Building a new computer for the first time

[pepsiclock]

Yes this will be my first attempt at building a computer. I already picked out all the parts but the thing is I'm not 100% sure they are all compatable. I think they are but I have never built a computer before and do not know for sure. Also I would like for people to post their opinions on the parts and if I picked the right ones. I would be open to suggestions on different parts but I don't want to spend a lot more than what I am already spending. Now I'm not sure this is the right forum but feel free to move it, here are the parts.

Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131540
Processor- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103546
RAM- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145450
Harddrive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140
Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130056
Sound Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102178
Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023
Case w/ fans- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133018

I'd appreciate all the help I can get. I would like a different case but this one is still nice and I like how it has 2 fans built into it. If anyone could link me to any other cases with 2 fans built into it, with one fan for intake i'd appreciate it. Please someone check to make sure all the parts are good quality parts and are compatable, thanks.

Edit: I was thinking that the processor wouldn't be compatable because on newegg it doesn't say the motherboard supports X2. But here on the motherboard main ASUS website (http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?l...39&modelmenu=1) it says it does. Just thought this might help someone.

[d0rkz]

all of the parts you have listed seem to be compatible. just a few things i thought of here: first, if i were building a system, i'd have a mobo that supported more than 1gig of ram. I'd probably go with 2gigs. but depending on what you do, for just basic pc functions, 1gig should be good. you didnt mention anything about drives (cd, dvd, zip, floppy..etc) depending on what you want to put in it for drives, if it's a lot, you may want to consider bigger than a 430w power supply. maybe spend the extra 30 bucks and go 500w. you said you wanted to run dual fans, and if you plan on running dual rom drives and other devices, it might not be a bad idea.

[pepsiclock]

Well on the comp I have now I purchased a DVD Burner for it 2 years ago and I'll just put that on the new comp. Also I thought the motherboard supported 4 gigs? This is from the newegg specs of the motherboard:

Memory Number of DDR Slots 4x 184pin DDR DDR Standard DDR 400 (PC 3200) Maximum Memory Supported 4GB Dual Channel Supported Yes
Now I plan on getting a Dual Layered DVD burner and maybe I will also put the floppy drive from this comp onto my new one aswell. I don't think I will have more than 2 dvd roms in my comp but you never know maybe I will get an HD burner in a few years. Do you think I should upgrade the power supply? It doesn't sound like a bad idea.

[Fernanthonies]

I also am about to build my first computer. This is the case im planning on going with

http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16811147039

It has 2x120mm fans, one in front and one in back. I decided to go with a core2duo processor, i've been hearing from a lot of places that they blow most other processors out of the water.

and also, for about ~$40 more you can get a 7900gto graphics card, which is basically a GTX for half the price, and just a smidge underclocked. just a suggestion

[d0rkz]

ahhh..sorry, i didnt see the specs page on newegg's website. i was lookin at the manufacturer's website and misread the specs. it is 4gig compatible. sounds good! but i'd upgrade the power supply anyway just because if you're going to be investing that kind of money into the system, i'm sure you want to keep it for a few years, and as technology develops, you're gonna wanna buy more goodies for the system so when that time comes, you'll have enough juice!

[HeadBand]

if you get an e6300 it will perform better and be cheaper, allowing you to spend the $50 on more ram

[carl33p]

If you were bulding this a couple months ago, I'd say Great choices, but:

You'll definetly want to either go with an AM2 setup or a Core2Duo setup.
The Intel Core 2 Duo's are the best performers out right now, and you have the budget to go for it.(Either the E6300 or E6400 Processor)
If you choose to stick with AMD, socket AM2 rather than socket 939 cost the same amount but is new socket type that utilizes DDR2.

Either way, you will need DDR2 memory. 1GB should be fine.
Dont buy an SLI motherboard, they cost more, and are unnessasary.

If you wanna save some money, dont get a Sound card. Most people can not tell the difference between onboard and a sound card. If you were to get a sound, the X-fi cards are supposedly quite good.

Unless you are overclocking, Value Ram is fine.

If this is not a gaming PC, then the 7900GS is overkill.

