First Build, looking for feedback.

[Buckles557]

Hi everyone. Long time lurker, first time poster. I have read a lot of your suggestions and hopefully have come up with a decent build. This will be a primary gaming computer, with other minor apps. along the way.

MOBO
EVGA 132-CK-NF79-A1 LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra SLI DDR3 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813188025

Vid Card
EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB 384-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130072

Power Sup.
CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CE, CB, TUV, FCC, CCC
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16817139006

Proc.
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819115037

Mem.
CORSAIR 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16820145184

HD
Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16822148288

DVD/CD
LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD Burner with LightScribe - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827106072


Couple of additional issues.

1. I have read about the Vista issue with 4 gigs of ram. If I understand it right, I need the 64-bit version. Is this correct?

2. Would there be a noticable difference if I bumped it up to 8-gigs(is this even possible)?

Please let me know what you guys think. I don't mind spending extra money, if it is for a worthy cause.

Thanks for your time.

[shadowpr]

You most likely don't need, and won't see an difference with 8gb of ram.

As for windows using all 4gb, then you would need a 64 bit operating system.

The rest of the build looks good.

If you're not doing sli, then get a asus p5k, or p5k-e mother board instead.

The power supply is overkill. You would be fine with a 650 or even a 550.

[Masaki 7-11]

The motherboard does not support DDR3, you'll need something like the 780i, P35, or X38. The Asus P5K-E is among the best for single card setups. I don't see the need for 4GB of ram, 2GB is enough for Vista and 1GB is enough for XP. Take a look at getting a 9800GTX instead of the 8800GTX, it's faster and costs the same.

[Buckles557]

Thanks for the input guys. Just so I'm clear, you guys are suggesting..

ASUS P5K-E/WIFI-AP LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813131196

EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX(G92) 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130339

Also, do you guys have any reccomendations on a case?

Thanks again.

[shadowpr]

That's a powerful card.

Case is a personal taste thing.

You might want to check out the antec 900.

[Katreat]

Vista 32 does not have issues with 4 GB of ram, it just wont recognize all of it. Vista 32 will only see around 3.2 GB of system ram. Ram is cheap right now so going with 4 GB to see 3.2 GB is not a bad deal, but as Masaki suggests it is also probably not necessary since most software including games run just fine with 2 GB total.

From what I have read the 64 bit OS is also a bit slower because it has to tanslate 32 bit instructions unless the software was developed for 64 bit. Although I am not sure you would really see a difference here either. I know people running 64 bit OS and they dont seem to notice any major slowdown.

I agree with others on changes. Go to a P5K mobo for a single card set up. You can drop your PSU size down a nothch, I would recomend around 600-650 to give you some head room for the next video card upgrade.

The newer 9800 GTX is a bit faster than the older 8800 GTX but they dropped the on-board memory so the 8800 GTX still has advantages with larger monitors and games with AA engaged. So it comes down to price and what you are using it with and for.

I will second the recomendation for the Antec 900, it is a very nice case. I recently helped a freind with a build in a Antec P182 and it seemed like a quality case also, but very heavy.

Kat

[Doom]

I've got an ANTEC 900 and it's a very good case. Even though it doesn't have tool-less installation or a removable mobo tray, it was very easy for me as a first time builder.

I also have an SLI setup and haven't been too impressed with it... so unless you really want to have the option in the future, go with a standard single card mobo. If however, you decide you really want to do SLI or want to keep the option open, the EVGA 780i is a good choice as I like mine a lot.

[Masaki 7-11]

A good case I've used is the NZXT Hush, it is big enough for most components, has some noise reduction, has tool-less installation for drives, looks pretty good and has all the front panel connectors built to Asus standards (meaning they all fit in to the motherboard exactly as they should and doesn't need any additional work in connecting the cables).