Need some opinions...

[Mitherman]

I have recently decided that I am sick of prebuilt, expensive computers, and I am going to build my own. This is going to be my first time building a computer, and I need some opinions on wether or not the parts I am looking at are very good. I also want it to be a decent machine for gaming, which is one factor in that I am building a computer myself. I will list the parts to the best of my ability.

Case: NZXT Apollo BLACK NP Black SECC Steel Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Motherboard: eVGA 131-K8-NF44-AX Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard

Video Card: PROLINK PV-N43UE(128KD) GeForce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

Power Supply: Rosewill RP500-2 ATX 2.01 500W Power Supply

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice 2.0GHz 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor

HDD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

CD/DVD Drive:
LITE-ON Combo Drive Black IDE Model SOHC-5236V BK RTL

I have made sure that all of these parts are compatable with each other. Are these very good parts? I'm getting all of them together for a little over 400 bucks. Thanks for your help!

[tetsuo]

From what I understand Rosewill is not so good for power supplies. Go here for this forum's recommendations: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

This board has much higher reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569

but no SLI. But do you really need it with your vid card?

[pam123]

Give us your budget please.
The parts you've chosen will run you into a dead end much sooner than necessary.

[Mitherman]

Give us your budget please.
The parts you've chosen will run you into a dead end much sooner than necessary.
I want to keep the overall cost at under 900 dollars. However, the things listed above are not the total number of items I am buying. I am also getting a 19" Widescreen LCD monitor for about $180, IGB of memory for $130, and an OS (Windows xp) for about $110. Everything totals to just under 900, which is my limit.

[Mitherman]

From what I understand Rosewill is not so good for power supplies. Go here for this forum's recommendations: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

This board has much higher reviews: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569

but no SLI. But do you really need it with your vid card?

Hmm...I dunno...it doesn't have multiple PCI Express x16 card slots like the other one does, though, I guess that shouldn't matter too much. Also, what exactly is SLI?

[Alaron]

SLI is the name for using two Nvidia cards together for better video performance. But for a budget build, stick with one card, it will be plenty for games. The A8N5X is a solid performer, and you can't go wrong with Asus.

I would look into a different video card though. The 6600GT is getting a tad old. This 7600GT is $100 after rebate, and it will be much better then a 6600: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130073

[Mitherman]

SLI is the name for using two Nvidia cards together for better video performance. But for a budget build, stick with one card, it will be plenty for games. The A8N5X is a solid performer, and you can't go wrong with Asus.

I would look into a different video card though. The 6600GT is getting a tad old. This 7600GT is $100 after rebate, and it will be much better then a 6600: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130073
Wow, that doesn't look bad at all, though I wish there were a few reviews. Overall it seems to be a better card for only 10 bucks more...I'm gonna look into that. Thanks!
I'm not sure about the board though, it seems like SLI would be the way to go in terms of upgradability.

[flanzig1]

When considering Sli, you also look at getting a SLi certified PSU. Good quality ones can run up to $150 to $250.

[newbuilder14]

That particular Rosewill PSU is made by Channel Well, it is fine for single card setups.

[Panama Red]

That particular Rosewill PSU is made by Channel Well, it is fine for single card setups.

I respectfully disagree. If you use the pics at Newegg and zoom in on the psu nameplate, you'll see the "E" number is E186010. Put that in the "Who made that psu" thread link and you'll find it's made by ATNG Power Co LTD.


http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/cgifind.new/LISEXT/1FRAME/srchres.html

[pam123]

The problem is your choice of of that cpu.
I would put a few more dollars into the budget choice and get this one : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103528

You have more of a future with it than with the 3200+ since you won't be able to upgrade a socket 939 build later on.

edit : that's an OEM processor, the retail is here : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103529

[newbuilder14]

I respectfully disagree. If you use the pics at Newegg and zoom in on the psu nameplate, you'll see the "E" number is E186010. Put that in the "Who made that psu" thread link and you'll find it's made by ATNG Power Co LTD.


http://database.ul.com/cgi-bin/XYV/cgifind.new/LISEXT/1FRAME/srchres.html


I stand corrected - my fault, do not choose that PSU - I mistook it for another Rosewill unit.

[Alaron]

SLI isn't really a viable upgrade path. You might think you can use one card now and add one later for twice the power. Thats true. But the problem is that when you add the second card for SLI, there is already a single card out that is more powerful then your two "older generation" cards put together. Which is why we recommend to use one card and upgrade it later. SLI only makes sense for those who can afford two top of the line cards right away.

[Mitherman]

SLI isn't really a viable upgrade path. You might think you can use one card now and add one later for twice the power. Thats true. But the problem is that when you add the second card for SLI, there is already a single card out that is more powerful then your two "older generation" cards put together. Which is why we recommend to use one card and upgrade it later. SLI only makes sense for those who can afford two top of the line cards right away.
Ah ok, I see now. That makes sense. So you're saying just to go with a non-SLI motherboard, instead of changing the power supply?

