First Time Build, Advice Please

[Hotspur]

First I would like to thank all the great members here who have given advice to others that I have read. After doing so I think I have composed the machine I would like to build and here it is:

Processor:
Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

Motherboard:
GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

Video Card:
EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130318

Case:
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024&Tpk=Sonata%2bIII%2b500

Memory:
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098

DVD Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827131050&Tpk=dru840a

Hard Drive:
Recycled, 250 GB

The monitor I will be using is a 32" Toshiba 720p T.V. with VGA and HDMI inputs and a 6 ms response time.

Mouse is a Razer Diamondback and keyboard will be a generic Dell model.

I would be much obliged if people could give me the limitations of this machine, make sure everything is compatible, or give me "constructive criticism" as to what needs to be fixed. Thanks a lot in advance!

[bighoo93]

I have seen reviews on Newegg and elsewhere that have suggested that the long video cards like the 8800GT do not fit well if at all in the Antec Sonata III case. I can't verify this myself, just passing along some comments I recall seeing.

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/246957-28-sonata-q6600-8800gt
http://forums.pcper.com/showthread.php?t=450661

[Hotspur]

Thanks bighoo93, are there any other cases that you would recommend? The main reason i chose the Sonata III is because of the built in EarthWatts 500 PSU, if I don't need 500 watts then I would be willing to explore other options.

[bighoo93]

Thanks bighoo93, are there any other cases that you would recommend? The main reason i chose the Sonata III is because of the built in EarthWatts 500 PSU, if I don't need 500 watts then I would be willing to explore other options.

I can't recommend cases, I am only doing my first build this weekend (and I am using the Sonata III because I have the 8600GT planned, which is smaller). There are quite a few recommended in the case modding forum, I think. The Antic 900, for example.

[lakeleman]

I think it is a good idea to tell people what your PC is building for (gaming, video/ photo/media editing, high performance workstation....) if you want to get very constrictive and specific advice/critiques.

[RickyTick]

Here's a video review of the Sonata III. Its a little dated, and Antec has made some minor changes since this, but it still applies.
http://www.3dgameman.com/content/view/8695/48/
Rodney Reynolds cracks me up. :D

The Sonata III is a little small and it doesn't have a removable motherboard tray. The 8800 series card will fit, but its tight. (According to what I've read)
If you're interested in a case that's more designed for gaming, its hard to beat the Antec 900. It doesn't come with a power supply. If you add a Corsair HX520 to a 900 you'd be looking at around $200 give or take. I've seen the 900 below $70 and the HX520 below $100.

Just something to think about.

[Hotspur]

Thanks a lot Ricky, the information about the Sonata III and the 8800 GT is the same I saw, it had just enough room to fit.

Regarding what the computer will be used for, it will be used for gaming but I am not a super hardcore have to have 90 fps on Crysis Very High AA setting. I'll probably play Supreme Commander and get Starcraft 2. I'll also be playing all the regular first-person shooters, Crysis probably included. Other than that it won't be used for media storage or anything like that. I have another PC and a laptop so I"ll be using those mostly for school work and this new system for fun times.

[Barrister73]

Just keep in mind that the simple games of today get upgraded. We just don't want to see you spend money on a case today that you need to replace in a couple years because a video card you need in the future won't fit. You never know when Atari is going to add enhanced graphics and quantum equations to a new on-line version of Pac-Man.

MRR

[RickyTick]

I don't know if you have budget constraints, but you've listed out all very high end components with one exception, case/psu. For about an additional $100, you could have a better case and better psu. Just my thoughts.

[Hotspur]

Well the funny thing about that (case issue) is that that is the one component that I had prior to planning this system. It's the reason I went Intel instead of AMD, for the smaller power needs and lower temps.

[RickyTick]

OK that makes sense. The Sonata III is fine. Its just not as "high-end" as the rest of your components, but it will work just fine. I think I saw where you could add an extra fan to the front of the case. You might want to consider that somewhere down the road.

[bighoo93]

OK that makes sense. The Sonata III is fine. Its just not as "high-end" as the rest of your components, but it will work just fine. I think I saw where you could add an extra fan to the front of the case. You might want to consider that somewhere down the road.

Why would an intake fan help much? Air coming in = air going out no matter what. So an exhaust fan will pull air through the front. An intake fan can't pull in more air than what you can expel. Or is it that it recirculates the air internally a lot better? Sonata III does not have any exhaust vents on the sides or top.

[RickyTick]

I think you answered your own question.
Air in = air out.
If you add an intake fan to push more air in, then more air has to go out.