Looking to build a PC.

[Mannlich]

I knew the idea of airflow would come up. To me airflow is a desperate selling point for case designers who struggle to make a difference. I have yet to see a convincing benchmark or research that shows that airflow is different from case to case or actually makes a difference (unless it has an unusual design or form factor). Like I said in my previous posts, I have run computers from modern cases, old cases, cases with no panels and no case, and I have never seen a significant temperature difference. The basic concept of airflow never really changes. Air comes in from the front, air goes out in the back. Older and cheaper cases work perfectly as long as they stick to this concept and have enough room.

The only input I have to offer on the situation is based on personal experience. I have two setups in my workshop with very similar hardware. Both setups run ASUS P5Q-E motherboards with Intel Q9450 chips in them. Both setups use the bolt through Xigmatek HDT S1283 cooler with a xigmatek fan mounted to the cooler. Both processors are overclocked to 3.6ghz with less than 0.025v difference between the two chips. One setup runs a GTX 260, the other an 8800gtx, both which throw a good amount of heat. Both setups are in the same room under the same temperature conditions. One setup is in an Antec twleve hundred case (3 front intake fans, 2 rear exhaust, 1 side intake, 1 top exhaust) the other is in a Coolermaster ATCS 840 (1 front intake, 1 rear exhaust, 2 top exhaust fans). Both cases are comporable in size. The temperatures of the system running in the Antec 1200 case are anywhere from 7-10C less (both idle and load temps) than those found in the ATCS 840. Again, I know everyone has their own personal experiences which may indicate otherwise, but in this particular instance, I would attribute the temperature difference to airflow.

Also, speaking from personal experience, if the OP decides to go with an i7 920 setup, the chips certainly do run warm. Especially with the Intel stock cooler. I know there were some rumors circulating about the i7 920 being phased out, but looking at Intel's roadmap plans, the chips is shown all the way through 2010. I can understand why intel would have phased out the chips in between the 920 and the 975, but it looks like the i7 920 will be around for quite some time. I apologize for going off topic.

http://www.nordichardware.com/news,9730.html

[RAID 0]

Unless you are an audiophile, you won't need the 89$ sound card. These days the mobo's onboard audio is really good (8 channel audio, good quality).

I disagree. My X-Fi really made a difference in games, as well as my music sounding SO much better.

[RPDL]

The only input I have to offer on the situation is based on personal experience. I have two setups in my workshop with very similar hardware. Both setups run ASUS P5Q-E motherboards with Intel Q9450 chips in them. Both setups use the bolt through Xigmatek HDT S1283 cooler with a xigmatek fan mounted to the cooler. Both processors are overclocked to 3.6ghz with less than 0.025v difference between the two chips. One setup runs a GTX 260, the other an 8800gtx, both which throw a good amount of heat. Both setups are in the same room under the same temperature conditions. One setup is in an Antec twleve hundred case (3 front intake fans, 2 rear exhaust, 1 side intake, 1 top exhaust) the other is in a Coolermaster ATCS 840 (1 front intake, 1 rear exhaust, 2 top exhaust fans). Both cases are comporable in size. The temperatures of the system running in the Antec 1200 case are anywhere from 7-10C less (both idle and load temps) than those found in the ATCS 840. Again, I know everyone has their own personal experiences which may indicate otherwise, but in this particular instance, I would attribute the temperature difference to airflow.

http://www.nordichardware.com/news,9730.html

I was referring to the cases themselves and not the fans that come with them, so I guess you're right in that respect.

I disagree. My X-Fi really made a difference in games, as well as my music sounding SO much better.

Unlike CPUs, hard drives and GPUs, sound cards' value cannot really be quantified. An on-the-spot auditory comparison is the only trustworthy way of knowing which audio solution to buy. Maybe it would be best to simply wait and see if the integrated audio is satisfactory before purchasing a sound card.

[Mannlich]

I was referring to the cases themselves and not the fans that come with them, so I guess you're right in that respect.

I am confused by what you mean. I am referring to the actual cases themselves as well. It is the build of the individual case that gives it the ability to add the increased airflow. The twelve hundred obviously comes built to handle many more fans than the ATCS 840. Are you talking about comparing cases which only offer one intake fan and one exhaust fan?

[KatGamer]

I read someone elses post on here, I have to weld stuff on??

No, you shouldn't have to. The most you'll have to do is attach the CPU to the mobo using thermal paste.

I agree that you need to tell us what you're doing with this system. For example, the most technologically advanced game I'll be playing on the system I'm building is The Sims 3. If you're going to play intense-system-requirements games, or no games at all (or for that matter doing graphic design), that will affect the advice you're given here.