My first Computer

[Smokey The Bear]

I've had my gateway for almost eight years now. Yes eight years and its been great and fun(tear we've gotten close lol) well but now that aoeIII is out i need a new rig. Something that can run it but play other games because for sometime now i've wanted to. So i'm trying to build a rig that will let me play all the games i want for a couple years without upgradeing. So i've been searching the net reading reviews every where learning about computers for the past couple months now. I think i've decided on what i would like and i wanna keep it about $1800. Heres what i'm thinking about getting so let me know on what you think about it and make changes if you want(they'd be appreciated).
And also this is my first build too.

NZXT Lexa Black/ Silver Computer Case
I love the look of the case and its features

ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939
I've been told its a good motherboard i'm really not sure what motherboard i do wanna get but this is one that i do like and is pretty good

eVGA Geforce 7800GTX 256MB
Great Grahic card and the warranty is superb

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+
Love the dual core

CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 or OCZ Value Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400
Two that i was looking at

SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series HD160JJ 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
theres probably something better out there. Just kinda picked it up

HP Black IDE DVD Burner LightScribe
I like the lightscribe

With the OCZ it comes to $1,495.55 or with corsair $1,472.98

I also need a floppy and didn't know if i really needed a sound card and i need a new monitor preferably a flat screen doesnt' have to be a LCD but i don't know what to look for.

Thanks

 

[Finns14]

Wowzers thats an expensive case, ditch the SLI mobo get something like an epox and get a Opteron over the X2 an OC it. If you plan on doing that also if you do go this route you will need a little bit better ram.

 

[ShadowBlade]

If you're going to be overclocking, go with the OCZ RAM. If not, then go with the Corsair.
Everything else is great except LightScribe is worthless.
As for a floppy drive, go for Samsung or Sony.
Onboard sound should be fine.

As for a monitor, go with a Dell flat pannel. 2405FPW if you can afford it.

Also, what power supply will you be using?

 

[Ricemarine]

My ideas.

=Screw valueram, get some G.Skill 2X1GB kit, pc3200 2-3-2-5, or pc4000 3-4-4-8.
=Get an opteron 170 socket 939and drop the 7800gtx, 7800gt is doing really well in MIR's...
=Get a DFI Ultra-D, you won't need to SLI, for it's just to brag about.

My last and most important rule

GET A GOOD SEPARATE 500W POWER SUPPLY!!!!!!!! Ones with cases = awful except for antec.

Now in this case, it looks like it's going to be a high-end computer... Get a high end power supply... Seasonic S12 500w, Enermax Liberty 500w, Antec NeoHE 500w (do not pair with ASUS, incompatibility), anything along those lines.. The lowest that I would recommend is an enermax 485w noisetaker.

 

[Smokey The Bear]

I planed on useing the powersupply that came with the case
on the cpu idea, is the opteron a lot better than the 3800 x2
i doubt i'll oc the memory
and what mobo would be good sense ur right i won't probably use sli

 

[Lasthitlarry]

I like the look of the case, but I wouldn't trust that PSU.

If you can find a case like it without a PSU, go that route, you don't want to spend 2 grand only to have it fried by a bad PSU.

Also, I prefer the 7800GTs price/performance over the 7800GTX, and get an Opteron 165.

Agree on new mobo(I wouldn't get DFI, maybe a different ASUS, or Epox, or even MSI), also get a 250GB: Seagate or WD 16MB Buffer.

 

[Gerbil333]

Originally posted by: Smokey The Bear
I planed on useing the powersupply that came with the case
on the cpu idea, is the opteron a lot better than the 3800 x2
i doubt i'll oc the memory
and what mobo would be good sense ur right i won't probably use sli

Never use generic PSU's. If you are set on that case (have you read the user reviews on Newegg?), at least buy an Antec/Seasonic/Enermax/Fortron/OCZ PSU.

 

[Smokey The Bear]

 

[Smokey The Bear]

sry about that^

Ok This is where i'm at so far

NZXT LEXA-NP Black/ Silver
same case i think but no power supply
So it's a lot cheaper and then i can add that power supply

ENERMAX Whisper II 535W
alot of people said they were pretty good supplies

AMD Opteron 170
All of you agreed that it was better than the 3800x2 can i ask whats the big difference between the two?

eVGA Geforce 7800GT 256MB
good price and i like the waranty and a lot cheaper than the gtx

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 300 MB/s
one person mentioned this hardrive as a good choice?

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Platinum
I got this ocz cus it have some good timeings

SONY Black Internal Floppy Drive
got the floppy drive

That comes out to be $1,343.94

i don't know what mobo i should get or opticial drive either help me with that i'm wondering what i should get

 

[Lasthitlarry]

I would switch to the Opteron 165, Opterons are much better than X2s, they have twice the cache, and more stability, so can be overclocked even more.

Also, I like the NEC 3550a DVD Burner.

ePox
ASUS
Abit

 

[Smokey The Bear]

I was reading about the opteron. So basicly its still good for gaming and or normal pc use even though it seems it is designed for server use?

 

[Smokey The Bear]

bump

 

[Mday]

you'll probably not notice the performance on the opteron vs the x2. and the opteron you linked is not even in stock at newegg, and its ETAs are usually wrong.

 

[xtknight]

If you don't plan on overclocking, there is virtually no difference between the higher-timed RAM and the lower-timed stuff and you'll save a lot of cash. Take it from somebody who bought TCCD RAM then bought another Corsair Value and can't tell the difference.

The Opterons supposedly overclock better. They are fine for desktop or server use and are still just as good as gaming. Be warned, this is different from the workstation NVIDIA Quadro/ATI FireGL graphics cards though: they are not good for gaming.

I just ordered the eVGA 7800GT. Great card. I have the same hard disk (WD Caviar SE16 250GB SATA). It's awesome...quiet and reasonably fast. Damn good value too.

So far I agree with everything. The OCZ is a good inbetween RAM. You can get Corsair Value if you're not overclocking though. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145579 Then spend the extra money on a GTX.

You'll want a sound card though. The audio on my A8N-SLI D is crap.
Grab this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102162
I'm pretty sure it still has 3D game acceleration as well. But if not it'll still sound worlds better.

As for monitors, you can check out my LCD guide here: http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=31&threadid=1745344&enterthread=y

 

[Smokey The Bear]

any one know of a optical drive that served them good and also not sure on what mobo to get.

 

[Smokey The Bear]

bump

 

[Nextman916]

dual core optereons are way better than X2 cpu's, heck single core optereons are better. :thumbsup:

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: Smokey The Bear
any one know of a optical drive that served them good and also not sure on what mobo to get.

have an NEC dvd burner (3520A) and it's quiet and fast and excellent burns. highly recommended.

 

[Smokey The Bear]

alright yea i like that burner i'm still not sure what mobo though

 

[Smokey The Bear]

Any one have any thing more to add what they think about the build and what mobo i should get