Advice on this list of components

[JohnJSal]

I've put together a tentative list of components for a computer. It will be a normal computer that my parents use pretty much just for internet, email, and some Word. And yes, they use DSL so I need a modem. I figured a sound card was overkill, and even a graphics card would be unnecessary.

I feel confident about the hard drive and the case, but the other parts could easily be changed, I'm sure. Furthermore, the Newegg memory configurator did not list the G35 chipset, so I don't know for sure yet if this memory is compatible.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129025
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007
Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131237
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148071&Tpk=CT2KIT12864AA80E
Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148231
Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135156
Modem: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825180003

Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks!

EDIT: I changed the RAM. This one is compatible (and even a little cheaper!)

 

[holdenssx]

That modem won't do you any good, its a 56Kbps model (dial-up). If they have DSL, they should already have an external modem.

 

[JohnJSal]

That modem won't do you any good, its a 56Kbps model (dial-up). If they have DSL, they should already have an external modem.

They do, but doesn't that still need to plug into a modem jack in the back of the PC?

 

[holdenssx]

They do, but doesn't that still need to plug into a modem jack in the back of the PC?

Naw, it should plug in by ethernet, or by USB. It most likely uses ethernet though.

If you look at this picture of your motherboard, you'll see what looks like a larger phone cable plugin, thats the ethernet port.

 

[oscaryu1]

Phone line - DSL - USB (optional) - PC - (if not) RJ45 - Computer/Router

Anyways, what's your budget?

 

[JohnJSal]

Naw, it should plug in by ethernet, or by USB. It most likely uses ethernet though.

If you look at this picture of your motherboard, you'll see what looks like a larger phone cable plugin, thats the ethernet port.

Hmm, I know that they had to put filters on the phone lines, so maybe the other end of the filter is that larger ethernet size. That'd be fine with me...one less thing to install.

 

[JohnJSal]

Anyways, what's your budget?

Not really sure. I think my dad is letting me do this just so I can have a chance to build a PC.

But so as not to bankrupt him, I'd say around $500-700, since they hardly even use the thing anyway. The components I listed total just over $700.

 

[StrangleHold]

For 15 more bucks you can get the E6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

I would get this ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231087

 

[JohnJSal]

Thanks. I had originally looked at G.Skill RAM because of the price (and it got mostly good reviews), but I worried about the brand name and decided on Crucial. But now I'm rethinking the motherboard anyway, which of courses changes that. Here are my choices:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131187
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128053
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131237

I have absolutely no way to choose between them, other than going on the reviews. The Gigabyte board has a 74% "excellent" rating, and one of the Asus boards has 73%, but out of about half as many reviewers. Then of course there's the 1-star reviews which make me rethink the whole thing again! I guess I just need to pick one and hope it works.

I'm thinking the Gigabyte board, because it has a better review average.

(Suddenly building a PC seems pretty easy, but dealing with all the potential failed hardware issues seems intimidating.)

 

[JohnJSal]

For 15 more bucks you can get the E6750
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029

Good call! I even saw that before but I guess it somehow looked a lot more expensive to me.

 

[oscaryu1]

$700 could easily get you 2GB-4GB, 160GB, P31-DS3L, a Q6600 G0, 8800GT, 700W, and a Antec 900!

(I have to go, but I'll try to hook up a build)

 

[JohnJSal]

$700 could easily get you 2GB-4GB, 160GB, P31-DS3L, a Q6600 G0, 8800GT, 700W, and a Antec 900!

(I have to go, but I'll try to hook up a build)

Wow, I'd love to see that!

Of course, none of my calculations have include rebates or deals or anything like that.

 

[JohnJSal]

I feel confident about the hard drive

Well, I *thought* I did, until I found this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148161

120GB for just a few dollars more. It's the 7200.9 series, as opposed to 7200.10, but seems identical other than the capacity.

 

[diduknowthat]

$700 could easily get you 2GB-4GB, 160GB, P31-DS3L, a Q6600 G0, 8800GT, 700W, and a Antec 900!

(I have to go, but I'll try to hook up a build)

That's pushing it. My System (look in the specs) cost me about $960 AFTER all MIR.

Assuming that you meant the 8800gt 256mb, and with a cheaper motherboard, the computer will still be in the $800's.

 

[JohnJSal]

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371007

Here's another thing I'm unsure of. I chose 500W to be safe, but I have no idea how to decide how much wattage a particular set up needs. I've used some of those calculator websites, but they ask for a lot of information that I don't know about (plus I've gotten conflicting answers from them as well).