rate my system...

[drewzl]

Be gentle, its my first build. I was just wondering what you guys thought of this build (being my first) now that I have all my ducks in a row. Here are the components:

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116212

MOBO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130362

HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148065

MEMORY
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145539

VIDEO CARD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814142052

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147001

PSU
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817148025

HS/F
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835186134

DVD
Lite-on (cant paste the link)

I also bought some ramsink for my memory and an extra internal fan for airflow ( i really dont know why, i just read i should buy them) I guess im a wanna-be computer guy. anyway, gimme what you think. anything else i should get while im in the "spending all my damn money" kinda mood? I have the monitor and keyboard as well....just FYI

[pam123]

You have an SLI board but you're buying an ATI graphic's card?
You're also buying a non-SLI power supply.
If you don't want SLI, which needs a special power supply and will only run with nVidia graphics cards, then choose another board.

[drewzl]

thats why i posted this..thanks. I bought all this and i was hearing from different people things werent compatible. If i buy a new board, (not SLI) it will have to be a board that fits ATI graphics cards right? and the PSU i just bought, will fit it as well...correct? I should have just bought a damn computer that was already put together! hahaha....here's what im looking at for my MOBO...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131545

So if this is correct, If i buy this MOBO, My CPU will work correctly (using dual core), the PSU will work, the Graphics card will work and everything will be peachy keen?

[Staren]

The SLI board will work, but it was a waste of money. You can put any PCI-E video card into the first PCI-E slot on that board, but the second one is pretty much useless unless you want to switch over to two nVidia video cards.

And unless you plan to overclock the system you did not need the XMS memory. A Value RAM would have worked more then well enough. The XMS was kind of a waste of money. Come to think of it the extra ram sinks where as well considering the XMS already has them.

The parts will work, but you could have gotten the same power for a good bit less. Thats why so many of us double check here before we buy.

[drewzl]

really? I didnt know there was even a difference with the whole xms and regualr ram. i just bought it. Now that I know "some" things, i can use it to my advantage next time. I just bought the new MOBO (above) and I am sending the old one (msi p4n-sli) back bc some people are saying that my pentium 820 will not work with that specific MOBO. So, i think i shoud be fine with the new MOBO i just bought..i have checked everything and everything seems compatible...i hope!

[pam123]

While you're in the mood to send things back return that power supply.
Read the sticky here : http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195
Aspire power supplies aren't a good choice.
That motherboard is a micro (small)-ATX board with on-board graphics.
It does have a PCI-E 16X slot and it will run all your components but is that what you want?
How much do you want to spend on a motherboard and will you be overclocking?
Give us that info and we'll find you the right board ( warning : not getting a good motherboard is a mistake so don't cheap out ).
Staren is right about the ram but if you don't mind waiting for returns and exchanges your only problems there will be the delay and the possible re-stocking fee.

[Staren]

Pam123 is right, the second motherboard you bought is a microATX with on-board video. I wasn't even looking at that, just the socket type.

Again, it will work, but you didn't need some of the features (on-board video, and the micro form factor). My advice, learn to use Neweggs search drop downs at the front page of each category, and don't buy the first part that looks like it will work.

[ozzoright]

Your already paying $300.00-> for your Pentium D 830, for $20.00-$30.00 more you could get one of the 900 series of Pentium D's. They have 2 * 2MB L2 Cache and a 65nm core. Thier faster and run cooler too.

[kosova]

i couldn't help notice but almost all reviewers claimed the Pentium D ran too hot, if i were you i'd look for something else plus it's not in stock now either.

[jayb1234]

For A Pentium D, you will need one of the Motherboards listed on this (http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/products/box_processors/desktop/proc_dsk_pd/technical_reference/216415.htm#945) page. Check that the board supports the specific 8xx or 9xx processor you get. As far as running too hot, most of those people ignored Intel's TAC specifications, because they just had to have a certain case because of the pretty lights and windows. You should get a case that Intel has certified as a Thermally Advantaged Chassis. List (http://www.intel.com/cd/channel/reseller/asmo-na/eng/53211.htm)is here. As far as "not in stock" Newegg usually will have stuff back in stock in a few days. Unlike some other less reputable sellers like Tigerdirect who don' let you know when they are out of stock and hit you with a backorder.

[drewzl]

ok folks...im lost now. :D everything you see in my first thread is everything I already have at home (CPU, HD, CASE, VID CARD, HS/F, PSU) and the MOBO I bought first, i found out wasnt good for my CPU. So today I got another one. The ATX-micro one. Im using the computer for casual gaming...but mostly for just every day use... with the new MOBO I got today, will the vid card on it effect the one Im planning on putting on? The whole reason for changing MOBO's was bc i heard that the first one i had (PN-SLI) was not compatible with the CPU. So i got the ATX-Micro, which IS compatible with my pentium D 820. Oh, i dont plan on over clocking or anything like that (due to the fact i have NO idea what the heck that is...) and is the MOBO i picked out not a good one for my case or just not a good one in general- thats question is for Pam123.

