Finalized Build, Opinions?

[Sirkwa]

Here is my final list. Puts the cost at about $1,250. With what is listed I wont need an upgrade for at least 3-4 years. Please take some time and give some feed back. Thank you.


Corsair 520W SLI Certified Modular ATX Power Supply
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower
Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6750 - Retail
EVGA 320-P2-N815-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (PRT) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit
ASUS P5K LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model LH-20A1L-06 - Retail
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium DVD - Retail

I dont think links are needed, the parts are pretty well known.

I am going with the 320 OC edition from EVGA due to hardware testing that shows it beating out the 640 in numerous tests. This is on tomshardware VGA charts.

With my doubts reading negative reviews about the Asus P5K people still highly recommend it so I will give it a shot over a Gigabyte MB that I was going to use.

I also went with G.Skill RAM because it has an instant savings of $40 so it puts it at only about $80 for the 2GB.

I am VERY unsure whether or not to go with the Retail Vista or OEM Vista. I want to use 32-bit to start with until 64-bit becomes more of a standard in the next 2-3 years. When that happens I want to up it to 64-bit, which comes "with" the retail, however that is an addition $12.00 fee and the disc needs to be mailed to me from what I have read about.

Another reason I think I should also go Retail Vista because if incase I do upgrade or the MB board goes I am NOT gauranteed a new Key. I have read numerous of complaints stating MS has pretty much said tough luck to a lot of people even though It clearly states tha a Key will be reissued if the MB fails and is replaced with a new one of the same kind according to the MS website under the warranty.

However on the other hand, the only real upgrading I think I will do is maybe up the RAM or swap the CPU in about 3-4 years. So an OEM will do just fine. I am just very worried that If i go the OEM route and I need a key reissued due to hardware failure/replacement/upgrade I will not be guaranteed that. Then I will be $110 out and would have rather stuck that into a liscensed Retail version so im guaranteed no problems.

I really need advice on the OS.

Let me know what you think. I plan on ordering from Newegg and the PSU from Buy.com within the next day or so. Thank you in advance.

- Sirkwazeemoto

[jer888]

Looks good.

On Vista, I think the retail disc has both versions on it, so if you want to switch all you have to do is reformat, I may be wrong though.

[Sirkwa]

On the MS website it states for the 64-bit extra fees may be included and I have read on several forms that they had to contact MS and obtain a new DVD for a fee of $12. That is even with the package stating 64-bit included. That is what I got out from reading.

I still dont know if I want to go the retail route. Is 64-bit that huge of a difference? I dont plan on using over 3.5 gig so in reality having the 64-bit version is really not necessary. I know there is more to it than the RAM being fully used but is 64-bit really worth it?

All in all i am just worried about not being able to obtain a key if it my OS gets locked down.

[shadowpr]

I would just get the OEM and save the money.

That's what i just did with my build, and I got Vista HP 64.

As for the MB, the P5k, it seems to work perfectly in my new build. I have no complaints at all. The people on this board won't steer you wrong. I would trust the advice that you have seen in all the threads here about that board.

[Sirkwa]

After some deeper research i came to a conclusion. I will run with Vista 32 OEM. Save 100 dollars and put it towards a new monitor. Also the 64-bit is not necessary. There is little demand for it right now. In 2-3 years time 64-bit will be a little more mainstream. 2-3 years technology will be vastly different so I dont want to plan ahead that far plus a lot of my software does not support 64-bit such as Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Sound Forge, etc.

Thanks for your input.