That Time of the Year Again

[Dr. V]

I'd always recommend OCZ GameXStream PSUs. I've used countless amounts of them in many many systems, and they're all super solid, plethora of cables, but amazing beasts.

In my opinion, the Antec P182 is the way to go still, and will be for a while to come. With all the cables the GXS has, it's the perfect case. I have a 600W one, and it's murder to route them all. I'm grabbing a P182 ASAP. Deciding whether I should slap another 2GBs in my system or grab the case first. Looks like I'm gonna play it safe and smart, and go with the case.

Also, if you can find one, grab the ECS version of the 680i motherboard. They support 1333MHz FSB for the processors that are coming our way shortly, and DDR2 will definitely be mainstream for at least another year.

Like previously mentioned, any of the 3 companies are awesome choices. My favourite will always be XFX to tell the truth, but I own a BFG right now - extremely solid. Customer service is great, too.

I think you've got, now, a solid understanding on a vast array of parts and technologies to make the best decision based on you, which is always what it ultimately comes down to.

[Tormentor]

Great input, guys. First off, an X38 motherboard. After researching some Computex '07 coverage, the DDR3 shouldn't be a problem as most companies will be releasing X38 boards with DDR2 compatability as well. As for the power supply, it seems as the OCZ GamerXstream is the clear winner all around. However, I'd like to know if anybody thinks it could be worth it in the future if I go for the 850w model? Lastly of all, the P182 looks like another solid choice for a case, but I'm not too crazy about the steel construction and plastic bits, should this be anything to worry about? Thanks again, this thread has been nothing but absolute help.

EDIT: Forgot about the monitor comment, I'm running a 20" widescreen as 1680x1050, so I think I could benefit quite a bit from a GTX

[Elysium]

About the P182, it uses steel/plastic/steel sides for sound damping purposes. it's a little heavy, but it's a good case.

[One4yu2c]

With regards to PC Power & Cooling (beating a dead horse at this point), it should be noted that their Silencer line is actually built by Seasonic.

Originally Posted by Tormentor

However, I'd like to know if anybody thinks it could be worth it in the future if I go for the 850w model?

You're not likely to need 850w anytime soon, but given the ultra affordable $151 shipped price tag (after rebate), go for it.

Originally Posted by Tormentor

Lastly of all, the P182 looks like another solid choice for a case, but I'm not too crazy about the steel construction and plastic bits, should this be anything to worry about?

I recently reviewed the P182 and am using it to house my system, but will be replacing it soon. While it's great for a low noise system, the cooling leaves much to be desired, and the cabling setup has some niggling flaws, particularly if you plan on using two videocards (look on page two of THIS thread). On top of it all, it's a bit cramped inside, and you'll need to remove the middle hard drive cage to accommodate an 8800GTX videocard, forcing you to install the hard drive(s) in the bottom bay without the aid of an intake fan. It's just not in the same league as the Silverstones you were previously considering, and not something I'd recommend unless specifically building a low noise system.

Rich linked a few cases that I would also point towards, including the Antec 900 and Thermaltake Armor with 25cm side fan. The Gigabyte Aurora 3D also comes highly recommended, we scored it a 93 and it's the only chassis I can recall to score a perfect 10 in Maximum PC.