Planned new Gaming PC build

[onearmedbandit]

Hey guys, I'm designing a new computer for my birthday next week and I'd really like to know what you think. I'll be using the computer for:
- Gaming
- Moderate Audio/Video editing
- Music creation

As well as the usual word processing, web-browsing etc. I have a number of old components which I'm planning on using in order to save some money. Without further ado, here's my (very) preliminary build. Things marked 'free' are components I'm re-using from my old system:

Case - Cooler Master Centurion 534 Black (free)
(I already have this)

Case Accessories - Extra front fan £22.59
Following the advice of some of you on here, I think I'll get an extra front fan installed using the three spare 5.25" bays to increase airflow:
http://www.specialtech.co.uk/spshop/...pid-11063.html

Power Supply Unit - Thermaltake Toughpower 750w (free)
I've been told that my old PSU will be sufficient for my new computer, so I'm probably going to stick with that (I'm only going to use a single graphics card).

Motherboard - ASRock Z68 Extreme 4 £139.79
I've read really good things about this motherboard, so that's my current favourite. http://www.ebuyer.com/product/267313

Processor - Intel Core i5 2500k £159.97
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/251596

RAM - £73.19
I believe 8gb should be sufficient, though I'm not too sure about brands and technical things when it comes to RAM. I went to crucial.com and for now have chosen some RAM based on its guaranteed compatibilty with the ASRock mobo. http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/mpar...F54B71A5CA7304

Graphics Card - Radeon 6950 £180-220ish
I've been thinking about this a lot and I'm thinking of getting a Radeon 6950, though I'm not sure whether to get 1gb or 2gb or whether to get the Flex edition. What are your thoughts?
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?q=sapphire+6950&x=0&y=0

Sound Card - Creative X-fi Music (free)
I think I'll keep my old Creative card.

Hard Drive 1 - Samsung 1TB HDD £41.99
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/173804

Hard Drive 2 - Kingston 64gb SSD £80.69
I've heard that having a Solid State Drive can reap significant rewards for system performance, and could be useful for backing up important stuff in case my main HDD fails. Kingston 64gb SSD http://www.ebuyer.com/product/247005

Optical Drives - 2x Samsung DVD (free)
I'm just gonna keep my existing drives (x2) - Samsung Dual Layer 18x DVD+/-R/RW/RAM

Wireless Card - £10
Gonna get one of these http://www.ebuyer.com/product/155641 for 10 quid


Please let me know if there's anything incompatible with anything else, or if you think I'm paying too much for something, or even just if you reckon I should get something different.

Thanks!

[Blackmage]

I think for a tenner more you may as well get a 2Tb HDD. You'll need it with your media creation.

[Behemoth]

Will your chosen GFX card fit in your existing case ?

[onearmedbandit]

I don't know, but it's currently housing an 8800GT, which is quite big. Is a Radeon 6950 going to be much bigger?

[planet436]

I think in previous discussions with the case, I was meaning there should be optional fan mounting holes on the front of the case? Is this the case here?

http://www.coolermaster.com/product....tegory_id=3587

It will be sufficient if so just to get another fan to stick in there at the bottom behind the HD tray.

What are you requirements with the MB also, the Asrock is well reviewed, are you intending to xfire the graphics card? If not then I would recommend a cheaper one, the MSI G45 is currently available for around £95 which would save a chunk of cash.

RAM: I would ignore the QVL, especially what crucial recommends. Cheap 1333 1.5v DDR3 will be sufficient, if you can find any 2x4GB sets for under £60 that would be a good deal.

You going to be using the stock cooler as well?

[onearmedbandit]

I think in previous discussions with the case, I was meaning there should be optional fan mounting holes on the front of the case? Is this the case here?

http://www.coolermaster.com/product....tegory_id=3587

It will be sufficient if so just to get another fan to stick in there at the bottom behind the HD tray.

What are you requirements with the MB also, the Asrock is well reviewed, are you intending to xfire the graphics card? If not then I would recommend a cheaper one, the MSI G45 is currently available for around £95 which would save a chunk of cash.

RAM: I would ignore the QVL, especially what crucial recommends. Cheap 1333 1.5v DDR3 will be sufficient, if you can find any 2x4GB sets for under £60 that would be a good deal.

You going to be using the stock cooler as well?

Oh I see, so you don't think I need to get a new fan installed in place of my 3 spare 5.25 bays?

Regarding the motherboard, I suppose my main requirement is reliability. I'm not planning on doing anything with the graphics card (other than installing it, of course ). Perhaps I'll look into a slightly cheaper motherboard such as the one you suggested.

If I ignore the QVL, is there a chance my selected RAM won't work?

Also, yes, I plan on using the stock cooler.

[planet436]

If you don't already have an intake fan on that case then putting on it will be plenty sufficient. The case seems to have 3 fan slots, as long as you have one as intake in the front and at least one exhausting through the top rear or back then air flow should be sufficient. Check with your case to see what fans are already in there.

If you aren't going to be needing the extra features of the more expensive motherboard, or benchmark overclocking then you don't need the high amount of power phases or various features that cater to that crowd. Mild overclocking isn't going to depend on which mobo you have, stability will be unaffected. Any board from Msi/Asus/GB/Asrock will be fine.

The QVL are just snapshots that the companies have tested, as long as its rated for 1.5V operation then there should be no problem using it ... the ram may be faulty of course but it's listing on the QVL won't help that

Regarding your case, I would check exactly how long your current card is, 8800GTs are around 9" long I think but depend on the cooler used. I'd google it and make sure, then google the card you wish to buy and see if it will fit. Pay attention to where the power connectors are on the card if it is going to be tight.

[onearmedbandit]

Hmm, the 8800GT is 9" with the power connector on the end, and the 6950 is reputed to be about 10.75" (depending on the manufacturer) but the power connector is on top (so I've read - I couldn't actually see it from any of the pictures).

This one appears to be shorter at only 10.2" http://www.ebuyer.com/product/267907

The space at the end of my 8800GT is just under 2 inches. I think there is room, but it will be quite tight - what do you think?