Feedback on potential system

[Robin Tibbs]

Ok so, I'm sure you have loads of these posts but I just thought I would add another one!

Here's the system I was contemplating buying. If you'd change anything it'd be great to know, and why, well, here goes

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 (i know this is upcoming, but i figured the 45nm process would give better OC potential)
CPU Cooler: Arctic Cooling Freezer 7
Case: Antec Nine Hundred
Motherboard: Gigabyte P35-DSR3
Memory: OCZ 2GB PC2-6400 C4 Platinum Rev 2 XTC
GPU: BFG 8800 GTS OC2 320MB
PSU: OCZ GameXStream 600w
Sound Card: Creative XiFi XtremeMusic
Monitor: Samsung SM-206BW

I'm pretty open to new ideas for the case, but would love to hear your opinions on the other components aswell.

Many thanks in advance for taking the time to read and reply

[BUFF]

afaik E6550 is still 65nm.
rest all looks OK -you'll probably find that either your CPU or your RAM will be the limit for your fsb as the P35 boards don't seem to have a problem doing 500fsb plus.

[wja96]

It looks like a well balanced system. I would avoid the Antec case, personally, but that's more down to the looks and noise than anything else. Lian Li PC7B+ II would be my option, but it does look a touch dull to some eyes.

[eddta]

Antec 900 is kind of a marmite. If you like it enough then go with it as it is not a bad case at all and is still a top class case. 100% kickass.

[Robin Tibbs]

well, I hate marmite but I quite like that case, good cooling, some neat features. I was perhaps considering spending a bit more on the p182 perhaps?

[0iD]

If you're going to overclock & the 45nm chips 'should' run cooler, but i'd still have reservations about using an Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 for the job. Normal clocks, no worries.

[Robin Tibbs]

what cooler would you suggest?

[0iD]

Well i can only speak from experience, so it's the Tuniq Tower 120. Load temps at 42-45c on a hot day indoors overclocked to 3.6ghz. However water would be my preferred mode of cooling, just haven't got round to doing it as the tower's doing the business & water won't facilitate a higher clock with this chip.

[Robin Tibbs]

well liquid cooling is stretching my budget and i am sure air cooling will be sufficient for my needs. that tower cooler seems good. seems awfully heavy though. oh yes and what were your concerns about the freezer 7?

[0iD]

well liquid cooling is stretching my budget and i am sure air cooling will be sufficient for my needs. that tower cooler seems good. seems awfully heavy though. oh yes and what were your concerns about the freezer 7?

Generally speaking overclocking generates more heat, therefore you have to have a method of dissipating it, one way is with a large surface area of radiating material, which is why overclocking coolers are as a rule ... huge beasties. The freezer 7 is undeniably a good cooler, but unless you have some superb air movement in your case your temps will be a tad high, thus possibly leading to system instability when overclocking. The tower 120 is not the ONLY choice, and it is heavy & tall, but it works for me. Thermalright & Scythe also make quality coolers of varying sizes.

[Robin Tibbs]

the p182 offers pretty good ventilation iirc (think its 5 120mm fans scattered about the case) think I will read up a bit more on cooling choices first

[0iD]

Well it can't hurt to try, so go for it & see what happens. It's all part of the fun, if it doesn't work, then go for something else.

[Robin Tibbs]

the freezer 7 is priced such that i wouldnt mind if it didnt work i wouldnt be hurt too much in the wallet. hooray for experimentation!

[0iD]

the freezer 7 is priced such that i wouldnt mind if it didnt work i wouldnt be hurt too much in the wallet. hooray for experimentation!

THAT'S the HeXus spirit chap, now BUY! BUY! BUY! & build build build

[Robin Tibbs]

Well I am a mad scientist and take like everything apart :] Many thanks for your help btw :] the way i approached my choices was to not be too outlandish but not get rubbish stuff!

got to wait till end of month for the 6550 tho.

[Mad-Max]

I would say change the PSU for some thing else like a Seasonic m12 600, apart from that it all longs fine