Building a new computer? update **please look**

[speed08]

Computer will be used for gaming and internet.

Computer Case - A-Top Z-Alien Black Aluminum PC Gamer Case With 500W PSU & Side window, Model "AT959-BK" -RETAIL
$87.50 ordered


Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Single Full Version OEM $87.99


Memory - Corsair TWINX1024-3200XLPT 1GB Kit DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Xtra-Low Latency Memory w/Platinum Heat Spreader Retail $238.00


Floppy Drive - Sony FD MPF9201121-1/MPF920-Z (Z/121) 6082 1.44MB 3.5in Floppy Disk Drive (Black) $15.00


Video Card - eVGA e-GeForce 6600 GT PCI Express 128MB DDR3 Video Card w/HDTV-Out & DVI Retail $179.99


Processor - AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor Socket 939 Retail $293.00


DVD-ROM - Samsung TS-H352A/WBGH 16X IDE DVD-ROM (Black) $29.99


DVD Burner - Plextor PX-716A 4X Internal Dual Layer DVD Drive Retail $129.99


Sound Card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL
$91.00 - ordered


Motherboard - MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum/SLI nForce4 SLI Athlon 64(FX) Skt939 DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, Gigabit LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail $173.00


Hard Drive - Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS 250GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer $149.00



PSU - PC Power & Cooling 510W Turbo Cool SLI ATX Deluxe Power Supply $239.99



Subtotal » $1714.45







This will be my first time building a computer.

I have a couple of questions.

The components that I have picked - will they all work together?

Is Building a computer hard?

Is there anything you would change?

Anything else I would need?



Any help is appreciated

 

[mechBgon]

This may help with some core knowledge if it's your first time, although I don't have SATA-specific or AMD64-specific stuff yet: http://www.omnicast.net/~tmcfadden/guides/build/index.html

It isn't hard, really. If you run into problems, the Forums are the perfect resource to help you through. I see you've picked a top-quality power supply, that's a good start for any gaming rig

 

[ts3433]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
This may help with some core knowledge if it's your first time, although I don't have SATA-specific or AMD64-specific stuff yet: http://www.omnicast.net/~tmcfadden/guides/build/index.html

:thumbsup: Great resource.

OP: For future reference, please just list the names of all the components you're looking to buy. We would prefer to not have to scroll a lot. (You can fix this right now by editing your post.) I'll scroll through all of that and give my two cents in a minute.

Firstly, I would suggest shopping around at places like ZipZoomFly, MWave, Monarch, and Directron in addition to Newegg. Some of their prices (like on the 3500+ Winchester) are outrageous.

Instead of a cheap no-name case (for $90, no less), I'd have probably gotten something nice like a Lian Li, but there's no changing that right now, I guess.

You're also putting a lot of money in the wrong places (and wasting it in others, too, like with the PCP&C PSU--though it's a nice unit, that's just flat-out overkill). You planned for about $1,200 for the CPU, video, RAM, motherboard, and PSU. For half the price, I can actually get better gaming performance. I'd suggest reading the system buying guide at the top of the forum, for starters.

 

[mechBgon]

I guess I'll add a couple suggestions too:

1) if you're getting the NEC burner, get it with the OEM software for a couple bucks more, so you have some DVD-recording software to use.

2) when you begin setting up the system, first go into the motherboard's BIOS menus and set the memory voltage to 2.8 volts to properly feed that fancy RAM, for stability. Then reboot and let the system go through one POST like that, so it knows to keep those settings. Or just get some Corsair ValueSelect PC3200, for quite a bit less money. You won't notice the difference unless you're going to overclock.

3) Personally, I'd get WinXP Professional Edition, it can be nice to be able to mess with Group Policy and the Security/Permissions in certain situations, and Pro also has a longer patch life with Microsoft because it's the business-class version. Or consider trying the free 360-day trial version of WinXP Pro 64-Bit Edition, which you can download from Microsoft.

4) If you have devices that use memory cards (MP3 player, digital camera, PDA, whatever) then a memory-card reader might be a nice add-on item.

 

[speed08]

Thanks guys

 

[imported_itr]

ditch the expensive ram and power supply. replace the ram with corsair value select and replace the power supply with an enermax power. if you don't plan on using a SLI setup, i don't see the point in buying a sli motherboard. ditch the sli and just get a nforce 4 board. with all that money saved, you can treat yourself to a x850 xt. (MUCH MUCH faster than a single 6600gt)

 

[compusaguy]

That AMD processor is really expensive, and nothing uses 64 bit yet. I'd get a 3.2 Ghz Intel P4 with HT. It's multiprocessor and less expensive.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Downgrade the 3500+ into a 3000+ and upgrade the 6600GT into an X800XL.

Originally posted by: compusaguy
That AMD processor is really expensive, and nothing uses 64 bit yet. I'd get a 3.2 Ghz Intel P4 with HT. It's multiprocessor and less expensive.

Gaming is the last thing you should use an Intel for. AMD pwns Intel for price and speed when it comes to computer games.

 

[imported_itr]

Originally posted by: compusaguy
That AMD processor is really expensive, and nothing uses 64 bit yet. I'd get a 3.2 Ghz Intel P4 with HT. It's multiprocessor and less expensive.

just pretend he didn't say anything. his name explains everything.

 

[Nick5324]

Way to much on RAM and PSU, not that these aren't important or that what you have listed are bad choices, just way to much $$ for what you get. Suggestions above are dead on. Don't forget what ts3433 suggested and check prices at the places he listed. Good luck on your first build.

Edit: DVD-burner also, i had to make sure i saw that price correctly. Pick up a NEC 3520A instead. :beer:

 

[Cares]

Maybe you should consider getting a Mitsumi 7-1 floppy combo. I got mine for $18 shipped from MonarchComputer - its only $3 more and you get a lot more out of it for only $3. Also you're paying way too much for your processor since its only going for $245 shipped from Monarch as well.

 

[Sonic587]

Originally posted by: ts3433
Firstly, I would suggest shopping around at places like ZipZoomFly, MWave, Monarch, and Directron in addition to Newegg. Some of their prices (like on the 3500+ Winchester) are outrageous.

Instead of a cheap no-name case (for $90, no less), I'd have probably gotten something nice like a Lian Li, but there's no changing that right now, I guess.

You're also putting a lot of money in the wrong places (and wasting it in others, too, like with the PCP&C PSU--though it's a nice unit, that's just flat-out overkill). You planned for about $1,200 for the CPU, video, RAM, motherboard, and PSU. For half the price, I can actually get better gaming performance. I'd suggest reading the system buying guide at the top of the forum, for starters.

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Or just get some Corsair ValueSelect PC3200, for quite a bit less money. You won't notice the difference unless you're going to overclock.

Originally posted by: itr
ditch the expensive ram and power supply. replace the ram with corsair value select and replace the power supply with an enermax power. if you don't plan on using a SLI setup, i don't see the point in buying a sli motherboard. ditch the sli and just get a nforce 4 board. with all that money saved, you can treat yourself to a x850 xt. (MUCH MUCH faster than a single 6600gt)

Originally posted by: Nick5324
Way to much on RAM and PSU, not that these aren't important or that what you have listed are bad choices, just way to much $$ for what you get. Suggestions above are dead on. Don't forget what ts3433 suggested and check prices at the places he listed. Good luck on your first build.

Edit: DVD-burner also, i had to make sure i saw that price correctly. Pick up a NEC 3520A instead. :beer:

Listen to these guys. :beer:

 

[Cares]

Well it appears he plans to game so I would imagine that he would overclock. I wouldn't get ValueSelect regardless of overclocking or not anyways. Just personal preference.