Novice C2D Build

[sasquatch12]

Hi, this will be my first computer build, my computer knowledge is mediocre. Right now I am on a 4yr. old Dell Dimension 2400. I plan to use this rig im building to play BF2, Oblivion, Company of Heroes, and next generation games such as Assasins Creed. Eventually I will upgrade the video card (dx10) along with Vista when it becomes the new standard and the prices drops. I only have $800 to work with unfortunatly so the less expensive; the better.

Windows Media Center Edition/SP2: ($100)

Case: ($70 minus $20 Mail in Rebate)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811208020

Power Supply ($50.00)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

CPU ($181)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005

Motherboard ($104)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813138037

Hard drive ($64.99)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136062

Video Card ($146.99 minus $20 mail in rebate)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150182

CD/DVD Drive ($23.99)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106992

1gb of RAM ($109)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231102

Sound Card [Optional] ($27.99)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102003

Total w/o Soundcard: $760 +30 S&H


Let me know what you think

p.s Happy new years ;D

[chuck4456]

You'll need more than that for a PSU when it's DX10 time. Get the FSP 700 watt and be ready. It's 140. For 20. more, you can get an ASUS P5B. For 10.00 more, you can get a Seagate 250GB PRT16mb Hard Drive. I haven't heard anything bad about the BIOSTAR, but the ASUS is a verified performer. That video card should hold you for now.

[blue60007]

$140 for a PSU on a $800 budget is going overboard...why not get the 450W version of that PSU? The current DX10 recommend 450W power supplies. I agree future cards might take more...but sasquatch12 is already pushing $800.

You don't need the sound card - the onboard sound from the motherboard (I'd recommend the P5B too) will be just as good. You might also be able to get a DVD burner, I've seen em as low as $30.

See what the new total is after you consider the suggestions made...

[sasquatch12]

I think i'll just stick w/the psu i posted above, thanks for the advice keep it coming

[Cricket]

Unless you plan to overclock you don't need DDR2 800...DDR2 667 will work fine in a C2D build.

:) Cricket

[sasquatch12]

Im changing the mobo in this build from the biostar I posted above to the Asus P5B.


Thanks for the advice

[jfk]

I would STILL get the 450 watt PSU for about $10 more. If/when you got to a DX10 card, you will have to upgrade the PSU. I don't foresee any DX10 cards that will need less than 450 watt PSU, and very likely more.

[glc]

Actually you can get a 450 watt XClio for the same price as that 400 watt FSP.

[CrazyPenguinDude]

Well, your going to need an OS like xp or something, microsoft office, spy sweeper, and some antivirus program. so that will be more expensive

[Jimmy0]

Well, your going to need an OS like xp or something, microsoft office, spy sweeper, and some antivirus program. so that will be more expensive

He is already getting Windows MCE:

Windows Media Center Edition/SP2: ($100)

And also anti-virus programs and such can all be found for free (not illegally, I mean you can get free versions).

[glc]

And Open Office is free too.

[sasquatch12]

I already have norton antivirus and there are other free programs out there i can dl.

[chuck4456]

NORTON ANTIVIRUS is not the greatest thing in the world. You'll stall at the Welcome Screen 9 times out of 10. Just use AVG.

[newbuilder14]

Chuck, is that right!!?? I've been wondering why that has been happening to me, well, basically 9 times out of 10, haha.

[Cricket]

Chuck, is that right!!?? I've been wondering why that has been happening to me, well, basically 9 times out of 10, haha.You're still using Norton Antivirus? I thought you would know better by now.

:) Cricket

[KevinP]

For what it's worth, the reason I finally changed to AVG from Norton was that it was simply impossible to get in touch with Norton. Email addresses on the website didn't work, phone numbers gave recorded messages etc etc.

I could have lived with the software itself but I was incredibly frustrated and angered by their license renewal process. I can't imagine why the software on my computer couldn't look up the ridiculous types of numbers it asked for in obscure jargon (I think the only people worse than bureaucrats are bureaucrats who work for computer companies).

In the end, since I couldn't get help to make sense of their idiotic screens, I decided their software was simply not good enough to justify the pain of trying to renew the license. So they lost another customer.

AVG on the other hand has been terrific.

Regards

Kevin

[newbuilder14]

You're still using Norton Antivirus? I thought you would know better by now.

:) Cricket

Haha, the Gateway still has it. ;) Funny because this only occurs on my account.