This is one of the best PSU's in its price range. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104953

[pepsiclock]

Ya I decided to drop the sound card, right now I'm thinking of switching to AM2. I'll post the new parts soon.

[pepsiclock]

I'm thinking of chaning the Motherboard, processor, and RAM. I'm wondering is the Intel Core Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M sharing L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor faster than the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2.2GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor? Here are the parts I'm thinking of changing,

MOTHERBOARD New choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131032
Old choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131540

PROCESSOR New choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004
Old choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103546

RAM New choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227077
Old choice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145450

Here are the other parts if they are needed,
Harddrive- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140
Video Card- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130056
Power Supply- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023
Case w/ fans- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133018

EDIT: I am thinking of getting this Video Card instead of the last one, what do you guys think of this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150199

[carl33p]

The E6400 outperforms the x2 4400+ by quite a bit. The E6400 will outperform almost any AMD processor. Google some benchmarks if you are skeptical.

I still say drop the SLI board. A single powerful GFX card is enough, unless you are a benchmark person....
Also, the PSU you chose couldnt even power 2 GPU's in SLI.....

The PSU i linked for you is almost twice as powerful as your choice.(Check out Amps on the 12V.)**But it also should not be used to power 2 gfx cards.

EDIT: in order to better help you, Please tell us the purpose of this PC you are building. If you were to get the 7950GT instead of the 7900GS, that means you are looking to play the latest games. Therefore, i would suggest 2GB of ram.(WHich is nessasary for up to date games like BF2, 2142, Obilvion, etc etc.)

[HeadBand]

yeah 2gb ram would be much better than the vid upgrade

and yeah I would also go for a differnt motherboard....not because this one is SLI but just because the 965 is a much better chipset than the nforce5

i also agree, spend $10 more to get the FSP PSU

[pepsiclock]

yeah 2gb ram would be much better than the vid upgrade

and yeah I would also go for a differnt motherboard....not because this one is SLI but just because the 965 is a much better chipset than the nforce5

i also agree, spend $10 more to get the FSP PSU

Could you please show me a link to the motherboard you are requesting? I am thinking about getting the 2GB RAM update also. What do you guys suggest for the 2GB RAM? I read that getting two 1GB's is better than four 512MB's of RAM so I'm trying to get one of those.

[AznPoolPro]

What is ur Budget?

[Whipple04]

well, you can always easily upgrade your memory later on, as with a video card your going to be spending alot to upgrade.

[carl33p]

Get 2 x 1GB of Ram. DDR2 800 would be optimal. If your not overclocking, just get the cheapest you can find of that type by a decent manufactuer.

There are many motherboards you can choose. You just wanna pick one that has a 965 North Bridge chipset.
http://www.intel.com/products/proces...sets/index.htm

[Fernanthonies]

This is what im getting when i build my system soon

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 = $115.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe = $183.00

Corsair ValueSelect 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667 = $214.99

eVGA GeForce 7900GTO 512MB = $253.99 <--basically a GTX for half the price

[carl33p]

This is what im getting when i build my system soon

GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel P965 = $115.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 Conroe = $183.00

Corsair ValueSelect 2GB (2x1GB) DDR2 667 = $214.99

eVGA GeForce 7900GTO 512MB = $253.99 <--basically a GTX for half the price

Good choices. But you'll want to get DDR2 800 opposed to the DDR2 667 you have chosen. Even your motherboard standard is DDR2 800.

[pepsiclock]

Is your EVGA GeForce 7900GTO 512MB (http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814130065) better than the Geforce 7950 GT 512MB video card? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150199)

[HeadBand]

Good choices. But you'll want to get DDR2 800 opposed to the DDR2 667 you have chosen. Even your motherboard standard is DDR2 800.

if you're not overclocking it will be hard to notice a differnce between 533 and 800mhz memory

if you are overclocking I would recomend getting the version of that board with solid capacitors (DS3) in addition to 800mhz ram

[laura_lee]

I know newegg.com ,It is located one of his office in Chengdu,Sichuan,China .Not for away from our company.