Newb's first build

socalcyclist · 03-02-2006, 06:06 PM

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.

(revised now)
OK, this is the complete final build specs:

LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD Burner Model SHW-160P6S - Retail - $41.99.
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
CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory - Retail - $141.50
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail - $295.00
eVGA Geforce 7800GT CO SE 256-P2-N516 Video Card - Retail - $285.00
NEC Black Internal Floppy Drive Model FD1231H-302 - OEM - $8.79
newegg Glossy Logo Sticker - OEM - $5.00
Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM - $93.95

Watchya think? Everything looks compatable, right?

Dialamo · 03-02-2006, 07:37 PM

Hmmm.....everything should work, RAM is fine for your needs, processor is exellent....

I think you should change your motherboard because I don't think you will use Crossfire. You can go a bit cheaper without the need for Crossfire.

You also said you would like to play a recent game once in a while. Here is a card I found on Newegg that may be a bit more expensive, but I think will run games better than the one you chose up to now. This is also a low profile card.
XFX Geforce 7300GS PVT72GWANG Low Profile Video Card - Retail $77.00

Here's another motherboard:
ASUS A8N5X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $79.99

This is just a sugestion.

socalcyclist · 03-02-2006, 07:43 PM

The board was listed in another build. What is Crossfire?

Thanks for suggestions.

Dialamo · 03-02-2006, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socalcyclist

The board was listed in another build. What is Crossfire?

Thanks for suggestions.

Crossfire is a hardware function in a Motherboard that allows to add 2 ATi brand graphic cards to run them both at the same time. This is for high-end gaming purposes. Some motherboards have also have this for Nvidia brand cards, and it is called SLI (Scalable Link Interface)

skidude · 03-02-2006, 08:31 PM

I am using the A8R-MVP right now and I love it, but if you arent going to be gaming much then the crossfire is overkill for you. The motherboard that Dialamo mentioned is much better for your purposes.

**ceewi1** · 03-02-2006, 10:19 PM

The Asus A8R-MVP is a significantly better board than the A8N5X. Even if you don't intend to use the crossfire functionality it should be towards the top of your list. Your build looks quite good, but you can do better for the money. Take a look at Computer Spec 101

Charles_Lee · 03-02-2006, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dialamo

XFX Geforce 7300GS PVT72GWANG Low Profile Video Card - Retail $77.00 This is just a sugestion.

bad sugestion of video card;;;

that one is like one of the worst one you can get...

instead go with geforce 6800 or something;;

Charles_Lee · 03-02-2006, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socalcyclist

The board was listed in another build. What is Crossfire?

Thanks for suggestions.

well for crossfire,, get a video card like radian x800

socalcyclist · 03-03-2006, 04:40 AM

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!

rahving · 03-03-2006, 09:18 AM

Looks like a good setup to me. As for video card goes, the one you have listed is good for the price. Another one I think you would love would be the Geforce 6600GT 128mb. It can easily play any game out right now, with all but a handfull on max settings. You would probably have to go on medium settings for Doom 3, Fear, etc.

As you don't game a whole lot but like to play occasionally, the Geforce 6600GT would most likely allow you to play upcoming games for some time as well, albeit possibly on low settings. (would probably look decent anyway)

You can find the Geforce 6600GT at newegg for I believe around $100 usd after MIR. Good luck with your build, I'm sure whatever you pick will work great for you.

03-02-2006, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
socalcyclist New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 15	Newb's first build - Please check my components. 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. (revised now) OK, this is the complete final build specs: LITE-ON Black ATAPI/E-IDE DVD Burner Model SHW-160P6S - Retail - $41.99. 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 CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory - Retail - $141.50 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail - $295.00 eVGA Geforce 7800GT CO SE 256-P2-N516 Video Card - Retail - $285.00 NEC Black Internal Floppy Drive Model FD1231H-302 - OEM - $8.79 newegg Glossy Logo Sticker - OEM - $5.00 Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 - OEM - $93.95 Watchya think? Everything looks compatable, right? Last edited by socalcyclist; 03-03-2006 at 10:57 PM.

03-02-2006, 07:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dialamo Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 198	Hmmm.....everything should work, RAM is fine for your needs, processor is exellent.... I think you should change your motherboard because I don't think you will use Crossfire. You can go a bit cheaper without the need for Crossfire. You also said you would like to play a recent game once in a while. Here is a card I found on Newegg that may be a bit more expensive, but I think will run games better than the one you chose up to now. This is also a low profile card. XFX Geforce 7300GS PVT72GWANG Low Profile Video Card - Retail $77.00 Here's another motherboard: ASUS A8N5X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $79.99 This is just a sugestion. __________________ Computers For The Win!

03-02-2006, 08:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
skidude Diamond Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Orono, Maine Age: 19 Posts: 4,896	I am using the A8R-MVP right now and I love it, but if you arent going to be gaming much then the crossfire is overkill for you. The motherboard that Dialamo mentioned is much better for your purposes. __________________ Desktop / Laptop CPU- AMD Athlon X2 6000+ 3.0 GHz / Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.8 GHz Video- ATI X1900XTX / 2x 8800M GTX SLI Memory- 2 GB A-Data DDR2800 / 4GB DDR2800 Hard Drives- 3x 160GB 7200RPM / 2x 320GB 5400RPM (RAID 0) Mobo- Gigabyte GA-M61P-S3 Socket AM2 Motherboard / Sager NP9262 "In These Lowly Halls / No Moon Will Beam, No Sun Will Shine / In These Narrow Rooms / No Tears Are Seen, No Laughter Heard" --- Insomnium ---

03-02-2006, 10:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
ceewi1 Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Melbourne, Australia Age: 21 Posts: 5,280	The Asus A8R-MVP is a significantly better board than the A8N5X. Even if you don't intend to use the crossfire functionality it should be towards the top of your list. Your build looks quite good, but you can do better for the money. Take a look at Computer Spec 101 __________________ CPU: Core 2 Duo E6600 / MOBO: Gigabyte 965P-DS3 / GPU: Gigabyte HD4870 RAM: 2GB G.Skill F2-6400CL4D-2GBPK / HDD: 2TB Total HDD / PSU: Antec NeoPower 480W Cheap PSUs - 2% of system costs, responsible for 28% of system deaths As Sealed Stick was removed, lost or damaged, it shall be out of warranty validity. - The "Warranty void if removed" sticker on numerous CoolerMaster PSUs. Useful PSU Guides

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03-02-2006, 07:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
socalcyclist New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 15	The board was listed in another build. What is Crossfire? Thanks for suggestions.

03-03-2006, 04:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
socalcyclist New Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 15	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!

03-03-2006, 09:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
rahving Silver Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 195	Looks like a good setup to me. As for video card goes, the one you have listed is good for the price. Another one I think you would love would be the Geforce 6600GT 128mb. It can easily play any game out right now, with all but a handfull on max settings. You would probably have to go on medium settings for Doom 3, Fear, etc. As you don't game a whole lot but like to play occasionally, the Geforce 6600GT would most likely allow you to play upcoming games for some time as well, albeit possibly on low settings. (would probably look decent anyway) You can find the Geforce 6600GT at newegg for I believe around $100 usd after MIR. Good luck with your build, I'm sure whatever you pick will work great for you.