New Build, Looking for Opinions

[Furai]

Well here we go. I'm building a new PC for myself, mostly for gaming, some rendering, and I think I have alot of it figured out. However, I'd like some opinions.

Here's the list in link form: http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/...Number=7891386

Here's the list form for convenience:

Video Card: GeForce 8800 GTS - $364.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130305
Motherboard: EVGA 132-CK-NF78-A1 - $259.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813188024
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 - $277.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115017
Memory: OCZ Titanium XTC (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin - $115.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227270
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 SATA 3.0Gb/s 400-GB Hard Drive - $104.00 - Purchased
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822148138
Power Supply: Antec TruePower Quattro TPQ-1000 - $249.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817371012
Cooling: Koolance Exos-2 - $374.99 - Purchased
http://www.koolance.com/water-coolin...roducts_id=375
Sound Card: Soundblaster X-Fi xtremegamer- $100.00
http://us.creative.com/products/prod...ubcategory=208
Case:Antec Nine Hundred - $120.00 - Purchased
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021
Monitor: Samsung SyncMaster 206BW - $250.00
The one I'm currently using. Love it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...amsung%2b206BW
Keyboard: I'll find one later. They're relatively cheap.
Mouse: the same $5 mouse i own with atm.

Here's where a few problems step in. I'm returning the Antec case that I purchased because I want to mount my liquid cooling unit on top of the case. The antec's top is slanted, and won't hold the entire unit. In return, I'm thinking about buying an Apevia MX Pleasure (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811144133) and tossing the standard PSU that comes with it in favor of the 1000W one listed above.

However, I'd like some feedback. If you're willing to recommend a case that can support the liquid cooling unit on top, I'm looking for a good full-mid tower. Preferably 1 clear side with blue LEDs.

If you have any opinions/recommendations on the build, please feel free to make them, but be aware that I would like to keep the speed that this one will be able to run at and will probably be overclocking at some point or another.

Also, if anyone knows alot about Koolance liquid systems, it would be great if you could recommend particular water blocks for the parts above.

Thanks in advance all

[Alaron]

If you're only using one video card, no reason to spend so much on an SLI motherboard and power supply. It makes much more economic sense to use one card and upgrade it later anyway. I'd look at the Asus P5K series.

Also, on the video card, go with the 8800GTS with 512MB. They are a newer, more powerful model then that one in your list. If it has a "G92" in the description, thats the one to buy.

Do you already have a copy of Windows? Keep in mind that a 32bit version will only see 3.2GB out of 4GB. You need 64bit to use all 4GB.

[Katreat]

I agree with Alaron on switching the GTS. You definatley want the G92 version if you want top performance.

Are you going water cooling because you will "probably" OC? Water cooling is a lot of work and it has two main advantages. Serious OCing and noise reduction. If you are not trying to set new benchmarks you can do most OCing with just a good aftermarket heatsink/fan. Even the stock intel heatsink will allow for mild OCing. So before you go to the expense and hassle of water cooling ask yourself if you really need it.

My links are not working, might be a newegg problem, but if you are planning on SLI you should look at the new 750i or 780i boards. Maybe that is what you chose but most people still seem to pick the 680i boards and dont relize that there iare a couple of new chipsets avalable for the new 1333 CPUs.

I also agree with alaron that for most people SLI is not the way to go. I have read it can help if you run HUGE monitors but other than that it is more of a rich mans toy. The next generation video card will most like outperform two of the last generation in SLI, so most people will be money ahead just upgrading a single card more often.

You dont have a burner listed. The most highly recommended is Lite-on, and if you buy retail you get a free copy of Nero.

I you are not going SLI you can downgrade the PSU to probably something around 550 watts or so. If you are going SLI then then look up the requirements for certified PSUs on this list.

http://www.slizone.com/object/slizone_build_psu.html

Kat