Gaming/Music/Movie build

[AFMedic]

I just started searching yesterday and I hardly know anything about computers. I stayed up last night researching forum threads. This is what I've come up with:

MOBO: ASUS P5K-C LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor

Ram: CORSAIR XMS2 4GB

Video Card: Video Card: eVGA GeForce 8800GTS 512MB DDR3 PCIe 2.0 Video Card 512-P3-N841-A3, SLI Ready, DirectX 10, w/ HDTV-7, Dual DVI-I (comes with Crysis) for $360

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 750 SATA

Case & PSU: Antec 900 & corsair 520hx.90.99

Optical Drive: LG GSA-H62NK 18X Super Multi drive

Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM

Sound Card: (might wait on this to see if I really need it) Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Already have an 18.1" Cornea monitor and 46" Samsung DLP TV with the cables to connect to the graphics card. Is this set-up okay for what I want? Also, would this build be cheaper, but run better than an alienware desktop? Should I also get a Zalman 9500 for cpu cooling?

[AFMedic]

I guess I'm going to go with the artic cooling freezer 7 pro.

Which video card is better for gaming: the evga ge-force 8800gts 512-P3-N841-A3 or the 640-P2-N829-A3 (ssc)?

Is there a tech info thread in these forums? Maybe I haven't searched long enough, but I'd like a how-to on how to clean the processor with alcohol and apply the therma paste on there. I'm a noobie and don't want to screw anything up, but I also don't want to pay someone to do the work for me. I take pride in putting my own things together. :D I guess I could always youtube or google it.

[iiiprimeiii]

removal: http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274/4

apply: http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_route_step2intelas5.html

:D

[Jamie Nixx]

The Arctic Freezer 7 comes with its own thermal paste applied and in most cases it has been actually proven to lower temps even more than if Arctic silver was applied.

You won't need to do anything, just put the cooler on, thats it.

[iiiprimeiii]

The pre-applied grease is even better than AS5.

Clean the CPU with neat alcohol or a special cleaner.

you told me i should still clean cpu anyways???? so with new processor i wont have to??? now im confused:confused:

[Jamie Nixx]

You don't have to, but it just removes any grime or dust that may interfere with the contact between the heatsink and the CPU.

[chunkylover53]

You could give it a once over with a lint free cloth and some 90%+ isopropyl alcohol, but only if you get fingerprints all over it like I did putting it in :o.

[AFMedic]

Awesome, thanks! I just read them. Seems like I really have to be careful when applying this stuff. Did you have any problems with it? Was it pretty easy for you?

[AFMedic]

okay, so give the cpu a wipedown with isopropyl and attach the freezer and that's it? am i good to go on the build? or are there better items for a gaming/music/movie build?

[AFMedic]

so basically latex free gloves and a hair net and i'm good to go with the artic freezer.

[chunkylover53]

I used Arctic Silver 5 and a Zalman 9700, and to be honest I worked myself up into a frenzy over how hard I expected it to be. Terms like "thermal compound" were a bit scary to me up until the moment I got started on it...

Then about 15 minutes later I couldn't believe it was done... as I stood there in my makeshift "clean room" with everything but operating room scrubs :o:o:o. In other words, take your time and it'll be no problem.

Jamie should give you advice on those video cards.

[AFMedic]

okay, doesn't sound so bad then. i live in a tiny dorm room though, so my working area will probably be my bed. haha