Newb's first build - Please check my components.

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
S

socalcyclist

Member
Mar 2, 2006
69
0
0
I just decided to go custom build yesterday so the past 24hrs I've been doing nothing but researching and cramming info into my little brain. I'll be using the computer mostly for web stuff: designing websites, surfing, downloading and burning music/movies. Beefiest apps will be stuff like Adobe Acrobat & Illustrator and Paint Shop Pro. I'm not looking for a gaming system but it would be nice to play a current game once in a while. What I really want is a system that won't bog down while I have 10 different IE windows open, editing a photo in PSP, downloading a movie, and checking my email all at the same time.

Here's what I came up with:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827152058">NEC Black IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner Model ND-3550A - OEM - $39.75
</a>
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM - $96.00
ASPIRE X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-SS Silver Computer Case With Side Panel Window - Retail - $58.00
ASUS A8R-MVP ATX AMD CrossFire Motherboard - Retail - $95.99
SAPPHIRE Radeon X300SE 1024-2C50-04-SA Low Profile Video Card - OEM - $47.99
XCLIO GOODPOWER 500W 500W Power Supply - Retail - $48.00
Logitech Internet Pro Desktop Black Wired Keyboard - OEM - $16.00
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail - $68.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail - $357.00
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM - $93.95
NewEgg Glossy Logo Sticker $5.00

TOTAL: $1042.78 (includes tax & shipping)

Yes, I blew my budget. I was originally looking at an Acer from Tiger for $450 but it was bottom of the line. I decided I want to get exactly what I want. (don't need a monitor or printer)


Is there anything I missed?
Would you change anything? Why?
Is everything compatable?

Again, is there anything I missed or should know about when all these parts arrive next week? I plan on reading up on installation some more but any help now before I make the purchase would be greatly appreciated. THANKS!!

Oh, just thuoght of another question: Do I need to purchase an ethernet card for my cable modem or is that included somewhere in the parts above? (yea, really newb question - sorry)
 
CraKaJaX

CraKaJaX

Lifer
Dec 26, 2004
11,905
148
101
If I were buying this machine, I'd probably get some better memory and a different PSU. I have never heard anything about XCLIO Goodpower, no idea what to tell you with them... but I'd get something that has a good name to it. I haven't had ANY problems with my OCZ Modstream since Christmas 04. I also know from reading that OCZ has very good customer support, but I haven't had to use it yet. And to answer your last question, no. Your board has a LAN connection on it already.
 
B

Bobthelost

Diamond Member
Dec 1, 2005
4,360
0
0
CPU = Overpowered, the performance increase from a 3800X2 isn't cost effective.

RAM = Possibly underpowered, depends on your useage. If i were you i'd put the money saved on the CPU towards 2x1gb value RAM.

HDD = I don't like maxtor myself, but if you're looking at a storage per $ then by all means. Seagate have better warranties and WD better performance.

PSU= 450W fortron, it's another $2 but worth every cent of it.

That review of the Xclio was terrible, most generic PSUs would pass them. The fan is top notch, but the heatsinks are worryingly small. I wouldn't trust it myself.
 
B

BloodTravis

Member
Jan 31, 2006
62
0
0
Well i think you could get a better deal if you bought that 4000+ and combo it with the DFI mobo that they offer (Duel core is nice but the 4000+ is still pretty nice) and if you do that id proubly get some more ram.
 
B

BloodTravis

Member
Jan 31, 2006
62
0
0
Bob the lost makes a point 2 gigs sounds just about right if you are going to be doing all of that.
 
A

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
4,025
0
0
you never mentioned OCing so i'm just gonna assume you won't be doing it

cpu: good choice

motherboard: i wouldn't buy a crossfire board. don't even buy sli. just get an epox 9npa+ ultra board or something. it's around $105.

ram: good choice, but get the 2gig kit (2x1gig sticks). g.skill wouldn't be bad either. newegg has a cas2.5 g.skill value ram 2gb kit for $145. you'll want the 2 gigs, especially with what you do

psu: go with a more credible company. personally, i'd get the fortron450w. same price and your rig will be nowhere near the 450w limit so it'll supply you just fine.

case: i like

gpu: you picked a good card considering you're not building a gaming rig. you did mention you may occasionally game however. i don't think that'll allow you to play any current games...bottom line, don't expect too much

hdd: i personally would go with the Western Digital SE16 250GB SATA300 drive. it's also $96

sticker...i know it's only $5 but do you really need it? fyi, one of the reviewers said it's the size of a bumper sticker.
 
CraKaJaX

CraKaJaX

Lifer
Dec 26, 2004
11,905
148
101
I'm still not sure about the PSU. I'd probably find someone on these forums to help you who have had experience with one of them. As for memory, if you want to be doing what you said all at once then you're going to want some decent memory. 2x1GB of value RAM would be better.
 
