First Build

[rileychris]

Case: Cooler Master Wave Master (Black) or Silverstone SST-TJ05 (cant decide)
CPU:AMD Athlon 64 3500+
MOBO:MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" Socket 939
RAM: Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 1 GB (2X512MB) DDR
DVD: Sony Double Layer DVD Recorder DRU700A
HD: 2XFrom my old computer
PSU: Antec 480W "TRUE480BLUE"
Video Card: TBD (need to find good deal)

So what do you guys think? Machine will basically be used for gaming plus a little of everything else. So for a first time builder, does someone have a good "Make sure you..." or " Whatever you do don't...." list? I would appreciate all the advice you guys can stand to give.

By the way, will I need to add extra fans or will the ones with the case and processor be enough?


Thanks in advance! - CJR

 

[Mik3y]

:thumbsup:

 

[TwoBills]

The Antec 480 is a bit weak on the 12v rail. I'd consider the Enermax 460 instead.

 

[rileychris]

Should I post this somewhere else to get cooling question answered?

 

[mechBgon]

I made a photo guide that could be helpful, see what you think: photo guide The Resources page has tips on keeping the worms out of your brand-new Windows installation. Unfortunately it doesn't have details on installing an AMD64 processor (yet) but if I get my hands on a retail-boxed A64 then I will try to amend that.

I'm assuming WindowsXP here? If you're buying, make it WinXP Pro and not WinXP Home. That gets you two additional years of security updates at Windows Update and some other perks. When installing, go in this order:

• Unplug network cable and leave it unplugged
• Install Windows
• Give the Administrator-class accounts a strong password
• Install Service Packs for Windows (SP2 presently)
• Enable the firewall, and enable Data Execution Prevention for all programs
• Install your motherboard drivers (nVidia 5.10 driver package, in your case)
• After installing your motherboard drivers, now install your video-card drivers and other drivers
• Take a snack break
• Install your antivirus software
• Plug in your network cable and update your antivirus software, then update Windows at Windows Update
• Install and update your other software
• Install and run Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2.1 to see if there's any oversights in your security measures
• ...and if it were me, I would set up a Limited-class account to use for day-to-day usage. You may need to temporarily make it into an Administrator-class account for the first run of poorly-written software (games especially) that need to be run at least once with Admin/Power-User privileges in order to work. Afterwards you can reduce the account to Limited again. This is a huge obstacle to spyware, adware and some types of viruses/Trojans.

Hope it goes smoothly for you

 

[rileychris]

Thanks for the photo guide. I have lots of experience with OS and software. My biggest concerns are screwing up the hardware side of things.

 

[masshass81]

Get the black WaveMaster!! soo sexy! I would get a cheaper s939 cpu from monarch and invest the saved money into the Gfx card! 6800GT! NEC and Pioneer also have 16x DL drives you may want to check out since they may be cheaper. But so far so good! :thumbsup:

 

[rileychris]

Now I am sort of thinking about switching PSU to a 500W X-Connect. I really like the more oragnized cables. THoughts? How would this compare to an Antec Neo 480?