So I'm building a new PC...

[Loki]

Apoligies if this should go elsewhere. I thought this was probably the most appropriate place since it's not about anything specific.

Although I've always been fairly enthusiastic about computers this will be the first one I'm building from scratch and I just want to be sure on a few details.

After a lengthy and rigorous decision process here are the primary components I've decided on:

Motherboard:
ASUS Commando P965
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/126252

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4ghz)
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=112706

Graphics Card:
BFG 8800 GTS OC 320MB
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=125183

RAM:
OCZ 2GB Kit (2x1GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 CL 4-4-4-15 PLATINUM XTC
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=116755

HDD:
Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB SATA II 7200RPM 16MB Cache (Caviar model)
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=124228

DVD drive:
Samsung SH-S183 SATA 18x DVD±RW/RAM
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=127260

Power Supply:
Antec NEO HE500GB 500W Modular PSU With 80mm Low Speed/noise Fan
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/shopping/index.html?rb=28340979682&action=c2hvd2NhcnQ=

Case:
Casecom Black/Silver Mid Tower Case Front Blue LED 120mm Fan - With Side Window
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=115480

And here are the extra components for general pimping out/improvements:

Fan controller:
Scythe Kama-Meter Multifunction Fan Controller - 5.25" Bay
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=128599

Card reader:
Extra Value Black Internal 3.5" All-In-One Card Reader With USB2.0 Port
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=119751

Lighting:
Extra Value 12" Blue Dual Cold Cathode Kit
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=51686

CPU cooler:
Zalman CNPS 9700 LED
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/120876

Additional fan for side window:
Ebuyer Extra Value Case Fan 8cm with Blue LED's
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=43059

First off my few niggling concerns:

1) The width of the case is only 18.5cm, apparently I need at least 15cm clearance above the motherboard for the Zalman 9700. Is this cutting it too fine? Or is it just not going to fit.

2) Is fitting a side fan actually going to help cooling or just disrupt airflow through the system?

3) The Commando has windows utilities for fan contols, is the external fan controller a bit too... excessive?

Any general opinions on the system are also welcomed and suggestions for alternatives to components are appreciated.

 

[ROFLCOPTERNICK]

I would go with SeaGate as apposed to Western Digital.

 

[NicePants42]

I'd stay with that Western Digital, it's supposedly very quiet and fast.

Your PSU should be the Corsair 520HX or 620HX. See Jonnyguru.com for details.

I would not recommend the Kama meter if you think you might use more than one fan per channel. I have read numerous reports about these things burning out, and the personally had one burn out on me as a result of *gasp!* trying to run two fans off a single channel. As un-aesthetically pleasing as it may be, I'd suggest a $15 sunbeam rheobus.

 

[Merlin]

Case

I would recomend the Thermaltake Armor series case, I have two now ( Black and Silver ) with 25m side fan ( huge )
Plenty of room to hide wires and to install the ( almost 11 inch ) video card.
It has front fan and two rear fans, also a top fan.
One rear fan is to cool the hard drives, would work great with the Zalmon cooler.
Plenty of air flow and low noise.
I even have the silverstone 1000w PSU and it fit right in.

Deckard/Merlin

 

[Loki]

As much as the armor series is tempting I move my PC at least once a fortnight so something too large/heavy is a no-no. As for the PSU I've changed my mind to an OCZ StealthXStream 600W, more power for less cost and from reviews it seems pretty nice. I'll take a look at those other PSU's anyway. I'm hearing much better things about the WD HDD's than the Seagate ones (especially the WD Caviar series) so I'll probably stick with that. As for the kama meter I had decided against it in favor of the Commandos software fan controller as that way I can keep it automatic when I'm not arround. As for the fan channels I probably wouldn't be running more than 4 fans in the case anyway so it wouldn't have been an issue.

Without the fan controller though I'm left itching for something to stick in that spare drive bay. Anyone got any suggestions for some kind of accsessory to shove in there (it doesn't have to be terribly useful, just snazzy).

 

[Merlin]

Creative

The Creative X Fi is on sale for the surround sound pplaying games,
I don't think I could go back to just stereo.
In the rear speakers you hear those sneaking up on you

Deckard
AKA Merlin

 

[Merlin]

Armor series

The Armor Aluminum is lighter than anything I have seen and you need the room inside for good air flow.

Lighter than most midtowers

 

[Loki]

May be lighter but it's still larger and harder to move, thanks anyway but I'm probably gonna stick with a mid-tower. As for the Creative XFI I just can't justify dropping £50 on a sound card without having a surround sound setup. I'm not really an audiophile anyway.