A

alimoalem

Diamond Member
Sep 22, 2005
4,025
0
0
Originally posted by: BloodTravis
Well i think you could get a better deal if you bought that 4000+ and combo it with the DFI mobo that they offer (Duel core is nice but the 4000+ is still pretty nice) and if you do that id proubly get some more ram.
Click to expand...

why should he get a single core? hopefully the OP will keep the rig for a while and games and apps are becoming mutithreaded so the extra core will really start to help. plus, the 4000+ might be good for gaming or something, not for what the OP wants to do
 
B

BloodTravis

Member
Jan 31, 2006
62
0
0
Really I was only recommending more ram but I wanted to keep the Price the same so I offered a different combo, if you ask me I really don?t even think that a duel core processor is necessary I?m running a AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Claw Hammer and my pc handles all of that so I know that the 4000+ could to. (just trying to get him a good deal) But who knows maybe it?s not the right processor for the job.
 
B

BloodTravis

Member
Jan 31, 2006
62
0
0
Originally posted by: alimoalem
you never mentioned OCing so i'm just gonna assume you won't be doing it

cpu: good choice

motherboard: i wouldn't buy a crossfire board. don't even buy sli. just get an epox 9npa+ ultra board or something. it's around $105.

ram: good choice, but get the 2gig kit (2x1gig sticks). g.skill wouldn't be bad either. newegg has a cas2.5 g.skill value ram 2gb kit for $145. you'll want the 2 gigs, especially with what you do

psu: go with a more credible company. personally, i'd get the fortron450w. same price and your rig will be nowhere near the 450w limit so it'll supply you just fine.

case: i like

gpu: you picked a good card considering you're not building a gaming rig. you did mention you may occasionally game however. i don't think that'll allow you to play any current games...bottom line, don't expect too much

hdd: i personally would go with the Western Digital SE16 250GB SATA300 drive. it's also $96

sticker...i know it's only $5 but do you really need it? fyi, one of the reviewers said it's the size of a bumper sticker.
Click to expand...

__________________________________________________________________________

I thought that 2 sticks of 1gb ram were flawed and slower then say 4 sticks of 512???
 
SparkyJJO

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
13,357
7
81
Originally posted by: alimoalem
motherboard: i wouldn't buy a crossfire board. don't even buy sli. just get an epox 9npa+ ultra board or something. it's around $105.
Click to expand...

QFT - if you don't need/want dual cards, don't get the board for it. Only thing is I'd go for asus - epox lately (in my experience and some friends) has had some trouble with their boards randomly dying. Maybe they are over that tho.

I agree with alimoalem about ram, PSU, and GPU - more ram would be good for what you are doing, the PSU is, well, who knows? And the GPU isn't gonna be powerful enough to do too much gaming at all, so really don't expect a whole lot.

On the HD I don't like WD (had too many of them die on me) and maxtor has been having trouble with heat. Pretty much, keep a fan on the maxtor you should be fine, but cool it somehow. Personally I'd go for seagate or samsung.

sticker...i know it's only $5 but do you really need it? fyi, one of the reviewers said it's the size of a bumper sticker.
Click to expand...
that sticker comes free with certain hardware, so that is probably why he's got it on there.

 
drum

drum

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2003
6,810
4
81
Originally posted by: BloodTravis
Originally posted by: alimoalem
you never mentioned OCing so i'm just gonna assume you won't be doing it

cpu: good choice

motherboard: i wouldn't buy a crossfire board. don't even buy sli. just get an epox 9npa+ ultra board or something. it's around $105.

ram: good choice, but get the 2gig kit (2x1gig sticks). g.skill wouldn't be bad either. newegg has a cas2.5 g.skill value ram 2gb kit for $145. you'll want the 2 gigs, especially with what you do

psu: go with a more credible company. personally, i'd get the fortron450w. same price and your rig will be nowhere near the 450w limit so it'll supply you just fine.

case: i like

gpu: you picked a good card considering you're not building a gaming rig. you did mention you may occasionally game however. i don't think that'll allow you to play any current games...bottom line, don't expect too much

hdd: i personally would go with the Western Digital SE16 250GB SATA300 drive. it's also $96

sticker...i know it's only $5 but do you really need it? fyi, one of the reviewers said it's the size of a bumper sticker.
Click to expand...

__________________________________________________________________________

I thought that 2 sticks of 1gb ram were flawed and slower then say 4 sticks of 512???
Click to expand...

you've been misinformed
 
S

socalcyclist

Member
Mar 2, 2006
69
0
0
First of all - you guys n gals absolutely rock!!

This is what I'm thinkin' now for changes based on suggestions:

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail - $49.99
XFX Geforce 7300GS PVT72GWANG Low Profile Video Card - Retail - $77.00
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail - $295.00
ASUS A8N5X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $79.99

2GB of ram but which one exactly - there's so many to choose from?

