New build up and running! - Comments please.

[WhiteGiant]

Finally sorted my new build, specs as follows :

OS : Vista Ultimate 64
Case : Antec Nine Hundred (Very cool looking, not sure about the LED fans though, and option to switch the LEDs off would be much appreciated - silent when on 'Low' however, no huge temp difference either)
Mobo : Asus P5Q-E (Latest 1701(?) BIOS - the upgrade killed my first Vista install, d'oh!)
CPU : Intel E8400 @ 3.0ghz (Retail Cooling - More testing to be done before O/C'ing)
GFX : Powercolor Radeon 4870 1GB @ Stock (This thing is massive! Barely got it in with 3 hard drives in the top HDD drive bay - fan bracket removed)
RAM : 4gb Corsair TwinX XMS2, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), CAS 4-4-4-12, DHX (Currently running at slower speeds until stability is verified)
HDD : 2 x 500gb Seagate SATA2 ST3500320AS (RAID0) + 1 x Samsung Spinpoint 500gb as storage)
PSU : Enermax 500w Modular (PSU from my 939 system, seems perfectly fine! - thanks for the money saving suggestion. Will need to upgrade if I want CrossFire, the Radeon 4870 uses both of the GFX power modular ports)

Plus various cables/thermal grease etc, all my first order from Scan.

Everything gets 5.9 on Vista rating, except the CPU, which gets 5.7 - overclocking should sort that!

Not had a huge amount of time to play about due to work commitments, but it seems very stable and blisteringly fast in the couple of benchmarks/games I've had a play with.

Build was fine considering this is my first new box for 4 years! One issue, which muppet designed the push-pin CPU HSF system!?! Spent more time fiddling with that than the rest of the build!

One thing that has really suprised me, the difference between my old onboard sound and the onboard HD sound on this mobo is astonishing. I'm convinced it's just some software trickery though, it seems like too much of an upgrade - I can hear each instrument on an MP3 so clearly!

If anyone could post 3DMark Vantage scores for their system (and the specs), that would be appreciated, not sure what is actually a decent score.

Pics to follow if I don't get too drunk! Happy New year HEXUS!

Cost me an arm and a leg (also an earlobe), but it was worth it. Any suggestions regarding overclocking appreciated, max I've seen is 57degC (CPU) after running an hour of IntelBurnTest which is apparently more stressful than Prime95.

[moogle]

If anyone could post 3DMark Vantage scores for their system (and the specs), that would be appreciated, not sure what is actually a decent score.

Over 6000-7000 on Performance is good I say

[vmong]

not bad. but just wondering why do you need so much powerr?

with my gaming rig i got about 9200 for my rig (in sig) i heard some go upto 20000 so mine seems feeble haha

oh based on what moogle said i am doing pretty well then!

[Nelsaidi]

Ive got same cpu + mobo, and higher latency ram. IT runs well - Overclocking will be easy, add some voltage to the cpu and ram, and increase the fsb while the memory ratio remains 1:1, with that heatsink you should be able to overclock it easily (the ram)

Btw, you can probably go to 3.6ghz, thats your ram running on its normal speed and low temp running, thats what im at, the retail cooler should handle it.

Nice build too