So I've just ordered parts for a new system build. I've built a system once before, but didn't know a whole lot about software I should install for tweaking, OC monitoring, and general maintenance and such. Help is appreciated. Thanks.

You really do not need software for your OS. all you need to do is google tweaking windows vista, and disableing windows services that are not needed. Go to the website listed below. Also if you need to OC you machine there are plenty of pages on this forum that will help you overclock. If you have a asus motherboard they offer overclocking tools, manual overclocking is a better option.

www.tweakhound.com

Jim R

Study up on performance monitor and logs. MS provides a very detailed tool if you know how to set it up.

"Best Practices", Event viewer, host file, perfmon, are in my top 10

If you want to overclock the system, you do it from the BIOS for stability & best results. Once the settings for your best overclock are locked in place, you hardly have to change them afterwards.

Regarding the OS, there are literally thousands of utilities out there that pretty much do the same thing even though they all claim to tweak better the competition. At best, all you need is one. Unfortunately, everyone seem to have a favorite that they'll swear by. So, you will more than likely have the last say in what you end up with. But to name a few ... there's:

- TweakVista

- Tweak-UAC/

- MZ Vista Force

... And a host of others.

Jabbering Idiots: Everywhere You Look!