New Build!

[BlindMelon7]

In that case I think I'll go for the GTS . Thanks for the help

[BlindMelon7]

I've got a final spec! I think...

[PsychoChimp]

Here's my thoughts:

That Asus P5K3 only supports DDR3 RAM, which is definately not worth getting, plus you've only spec'd DDR2 RAM.

Go for an Abit IP35 Pro or ABit IP35 Dark Raider for the motherboard.

Also save a couple of quid and space, and drop the Corsair DHX ram and get the normal stuff (without the heat-spreaders - LN19302), don't think it makes a noticable difference.

And you forgot the CPU cooler, Scythe Mine.

Good choice on the PSU but I'm sure a Corsair HX520 would do the same job for about £13 less.

Last but not least do you really need 3 hard drives?

Chimp

[mosherben]

Also, to shave a few pennies off, don't forget to look at Today Only at Scan I know for a fact that the Q6600 and afore-mentioned Abit IP35 Pro and Dark Raider are on offer this weekend. Might want to check for other componants you're using in your spec

[BlindMelon7]

Good call on the DDR3! I didn't notice that . The 80gb drives are being RAIDed for the OS and the 500gb is for storage . Will crappy ram really make no difference?

I don't know why I didn't look at today only, I must be going senile at 18 hehe

[Blitzen]

Here's my thoughts:

That Asus P5K3 only supports DDR3 RAM, which is definately not worth getting, plus you've only spec'd DDR2 RAM.

Go for an Abit IP35 Pro or ABit IP35 Dark Raider for the motherboard.

Also save a couple of quid and space, and drop the Corsair DHX ram and get the normal stuff (without the heat-spreaders - LN19302), don't think it makes a noticable difference.

And you forgot the CPU cooler, Scythe Mine.

Good choice on the PSU but I'm sure a Corsair HX520 would do the same job for about £13 less.

Last but not least do you really need 3 hard drives?

Chimp

Dont buy the IP35=Pro...its very poor value although a decent board. Certainly not worth the £100+ price tag.

Either go for the IP35 Dark Raider or step up to the Abit X38 QuadGT (its fantastic)..

Good choice in PSU aswell.......those new Eneramx units look great.
I would take that over ANY Corsair any day of the week.

[EarlGrey]

SLI is definately worth it at the moment!

Take a look at benchmarks of 2 9600GTs in SLI against a 8800GTS512. SLI wins. For that budget however you should be looking at 2 8800GTs, which will give you real performance!

In a new gaming PC your experience is gonna be governed by the graphics capabilities, don't skimp there!

[BlindMelon7]

So for graphics cards its either: 1x 8800GTS (£201), 2x 512 9600GTs (£206) or 2x 512 8800GT (£292 for the MSI OC ones). And for the motherboard, Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK if I'm going SLI (review said good but pricey but the price has gone down now therefore it must be just good ) or the Dark Raider for a single card. This is so confusing!

What about the cards on the ATI front? I could crossfire with one of the other iP35 mobos and afaik crossfire gives a better performance boost to SLI?

[DWhitley]

Although the Liberty is a tiny tiny bit less powerful (still has 44A on 12V), its build quality and connections are far superior.

I'll be sticking with Enermax for the foreseeable future. They've had consistently good reviews for some time and I've been very happy with mine (I have 3).