CustomComputer... advice needed

Hey guys! I decided to build a computer and have a budget for the actual system set at around $2,900. This is what I've compiled so far:

Case: NZXT NEMESIS

Motherboard: ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX

Processor: probably one of the new AMDs when they come out or just an Athlon fx-55

Harddrive: 10,000 RPM Raptor

Videocard: ATI ALL-IN-WONDER Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X

Soundcard: CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum

CD/DVD Burners: dual NEC ND-3520A Black

Liquid Cooling: THERMALTAKE Aquarius III A1681 Liquid Cooling

Power Supply: THERMALTAKE W0049 RUD ATX12V 680W Power Supply


Now heres where I have my main question: should I go with 2 gigs Kingston or Corsair RAM? Also, what do you guys think of my harddrive, case, and power supply choices?
 
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As far as memory goes- I'm not a big fan of the high-price Kingston and others, I've had alot of luck w/ the cheaper Mushkin and others, but on the other hand I budgeted like $500. I think your psu is plenty beefy to handle your system, and I could deal w/ a h/d like that:) Your case is def. cool lookin; I look the tool less rails, they're really handy. Especially nice when you like to switch around your optical drives alot like me:) This looks like a pretty sweet set up to me, I wouldn't mind owning it!
 
ide get that raptor and also another hdd for storage and like superchild said, that psu is way too much for what u need, otherwise nice setup
 
Thanks for your feedback so far.

How many watts would you recommend for the PSU? And this probably sounds stupid, but how exactly do you use a backup drive?
 
+5V@50A +3.3V@28A +12V1@15A +12V2@15A +12V3@8A -5V@1A -12V@1A +5VSB@2A
Very nice PSU there :)

As for the watercooler, you might want a better waterblock (and im not sure about the tubing diameter)
 
Id have a look at Panaflow TT for waterblocks (some other names are Dangerden, Koolance and Zalman ... i know im forgetting a major player but im having a series of brain farts right now)
 
Because I'm a beginner who is as close as possible to being brain dead without actually being braindead right now, what system exactly would you recommend?
 
Because I'm a beginner who is as close as possible to being brain dead without actually being braindead right now, what system exactly would you recommend?
I dont reccomend any specific setup really ... custom is my route :)
 
Please tellme it wouldn't cost toooo too much
Perhaps you should stay away from watercooling from the startup? Getting a decent setup is gonna be a bit on the expensive side and will take some reading and research :)
 
I'm set with anything that would keep my computer from going loco on me. Someone had mentioned something about a backup hard drve. How exactly would that work?
 
I'm set with anything that would keep my computer from going loco on me
Force air cooling should be sufficient.

someone had mentioned something about a backup hard drve. how exactly would that work ?
buy new HDD and then either (a) set it up as a raid1 see the RAID 101) or (b) just manually backup the data to that second drive.
 
I saw you recommended the nForce3/4 motherboard over the A8N in another thread...
Hehe which "other thread" theres 12,000+ to choose from ;)

ASUS's K8 boards, while good ... are nowhere near expected (i.e., just look at the class leading performance offered by their K7 boards and P4 boards ... their K8 boards just dont match up). The only exception would be the A8V as it was (IMO) one of the better boards of its series .... but then again that series (Via chipset) isnt really all that great to start with so its a minor victory :)
 
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