Help a first time builder

[Pyro]

So I'm gonna be building my own putter in 2-3 weeks and this is what I though I'd get. I'm on a thin budget and I am looking for a nicely balanced, stable system that will be very easy to build (its my first time, I'm a virgin 😉)

Anywhoo, here's what I have:

ASUS A7V133
Duron 700 pretested/unlocked @1GHz
Tt Volcano II HSF
256MB Micron CAS3 (pretested at 140/cas2)
Generic Mid Tower (4 5.25", 5 3.5&quot😉, 300W PS
Maxtor 40GB @7200rpm ATA100
Radeon 64MB ViVo retail

SB Live Value v2
ASUS 50x CDROM
Altec Lansing ACS56 speakers
Aopen 10mpbs NIC
Dlink 10/100 NIC
Generic floppy

MS Natural Keyboard Elite
logitech opitical mouse
Daytek 905DF 19" Flat Tube monitor


So would there be any incompatibility issues between these components? I don't plan to run raid and the whole thing will cost be about 1400 (2100 CDN). I want this to be easy to build, since like I said, it will be my first time building a putter from scratch (I've installed/upgraded every component on different computers, so I like to think that I have enough experience to attemp this).

 

[RPB]

have you checked the power supply to see if it is amd approved

 

[Jeff H]

Pyro, a couple of suggestions:

1) I'd keep those NIC's out of there until you get it running and stable.
2) Unless you absolutely need DOS emulation on your SBLive, disable it in Device Mgr. It will save you a lot of setup headaches. And, go to CL's SBLive site and get the latest driver.

 

[Pyro]

does it matter? I though they just needed a 300W one...

 

[Shooters]

It definitely matters. AMD cpus are a little more picky when it comes to power supplies. You're right about it having to be at least 300 watts. Go here, and look at the list of AMD approved power supplies.

 

[dcdomain]

A 300w power supply is generally good enough, but that's just the amount of power, not sure of the quality of it. AMD.com lists all the AMD approved power supplies there.

 

[Pyro]

hmm, well I looked at AMD's site, and for durons they even recommend some 250W ones, so would the Aopen HX45 do the trick? I can get it for a pretty good price.

 

[igiveup]

Well, its just me but if I was building my first computer I would build it be stable first. Get the thing running and check out the temps on the CPU etcetera. Make sure you won't have problems. I agree with the NIC suggestion. Network cards can cause problems.

 

[Pyro]

well, I wasnt planning to OC at first, nor to put everything at the same time.

I've read that I should start with bare essentials and then add everything one by one. Something like:

1. put mobo, cpu, cooler, ram, video and floppy then test
2. put into case then test
3. add HDD, test, install CD, test, then install windows.
4. add drivers
5. add soundcard
6 add first NIC
7. add second NIC
8. OC and test RAM, FSB and CPU

is anything wrong with the above method?

and is that AOpen case I linked to in my prev post good enough?

 

[Boonesmi]

for the most part any 300w power supply will work. i have build many athlon/duron systems. and ive just used the cheapest 300w power supplys i could find at the time, and ive never had problems with my systems, no overclocking problems also

 

[SXMP]

I would have to agree with Boonesmi, while it is good to use an AMD approved power supply, (meaning if you have the money)by all means defiantly do it. But I use a cheap 300w power supplie from some no name PSU company called L&C Technology and it works great. Its running a tbird 700@970 with 2hds, a kenwood 72x, and a teac 12x10x32. Plus I have 4 92mm fans running in there. Plus I know someone else who has the same psu and runs just as much on there, with a tbird 700@1100 on it so I think its safe to say that you can still use generic psu's. SO I'd say go for it if you have the money, but otherwise dont sweat it.

 

[Pyro]

Thanks for the replies on the PSUs, its good to know I can use generic ones without probs.

So I take if from the lack of posts that the configuration is ok?
and what about my building method? ok too?

I'm just worried since I want to avoid something like this...