New build, any advice helpful?

[MM-14]

Hello all, I'm about to build my first new PC for use with graphics and audio sequencing programs. Below is the specs I have so far:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz Socket LGA775, 8MB, BOXED w/fan
MOTHERBOARD: Asus P5KC, P35, Socket-775, DDR2/DDR3, ATX, GbLAN, Firewire, PCI-Ex16
RAM: A-DATA DDR2 PC6400 2048MB CL5 Kit w/two matched DDR2 800 1024MB CL5
SYSTEM DRIVE: Samsung SpinPoint S166 160GB SATA2 8MB 7200RPM
STORAGE: Samsung SpinPoint T166 500GB SATA2 16MB 7200RPM
CD\DVD: NEC DVD±RW burner AD-7170S, SATA, Black (bulk)
GRAPHICS: Sapphire Radeon HD 2400 XT 256MB GDDR3, PCI-Express, DVI-I/Tv-out/HDMI, Heatsink
CASE: Antec Sonata III Miditower, Black w/500W PSU
COOLER: Akasa AK-965 CPU Cooler, Socket 775, low noise
COOLER COMPOUND: AKASA Silver Based Thermal Compound 5g
OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home SP2b English OEM

Anyone have any advice or recommendations as to improvements or otherwise that could be made before I go ahead and buy all the parts?

Thanks

[pam123]

If you use an after market cpu cooler and heatsink on that processor you will void the warranty.
According to Asus that board has a special noise filter for use with sound recording, so you can always buy it later if you need to.

The ram you have listed is not of the QVL for that board.

Read up on your motherboard choice here : http://usa.asus.com/products.aspx?l1...94&modelmenu=1

That's a good board and you should be happy with it.

[Devastator]

Good choice of most things, i'd recccomend switching your drives to a Seagate for your HD and a Lite-On for your DVD drive, they're tops at the minute.

[MM-14]

Hey,

Thanks all for the info. I'm going to leave out the cooler as you suggested Pam and I'm on the hunt for some different RAM to correspond with the QVL, cheers

Just on the drives: I was tempted to go with the 74Gb (10,000rpm) WD Raptor drive and use a spinpoint/seagate drive as my storage. Has anyone had any experience with this?

[Jimmy0]

For RAM I would recommend Corsair XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400).

[pam123]

You can also drop the thermal paste as well since it's already included on the retail HSF.

[MM-14]

Thanks everyone for your help it was very useful and really helped finalize my list. I can't wait to get building!