[pam123]

Get the non-SLI board and pick another power supply.
The one you've chosen is unreliable and prone to failure.
When it dies it may(will) take your other components with it.
That's why you don't buy a poor quality power supply and that's why we have the power supply guide lines here : http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[Mitherman]

Get the non-SLI board and pick another power supply.
The one you've chosen is unreliable and prone to failure.
When it dies it may(will) take your other components with it.
That's why you don't buy a poor quality power supply and that's why we have the power supply guide lines here : http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195
okay, yeah I see. So how about this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194009
(I'm still trying to keep it relatively cheap)
I really appreciate all of everybody's help. Thanks all!

[pam123]

That's a good one.
What have you decided about the cpu ?
Remember you won't be able to upgrade it later so get all the power you can afford now.

[Mitherman]

I'm looking at this one:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103529 (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103529)

edit: Since I can't upgrade later, do you think I should get some other lesser items (such as a Harddrive), and splurge on the CPU? Maybe something like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103526
This actually has a combo that includes a free HDD, which doesn't look too bad.

[Alaron]

I would skip both of those CPUs and go with this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103586 Its dual core and has 1MB caches. The A8N5X supports it as well.

[pam123]

You know if you can manage that much for a processor I would drop AMD and go for the core duo 6300 at about the same price : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

We'd have to change your motherboard and memory but everything else would still be OK and you'd get much more "bang for the buck" as well as an upgrade path.

[Mitherman]

You know if you can manage that much for a processor I would drop AMD and go for the core duo 6300 at about the same price : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

We'd have to change your motherboard and memory but everything else would still be OK and you'd get much more "bang for the buck" as well as an upgrade path.
Hmm...well, what would you suggest? The main reason why I was looking at the $200 CPU was because it came with a free HDD, and it was better than what I had before. I've also heard that AMD is better than Intel.

[Mitherman]

I would skip both of those CPUs and go with this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103586 Its dual core and has 1MB caches. The A8N5X supports it as well.
Again, I think that'd put me above my 900 dollar limit, because the one that I was looking at came with a HDD...I dunno. It is a lot better...

[flanzig1]

If you where figuring the free HD in your budget, then go with you picks. The system won't be bad, just some of the parts are older generation.
The Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs actually beating AMDs in the work done per cycle. Ghz ratings don't mean that much anymore.

[pam123]

AMD lost its' crown when Intel came out with the core duo processor (They jockey back and forth these days).
If you chose this smaller hard drive : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136036
would it work with your budget ?

[Mitherman]

AMD lost its' crown when Intel came out with the core duo processor (They jockey back and forth these days).
If you chose this smaller hard drive : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136036
would it work with your budget ?
And that would be with Alaron's suggested AMD dualcore right? Actually, it's 2 dollars under 900...so that would work. However, the A8N5X board that was suggested would put me over. The eVGA board has a rebate which makes the actual cost only $55.
I'm also kinda interested in your suggested Intel-based build. What motherboard/memory would you recommend? You said that there would be more of an upgrade path, and it would be nice to have a fairly upgradable build.

[pam123]

Budget board with value (not for overclocking) : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130059
Corsair value ram : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145098

[Mitherman]

The motherboard looks good, but the memory puts me way over my limit. With the motherboard, I have almost exactly $103 to go. What about two of these?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146090

[flanzig1]

Pam linked a 2gig kit, if you go with a 1 gig kit, the price is $105 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145526

[whubbard]

EDIT:
Ignore this....
Flazig posted at the same times and what he said made more sense.

[whubbard]

Heres a link: (what flanzig was talking about)
Its two 512s, which is better than one 1gb
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145568

[Mr.Ferrari]

Would personally get this motherboard instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131041

[Mitherman]

Okay, that looks great. I think I'm definately going to go with this Intel build. I really appreciate everyone's input. My first build is going to be awesome! Thanks!
I have one last question: what exactly does it mean to overclock? Thanks again!

[Mitherman]

Would personally get this motherboard instead:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131041
hmm...don't really like the fact that it only has 2 memory slots. I think I'm good with what I have. Thanks though!

[newbuilder14]

Overclocking means in short making your CPU run faster than it was originally clocked to. This is made possible through adequate cooling and just knowing what you're doing. What exactly do you have now? That P5L-MX is great - I've used it twice. Now even though it has 2 memory slots you can always just get 2x1gb now - do you really need more?

[Mitherman]

This is the Motherboard that I've decided on:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813130059

As for the 2 memory slots, the only way to do that, it seems, is to only get 1GB sticks. However, I could only afford one 1GB stick as of now. But yeah I agree that I wouldn't need much more than 2GB total. I guess it would be a bit cheaper.
Another thing, one of the reviews says that, if a video card is too big, it can block the memory slots. I hope that isn't true.

Also, on NewEgg.com, is there some sort of promo code for free shipping on orders over a certain amount? Shipping is a killer.

[pam123]

Yep. My error.
You can add another gig later when you have the cash.

[Mitherman]

It sounds pretty good, and it's gotten overall good reviews. That, and replacing the memory with a 1GB stick lowers the price too :)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141210