Please critique this build

[mulletmaniac]

I'm building my first computer (nobodys ever heard that before right?). I have everything put together and I am just wondering what I should have done differently. I know I need another hard drive (still looking) but I am not sure on the components I selected. If you have any suggestions please post them.

Antec Solution SLK3000-ATX Tower
Koolance CPU 300 Heatsink
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe socket 939 Nvidia nForce4 SLI ATX Motherboard
2 LeadTek PX6600GT Extreme GeForce 6600 GT 128 MB PCI Ex 16 G.C.
Aspire ATX AS 550 W power supply
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Clawhammer/Hammer
2 Gig Corsair PC3200 4x512
Western Digital 73 GB 10,000 RPM H.D.
NEC 3520 IDE DVD Burner

[Iniamyen]

What are you going to be using the computer for? If it's mainly for gaming, you might want to wait to get 2 gigs of ram because you don't really need it.

Is that power supply on the list of approved SLI PSU's?

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by Iniamyen Is that power supply on the list of approved SLI PSU's?

Even if it is, I would absolutely not use it. Aspire is firmly on the "bad" list of PSU manufacturers.

MM, have you considered doing one 6800GT instead of two 6600GTs? It should be about the same cost but should beat the two-6600GT configuration in most games.

I would also get a Lite-On DVD burner instead of the NEC, but that's just me. Keep in mind that that NEC model does not come with any software.

[discodanman45]

For the price of RAM right now I would consider getting 2 Gigs. You definetely need a real good Power Supply. I would not use the Aspire as well. The two 6600 GT's may be a tad better then a single 6800GT, but even if it is I would have stayed away from this because you might run into some seriously nasty driver issues. Don't ask for my help when you run into problems with that

[mulletmaniac]

The system will be for gaming. I'm very new to this and wasn't sure about Aspires reputation for a power supply. Perhaps I need to review more power supplies. I know amperage is important but not sure about which ones for SLI config. I haven't ran into any driver issues yet (that I know of) but for the money I paid for the two I saved around 110 bucks. Hopefully it will pay off and not give me a bunch of headaches. Anyway thanks for the reply. By the way any suggestions on where I can read reviews on power supplies other than Anandtech and Tom's hardware?


Thanks Again for posting

[thefultonhow]

Originally Posted by mulletmaniac Perhaps I need to review more power supplies. I know amperage is important but not sure about which ones for SLI config.

For SLI, check out this power supply. It used to be SLI-certified by nVidia but for some reason isn't anymore -- but for 6600GTs it should be ample.

[discodanman45]

If I was going dual video cards I would make sure the power supply I was getting had dual +12V rails. I think a high wattage quality psu with dual rails should be fine for SLI config.

[mulletmaniac]

I've ordered a new psu. This is what I've ordered. Any thoughts?




PSU

[thefultonhow]

Which one did you order? The Turbo-Cool 510 SLI?

[mulletmaniac]

Yes. Any thoughts?

[thefultonhow]

It's an expensive PSU, but also a good one. It should serve you well.

[David M]

Mullet,
Thats an excellent PSU. It's one of only 4 that is certified by nVidia for SLI. I just bought the 850. I am very happy with it. I would purchase the 6800GT for now and in the future you can go the SLI route by buying a second 6800GT rather than being stuck with 2 slower 6600 graphics cards. You have a very expandable board, you might as well.

You may as well buy 2 gigs of ram since its so cheap now. If you decide to go with 1 gig then get 2 sticks of 512 so you get DDR.

[LA22]

I think he/she allready order the parts, but Im not sure. Anyways I will be getting 2 6600GT's but for a cheap price, and thats the only reason I am getting them. If you havent order the 6600GT's then yes get the 6800Gt. The 2 6600GT's are still good though

[newbe]

Guys,
Where can one find the list of approved psu for sli? TIA

newbe

[diver203_98]

A quik glance through your post and the replies I didn't see what I was expecting to see yet. I see that you have the Koolance CPU 300 Heatsink listed. You mean the CPU 300 "water block" Are you going to get the Koolance Exos II watercooling system too? If you are not going to use watercooling that "waterblock" won't work. You will need water (cooling solution) going through it to cool the CPU. And with NO water you will fry your processor. That would be my only concern. As for SLI approved PSU, PC Power And Cooling have an SLI power supply. But like mentioned before they are good, but expensive as well. You can have a look HERE It is listed as the Turbo Cool 510 Express\SLI.

[David M]

The Enermax 600 watt Noisetaker PSU is also SLI approved by Nvidia and costs less than the PC Power and Cooling 510. Don't let the wattage ratings fool you because there are no standards for rating wattage. Some PSU manufacturers are less than honest in how they rate their product. There is at least one PSU manufacturer out there which claims their 680 watt PSU is SLI capable but is not. Enermax is a very reputable manufacturer. PC Power and Cooling and Enermax are honest with their wattage ratings. The Silverstone PSU is also SLI approved but its rails are paralleled with each other sharing a common source which is not as good.

Nvidia approved PSU's: http://www.slizone.com/content/slizone/build.html