New build - need critique!

[guinness]

I'm planning a new build and was hoping to get some feedback...

I'm not concerned with crazy OCing, more concerned with stability (although I would like to get to 1066 fsb if possible). I would like the system to be as quiet as possible.

My primary uses are: Gaming (mostly RTS, not so much FPS), photo editing, web surfing, video editing, movie watching, and document creation (in that order).

So here we go:

Motherboard: Abit IP35 Pro
CPU: Intel Q6600 (mostly because of the benefits I'll see in 64-bit and video editing)
CPU Cooler: Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme (with 2 scythe fans)
RAM (8gb total from 2x 4gb kits): Patriot PDC24G6400LLK (with Corsair cooler)
Primary Drive: WD Raptor 10k 150gb (I have 2x 500gb and 2x 300gb to go with it)
Vid Card: Diamond Viper 3870 + Thermaltake DuOrb (I chose this because of the vid editing I do and the vista drivers vs. 8800GT)
Sound Card: Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer (this may be overkill for me as I use Logitech Z-2300 speakers, and no plans to go 5.1)
Case: Cooler Master Cosmos
PSU: PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750
DVD: Samsung SH-S203B
Monitor: BenQ FP241W 24"
OS: Vista x64 home premium (I'm pretty much set on 64-bit Vista)

All told this comes in around $2750ish...

Any thoughts?

[DurkaDurka]

That sounds like a pretty solid build, not much that I would change.

[3.0charlie]

Originally Posted by DurkaDurka

That sounds like a pretty solid build, not much that I would change.

Same here; but what is your budget? If not:

the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L mobo is cheaper (minus the Raid)
a 150Gb Raptor has a main drive is overkill; 74Gb is plentiful
is the sound card really needed, if you are only using 2.1 speakers
PCP&C PSUs are great, but I'm sure that in the 750W range there are cheaper and as stable PSUs available.

Anyway. Comments if you are not within your budget.

[DaleF]

I'd consider multiple drives in RAID0. Video editing (which does lots of sequential reads and writes) is actually something that RAID0 speeds up.

[MpG]

Looking pretty solid. FSB 1066 is automatically supported by the current generation of Intel chipsets (such as the P35 that you're looking at), so no worries there. In fact, quite often, you can set the board at FSB 1333, and those Q6600 chips will run rock-solid at the 25% overclock w/o any voltage increases (which I can vouch for personally).

I'm not sure what you're time-frame is, but the new generation of Intel processors might be worth looking at, now that they're finally coming out with affordable, non-Extreme versions. I mention this, because you say that video editing is a priority for you. The new processors have a whole slerw of new SSE4 instructions which have been allowing for massive performance gains in certain applications. You might have to do some research to be certain, but if the program you use turns out to support those instructions, there are some pretty serious performance gains to be had.

[Cptn Vortex]

Sounds like a very solid build to me. That abit board is great. In the harddrive department though, I would personnaly use a RAID 5 setup with 3 or 4 250GB Drives. This would give you a considerable speed increase, with full redundancy, should a drive die. Plus, 750GB of usable backed up space!

[Babrbarossa]

Seems like too much money, though- ar ethey NCIX prices?

EDIT- on second though- the sound card, PSU, raptor really add up

I'd love to try out one of those cosmos- hearing alot of buzz about them.

[Cptn Vortex]

Yeah, the Cosmos is wicked. I got to build a rig up in one. From pics online, I was not really impressed. But when I got the thing out of the box, it's quality really stood out. And it is designed very very well. Tons of room, and very nice to work in. But, the side panels scratch really really easily.

[guinness]

Thanks for the responses guys!

Budget isn't really an issue, so I'm trying to go with what is the most proven/reliable/efficient (in terms of PSU, etc)...

I've thought about a RAID setup, but I'd rather not fiddle around with it. The 150gb drive will be used exclusively for OS and pagefile most likely... it's only $25 more than the 74gb, so I figured what the hell :)

I've read good previews on the 45nm chips, but I can't wait - Christmas is soon don't you know! lol Besides, if it results in ridiculous leaps of speed for video/photo editing, then I'll just upgrade in the spring.

My biggest concern is x64 Vista and all of these pieces, especially the 8gb (4 sticks) of RAM...

Cheers!

[guinness]

Originally Posted by Cptn Vortex

Yeah, the Cosmos is wicked. I got to build a rig up in one. From pics online, I was not really impressed. But when I got the thing out of the box, it's quality really stood out. And it is designed very very well. Tons of room, and very nice to work in. But, the side panels scratch really really easily.

Heh - I'm not too worried about the sides scratching - the sidepanels on my P180 bulged (metal separated), and the tabs broke off - so it looks a little ghetto... anything, scratches or not, will be an improvement :)