[pam123]

ok folks...im lost now. :D everything you see in my first thread is everything I already have at home (CPU, HD, CASE, VID CARD, HS/F, PSU) and the MOBO I bought first, i found out wasnt good for my CPU. So today I got another one. The ATX-micro one. Im using the computer for casual gaming...but mostly for just every day use... with the new MOBO I got today, will the vid card on it effect the one Im planning on putting on? The whole reason for changing MOBO's was bc i heard that the first one i had (PN-SLI) was not compatible with the CPU. So i got the ATX-Micro, which IS compatible with my pentium D 820. Oh, i dont plan on over clocking or anything like that (due to the fact i have NO idea what the heck that is...) and is the MOBO i picked out not a good one for my case or just not a good one in general- thats question is for Pam123.

drewzl I'm backed up right now so I'll reply, with full explanations, later tonight.
Meanwhile, in the best interest of your wallet, don't buy anything else.:eek:

[Staren]

drewzl I'm backed up right now so I'll reply, with full explanations, later tonight.
Meanwhile, in the best interest of your wallet, don't buy anything else.:eek:

Just to add to Pams reply, and to repeat what I've been saying, it will 'work', but there is so much better for a better price. Will it make a working computer? Yes. Are you getting the best value out of all this money you're tossing at the problem? That is a NO. Not by a long shot. That's what we're trying to help you with.

[drewzl]

dont get the wrong impression...i am 100% grateful to all of you guys that help me with this. The whole reason for me to build this thing, is bc i want to learn the tricks and trades of the computer. I am def taking in all of what you guys are throwing at me. I just called newegg and they are allowing me to send back my old MOBO (PN4-SLI). So that bad boy is gone. I bought the ATX-Micro from ASUS earlier today bc i thought it would work well with my rig. I was praying to the computer gods and they agreed with me...(i hope) the memory thing, thats done with, i have it and i have to live with it. but i am just worried about the Pentium D 820 (not 830..that was my typing error) and my NEW MOBO...i just hope the whole dual core thing works... but once again, the more info i get from you guys, the better i'll be next go around. :D Im sure i'll build another one soon...there's not much to do in the arm pit of africa!

[pam123]

Okay drewzl here's the deal.
You've made a few newbie buying mistakes, but nothing major.:)
Yes your cpu will run in that motherboard as will your ram and your video card.
These weren't optimum choices but they will work.
So here are the mistakes :

1. It's true that processor will work in the Intel SLI board, that wasn't an error but an SLI board is intended for nVidia's dual graphics card solution for gamers and it only runs as SLI with nVidia cards. That means that an ATI card will waste the board's potential or to put it another way, you bought more motherboard then you needed to.

2. SLI boards are really picky about power supplies. Even if you're not running a pair of high powered nVidia cards in them not using an SLI approved power supply just invites trouble. To complicate matters further the power supply you bought is a known problem one (thus the link I gave you). That doesn't mean you'll have trouble but once you put the two together it doesn't look good for the future.

3. That pricey ram is a good deal if you're an over-clocker or planning to become one if you're not it's just expensive. As is the fsb, set correctly for your motherboard and cpu, will not make full use of it. Also you don't mention if you checked out the motherboard manual to see what ram would work best with it. Fortuantely Corsair has a good reputation for broad compatibility so I doubt you run into any problem there.
In the future download the manual of any board your interested in and read through the ram compatibility list before you order any. Failing that there are ram matching programs at Crucial or Corsair. You type in your motherboard and they give you a list of what will work with it. With a little practice reading the ram specs you'll be able to figure out if you can get the recommended ram for less somewhere else, like newegg.

4. Micro-ATX boards are fine and, since it has a PCI-E 16X slot you'll be able to use your card. It shouldn't have been your first choice but it will do the job. In the future don't just grab the first thing that looks likely. There're alot of boards out there and you could have chosen and gotten a full set of slots for future upgrades as well as a good price.
The on board video shouldn't be a problem and the motherboard manual should have all the info on it you need. As a rule installing a video card disables it but make sure you read the manual first and, when you install the motherboard drivers from the CD that comes with board, make sure you don't install the drivers for the on board video.

5. You have a replacement heatsink/fan listed but, as I said the retail processor already comes with one. Also it will have the necessary thermal paste on the heatsink, which I notice you haven't ordered, and until you do you can't use that one.

6. Another case fan, unless you're thinking that's what the combo you ordered is ( and no it's not ), is always a good idea.
I don't know what your situation is with the electric power in Kinshasa but if you have any doubts you'd better include a good UPS. A few surges and sags will destroy any unprotected computer power supply and likely take out other components as well.

The computer you're putting together should do everythng you want but, as a former 'first buidler' like everyone else on the forum, the first time around is always an experiment.
When you get ready for build number two post first and buy later.;)

[drewzl]

Done deal! Thanks Pam123. I did get the thermal paste (arctic 5 i believe) for my new HS/F and did replace the internal fan with a larger one (92mm) and my case allows for 2 front mounted 80mm fans which i got as well. I also bought a good UPS and power converter (the power here is VERY unstable!) but i have that area covered i think. Now that I can officailly say "i know the ropes of computer buying" I will def. post first then buy the parts second. It was the excitement of building my first computer that got to me and i was like a kid in the candy store...buy buy buy. now im broke broke broke! :D Once again, thanks for all your help.