Hi, Im new to this forum and this is my first post, so first of all a big hello to everybody!

I have decided to take the plunge and build my own PC for the first time and I have some questions related to the configuration I am looking at and some others I hope you can help me with. I have been fiddling around with computers for a long time, but basically a newb when it comes to building.

The PC will be used for besides the usual office utilities, internet etc. for video/photo editing and gaming (I don’t intend to overclock). I would like the build to last me a few years and be upgradeable. I have a budget of about 1100 euros (about $1500-1600).

Case: Antec Three Hundred
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-EX58-UD5 LGA 1366 Intel X58, as possible alternatives also looking at the ASUS PT6 SE or ASUS P6T Deluxe.
CPU: Intel Core i7 920 2.66GHz
RAM: OCZ Obsidian Triple Channel 3 x 2 Go DDR3-1600 PC3-12800 (OCZ3OB1600LV6GK)
Graphics card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 275, either the ZOTAC GeForce GTX 275 - 896 Mo DDR3 - PCI-Express 2.0 (ZT-275E3KB-FSP) or the ASUS GeForce ENGTX275 - 896 Mo DDR3 - PCI-Express 2.0 (90-C1CMW0-M0UAY00Z)
Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar Green WD10EADS - 1 TB - 7200 RPM - 32 Mo - SATA-300 or the SEAGATE Barracuda 7200.12 - 1 To - 7200rpm - 32 Mo - SATA (ST31000528AS)
Optical Drive: Samsung SH-S223Q 22X DVD R/W burner with LightScribe, as a possible alternative the LG GH22NP20

Also looking at installing a WiFi adapter, the D-LINK Xtreme N PCI Express Desktop Adapter DWA-556

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit version

My questions related to the configuration are the following:

1. Are the different components compatible with one another? Any suggested improvements or views on the alternatives I am also looking at?
2. CPU: there are apparently different versions, Nehalem and Bloomfield(?) and another coming along the Lynnfield, but I think that one uses another socket. What should I be looking for?
3. CPU fan: I am looking at getting the boxed version of the processor, which I believe comes with a fan/cooler. Is this ok or should I be looking for another fan/cooler?
4. Do I need a floppy disk drive? Have heard that some hardware still comes with the drivers on floppy disk, or am I behind my time?
5. Case: not sure I have made the right choice so would be very grateful for any advice (have also been looking at cases from Cooler Master (e.g. the HAF 922 or Centurion 590) and Aerocool). Btw if I have a dedicated sound card can I use the front panel headphone plugs?

Another issue I have been struggling with is where to buy the components. I live in Switzerland so I can’t order from, for example, Newegg or TigerDirect since they only deliver in the USA. I have also tried with Amazon UK and Amazon France and for a number of components they will not deliver abroad (as well as most of the sites in the shipping directory). Of the Swiss based sites I have found, the only one that seems to stock most components is the Swiss site of Pixmania.com. My questions are:

6. Does anyone have any experience with Pixmania, are they reliable?
7. Any alternative sources anyone could suggest?

Sorry for all the questions. Many thanks in advance for any answers and advice that can be offered!

Those will all work together.

If you want to upgrade the processor in the future stick with the X58 stuff that you've got. The Gulftown chips (6core) will be on the 1366 socket.

Out of those two HDDs get the Seagate. As for the GPU, as far as I can tell they are the same in terms of specs, so there should be no problem in getting the cheapest of the two.
You don't need a floppy drive because usually you can download drivers or they come on a CD.
There's nothing wrong with the case you chose, and there's no need to spend more on a case for looks unless you have a mountain of money to spend on your system.
You don't need a sound card, as onboard sound is usually quite good these days, so you can ditch the sound card if you want to save money.

How much do the components you've selected come to atm?

i would suggest getting a HD 4890 instead of a GTX 275. from newegg, the best 4890 is 100 bucks cheaper than the average 275, and the two cards have similar performance. if you get an overclocked 4890 which is the best 4890 im talking about, its not that much more expensive than a standard 4890. alternatively you can get two standard 4890s in crossfire, and the performance gain would be larger.

by the way, you dont need a 750 watt power supply. you can go for 600 watts which is still more than enough for your system.

regarding optical drives, just get the cheapest one, unless you need the lightscribe or faster speeds of the ridiculously expensive drives.

Many thanks for your feedback and suggestions, very much appreciated.

I have been advised that the ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 is a more stable mobo for the X58 chipset, any thoughts?

The total costs of the components I mention, minus the sound card, come in at slighty under 1200 euros. Prices in Europe are more expensive than the US. Also newegg only delivers in the US

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I have been advised that the ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 is a more stable mobo for the X58 chipset, any thoughts?

yeah but dont fork out so much money if you dont need the extra stuff with the motherboard. you can save a lot of money by purchasing a mobo that only supports what you need and nothing else.

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yeah but dont fork out so much money if you dont need the extra stuff with the motherboard. you can save a lot of money by purchasing a mobo that only supports what you need and nothing else.

ok what motherboard would you suggest? new computer is mainly for video editing and gaming. Thanks

this is the cheapest motherboard that supports LGA 1366 and DDR3 1600 mhz without overclocking. its a good board.

thanks

no problem man.

are you considering taking any of my other suggestions onboard? about swapping the video card? the damn bastards have deactivated the 4890 that i always suggest, so my new suggestion is the 4850x2, which is a dual processor on one card. Link. This baby will beat even my favorite 4890 for a little extra. the power supply minimum for a system with this card is 650 watts, so your power supply can stay at 750 watts.

thanks again! will definitely go for the 4890 (maybe this one http://www.brack.ch/tabid/294/Default.aspx?ID=113119, sorry its in German) or the 4850x2 you suggest. Btw how do know if the graphics card is overclocked, or it this something you have to do your self like the CPU? For the mobo don't know yet, want something I can really rely on since if things go wrong I don't know enough about computers to find source of possible problem and then fix it. Also a bit worried about getting the right RAM for the mobo from the qvl. Buying sources are a bit limited were I live.

if the card is advertised as overclocked, then its already done for you, and you dont have to worry about a thing at all. just pop it in like a normal card.

i forgot you were the one with the euros. you might have a site with my favorite 4890 on it. its a video card from HIS with a 965 mhz core clock. if you ever find it, get it, unless the prices are disproportionate to neweggs prices.

ok, this is the closest I could find for the HIS card you mentioned but don't think its the one you meant, only 900Mhz core speed. Its about $35 more expensive than on newegg...
http://www.stegcomputer.ch/shop.asp?prodid=HIS-H489FT1GP

ahh, i guess they must have discontinued that card then. well the bottom line is that the 4850 has even more performance. check that out and compare the prices.

found the 4850x2 here, its about $100 more expensive then newegg, f**king highway robbery........don't know if I want to spend that much