Just bought everything i need to build, now i need to know how!

[vetta2000]

Hello,
This is my first build so i am doing some research before i dive into the building. I want to know everything i need to know about building this computer before I receive all the parts in the mail. Are there any links you can help me with to walk me through the process?

Here are the parts that i ordered, I hope i got everything i need, and im hoping that all the parts are compatible. I checked the MSI website and the ram i got is compatible with the motherboard so that should be fine. Let me know what you think, (i know that the MSI P6N diamond is a fairly new motherboard, but for whatever reason i got scared off of ASUS and EVGA due to a number of scary negative reports on newegg - i could have just been paranoid). If i am missing anything, if i should have gotten something different, or if there is anything that i did right let me know?

This computer is for animation and visual effects, so i wanted fast paging to the hard drive for faster rendering. The OS will be installed to the 500 gig 7200rpm storage hard drive, and my main 3d rendering software will be installed to the 10000 rpm hard drive.
Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133154

MSI P6N Diamond LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130080

PNY VCG88GTS32XPB GeForce 8800GTS 320MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814133193

Thermaltake toughpower W0117RU ATX12V / EPS12V 750W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153036

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

Thermaltake CL-P0310 120mm CPU Cooling Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835106080

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820148069

Western Digital Raptor WD1500ADFD 150GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136012

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3500641AS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148108

Microsoft Natural 4000 B2M-00012 Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823109148

SAMSUNG 226BW Black 22" 2 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824001096

Logitech MX518 2-Tone 8 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB + PS/2 Wired Optical Gaming-Grade Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178

SONY 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model DRU170C
FUJIFILM 8.5GB 2.4X DVD+R DL 3 Packs Disc
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131049

WEll there ya go, thats every part i got, down to the free pack of DVD r's i got with my DVD burner.
Please, let me know of any links that will help me with this build, as it is my first time building a computer, and dont know much...but want to learn.

[whitedragon]

looks nice try here
http://www.pcmech.com/guides.htm

[vetta2000]

thanks for the link, whitedragon, ill definitely check out the build your own pc section on that site, it looks informative.

[whitedragon]

you will find you will get loads of help from every one on here so just ask i do lol. Even if you think its a dum question ask any way

[vetta2000]

Did i over-spend?
The total came to $2,104.78. Oh well, ill ignore my buyers remorse at least until i open the packages. I guess I'm just becoming impatient.

I have a question though...
Is there a difference between the EVGA 8800GTS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130082
and
PNY 8800GTS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133193

The EVGA has these written additionally in the specs, but does anyone know what they mean?
PureVideo technology NVIDIA nView multi-display technology

[LeftyAce]

Did I overspend?

Perhaps a little, but I did the same thing when I built mine. SLI support and the Ballistix ram are overkill, but that's not going to hurt you.

The two cards support the same specs....evga is the better brand though.

[whubbard]

Also...if you don't mind not having a data drive for a few days...the 150Gbs on the WD should hold anyways.

You should get the Seagate 7200.10, and return the 7200.9

p.s. I would install the OS and all programs on the 10,000 drive.

I've got the OS and some programs on one...and the other raptor just has some programs.
The speed between the two isn't all that noticable.

[vetta2000]

so are you suggesting that the seagate 7200.10 is worth newegg's 15% restocking fee and shipping costs over the 7200.9?

how about the video card? i doubt its worth it to send that back for an evga, considering they both have the same specs.

Lefty ace, what makes EVGA a better brand?

[LeftyAce]

Not sure on the harddrives.

For the video cards, the difference isn't worth the restocking fee, but evga is who supplies nVidia with their prototype boards....they're as close to an 'nvidia card' as you can get, and top quality. That doesn't mean PNY is guaranteed to give you trouble. Heck, I'm running a BFG which is regarded as pretty questionable on these forums.

[blue60007]

The 7200.10 series is a little faster than the 7200.9. I'm not sure I'd go through the hastle of returning the drive for a small improvement.

[vetta2000]

thanks, i didnt think so either.
AND GUESS WHAT?!
iTS HERE!
MY PACKAGES HAVE ARRIVED, HOORAY!
Im so excited this computer is gonna rock!

[whubbard]

erm...well you could maybe say the drive is dead, and try and RMA it..but talk to a rep and see if they can upgrade for a fee. I bet newegg would do it.

[vetta2000]

WOOHOO! Its all put together and running!
there were a few hiccups along the way...putting too much thermal grease on then having to wipe it off and reapply but now my computer is running so cool! There is only one problem with it and that is it seems to not have any sound coming out of the rear output...probably because i cut myself and got blood on that component. The top (front) output for sound is fine, so i dont really know what to think but hey im not complaining! This thing is lightning fast!

any suggestions for software that you would recommend to keep my computer secure and happy?

I was wondering if there are any programs that monitor your internal temperatures without having to go into bios to find that out.

[Cricket]

any suggestions for software that you would recommend to keep my computer secure and happy?Go here. (http://forum.pcmech.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3)I was wondering if there are any programs that monitor your internal temperatures without having to go into bios to find that out.There may be monitoring software on the motherboard CD...check it out.

There is also SpeedFan (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php) but I'm not sure how accurate it is. In fact, most Windows based monitoring software isn't nearly as accurate as the BIOS.

:) Cricket

[LeftyAce]

CoreTemp is a great temperature monitoring program....was more accurate than the software that came with my ASUS motherboard.

I use Spybot, Adaware and AVG for antispyware (x2) and antivirus. Keeps my machine going just great, and it's all free.