Advice on new PC build?

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I intend to build myself a new PC in the next few months, mostly for gaming and media related activities (watching videos).

I've picked out and priced the following components. I live in Ireland so I'll use Euro for the prices and bear in mind that I probably won't be able to order from American sites.

CPU: AMD 64 X2 6400+ Black Edition (170 Euro)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790X-DS4 (130 Euro) or Asustek - M3A32-MVP Deluxe/Wifi ATX AM2 790FX (190 Euro)
Memory: Patriot 2 GB DDR2-6400 800 MHZ 4-4-4-12 timings (65 Euro: already purchased)
PSU: OCZ StealthXStream 500W (55 Euro: already purchased)
Case: Antec Solo (85 Euro)
Video Card: ATI Radeon HD 3870 512 MB PCI-Ex (210 Euro)
HD: Seagate Barracuda ES 7200 RPM SATA.300 32 MB buffer (80 Euro)
Monitor: Philips - 22" LCD WSXGA, with HDMI & SPDI, 1680 x 1050, Dual input - VGA & DVI (315 Euro)
Cooling: Zalman CNPS8000 Ultra Quiet Low Profile CPU Cooler (48 Euro)

Plus Mouse, Keyboard and Optical Drive

Any advice or comments are welcome. This is my second build.

Looks pretty sweet. Are you planning on doing much overclocking? If not, you could probably get a cheaper cpu without an unlocked multiplier. But judging by the fact that you listed an aftermarket cpu cooler, you're gonna do a little bit of that.

lovebat, I dont know any modern computers that dont need a big CPU heatsink.

I would be getting the Zalman anyway as the stock AMD heatsinks are poor. I will be doing a bit of overclocking, not too much.

The stock heatsinks aren't that bad. I still have one on my pc from a couple years back, and I overclocked the hell outa that Venice Athlon64 3000+. Not that I wouldn't get a nicer heatsink if I had the $, but I'm of the mindset that you should blow all your money on the GPU and monitor.

Maybe you have had better luck with Ati video cards ? I would go with nvindia less crashes. And make sure you get low sound exhaust fans as well say 20 db each that and 120 mm fans with 4 or more blades they make less sound.

If I was buying a new PC now, I'd be opting for an Intel dual core or quad core CPU. You do have to pay a bit more in most cases (in Aus at least) but I think they deliver better bang for buck overall, especially if you want to OC (this also means getting a different motherboard from the one you selected of course). I'd also be looking at an Nvidia 8800 GT or the new GTS over a 3870. Again, you have to pay a bit more, but I think it's generally worth it. I haven't been real happy with AMD/ATI's products when compared to their rivals since the merger.

I thought I'd update this since my build has changed rather drastically. I've decided to go with the new Intel Wolfdale CPU, specifically the E8200 which I will overclock. I've also changed the graphics card to the newly released Gainward 9600GT, I'm getting this model as it is two slot for better cooling and has an HDMI port. Obviously the motherboard has to change so I've gone with the P35 chipset, the Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3. I've also decided to get the 150 GB Raptor.

The Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 is only a bit more expensive and is apparently a very good chip for overclocking. An 8800GT is better value than the 9600GT imho as well, though the 9600GT is still good bang for buck and has a couple of extra features the 8x00 series don't have.

No. you have to pay a little more for that. None of the Intel chipsets support SLI anyway so unless you want Crossfire, you have to get an Nvidia chipset.

how much is your current configuration?

There are Core 2 Duo chipsets (775) that support SLI, that's what I intend to buy, an Asus+nvidia one. That or a laptop (SLI too).

I got the motherboard on eBay so I saved a bit there. Overall not including the monitor the price is about €600 ($900). I bought all the components on the internet. You would probably be able to buy a similar system for a lot less in the US as prices are a lot lower there than in Europe, I don't know what price are like in Mexico.

I bought a 512mb 8800GT today from overclockers for only £129.24

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showprodu ... =GX-071-OK

It'll go back up to its normal price Wednesday. I also picked up a BluRay Rom and DVD rewriter combo. On the 11th Nvidia are release the 9800 cards but I hear they're not going to be any better than the current gen cards.