dx5 support is like torture.... Most things revert to just a color.
Turning that fade distance up would be nice, because on a dx7 card it is really short.
Only point to a 6600GT would be for a PCI-Express/SLI setup. Having the SLI, two 6600GT are the same price or cheaper than a PCI-Express 6800GT, and having more performance. Along with just getting one, and a second one being a good upgrade. There is no good reason to get the AGP version, I...
When he says "90nm", that is the same thing as being the "winchester" core. Which is definately a very good processor series, even if you don't overclock. I would choose a different motherboard also, but I would prefer an Asus A8V Deluxe.
Maxtors aren't very reliable, it is a new hardrive so just return it.
Get a Western Digital or Seagate, Never had a Seagate fail, had a Western Digital fail, but everyone says WD is a better choice.