Final specs for a new Gaming System - please give feedback

[wolfpack15]

Hey Everyone,

Here is the last post about new gaming system I am building. Just wanted to make sure for the last time before I start ordering TODAY. Have been researching into it for 2-3 months now. Please let me know if you sense any conflicts or issues. Also, wouldn't mind any last suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Case
Cooler Master Cavalier 1 Black CAV-T03-WK Mid-Tower Case w/ Side Window - $64.99

Power Supply
OCZ ModStream ATX 2.0 520W - $99

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3700+ Processor (San Diego) Socket 939 Retail - $329

Cooling
Please recommend a good heat sink and memory heat spreader as I am thinking of OC.

Motherboard
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum/SLI Skt939 - $174
OR
EDIT: MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum - Since I am not considering two SLI video cards

Memory - Please help me decide which one. I would also appreciate if someone can explain me those Timing numbers.
OCZ EL Platinum Revision 2 1GB (2 x 512MB) PC3200 - Cas Latency: 2, Timing: 2-2-2-5 - $184
OR
Corsair XMS 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 - Cas Latency: 2, Timing: 2-2-2-5 - $188
OR
mushkin eXtreme Performance 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 - Cas Latench: 2, Timing: 2-2-2 - $189

Hard Drive
Data - Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB SATA HD w/ 8MB Buffer, NCQ - $135

OS HD - Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB SATA 10,000RPM HD w/ 8MB Buffer - $180

Video Card
Power Color Radeon X850 XT PCI Express 256MB DDR3, TV Out, Dual-DVI - $460

Floppy Drive
NEC 1.44MB Black Floppy Drive - $7

Sound Card
Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum - Already Ordered

DVD Writer
Lite-On SOHW-1673S Black - Already Ordered

Monitor
Samsung 213T Black 21.3" LCD - Already Ordered

I have $150 Best Buy gift card, so I may end up buying something from there. (keyboard/mice or HD or something)

Please let me know if I am forgetting anything else.

Also, help me out on deciding which memory and heatsink I should go with. Thanks in advance and I appreciate any help.

 

[wolfpack15]

anyone?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Get the OCZ memory and get an XP-90 with a medium panaflo.

 

[Chosonman]

Don't buy an SLI board if you're planning to use an ATI video card. Although the video card will work you will never be able to use it in SLI mode which mean the you will be wasting money on the premium price you are paying for the SLI motherboard. Get the MSI neo4 Ultra instead if you plan to keep the graphics card.

*edit- I saw you editted

 

[Chosonman]

The system looks kick ass. You could save money on the RAM but that's up to you. You're paying $100 more for less that 2% increase in performance.

 

[Twofootputt]

Read this about RAM.

Link

 

[mwmorph]

the stock hsf hould hold you to 2.7 or 2.8. that's some heavy ocing right there.

ditch the sli board cause you have a freaking ati card so sli is worthless to you

get a dfi nforce4 ultra since it has 2pcie slots just in case you want 4 monitor support or whatsit(no sli support though) and it is probably the best ocing board of the bunch. should weigh in at around $130-$140

dit5ch the raptor. at that price, you can affotd to get 2x300gb drives in raid0. almost as fast, 2x as much storage and quieter.

ditch the premium memory and get cheap memory(2gb of ram if you plan to play mmorpgs is recommended) otherwise go for the g.skill brand 1gb 512mbx2 deal on newegg. around $100 for cas2 dual channel pack. performace will be the same withthe g.skill anyway.

 

[wolfpack15]

Thanks guys for quick replies. I am definitely going for non-SLI board as I am not planning to buy two video cards.

Only reason I am going with MSI over DFI is because of more PCI ports. DFI has only 2 PCI ports while MSI has 4. I am pretty sure, I will need more than 2 PCI ports. (One is already reserved for that sound card.)

Please keep more suggestions coming if you have any. Much appreciated.

 

[Ike0069]

I would also go with the MSI board. Much better layout that the DFI IMO.
I would get a Powerstream over the Modsteam. But if you just want modular, that's the one you want.
Everything looks great.