Critique my new system build please

[CrAZy13]

This is going to be my first system built in about five years. I havn't kept up much with all the new technoligacal advances, but I have been reading up for about 2 months. This build is based off of the corsair system done here. So it's not really my build.
http://sysbuild.corsairmemory.com/report.aspx?id=2
It is a little different though.


It is going to be used mainly for gamming(oblivion). Maybe watching a dvd or listining to some music. I don't want to go with sli yet, but probably in the future. Here are the specs with the price off newegg.

processor
Athlon64 X2 4200+
price: $355.00

motherboard
A8N-SLI Premium
price: 164

cpu fan
Zalman CNPS7000B-CU LED
price: 39

memory
TWINX2048-3500LLPRO
price: 302

gfx
eVGA GeForce 7800GTX PCI-Express
price: 434

storage
Loading games etc...
Western Digital Raptor 36GB 10,000 RPM SATA Hard Drive
price: 101

storage of misc stuff
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3200827AS 200GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
price: 89

psu
Antec NeoHE 500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail
price: 100

case
Antec Performance I P180 Silver Computer Case
price: 125

I figured a dual core was a good investment since a lot of the games I have read about that are comming out say they will support dual core. Anyway if there is anything that you think I should I should change please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Bobthelost]

In short, not good.

CPU: 3800X2 if you're OCing, otherwise a good choice.

Motherboard: Not a bad choice if you're definitly going SLI, however SLI is a bad idea unless you're definitly buying the second card withing 6 months.

RAM: Overpriced, you're overclocking which means you'd benifit from OCi'ng RAM but spending $300 on it is plain stupid. Value RAM is much better value and the saved money means you can get better parts elsewhere.

CPU fan: not a bad fan when it was released, now it's old and doesn't cool much better than the stock. SI 120 with a nexus 120mm is my current favourite, but there are plenty more options out there just as good.

GPU: The 7800GTX is slower than a 7900GT, it's out of date. DO NOT BUY THE 7800GTX!!

HDs: The 36GB raptor isn't all that great. Think about a single WD2500KS instead.

PSU: Good PSU, but not to be mixed with an asus motherboard unless you're willing to risk RMAing it. There have been compatability issues with the two. If it works then great, if not.... 🙁

Case: Nice, i have one in black. You thought about getting the P150 instead? Cheaper and comes with a PSU.

I'd think about getting the P150 with the bundled 450W antec NeoHE instead and going for a single slot Epox motherboard. With the savings you can get a 7900GTX or a X1900XTX (if you're not worried about noise).

 

[hans007]

i think honestly the super expensive ram is probably a waste of money, you can probably get value ram for $120ish for 2 gigs that will be withing 2% as good, not to mention for only pc3500 that is really expensive. that and hte $100 power supply. antec tends to sell at a premium price because it is the retail brand, you could probably get a sparkle/fsp for 2/3 or less the price that would be just as good if not better.

that and you should just buy a 7900GT instead of 7800Gtx since its $140 less and faster.

also get a 74gb raptor over the 36, its faster, the 36gb raptor is argueably slower than the 7200.9 at a lot of things.

other than that not bad. if you planning on O/Cing maybe consider an opteron 170 or 3800+ instead. i figure if you save some money on really non essentials and get the 7900GT instead well you'll have saved enough to buy ... another 7900GT and can SLI right away.

 

[stevty2889]

The stock heatsink that comes with the 4200+ does a better job than the Zalman 7000.

Memory..overkill, the differance between value ram, and the expensive ram is very limited with A64's/X2's, not worth the cost.

Video card..I think the 7900GT outperforms the 7800GTX, and it costs less

I had a pair of 36gb raptors myself, modern 7200rpm drives are faster such as the Seagate you are getting, not worth it.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Ditch the antec ps and get an enermax, fortron or seasonic unit. I would also replace the athlon x2 with an opteron 165 which will oc nicely plus has 1mbx2 L2 cashe.