My first build...

[Shawn]

I have an update to my build list -

Motherboard - Asus P6T $256.98 - Motherboardpro.com

CPU - Intel Core i7 920 $287.90 - Amazon

Memory - 3 x 2 GB triple channel Corsair TR3X6G1333C9 XMS3 DDR3 1333MHz $144.00 - Amazon

HDD - 2 x Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500AAKS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA $113.66 - Newegg

Video Card - EVGA GeForce GTX 285 1GB 512-bit GDDR3 HDCP $354.99 - Amazon

Dvd/CD Burner - LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW
16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA 22X DVD - OEM $23.58 - Newegg

Power Supply - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $116.61 - Provantage.com

Case - Cooler Master HAF 932 Black Full Tower $150.61 - shopblt.com

Operating System - Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM $108.41 - Newegg



__________________
$1556.60

I have gone with the EVGA Vidcard. My experience with EVGA has also been good and the price is competitive.

Still waffling about the HDD'S. I may go with larger drives that have 32mb cache. I definitely will stay with Western Digital....

Shawn really got me to thinking about the sideways HDD cage in the HAF, so I went to a larger Fry's franchise today and pulled
a demo model off the shelf to the floor and really gave it a good look-see. I REALLY like this case! Gonna get it...

Going for broke with the i7....lol
Heard alot of things about them but alot of people are shying away from them since the Core 2 Quads are cheaper now and run nearly as fast as them.Something to consider if it is worth the extra.I would of went with i7 but it wasn't cost effective for me to.I would of had to by new RAM and that isn't to cheap.
EVGAs are the best when it comes to Nvidia based cards.I won't buy anything else but one.Asus boards are iffy nowadays but when I rebuilt mine I still went with one and have had pretty good luck with it thus far with the exception I can not update the bios for some odd reason but since it runs ok,I am not going to mess with it.

[coffeehound]

Considering this is a completely new build that I hope to get 4 or 5 years out of before even thinking of another upgrade, it makes
sense to go with the next generation processor and the new architecture associated with it. Right now there aren't a lot of LGA1336,
X58 motherboards up for review, but what I have read indicates the Asus boards as being pretty solid... Really, the one common complaint
about this board is in regards to "noise" being present with the onboard audio. I probably would get a sound card anyway...

[coffeehound]

Alrighty then... Most if not all of the necessary hardware has now been ordered.

ORDER LIST: (Operating System included)

Motherboard - Asus P6T $256.98 - MotherboardPro.com
CPU - Intel Core i7 920 $287.90 - Amazon
Memory - 3 x 2 GB triple channel Corsair TR3X6G1333C9 XMS3 DDR3 1333MHz $139.50 - Amazon
Hard drive - Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB SATA $85.79 - Newegg
Video Card - EVGA GeForce GTX 285 (Call of Duty- World at War included) $364.64 - Newegg
DVD/CD Burner - Asus 22x DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA $31.09 - Newegg
Power Supply - CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W $139.41 - Newegg
Case - Cooler Master HAF 932 Black Full Tower $149.60 - Amazon
Operating System - Vista Home Premium 64-bit OEM $107.24 - Newegg
--------------
$1562.15

[coffeehound]

An observation regarding online purchases:

Newegg has already shipped 3 of the 5 items I ordered today.
MotherboardPro has shipped the P6T that was ordered yesterday.
Amazon estimates March 2nd as ship date for all items ordered grouped together with Free Super Shipping
with the exception of some software which shipped today. Amazon usually = great prices. Today no different.

Also:

I REALLY appreciate everyones input on this build!

Ok, I have extra SATA cables for OEM drives, plenty of spare screws for whatever, Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound,
any tools that may be necessary and a well lit, uncluttered work space. What am I forgetting??? I figure on doing a bit
more research on a heatsink/fan before making a decision. I'll probably give the Intel heatsink a try since I don't plan
to overclock the CPU, but I have read that it is a good idea to get a better aftermarket cooler. Maybe it would be wiser
to install a better one in the first place... I think I just talked myself into the aftermarket heatsink. LOL!

