newie needs help putting system together

[sbw]

It been a long while since I put together a system( 386 3.x days!). Things have changed so much but I have tryed to read here and learn. I have read many recomendations on various components. But I am still undecided on a few components. I won't be OC'ing, very little gaming , would like to do digital photography. Overall I'm just looking for a new system that will be easy to setup and use. Also, I'm hoping for components are well matched and don't conflict with each other. Here it goes, please tell me what you think. What would you use that would be different and why?

MB Epox 8k-5a2 or MSI KT3 ultra 2 ???
AMD 1700xp or 2000xp retail ???
WD 800jb retail
ATI all in one 64mb 7500 radeon retail (I like all the tv out stuff but how does it work?)
512 mb crucial brand 2100 DDR
LG 16x DVD
LG 32x10x40 cd-rw
PSU HEC 350old duel fan 350w(would a 300w of same quality work?)
Case reuse old atx w/ two vantec fans
OS XP PRO
Your help and input would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Lonyo]

I would say yes about the hard drive, RAM, DVD and CD-RW. Ati's are meant to be better than nVidia cards for 2d, so good for digital photos there. XP's are solid and cheap, so good value. I have a 300w PSU with probably more power hungry stuff than you plan on getting and it works fine, but a 350w would be safer and might be more future proof.

 

[jeffrey]

An Nforce2 motherboard might help out if you were otherwise planning on spending extra $ on an external sound card. It would pair nicely with two 256mb sticks of Crucial DDR.

 

[EKAtBzboyz]

Originally posted by: sbw
It been a long while since I put together a system( 386 3.x days!). Things have changed so much but I have tryed to read here and learn. I have read many recomendations on various components. But I am still undecided on a few components. I won't be OC'ing, very little gaming , would like to do digital photography. Overall I'm just looking for a new system that will be easy to setup and use. Also, I'm hoping for components are well matched and don't conflict with each other. Here it goes, please tell me what you think. What would you use that would be different and why?



msi kt3 ultra 2 (no reason, just picked it, both look good)
2000xp (if you are not overclocking might as well get the best you can)
hd is good (thats the 8mb cache one right?)
video card would be alright...not really good for upcoming games though....if its just for vivo/2d functionality its pretty good
id get pc2700 ddr (both motherboards support it, so why not?)
dvd is good
maybe liteon cdrw (maybe you can get faster for about the same price or cheaper, the 40x and 48x liteon drives are good)
any psu would work

but what about sound? or are you using onboard sound?

 

[sbw]

yep, The hd has the 8 mb cache. Would the 2700 DDR be a whole lot faster or just more "future proof"? I plan on using onboard sound for now, which board would have better ob sound?