Updated First PC Build

[Xjac0bmichaelX]

Case

Motherboard

PSU

Hard Drive

Graphics

Ram

CPU

Disk Drive

This is my build so far. Help me out. Any comments welcome!

 

[Xjac0bmichaelX]

By the way I also wanna know what the best monitor under 300 dollars is. Thanks

 

[Lunyone]

Well I'd probably do things a bit different, with similar parts. What is your budget?? Please leave details with your builds, so we don't have to click on every link (just something to consider when you post).

Here is a similar build and is about the same $:
$56 shipped!! Should be pretty close to your older CPU that you selected.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200 Brisbane 2.7GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

$90 shipped! One of the better mobo's for the $ and leaves some upgrade paths too.
BIOSTAR TA790GX XE AM2+/AM2 AMD 790GX HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

$164 - $15 MIR = ~$150!! One of the better 4870's, but you can get the 1gb verson for not much more, which would be worth the extra $10 or so.
HIS Hightech H487FN512P Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

$70 shipped! Fast and efficient. Not a 1TB like you posted, but I'm not a Hitachi fan, so here's my suggestion.
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

$110 shipped!! One of the better case/PSU combo's for the $ out there. It has a 500w Earthwatts PSU (>80% efficient) and comes with 34A on the combined 12v rails, which is enough for the 4870 GPU.
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail

$60 shipped!! One of the better DDR2 800mHz CAS4 (4-4-4-12 timings) RAM sets that run at stock voltage (1.8v)!! Should OC well, if you ever need to.
G.SKILL PI Black 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

$27 shipped!! Same DVD Burner that you selected, IIRC!
Pioneer Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 2MB Cache SATA CD/DVD Burner - OEM

Total ~$576 - $15 MIR = $561!!! Not too bad for a decent budget gaming rig!! The main things that I upgraded you on from your build is the mobo, RAM, PSU, and got a newer CPU version.

 

[Xjac0bmichaelX]

* HITACHI 0A38016 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$79.99


Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply - Retail
$59.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115036
$189.99
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

$189.99

ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824236049

LCD Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

$214.99

OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2G8004GK - Retai

$44.99

LITE-ON Black Blu-Ray DVD Drive & DVD Burner with LightScribe SATA Model iHES206-08 - Retail
$89.99

ASUS P5QPL-VM EPU LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI uATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$84.99


This is what I'm looking at now. Whole budget is about a grand. Wanna be gaming and doing audio production.

 

[M0RPH]

Do you have a Microcenter nearby? They have some nice deals on processors, like E7400 for $80. Seems like you were trying to go budget on the CPU, then you jumped up to the E8500 which is pretty pricey.

 

[Lunyone]

Originally posted by: M0RPH
Do you have a Microcenter nearby? They have some nice deals on processors, like E7400 for $80. Seems like you were trying to go budget on the CPU, then you jumped up to the E8500 which is pretty pricey.

Yeah that is what I thought too. The only thing he kept was the 1TB HD and PSU. $190 for a 4870, you might as well get the 4890 for $200 after $20 MIR.
Here are a couple things to consider with your build:
* The one big issue I have is the PSU that you selected. It only has about 24A on the combined 12v rails and really isn't a true 500w PSU. The one in the Antec Sonata III case that I linked above has 34A on the combined 12v rails and it's a 500w PSU. Thermaltake does an okay job with it's PSU's, but they seem to overrate them, IMHO.
* The RAM you selected is okay, but there are a couple of things to consider. The RAM runs at CAS5, which means 5-5-5-18 timings. This isn't a bad thing, but when you go to OC your Intel CPU, you can run into OC'ing limits. Especially since the RAM is already at 2.1v's!! This was the other issue I have with them, the 2.1v requirement for the 5-5-5-18 timings. The ones that are a bit more that I linked run at the stock voltage of 1.8v and also run at 4-4-4-12 timings, which will come in handy later when/if you decide to OC your system.
* The mobo you selected is okay, but if your going with an Intel build I'd suggest getting at least a p45 based mobo. There is more OC'ing room and they usually have more options too, for not much difference in price. I've listed a decent p45 based mobo to consider below for $95 shipped!!
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
* You didn't list an OS, so do you have one or are you going to need to buy one??
* Which case are you going with on the 2nd build list??

I'm not trying to spoil your day by critiquing your build, I'm just trying to let you know some more information on things to consider before you buy. I just want to make sure you can make an informed decision on your build. I know I have been in your shoes before and have had some help in my buying decisions in the past.

 

[Xjac0bmichaelX]

yea i'm not really interested in OCing. I don't see what the point would be if I can run games perfectly without doing it. Also I have XP and could get vista but i'm debating that right now. and I'm going with this NZXT|LEXA BLACKLINE BK RT case. Has good cooling and i'm a sucker for looks haha. Thanks for your help just put in the order. also got a 24 inch lcd asus monitor

 

[Lunyone]

What did you order??

 

[Xjac0bmichaelX]

This was my order


* HITACHI 0A38016 1TB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
$79.99


Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply - Retail
$59.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115036
$189.99
SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

$189.99

ASUS VW246H Black 24" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824236049

LCD Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy

$214.99

OCZ Gold 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2G8004GK - Retai

$44.99

LITE-ON Black Blu-Ray DVD Drive & DVD Burner with LightScribe SATA Model iHES206-08 - Retail
$89.99

ASUS P5QPL-VM EPU LGA 775 Intel G41 HDMI uATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
$84.99