Would you suggest the Geforce 7300 VC listed above or the MSI Radeon X800 RX800-TD128E Video Card - Retail for $88.25 after MIR?
 
NaOH

NaOH

Diamond Member
Mar 2, 2006
5,015
0
0
Get a Tagan psu. You won't be dissappointed by the quality. They put thought into every little aspect of getting good clean power.Also, I think you should save some cash and get the 3800 x2. It can easily be overclocked to match the speeds of the 4200. I agree with your choice of a dual core cpu. Futureproof and you are mostly a power user who will work with intensive software all at once. The amount of ram is good for now, and I'll leave it to you to decide how much gaming power you want.
 
S

socalcyclist

Member
Mar 2, 2006
69
0
0
OK, I think this is what I'm going with now:

NEC Black IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner Model ND-3550A - OEM - $39.75
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM - $96.00
ASPIRE X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-SS Silver Computer Case With Side Panel Window - Retail - $58.00
ASUS A8N5X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $79.99
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail - $49.99
Logitech Internet Pro Desktop Black Wired Keyboard - OEM - $16.00
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory - Retail - $150.99
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail - $295.00
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM - $93.95
MSI Radeon X800 RX800-TD128E Video Card - Retail - $88.25 after MIR

Still unsure on Video Card. I just picked that one because...well, I don't remember.

Any compatability problems? Anything you would change and why?

THANKS for the help! I'll probably order tomorrow! :)
 
I

i3lueHorneT

Junior Member
Sep 16, 2005
23
0
0
Originally posted by: socalcyclist
I just decided to go custom build yesterday so the past 24hrs I've been doing nothing but researching and cramming info into my little brain. I'll be using the computer mostly for web stuff: designing websites, surfing, downloading and burning music/movies. Beefiest apps will be stuff like Adobe Acrobat & Illustrator and Paint Shop Pro. I'm not looking for a gaming system but it would be nice to play a current game once in a while. What I really want is a system that won't bog down while I have 10 different IE windows open, editing a photo in PSP, downloading a movie, and checking my email all at the same time.
Click to expand...
Quite the newb myself and not having a thing to do with HW really since I ordered my rig nearly 3 years ago, however prior to its purchase I paced out the research over 3 months (yes 1/4 yr) slowly mainly on the weekends. I don't know how the avg. PC buyer goes about it, time wise, but regardless it sounds you're rushing it a bit, is it imperative you have the parts in by a week from now? Maybe you want to pace yourself, not as slow as I went with it but if you just decided to do it the other day and haven't really researched much, atop of labelling yourself a newb I fear you may wish you had waited a bit and collected more knowledge to go on some weeks after your rig is setup.

Ohh, and about the 10 IE windows: FireFox with the IE Tab extension?
/Just a quick thought, either way these guys will probably take of you well.


peace,
 
S

socalcyclist

Member
Mar 2, 2006
69
0
0
OK, this is the complete final revised revised revised build specs:

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106013"]LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD Burner Model SHW-160P6S - Retail - $41.99.[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144235] Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM - $96.00[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811144101] ASPIRE X-Plorer ATXB8KLW-SS Silver Computer Case With Side Panel Window - Retail - $58.00[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131569]ASUS A8N5X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail - $79.99 [/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817104954]FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail - $49.99 [/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823126152]Logitech Internet Pro Desktop Black Wired Keyboard - OEM - $16.00 [/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145579"]CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory - Retail - $141.50[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103562]AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail - $295.00 [/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16814130256"]eVGA Geforce 7800GT CO SE 256-P2-N516 Video Card - Retail - $285.00[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16821152005"]NEC Black Internal Floppy Drive Model FD1231H-302 - OEM - $8.79[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16800999137"]newegg Glossy Logo Sticker - OEM - $5.00[/URL]
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16837102059]Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM - $93.95 [/URL]

Watchya think? Everything looks compatable, right?

Barring any natural disasters this is what I'm going with, I think...
 
S

socalcyclist

Member
Mar 2, 2006
69
0
0
>
Quite the newb myself and not having a thing to do with HW really since I ordered my rig nearly 3 years ago, however prior to its purchase I paced out the research over 3 months (yes 1/4 yr) slowly mainly on the weekends. I don't know how the avg. PC buyer goes about it, time wise, but regardless it sounds you're rushing it a bit, is it imperative you have the parts in by a week from now? Maybe you want to pace yourself, not as slow as I went with it but if you just decided to do it the other day and haven't really researched much, atop of labelling yourself a newb I fear you may wish you had waited a bit and collected more knowledge to go on some weeks after your rig is setup.
>


I'm closing in on 96hrs now! I should probably go take a shower. ;)

 
T

Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
925
0
76
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom