It is done... no really, it is this time :-)

[tensim]

Firstly, thanks very much for all the helpful thoughts & advice from everyone, really appreciated

I have now finally gone and purchased all the bit's and bobs for my new PC, no changes can be made ! Here's what I went for...

Abit iX38 Quad-GT + Intel Q6600 + Xigmatek HDT-S1283 = £264.11
4GB Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 DHX =£65.38
Sapphire HD 4870 = £179.99
640GB WD6400AAKS = £57.21 (a pity I didn't grab one off Ebuyer when it was about £51!)
Samsung SH-S223F 22x DVD-R = £16.72
Windows Home Premium 64-Bit = £62.62
Coolermaster Cosmos S = £145.64
650W Be Quiet Dark Power PRO = £92.77

TOTAL: £884.44 inc VAT and delivery...

Now I just need to wait for it to all get here and then the fun really begins... putting it all together!! Expect several hundred questions from me later next week

Thanking you all in advance!

[staffsMike]

Very Nice indeed. I'm sure it won't disappoint, assuming that it works of course

[tensim]

Don't say that ... I'm already totally paranoid that I'm going to &%$@ it up when putting all this together!

If I break anything my partner is going to kill me, it'll vindicate her position of "why don't we just buy a Dell? I get a corporate deal..."

Fingers crossed all goes well!

cheers

[digit]

Looks like a very good system, which I had your mobo for my system!! Just be very patient and take your time putting it all together. Rushing it means that something will go wrong!! If your not confident about something best to phone a friend with experience to show / help you install a componant! Also if you can use Artic Silver 5 instead of manufactorer supplied thermal paste, because it will (if correctly applied) give you lower temps

[tensim]

That's something I forgot... thermal paste! Is the Arctic Silver 5 the best to go for?

[staffsMike]

Deffinatly take a good look around the case before you start, get a feel for it so you know how everything fits and what might cause problems

AS5 is good as is MX-2 I think.

[inonefly]

Shin-Etsu is the best

[tensim]

just bought some MX-2... I'm sure it'll be fine, thanks for the suggestion though

[tensim]

Damn... just had a look at Scan's Today Only, almost everything I bought is on there

Not masses of savings, works out to be about £24 difference... plus I'd have the 'bonus' of a US Robotics Skype phone

I wonder if Scan will pass on the savings, even though my order is complete... can only ask I guess.

Ah well, them's the breaks...

[2Cold Scorpio]

Damn... just had a look at Scan's Today Only, almost everything I bought is on there

Not masses of savings, works out to be about £24 difference... plus I'd have the 'bonus' of a US Robotics Skype phone

I wonder if Scan will pass on the savings, even though my order is complete... can only ask I guess.

Ah well, them's the breaks...

lol That's how it *always* goes. When I was buying my parts, I was having a hard time finding an 8800GT (particularly an eVGA one, which I wanted). Keep in mind this was right after they were released, and finding the card was a real pain.

Well, one chilly November morning, I logged into NewEgg, and lo and behold, they had a shipment of eVGA 8800GT Superclocked. I was really wanting either the KO or Super-Superclocked versions (preferably one bundled with Crysis), but at this point, I just took what I could get. It cost me $290 and came with Quake Wars (>.<), but I had my card finally.

However, just a few hours after submitting my order, eVGA's own website had in the 8800GT SSC cards...for the same price as what I paid for my Superclocked. Only difference is eVGA had some high shipping rates that would have added on about $30 to the card, but still...it sucked. lol I kicked myself over that...until I started seeing the problems people were having with heat on the SSC cards. I don't feel so bad now.

But yeah, thats how it always goes: right after you buy, there's either a sale, or soemthing better comes out.

[tensim]

Spoke with a nice lady at Scan today, she reckons she'll do the re-invoice for me on Monday and refund the difference, plus I'll get my 'exciting' US Robotics Skype phone! sweet

Kudos to Scan if this does get done for me, really good customer service

I'll let ya'll know how I go

[Clunk]

Is it too late to change the motherboard?

[tensim]

Why? What would you suggest (for around the same money)?

cheers

[Clunk]

If you are set on Abit, then the IP35 pro is probably the best way to go unless you need the PCI-E 2 x2.

[TAKTAK]

scan should take the full amount and then refund the amount you saved (i do it regularly [regularly being every single order i have made with scan ]) its one of the main reasons that i use scan....

and i would change.... hmmm...... erm............. i wish i had that

[Blitzen]

Is it too late to change the motherboard?

But thats just your opinion.
Have you tested this motherboard with a good bios?

Only reason i ask is that i have used this with 12 & 13 and its rock solid and overclocks really well.