hey new builder here...

[acegazda]

Hows it going
as you can see on my hopeful pc specs below, i am considering sli for the future but if i go with the asus a8n-e instead of the a8n-sli ill save $30 and be able to buy a slightly better graphics card, but wont be able to add one in the future. Which scenerio is better?
Thanks.

 

[atybimf]

The 500W PSU is overkill for that system. Get a $50 Fortron 450W, and cheaper case and then go for a 7800gt or if you can afford it, 7900gt.

 

[RussianSensation]

I'd get a cheaper PSU and a nonsli board. Pick up 7900GT KO or X1800XT 512mb instead.

 

[LOUISSSSS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103457
and get an x1800xt 256 or 512 depending on your budget. it will blow away the 7600 like jack bauer and terrorists =]

 

[Cabages]

Dont go SLI. Get a X1800XT 512 MB. Or X1900XT if you can push it.

Pretty much what everyone else said.

 

[Amplifier]

Asus a8n-sli
lian=li 6070plus
athlon 64 3500+
enermax liberty 500W
2x1gb ocz platinum xtc
seagate 80gb hd
evga7600gt
sony dvd+_rw

Ditch the 3500+ for a 3000+
Ditch the expensive memory for value 2x1gb
Ditch the expensive motherboard for a non sli mobo

Up your video card to either a 7900gt or an x1800xt 512
Up your storage to 200gb+

 

[n7]

Originally posted by: Amplifier

Asus a8n-sli
lian=li 6070plus
athlon 64 3500+
enermax liberty 500W
2x1gb ocz platinum xtc
seagate 80gb hd
evga7600gt
sony dvd+_rw

Ditch the 3500+ for a 3000+
Ditch the expensive memory for value 2x1gb
Ditch the expensive motherboard for a non sli mobo

Up your video card to either a 7900gt or an x1800xt 512
Up your storage to 200gb+

Let me add to that.

Ditch the priecy Lian Li too for a good cheaper case.
Sony DVDRW? I bet you can find the better BenQ DW1650 for less.

With all this saved, you'll be looking at an X1900XT easily.

 

[acegazda]

thanks
good insight...evry1

 

[acegazda]

any ideas for the best cheap pc case?
other things...
should i go with the asus a8n-e for the MoBo?
I found the corsiar twinx 2gb ram and the ocz platinum xtc for $138 and $152 respectively. (after MIR)
The corsiar valueram 2gb is $158. Should I go for the better ram even though i'll have 2 wait 10 weeks for the MIR cash?
Modular cables aseem nice would a liberty 400w cut it? Is Fortron reliable?
Nvidia vs. Ati?

 

[nullpointerus]

I'm happy with this case:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129152

The case is pretty simple, no frills, but reasonably quiet and roomy. I added a second tri-cool 120mm fan in the front. The case comes with a reusable dust filter, which is pretty easy to clean - just have to do it regularly - but of course it does keep my case clean.

 

[nullpointerus]

Better RAM for lower cost is well worth the mail-in rebate, IMHO.

 

[Zstream]

Originally posted by: acegazda
any ideas for the best cheap pc case?
other things...
should i go with the asus a8n-e for the MoBo?
I found the corsiar twinx 2gb ram and the ocz platinum xtc for $138 and $152 respectively. (after MIR)
The corsiar valueram 2gb is $158. Should I go for the better ram even though i'll have 2 wait 10 weeks for the MIR cash?
Modular cables aseem nice would a liberty 400w cut it? Is Fortron reliable?
Nvidia vs. Ati?

This is by far the best case for the buck, I have purchased atleast 6 of these. Cooler Master Centurion

 

[acegazda]

thanks can u compare the antec slk300 and the cm centurion?

 

[Wheezer]

get an NEC DVD-RW. By far one of the best drives for the money.

 

[nullpointerus]

CM Centurion:

- has front audio jacks and firewire port
- has toolless slots and drive bays
- includes 80mm fan in front as opposed to optional 120mm in slk3000b
- doesn't include a dust filter?

It's probably the better deal.

 

[acegazda]

is the antec p180 overkill?
what about antec truepwr 430?

 

[atybimf]

before we go any further, why don't give us a budget, an idea of what you'll be using the pc for, and how long you plan on using it.

 

[R3LIC]

buy this and OC it

AMD Athlon 64 3200+
Epox 9NPAJ-SLI
G.Skill 2GB DDR500 Memory Kit
CM Centurion 5
Forton AX450-PN PSU
Benq DW1650 DVD-RW
WD 250GB Hard Drive
XFX 7900GT Extreme

Total = $969.60 shipped

 

[acegazda]

ive got about a $1400 budget (including a good lcd monitor) and ill be doing some gaming with halo, halflife2 and other graphic intensive games. Half work half play really.
Preferably, i'd like the pc to last through college, so, a long time. I don't mind uprgrading though if necessary.

r3lic: i found the x1800xt @newegg for $296 shipped after $50 MIR
and the OCZ platinum xtc 2gb for 152 after MIR
is that much better? Epox looks good...reliability?
and is that including a keyboard, mouse, heatsink?

 

[atybimf]

amd athlon x2 3800+
dfi lanparty ut ultra-d or asus a8n-sli
2x1gb g.skill (2.5-3-3-6, red heatspreaders)
evga 7900gt
wd 250gb
fortron 450W
coolermaster centurion 5
BenQ DQ60 dvd burner

total: around $1070, leaving you with $330 for a monitor

 

[acegazda]

how does dual xpress graphics work on the dfi board u mentioned?
I know you can mod it 2 SLI but i don't know where to get an SLI bridge if I do.
Thanks U ARE AWESOME!

ps where did u find those G.skill modules with those timings?

 

[atybimf]

Originally posted by: acegazda
how does dual xpress graphics work on the dfi board u mentioned?
I know you can mod it 2 SLI but i don't know where to get an SLI bridge if I do.
Thanks U ARE AWESOME!

ps where did u find those G.skill modules with those timings?

I can't seem to find the site that sold them [sli bridges]. Check around on various forums and you can probably find someone who has one that will sell or give you it.

Here's a link for the G Skill.

 

[acegazda]

last thing...
the ocz ram that i mentioned in the biuld below is $152 after MIR. Would you still recomend the G.Skill?
Thanks for bearing with me.