New Build: advice needed please!

[stavroshamster]

Hi,

Now that the next generation of graphics cards have been released I am wanting to order the parts for my new PC within the next couple of weeks.

I am a moderate gamer, although recently haven't played much because my hardware is not up to scratch.
Examples of games I will be interested in playing with a new computer include Spore and Grid and some FPS probably. I will be playing these games on a 22 inch TFT monitor with resolution of 1680*1050, but also have a secondary monitor which is 19" with resolution of 1440*900. I have no plans to use Xfire or SLI.
The PC will also be used as a HTPC. and in moderation for video and photo editing.
I want to overclock it a bit, but not massively, so air cooling is fine.
I have a budget of around £650, although this is somewhat flexible if much better components are available for slightly more, and will be looking to buy components from scan.co.uk probably.

I have done a bit of research into components on Scan and have come up with the following components which I think would be good:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 G0 SLACR, Kentsfield Core, Socket 775, 2.40 GHz 1066MHz 8MB Cache, Retail £125.01
GPU: 512MB Asus HD 4850, PCI-E 2.0 (x16), 1986 MHz GDDR3, GPU 625 MHz, 800 Cores, 2 x DL DVI-I/HDTV £141.46
Memory: 4GB (2x2GB) Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-18 £58.33
Hard Drive: 750 GB Samsung HD753LJ Spinpoint F1, SATA 300, 7200 rpm, 32MB Cache, 8.9 ms, NCQ £60.18
OS: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1* 64Bit 1Pk OEM (DVD) £62.62
OPTICAL: ASUS DRW-2014S1T 20x DVD±R, 8x DVD±DL, DVD + RW x8/-RW x6, x14 DVD-RAM, SATA, Black, OEM £16.79
MOBO: Abit IP-35, Dark Raider, iP35 Express, S 775, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £66.49
PSU: 520W Corsair HX Series Modular PSU, ATX, EPS12V, whisper quiet, 5 year warranty £64.38
COOLER: Scythe Miné Quiet Heatpipe CPU Cooler S478, S775, S754, S939, S940 compatible £23.84
CASE: Antec Three Hundred Case w/o PSU £35.83

Total Cost (from Scan): £654.93

Questions I have:
Is the MOBO good?? Should I get a P45 motherboard instead? Or something else?
Should I get a HD 4850 or wait until Nvidia prices drop and get a 9800GTX/GTX+? I don't know much about Physx support in general but heard that Nvidia is releasing new drivers which support it. Does this mean that only Nvidia GPUS will run Physx effects in games? Or will the CPU do the work instead when using an ATI card? I think ATI cards might support 'Havok' in the future, but most games don't use this apparently.
Any other case recommendations for less than £50. The Antec 300 has got very good reviews, but Scan don't have it in stock at the moment (although I can probably get it elsewhere).
Are there any other significant new releases that are around the conrner which I should wait for, or might push proces down?
General advice on the above components?

Thanks!

[Infinite]

looks good.
i think u can get x22 dvd/rw now.
does tht case need fans?
that it all

[Blackmage]

I'm sorry but i wouldn't get the 4850 @ that price. You considered getting the card off ebuyer?

[!TIMMY!]

I'm sorry but i wouldn't get the 4850 @ that price. You considered getting the card off ebuyer?

I agree:

Sapphire 4850 512mb - £129.95

Free super saver delivery too.

[staffsMike]

I'd get the HD4850 as above, great card

All I would really change is the case. The antec 300 is OK but for £10 or so more you can get the coolermaster CM-690 which is pretty much superior in every way

Minor changes elsewhere, I've never used an ASUS optical drive but can thoroughly recommend samsung, they are short and very quiet

Since I only really buy Western Digital HDD's I'd probably get the 640GB AAKS, being a very fast drive and very quiet much like the samsung.

[stavroshamster]

Thanks for your help.

I will swap to a Samsung DVD drive I think.

What are Sapphire like as a GPU manufacturer? I have had an ASUS card in the past, and was going to buy one again mainly because of the 3 year warranty (I am unlikely to swap GPU again within this time). Sapphire only offer 2 years warranty on their cards.

I can't seem to find the Coolermaster case for less than about £60 which is a bit too much for me really, thanks for the advice though.

Anyone have any thoughts on the Nvidia Physx stuff I mention in the opening post?

[staffsMike]

The price went up on the coolermaster yesterday..typical.

Sapphire are pretty good I think, my old company used them for years will little trouble.

Don't worry too much about Physx, I may help with the few engines that like it but a PC as above won't sturggle anyway as there is plenty enough CPU grunt to take care of it, afaik anyway.

[stavroshamster]

Is there a good alternative for the Abit ip35 Dark Raider at the same price? Scan are out of stock and Ebuyer don't stock it.
The Asus P5K is a similar price on Scan. Any idea if it's as good as the Abit? I heard the Abit was good for overclocking?
Anywhere else that stocks it with free delivery?

[staffsMike]

It's a similar spec to the Abit but no idea on whether it's actually a good quality board. I'd hold out for the dark raider or spend £15 or so more on the P5K-e wifi.

[stavroshamster]

Okay the Abit Dark Raider is now EOL according to scan and is off their site.

What should I get as a replacement? Is the Asus mentioned above any good?

[Eddd]

Yes. Asus, Abit and Gigabyte boards are all pretty decent/.

[staffsMike]

Abit P5Q PRO seems a worthy board. Abit's own P45's should be out very soon though

[stavroshamster]

Any idea how much the new Abit board is likely to be?

What about this one? Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3
Presumably its not as good as the ASUS P5Q Pro?
Whats the difference between the P5Q and the P5Q Pro? The only real difference I can see is the P5Q pro has Crossfire support (which I don't need). Is the Pro better for overclocking or anything?

[Katar]

Whats the difference between the P5Q and the P5Q Pro? The only real difference I can see is the P5Q pro has Crossfire support (which I don't need). Is the Pro better for overclocking or anything?

The two boards have different heatsinks, and a slighty different layout for the internal connectors. Main difference I can see is the PRO has another PCI-E 2.0 for crossfire and it has 3 PCI-E slots and 2 PCI slots and the P5Q has 2 PCI-E slots and 3 PCI slots.