After reading around about the new Core 2 Duo's I decided I wanted one so got rid of my old AMD machine and build a new one!

Specs:
Case: Thermaltake Mozart TX
PSU: Corsair HX 620W (ATX2.2 Modular)
Motherboard: Asus P5W-DH Deluxe
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E660 @ 3.2ghz
CPU Cooler: Scythe Ninja Plus Revision B Heatpipe Cooler
Memory: Corsair 2GB DDR2 XMS2 Dominator PC2-6400 (4-4-4-12)
Graphics: BFG GeForce 8800 GTS OC2 640MB (580MHz Core, 1700MHz DDR3 Memory)
Sound: Onboard Realtek High Definition Audio
Optical Drive: Samsung (TSSTcorp) SH-183LBEBN DVD±RW Dual Layer (SATA)
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar 500GB SATA2
Front Display: iMON UltraBay / OEM 3" Card Reader
Case Cooling: 5x12cm fans (and still extremely quiet!)
Monitors: Hyundai 19" @ 1440x990; 26" HDTV @ 1360x768
Speakers: Creative Inspire 5.1
OS: nLite'd Windows XP Pro SP2 patched with MCE 2005

Overall I'm very happy with the end result, although I did have a few problems ; I had to remove the onboard wireless adapter and connect the card reader to this header instead as the cable was far too short (or the case is far too big!) and I also had a bit of trouble figuring out how to setup the SATA DVD Drive in the BIOS too. I'm impressed with how easy these chips are to overclock too. I've got it clocked at 3.2ghz from the standard 2.4ghz on stock vcore voltage and with temps around 23c idle and 45c at load

I'm planning on installing a Creative X-Fi sound card and a 150GB WD Raptor at some point soon, as well as 2GB more memory if I decide to upgrade to Vista - I evaluated it and was impressed with some aspects (mainly the new Media Center), but XP will do me fine for a little longer












Thanks for looking

Nice system and especially the case, I hadn't seen that one before.

The angle at which the pics were taken was not very good though.

Getting an X-Fi and some nice headphones or better speakers would indeed improve the experience.

Thanks

Yeah, the case is nearly 3ft tall so had to angle some pics to get it all in and the others I was trying to be "arty" lol

Well I have an Audigy 2 ZS Plat Pro in my drawer but I prefer the options/useabilty of the software with the onboard over the crappy Audigy 2 software, which doesn't have as much flexibilty in my opinion.

Couple of straight pics:




(and a not-so-straight crappy blurry pic!)

Man! I'm surprised you didn't have to use some type of bracket to hold up that trump tower like heatsink.

looks like an amazing machine....im planning on building a C2D at the end of this month......but not with a case like that LOL

Looks good, quite similar to what I built back in December (see sig). But I'd take those ASUS covers off of your North and South bridge heatsinks.

Man that is one )(&%*&^$ HUGE heatsink!

Dang fine system though...

I hope I could get a rig like that someday... *dreams*

Whats the total cost of that rig?

Thanks

The heatsink isn't that heavy really but I'm still weary of it falling off or something lol.

cost of bits:
Case - £140.99
Motherboard - £140.99
CPU - £182.11
CPU Cooler - £35.24
Thermal Paste - £4.69
PSU - £99.86
Memory - £202.09 (Now £164 grr!)
Graphics Card - £276.11
Hard Drive - £117.49
DVD-Drive - £24.66
iMon Ultra Bay - £68.14
Card Reader - £5
WinXP Pro OEM - £49
Total - £1346

The case isn't to everyone's taste but I thought I'd be different, plus it fits perfectly under my desk lol

I think the case is pretty nice. I have a standard Lian-Li atx case, and it's a nightmare in wire management. Gettin way too crowed in there.

BTW that heatsink is a BEAST!

that heatsink is a beast! ive installed it on 4 comps, including mine
have any of you cut your hand up trying to install it? i have all 4 times... especially on mine b/c its the original one with the insane mounting system where you need to use 10000pds of force to get it on.