First Build, Specs OK?

[CJS7070]

OK, so I'm in the planning stage of my first PC build, and I basically took the parts of the guide listed here and adapted them. Just wondering if everything will work together, as this is again my first build.

Case: Thermaltake Soprano http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133040

PSU: Corsair 520HX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001&Tpk=520HX

Processor: Intel Core2 Duo E8500 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036

CPU Cooler: Zalman CNPS9500 http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118003&ATT=35-118-003&CMP=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-CPU+Cooling-_-Zalman+Tech+Co.++Ltd-_-35118003

MB: ASUS P5K Pro http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131275&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-Motherboards+-+Intel-_-ASUS-_-13131275

RAM: Crucial Ballistix 1G PC2-8500 x4 http://www.crucial.com/store/affiliateredirect.asp?IMODULE=BL12864AA1065&AID=5032657&PID=862686

Video Card: EVGA GeForce 9800 GTX http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130350

HDD: WD SATA 500gB http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

Optical Drive: Lite-On DVD-RW with LightScribe http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106073


Comments, suggestions, anything else like that?

[The Wise Monkey]

Several members of these forums have had issues with ASUS motherboards and the new E8xxx range of CPUs, so you may want to consider something like the Abit IP35 Pro - an excellent alternative motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127030R

What OS are you going to be using? You will need a 64-bit version in order to utilise all of the RAM that you listed.

Apart from that, everything looks great - that will be one sweet rig. :)

[CJS7070]

Thanks, I will look into that alternative board. The project is currently on hold until I can get the funds together (hopefully this summer).

I was planning on using Windows XP Professional x86, but if x64 will let me use all that RAM without problems (which is what concerns me), then I will use that. How much RAM would I be able to use on an x86 infrastructure?

Thanks!

[The Wise Monkey]

32-bit OSs only allow up to 3GB, and for this you have to change the boot file by adding an extra parameter. There is a Microsoft article that gives an example:
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/platform/server/PAE/PAEmem.mspx

So you can have all 4GB installed, but only a max of ~3GB will be usable.

To be honest, you are better off going with Vista 64-bit now anyway - XP 64-bit has loads of driver issues.

[CJS7070]

Hi again, I had a few changes that I thought I'd run by people who had experience to see if it would all work together.

I was wondering about switching to the P5E3 board, and then getting some DDR3 RAM. Would this all be compatible?

Thanks again!

[RickyTick]

Its a pretty expensive motherboard, and the DDR3 ram is pretty expensive too. I guess other than price, the X48 is a great board, and it has wifi.

[CJS7070]

Thanks :)

Yeah it is an expensive board, but it'd probably work out the same because I'd have to buy a PCI WiFi card.

As for the DDR3, I've found some decent sticks that are roughly the same price.

I can't wait to get this together and see the performance on it...