Component check please.

[Johnsmith2222]

Hey guys, this is my first build and here are the parts that i chose for my first pc. Feedbacks and recommendations please.

System will be mainly gaming, not into any heavy audio or video or graphic editing sort of things. Emphasized on speed and multitasking ability.

Motherboard - GIGABYTE GA-EP43T-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX 79.99 (this is the best one i could find in terms of ratings, the others had some issues that made me nervous, but i'm open to a better mobo suggestiong). http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128414

CPU - Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400 Yorkfield 2.66GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core 169.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-057-_-Product

Graphic card - BFG Tech BFGEGTS2501024DE GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card 134.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-211-_-Product

Hard drive - HITACHI Deskstar HD31000 IDK/7K (0S00163) 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive 89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145287

RAM - G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9T-6GBNQ 159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231223

Power supply - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 119.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

Case - Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129021

I think all of the parts are compatible, and I'm open to recommendations, thanks. Not sure if i should invest in a CPU cooler and heatsink, since i heard the ones that comes with the CPU are bad to ok?

[glc]

I would go with socket 1156 instead of the old 775. I'd get an i5-750 and an Asus P7P55D LE. That would take a dual channel DDR3-1333 or DDR3-1600 ram kit, 2x2gb. Replace the Hitachi with a WD Black, and you forgot an optical drive.

If you are fixated on that P43 board, that's a dual channel board, not a triple channel. I'd also go with a fast dual core such as a E8500 instead of that somewhat crippled quad.

A better 775 option is a P45-based board and DDR2-800 ram.

That PSU is a bit overkill, you can save a bit by going with one with less wattage.

[Johnsmith2222]

well I've seen alot of good review about that CPU, but are there any good quad cores out there? or are all of the good ones are i7.

and i'm new at this so this will seem stupid, but i thought optical drive is the same or replace hard drive?

[Force Flow]

The i5 and i7 series in the 1156 socket are the current technologies available. The LGA775 is several years old, with no new significant CPU releases planned.

The Q8400 is crippled in that you're sacrificing overall performance for an increase in the number of cores.

Optical drives are drives that read media with lasers--CD and/or DVD drives. They're for secondary storge. Hard drives are for primary storage--where your operating system lives.

[glc]

If you want a strong quad core in socket 775, look at the Q9550. However, it costs more than the i5-750 and doesn't perform any better, hence my recommendation. The i5-750 is a quad.

In a 775, DDR3 does not perform any better than DDR2.

[Johnsmith2222]

thanks glc, the i5-750 looks really good so far, but will i need to invest a fan and heatsink for it? i won't be over clocking, but it seems that intel's included fans are bad from the reviews

and here's the new motherboard that for the i5-750, i think it's compatible with the graphic card. [http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131404 - woops wrong link earlier

and here's the WD hard drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284
optical drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106276

Can you elaborate on the on the dual channel concept?

[glc]

At that price, that's the best 1156 motherboard for the buck.

Go for a DVD burner, that one is only a rom drive.

Dual channel boards are optimized for installing memory in matched pairs. The triple channel ram kits are for triple channel boards - the X58 chipset for the socket 1366 i7. You could get one or two kits - for 4gb or 8gb. Do not put more than 4gb in it unless you are using a 64 bit OS.

The stock heatsink is adequate for a stock clocked system, but if it proves to be unsatisfactory you can always change it later.

[Johnsmith2222]

yes i plan to use 64, i'll dig a bit more and brush up on the specs and repost them later. You guys helped alot, thanks.

[Johnsmith2222]

ok here's the new list of parts

OS: Windows 7 64 bit (not sure if i should go home or professional version)

Case:NZXT Guardian 921 CS-NT-GD921-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower 89.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...eel%20ATX%20Mi

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI 99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...20EPS12V%20SLI

Mobo: ASUS P7P55D LGA 1156 Intel P55 ATX Intel Motherboard 136.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131404

CPU: Intel Core i5-750 Lynnfield 2.66GHz 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 95W Quad-Core Processor 199.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115215

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD1001FALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" 99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136284

RAM: G.SKILL 6GB (3 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Triple Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9T-6GBNQ 164.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-225-_-Product

Pri Optical: LITE-ON Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW SATA CD/DVD Burner 26.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-289-_-Product

Video Card: BFG Tech BFGEGTS2501024DE GeForce GTS 250 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 134.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...0%201GB%20256-

Sata cable for HD: Rosewill 18" Serial ATA II cable with metal latch, Model RC-18"-SA2-90-BK 1.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-231-_-Product

not sure if the sata cable for the HD is right, not sure which cable to get for the optical drive/burner.

[glc]

You do not need SATA cables, the motherboard comes with at least 2.

ONE MORE TIME, do not buy a TRIPLE channel ram kit, buy a DUAL channel kit. If you want more than 4gb ram, buy TWO dual channel kits.

Win 7 Home is all you need.

[Johnsmith2222]

ok sorry about that. Here's the new ones

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231208

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231190

both equaling 169.98

i guess with that I'm set?

edit: while assembling the computer can i just use latex gloves instead of the static wrist strap?

[glc]

Why are you fixated on having exactly 6gb of ram? Go with 4gb or 8gb. I would not put 1gb modules in there, keep everything matched.

You don't need latex gloves, and they won't help with static control. Just use common sense, don't stand on a carpet when building, wear rubber soled shoes, and frequently touch the case with your hand.