Another First Time Builder Thread. Please Give Me Your Experienced Opinions

[MidgetMania]

This machine will be used primarily for gaming along with Photoshop/Flash type programs. I would like to keep the price around 1000-1350.

Please give me advice on areas that I can skimp, or need to beef up.

Concerns:
-Not everything is compatible
-Over did something that won't get full usage because another part isn't up to it

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129017

Hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144392

Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824116373

Mother board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131011

Video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150183

Power suply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103937

Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145527

Proccesor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103547

Case Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811999614

CD/DVD Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151136

[flanzig1]

Have you considered going to a Intel Core 2 Duo system?

[glc]

1. You have chosen a Socket 939 processor and an AM2 socket motherboard. Not compatible. That's also a pretty steep price for a processor of that performance level.

2. If you want AM2, you need DDR2-800 ram to avoid performance loss.

3. You should be using a 16mb cache SATA 3.0 drive, not an old IDE drive.

4. That case does not need any additional fans.

5. OEM DVD burners do not come with any software - you can burn CD's with XP, but not DVD's.

We always mention Intel Core 2 Duos as being better performers than AMD processors at this time, but if you want to use AMD, you need to do it right. $199 will get you a E6300 which will make that 4200+ look sick. Either consider a C2D or get the right AMD at the right price. A 4600+ AM2 is $210.

[MidgetMania]

VERSION 2 BUILD

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129017

Hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148140

Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824116373

Mother board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131011

Video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150183

Power suply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103937

Memory - Not sure on what brands are good here they look about the same to me
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820220174
OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820231098

Proccesor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103751

CD/DVD Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827140021

[flanzig1]

The 2 brands of ram you picked may work but they arenot on the Asus QVL list. Corsair XMS DDR2 800 is. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

[MidgetMania]

That is a good point. Other than that does it look like a solid build?

I upped my monitor to this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824116375

[flanzig1]

Here's a 20" widescreen for about the same amount. Samsung make good monitors.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001087

[newbuilder14]

Definitely go for the widescreen. You can get a Samsung 941BW for under $200 after rebate.

[MidgetMania]

My brother is convincing me that View Sonics are the way to go. He has one and says that he hasnt had any problems with it. Ill look into samsung as well. Ive also heard some bad things about wide screens messing up resolution on video games...

[MidgetMania]

THIRD VERSION POST:

CASE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129017

Hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148140

Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824116375
and or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001087

Mother board
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131011

Video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814150183

Power suply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103937

Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145590

Proccesor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103751

CD/DVD Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827140021

This looks to be it, still debating on the monitor... kinda swaying towards the 20 inch, the bigger the beter right? thats what they always say. Any suggestions i would like them. I am getting really antsy on this because i have been waiting 6 months to buy a new computer ever sence my laptop broke down on me. I would like to put my order in today.

[flanzig1]

With monitors, I like all the viewing area I can get.

[MidgetMania]

Order has been put in. Thanks for all the help. If any problems arrise now i know where to go for answers.

[MidgetMania]

i went with the samsung 20 inches baby

[newbuilder14]

Everything looked good but if you decide to ever go SLI, you'll *might* need a better power supply.

[kram 2.0]

Keep in mind that you forgot an operating system - that's going to put you down another 100 USD unless you already purchased it.

kram

[MidgetMania]

How is windows Vista looking? especialy for games and graphics. or am i beter going with the old stuff? i have windows xp network... whatever.

[newbuilder14]

Windows XP network? Do you mean you have a home network? Because you still need an operating system disk. I would go for XP with an upgrade coupon.

[MidgetMania]

Im starting from scratch, so i cant just buy windows vista and be good? I was hearing thet vista isnt compatible with XP programs and things would get screwy if they were there...

[MidgetMania]

this is the link to what i was going to buy

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832116202

[flanzig1]

Before you get Vista, make sure your Photoshop and other apps you have will work with Vista.

[Alaron]

Have you considered buying XP with the Vista Upgrade coupon? That way you can use XP without any issues for awhile and upgrade to Vista after the first service pack comes out.