to a DX10 card.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16814130082

I don't know much about the memory you have chosen, but I would make sure it's on the Asus P5K compatibility list, Asus mobo's can be touchy with memory.
http://usa.asus.com/100/downlo...ducts/1637/1637_10.pdf

Change the hard drive to the Samsung 500GB, Anandtech just did a review on it and it's better then the Western Digital you have chosen.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16822152052

Change the power supply to a Corsair 520W, it's one of the highest rated power supplies on the net along with its 620W brother.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...p?item=N82E16817139001

Why choose that cheap case for this nice build? Buy a better case then that like an Antec P180 or Antec 900.

PSU is cheaper at buy.com

 

[jkresh]

the memory is a lot cheaper at outpost http://shop2.outpost.com/produ...sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

 

[ZombieRitual]

I think I'm gonna stick with the x1950xt. The current dx 10 cards don't impress me much and I figure I'll just upgrade in a year when the next generation is out, in the meantime the x1950xt will give me plenty of power. If I went with a slower card, it'd probably be an x1950 Pro since it outperforms the 7900GS. Thanks for the suggestion on the Hard Drive; I don't know about the PSU though. I've had three years experience with Enermax and they've been good. I've had no problems with my Noisetaker and I don't know how reliable over time the Corsair PSU will be; if I can be confident in the Corsair PSU's reliability then I'll certainly switch to that.

I went with that case because I understand Coolermaster has good build quality and at $50 it's inexpensive. About $1300 to $1400 is my price range and I'm not sure what spending an additional $70-$80 gets me as I don't plan on overclocking. Both those cases certainly look nice and I like the fact that they only use 120mm fans or bigger, but I am a college student and spending extra has be with good reason.

The memory I chose isn't on the Compatability List, though it looks like this RAM is:
Kingston 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...820134193&Tpk=kingston
I'm guessing this RAM will be fine for my mobo and cpu?

 

[ViRGE]

That RAM will work, but it's going to be slow. You really want to get something that does DDR2 800.

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: ViRGE
That RAM will work, but it's going to be slow. You really want to get something that does DDR2 800.

won't matter if he isn't OCing

 

[tracerbullet]

That video card is rated (according to the reviews) to be pretty loud (the cooling fan that is, of course). Personally that would keep me from getting it over another.

Also the retail DVD burner - do you need the stuff that comes with it (cables, Nero, etc.)? If not, a retail one may be cheaper.

 

[ZombieRitual]

Yeah I'm not overclocking at all, so ddr2-667 should be fine right?

 

[PurdueRy]

Originally posted by: ZombieRitual
Yeah I'm not overclocking at all, so ddr2-667 should be fine right?

yes its perfectly fine

533 is fine with a 1066 FSB proc

 

[kreactor]

isn't the bfg 7950gt for $150 AR a better card? are you looking for gpu assisted media playback?