New gaming build with some items purchased already

[griffinol]

PLEASE when POST threads asking for input on system builds tell us...

1. What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
Gaming computer for the next couple of years. This is a gaming machine with secondary thought to work and development.

2. What YOUR budget is. A price range is acceptable as long as it's not more than a 20% spread
800-1200

3. What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from.
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference. That means, are you an Intel-Fanboy, AMD-Fanboy, ATI-Fanboy, nVidia-Fanboy, Seagate-Fanboy, WD-Fanboy, etc, etc, etc, you get the picture.
No fanboy, just want a stable build that won't have problems in the future.

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
I've been looking and reading various threads for months, and now I've decided to start building.

Here are the current parts that have been bought recently.

Mobo - Gigabyte P35 DS3L
CPU - e8400
HD - WD 150 gig (os), Seagate 500 (games/apps)
Case - P180
Video - BFG 8800 GT OC

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Stock speeds. I've never o/c any previous builds, and plan not to do the same here. But I'm open to suggestions.

What I need left is the memory/RAM. But I hear so many problems mating the right memory with the right mobo.

I'm looking to upgrade to Vista, and am looking for 2 - 4 gigs. The main question I have is what sticks to look for? I hear the default is 1.8v. And then I hear that 2 x 2 sticks are better than 4 x 1 sticks because of heat consumption.

What if I am looking for a budget and don't want to spend too much, will 4x1 be ok still?

And on o/s, Vista is expensive. Am I hedging any problems by going for an OEM copy? Just looking for the Business version, dont really need the Ultimate. I hear that as long as you have the mobo when you upgrade, you can rebuild the machine o/s as many times as you want. I generally rebuild the o/s once a year for performance reasons.

So is it ok to go OEM in that case? And I hear that you can call up anyways or they give you 12 months to upgrade a mobo and they will allow you to continue with the activation.

I really dont like to shop online, so the local fry's has these:

For 4x1 sticks

I hear Corsair is good.
http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/e.../2008/03/21/30857.html

How are Patriot?
http://www.netaffilia.com/ad/e.../2008/03/21/30855.html

And people like OCZ also:
http://www.centralcomputers.co...r22gk-memoczd22g5r.htm

For 2x2 sticks

Another nearby store has these:
http://www.centralcomputers.co...08&czuid=1206472014859

or these:
http://www.centralcomputers.co...400c5-memcor40963r.htm

And how affective are the memory with fans or heat pipes? like these?

http://www.centralcomputers.co...c44gk-memoczsr2g8r.htm

Thank you very much, since I havent built a machine since 3 years, and I'm unfamilar with all the difference memory options now.

 

[chinaman1472]

Heat spreaders are nice especially high end gaming machines. Anything to cool down hardware is a good thing, but it might not always be worth the extra price.

Get 2x2GB. Any of those will be good.

 

[jkresh]

Corsair, patriot, ocz, crucial, mushkin are all good (and all should be compatible with any board), usualy "compatibility" issues with ram deal with reaching maximum overclocks are are irrelevant to 99% of users (basically it only matters if you are going for a really high fsb overclock and you care about keeping the ram at as a high a speed as possible).

 

[DSF]

Heatspreaders don't hurt anything, but there's no real need for the excessive fins like you see on that OCZ Reaper kit. They can sometimes interfere with large CPU heatsinks. If you're not using one, then that's not so much of an issue.

Do you mind me asking why you don't like shopping online? I can understand being cautious about it, but the sites that have good reputations, like Newegg, have them for a reason.

Since you said you have a Fry's nearby, here are some 2x2GB kits:
Corsair
Patriot

 

[griffinol]

Thats funny that you pointed that out DSF. I ended up getting those last night at Frys. And to answer your question, I've been burned by ID theft in the past, and have attributed it to online purchasing.

So I don't do it anymore.

The system is up and running. Thanks for all the advice. What I didn't have listed above is I also ended up with a Corsair HX520 PSU, and Vista Business 64.

Still loading the OS and fine tuning it atm. I'll load up a few games and see how it performs. I'm guessing really good since I came from an AMD 3200, 6800 gt. That 6800 has been a champ since its been running my Dell 24' for the last year or so.

Finally I'll really get to see all the latest games in their full glory at 24. I'm not planning to get Crysis, so no worries there.