New Gaming PC--Suggestions?

[jamesgig]

I am new to the forum and PC building world and would appriciate some advice. I am replacing 4 1/2 year old Dell with a new PC for under $3000. I will be using it primarily for gaming/school projects (currently these projects kill my PC faster than gaming). I am going to be ording in the next few days so please do not suggest waiting for Conroe for I see no performance gain that will significanly affect my system's performance. I will be over-clocking to the max.

Case: Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS $135
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811133154

MOBO: ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe $147
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131013

CPU: AMD X2 4400+ socket AM2 $503 http://www.cybersprinter.com/item_description.asp?prodid=4950

CPU cooler: Thermaltake Mini Typhoon CL-P0268 92mm $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835106075

TIM: Arctic Silver 5 $6
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 $250
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145034

GPU: MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E Geforce 7900GTX $420
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127097

GPU cooler: ZALMAN VF900 - CU LED 80mm $49
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835118006

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB $78
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144701

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic $117
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102188 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102188)

DVD-ROM: ASUS Black 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-ROM ATAPI/E-IDE $22
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827135085

DVD burner: SAMSUNG Black 2M Cache ATA/ATAPI $41
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151118

Card reader: Atech Flash Xm-4U 11-in-1 USB 2.0 $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820176825

PSU: FSP Group FX700-GLN ATX12V/ EPS12V 700W $166
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817104015

Monitor: LG L203WTX 1:1400 300nits 20.1" $500
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824005070


Speakers: Klipsch Audio ProMedia GMX A 2.1 $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836119105

Keyboard: Microsoft Natural 4000 B2M-00012 $40
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823109148

Mouse: Logitech G5 Laser 931376-0403 $43
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826104191

OS: WinXP Pro OEM $138

Total (without shipping): $2870

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer whether it is that certain parts shoud be changed or are overkill.

[glc]

Make sure whatever ram you choose is on the Asus QVL - if not, do some forum research to make sure it does work as desired in that motherboard. AM2 is very fussy when it comes to ram. Get rid of that Samsung burner - they are not reliable. Go with NEC, Lite-On, or Pioneer. Consider the Mitsumi combo floppy drive/card reader instead of that Atech reader.

[jamesgig]

where do i check for memory compatibity? i went to the asus site, but could not find it.

any other suggestions?

thanks

[Alaron]

where do i check for memory compatibity? i went to the asus site, but could not find it.

http://usa.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=1160&l1=3&l2=101&l3=301
That is the page for your motherboard. In the upper left is a link for "QVL Download". That will give you a list of compatible memory sticks. They show Kingston DDR2-800, that would be a safe choice.

[jamesgig]

which kingston one?

this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820134114)

would i need two of these and heatspreaders?

the other 1gb stick seems to only be compatible when used by itself, not in dual channel

however, corsair claims that thier memory will work

which should i get

thanks...i think this made me more confused:confused:

[jamesgig]

Is there a better AM2 system for the price range? I have been told that I shoud be able to do better.

thanks

[jamesgig]

is this a good config? (http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/shoppingcart.asp?submit=view) I will upgrade gpu when dx10 comes out and will decide on cooling after seeing temps. will overclock
thanks

[Alaron]

Your link is the generic link for the shopping cart. Please post the list here. :)

[jamesgig]

Cpu (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103739)

Mobo (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813186098)

Ram (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145034)

PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817104014)

sound card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102189)

case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811133154)

hdd (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144701)

DVD (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151118) x2

monitor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824002319)

keyboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823109148)

mouse (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826104191)

speakers (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836116120)

card reader (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820162610)

OS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832102357)

Total: about $2650

will upgrade to dx10 when it comes out. wait to see temps to decided on cooling method. will oc
how does that cpu overclock?

thanks

[Alaron]

That list looks pretty good. I would change the DVD drives to Lite-Ons, Samsung opticals are not the best quality.

Foxconn doesn't list that particular memory on their approved list. http://www.foxconnchannel.com/upload/Compatibility/200606270929383664C51XEA01-memory.htm
They do list this Kingston : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820134114 Its currently out of stock, but Kingston is a good brand. Considering how picky the new AM2s are when it comes to ram, I would go with RAM from that list.

I'm not an overclocker, so I can't say how well that chip will perform.

[SteelXVII]

for only 130 bucks more you can get a 7950X2, the newest gpu offered by nvidia and possibly never upgrade it forever? Possibly look at it first, ittl cost more but it will destroy your opponets on high end gaming /w a big screen.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814125035

[jamesgig]

i would like an inexpensive gpu to use until gx10 and vista come out

thanks

[Mr.Ferrari]

Good point, but I think what hes trying to say is, that X2 is equivalent to double that card you just chose and then some. Your decision entirely though.

[jamesgig]

what do you mean?:confused: are you saying that the cpu is too good for the gpu????

[Alaron]

what do you mean?:confused: are you saying that the cpu is too good for the gpu????

Mr Ferrari is talking about the video card only. Notice that its called the 7950G *X2*
The 7950 card is essentially two 7900 cards put together. But regardless of that, stick with your original strategy. The 7900GTX from your first post is an excellent card. You could even save a bit by using the 7900GT, an excellent bang for the buck.

[jamesgig]

thanks for the clarification