Critique Please... how does this setup look?

[HarryP]

I haven't built a new PC in years since switching to Mac for work. My PC is literally a 6 year old Pentium 3. How does this setup look? My idea is to skimp on graphics so I can spend more on the proccessor and RAM. However, Vista's supposed to be graphics intensive so I have my doubts. I won't be playing any games on it with the exception of MineSweeper.


AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
MSI K8NGM2-FID Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA
Pioneer 16X DVD±R DVD Burner

Antec Solution
SeaSonic S12-330 ATX12V 330W Power Supply
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-ALCU CPU Cooler

Total: around $700-800

TIA,

HP

 

[imported_fx]

It's look good but I will recommend to get Forton AX-450 450watts PSU for cheap and enough power you need to upgrade in the future..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

 

[dBTelos]

HDD: That mobo supports SATAII. Take advantage, or go PATA.
PSU: Above is a good idea, a 330W wont support any new video card.
Onboard Graphics: Should support Vista's new eye candy, although I wouldn't recommend turning it on, for the lack of performance.

 

[Bateluer]

Last I heard, Vista was going to require a discreet graphics solution, ruling out the GF6150 IGP.

I am not familiar with that MSI board, but if its PCIe, then you won't have any problems dropping in a video card to take advantage of the Vista UI.

Do you have a particular reason for getting the Zalman cooler? Something wrong with the stock cooler, or you just want to shave a few decibels off the noise level?

Good call on the Fortron PSU, fx.

 

[Bobthelost]

Originally posted by: dBTelos
HDD: That mobo supports SATAII. Take advantage, or go PATA.
PSU: Above is a good idea, a 330W wont support any new video card.
Onboard Graphics: Should support Vista's new eye candy, although I wouldn't recommend turning it on, for the lack of performance.

Wrong in many ways.

SATAII has no real benifit for home useres
A good 330W PSU would be enough for a low end graphics card.
I don't think it will support all the eyecandy in vista, however it's got a PCIe slot so it is sufficent for now, and leaves open upgrade paths in future.

It's a good build, unless you're a low noise freak (which you may be) then the fortron 450W is much better value. Don't waste time with the 7000 cooler, it's not that much better than the stock cooler, if you want a 3rd party one then there are much better offerings.

 

[dBTelos]

Originally posted by: Bobthelost

Originally posted by: dBTelos
HDD: That mobo supports SATAII. Take advantage, or go PATA.
PSU: Above is a good idea, a 330W wont support any new video card.
Onboard Graphics: Should support Vista's new eye candy, although I wouldn't recommend turning it on, for the lack of performance.

Wrong in many ways.

SATAII has no real benifit for home useres
A good 330W PSU would be enough for a low end graphics card.
I don't think it will support all the eyecandy in vista, however it's got a PCIe slot so it is sufficent for now, and leaves open upgrade paths in future.

It's a good build, unless you're a low noise freak (which you may be) then the fortron 450W is much better value. Don't waste time with the 7000 cooler, it's not that much better than the stock cooler, if you want a 3rd party one then there are much better offerings.

By new graphics card, I meant one that is worth it to buy over onboard, not some of the lower clocked GPUs that nVidia and ATi going out, should of said that first

I guess I misunderstood that SATAII was worth being used if had

 

[Operandi]

It looks like a pretty good build, the only thing I would change would be the RAM; I would stick with the more reputable players such as Corsair and Crucial.

As far as Vista goes, you might be ok with the integrated video but it's hard to say. Last I heard if you want to run with all the eye candy on you need 256MB of graphics memory depending on the res you run.

 

[Ika]

iirc, doesn't Vista require DX10 to run all eye candy?

For your CPU cooler, I would recommend going with a larger cooler with a 120mm fan, if you can find one for a low price (AC Freezer 64 Pro is a good cooler; can be found at a great price)
Power Supply seems a bit weak...
I think you should consider getting your ram from a more reputable seller - Kingston, GeiL, OCZ, Corsair, Crucial are all good.

 

[HarryP]

Thanks for all your advice. I have taken much of it to heart. Some of it confirmed things I turned up in my research, but a lot of it was new to me. Here's what I'm looking at now. I've decreased the RAM to 1 gig and will switch to one of the aforementioned brands, the WD is now a Seagate, Seasonic is out and Fortron is in, and I'll try the stock cooler out before getting a quieter one. I am a bit of a noise freak but I'll see how it goes. I can always upgrade the video when Vista comes out, or simply run Vista without the eye candy.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
MSI K8NGM2-FID Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150
Crucial, Corsair, etc. 1 gig

Seagate HD
Pioneer 16X DVD±R DVD Burner

Antec Solution
Forton AX-450 450watts PSU
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

Total: approx 750 with shipping and tax

Thanks Again,

HP

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: HarryP
Thanks for all your advice. I have taken much of it to heart. Some of it confirmed things I turned up in my research, but a lot of it was new to me. Here's what I'm looking at now. I've decreased the RAM to 1 gig and will switch to one of the aforementioned brands, the WD is now a Seagate, Seasonic is out and Fortron is in, and I'll try the stock cooler out before getting a quieter one. I am a bit of a noise freak but I'll see how it goes. I can always upgrade the video when Vista comes out, or simply run Vista without the eye candy.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
MSI K8NGM2-FID Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150
Crucial, Corsair, etc. 1 gig

Seagate HD
Pioneer 16X DVD±R DVD Burner

Antec Solution
Forton AX-450 450watts PSU
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound

Total: approx 750 with shipping and tax

Thanks Again,

HP

If noise is an issue the Seasonic should go back in, the S12 is the quietest active cooled PSU there is.

Edit

It looks like you dropped the 7000ALCu, which I wouldn't recommend if you aim is low noise. But if that is the case you might as well drop the AC5 as well and use what the stock HS/F comes with.