[coffeehound]

These arrived today, just two days after placing the order...

[coffeehound]

And today these arrived...


Amazon shipped the Coolermaster case, i7 processor and Corsair memory today!

[coffeehound]

I finally have decided on a heatsink.

This XIGMATEC is regarded as having top notch cooling performance for a lower price tag than most highly rated coolers...

[coffeehound]

My computer case arrived today!



Windows Vista also arrived though I expect to upgrade to Windows7 later this year...

More pictures of the case when I start to assemble this build!


Processor and memory modules arrived today TOO!


Now all I am waiting for is the heatsink and I will be ready to go!

[coffeehound]

Well... I screwed in the motherboard standoffs, so I guess you could say that I have started assembling this computer! LOL!
Guess I am kind of exited! So..... here are a few pics of the Coolermaster.


220 mm side fan...


220 mm fan on the top of the case...


A look inside. Plenty of access to space behind the motherboard tray for cable management
and heatsink installation.


Tooless HHD brackets slide completely out for easy HDD installation. Plenty of
space behind mobo tray for cable routing!


A look behind the motherboard tray...

[coffeehound]

Last night I did a whole lot of reading to familiarize myself with the motherboard and the build process in general. It is now
about 6:40 am here and I have a few hours yet before the heatsink is delivered. I expect the build itself to go together pretty
quickly if all goes well. I am going to take the TV card and the Soundcard out of the Dell and put them in the Coolermaster. All
other parts are new and I already have all updated drivers on hand. Nice thing about a new product such as the mobo is the
driver disk has all the latest drivers, so no download is necessary there for awhile...

Here is a look at the GTX285 vidcard. I read reviews where guys would comment on how BIG it is! Well,they were right of coarse!



This thing is HUGE compared to the 7600GT in my Dell...

[coffeehound]

Here is a look at the ASUS P6T motherboard...



In a three DIMM configuration the modules will go in the orange slots. One feature
I love about this board is a single plug that holds all of the front panel connectors. It
connects to the white socket in the lower right corner. I also like that the heatsink
will install without blocking any other connectors...

[coffeehound]

The heatsink just arrived.

Time to get busy!

[coffeehound]

Ok!

I got it up and running and so far so good!!

Still got tons of updates to get and software to load, but all looks good so far!

Here are a few pics of the build . I had a blast even though I had to leave a few times!






Powering it up with my fingers crossed!






With all hardware installed!

[Shawn]

Looks good!I just picked up the same Power Supply.
Hey,if you ever get bored,you could fix my wire mess
I have an Antec 900 case so I don't have anywhere to shove and hide wires.
I did however take all the ones I wasn't using and used the zip ties that came with the PS and put them in the bottom of the case.Still not the neatest but it works.
The Video card you have is huge,about the same size as mine.A friend has one and it kicks some butt.Another friend has the same case you have.
I am waiting to go with an i7 chip because DDR3 is just to expensive and I just put way to much money into upgrading what I have.
I use the stock HSF on mine and always have with previous builds.Never ran into heat problems with them.I know the Quads run hotter then the C2D so mine should be safe this summer.If not then I will consider buying a new HSF and case.No way that huge HSF would fit in my case unless I leave the side off.

[coffeehound]

Thanks, Shawn!

Actually, I am not quite happy with the wiring behind the mobo tray. I plan to sleeve some and do a little more zip tie work with the
kind that attach to the case... The Corsair TX750 is one very solid power supply by all accounts that I have read. It is more than I need
at this time, but I like not having to even think about it in the future if I add more power hungry components. The GTX 285 does indeed
kick some pretty awesome hiney. LOL! One of my main concerns was heat and I think the combination of the case and the aftermarket
heatsink are handling it quite well. Below are a few screenshots with stats. I haven't seen it reach 50°C under load yet.




And here under load playing Crysis...