critique my new comp please

[aaaarrrrgh]

Hi, I'll be ordering these parts for my new system any day now, and I would like some feedback on whether I'm making the right choices. I'll be using the system for Uni and gaming mostly.

Case - Enermax FS710B ATX Case (aluminium)

Power Supply - Enermax 350watt Power Supply (is this sufficient?)

CD-RW - 24x10x40 Lite-On (from old PC)

CPU - Pentium 4 2.4Ghz

DVD/CD - Pioneer 16x/40x slot load

HD - Western Digital 8MB cache 80GB

RAM - 512MB PC2700 DDR-RAM Samsung Chips

MONITOR - Sony G420 19"

MOTHERBOARD - Asustek P4PE Ultra

SOUNDCARD - Onboard soundcard (how is the onboard sound on the P4PE?)

SPEAKERS - Logitech Z-540 or Z-560 (is it worth going for 5.1 or not?)

VIDEO CARD - Powercolor ATI Radeon 9700 pro

KEYBOARD - Logitech Elite Keyboard

MOUSE - IE Explorer 3.0 OR Logitech MX500

Any feedback appreciated.

 

[FishTankX]

Looks very good to me. Personally I would take the MX500. But i'm impressed. You've done your homework.

 

[Spac3d]

SPEAKERS - Logitech Z-540 or Z-560 (is it worth going for 5.1 or not?)

The z560 are actually 4.1, but you should definetly take the step up. Those speakers are fantastic. I have never been a fan of the standard built in sound cards, if you want to upgrade to a better sound card, the Hot Deals forum has posted info on the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz for $44.99 shipped. I have one and love it.

Everything else looks good, looks like it will be a fun new machine to have 🙂

Spac3d

 

[Ralidan]

Originally posted by: aaaarrrrgh

DVD/CD - Pioneer 16x/40x slot load

My only heads up would be on the Slot Load DVD drive.. it seems that lots of people have had complaints about thiers not working. I don't have one so I don't speak from any kind of experience, but just a warning to you... Unless you are set on that one, I would do some research into it and possibly look at a different drive. Good Luck on the new system, Looks very nice! 🙂


-Ralidan

 

[buleyb]

Yeah, Agreed. I think its a great system, just beware the slot-load DVD drives...

Too bad too, they're wicked cool, but too many problems reported for me to try them out right now...

 

[Rhombuss]

Here's a suggestion - when you're getting the CPU, try to inquire whether or not the stepping is C1. C1 stepping Northwoods will overclocking VERY well if that interests you at all.

 

[aaaarrrrgh]

Thanks for the feedback all. Yea I'll change the DVD to a Tray loading one. I'm from NZ so I dunno if we have the C1 stepping CPUs here yet. In regards to the speakers, I actually meant to compare the Z-540 and the Z-640, is it worth going for the 5.1 setup? Are there any other budget speakers I should consider?

Thanks in advance.

 

[DT4K]

That is exactly what I would get if I was building a new system today.
Make sure the chip is a 2.4B (533 bus).
I'm very happy with my MS Intellimouse Optical. (not explorer, I don't like having two side buttons on the same side)

 

[mcveigh]

i'd do more power, like a antec true 430 or similar. go for the mx500 mouse. I'm using a mx700 and love the feel

 

[compudog]

Nice set up! Good Luck with the build! My friend has the P4PE and loves it (he went with a DVD RAM drive for burning home videos of his kids) He said it was very stable and has had no problems with his set-up. Good choices!

 

[PCMarine]

350 Watt PSU is Plenty, anything above 400-450 is overkill for your uses.

edit - not to mention you're buying an Enermax, which are excellent PSUs

 

[Kartajan]

sounds ALMOST identical 2 mine... And I am quite pleased w/ mine...

I ASSUME that your ram is CAS2... I am real big on that particular point...

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: PCMarine
350 Watt PSU is Plenty, anything above 400-450 is overkill for your uses.

edit - not to mention you're buying an Enermax, which are excellent PSUs

I agree. A high quality 350, or even 300, or sometimes 250 will work fine. The only reason to go higher is if you are going to be throwing a ton of drives or other power hungry devices into that system.

 

[LuNoTiCK]

I honestly don't know why you need all that power in the radeon 9700 pro, but if thats what your going for, get it.