Need Advice on new build

[rayotte]

For Christmas, my son would like to build a pc. Being new to this, I purchased your cd and I have read some of the other new build threads. I then went to newegg and took a shot at assembling the parts for a reasonably fast desktop PC. His main uses are maya (3d modeling and animation), the internet and schoolwork (word, excel). I have attached a word document of the parts I am thinking of purchasing. My questions are:

1.Will these parts work well together and did I include everything that I will need?
2. Is this a good set of components or are there some alternatives that you would recommend?
3. I currently have a high speed cable internet connection and a 4 port linksys router. Will this system be able to connect to it. I didn't understand the networking components. I included a dial up modem in the build but It will probably never be used.

Thanks for your help

[jayb1234]

Could you cut and paste that list into the forum please. It wouldn't download right for me.

[blue60007]

The only thing I can see is that RAM may not be compatible.

GENERIC AUDIO 24" 4-pin Connector Cable Model 11A1-12418 - OEM
Model #: 11A1-12418
Item #: N82E16812102104

PLEXTOR Black IDE CD Burner Model PX-230A-BPS-BL - OEM
Model #: PX-230A-BPS-BL
Item #: N82E16827106258

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply - Retail
Model #: SONATA II
Item #: N82E16811129155

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
Model #: MPF920 Black
Item #: N82E16821103116

Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3250823AS 250GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3250823AS
Item #: N82E16822148065


DIAMOND SupraMax SM56PCILE 56Kbps Internal Modem - Retail
Model #: SM56PCILE
Item #: N82E16825116105

NEC Display Solutions LCD1735NXM Silver-Gray 17" 16ms LCD Monitor - Retail
Model #: LCD1735NXM
Item #: N82E16824002283


eVGA 256-P2-N386 Geforce 6800GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N386
Item #: N82E16814130258

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value SB0400 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM
Model #: 30SB040000000
Item #: N82E16829102179

Logitech S-100 BLK 5 Watts RMS 2.0 Speaker - OEM
Model #: 970144-0403
Item #: N82E16836121125

LITE-ON SK-1788/BS 2-Tone PS/2 Wired Standard Keyboard - Retail
Model #: SK-1788/BS
Item #: N82E16823107120

BYTECC BT-618 16-in-1 IEEE 1394 and USB2.0 Internal Card Reader/Writer - Retail
Model #: BT-618 (16-In-1)
Item #: N82E16813999107

Crucial Ballistix 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model BL2KIT6464AA804 - Retail
Model #: BL2KIT6464AA804
Item #: N82E16820146566
Intel BOXD945PVSLKR Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945P ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #: BOXD945PVSLKR
Item #: N82E16813121287

Microsoft Office 2003 Student and Teacher Edition - Retail
Model #: 503-00298
Item #: N82E16832102528

Intel Pentium D 830 Smithfield 800MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core, EM64T Processor Model BX80551PG3000FN - Retail
Model #: BX80551PG3000FN
Item #: N82E16819116212

Microsoft Windows XP Media Center 2005 - OEM
Model #: M93-00091
Item #: N82E16832102311

[Cricket]

The Crucial web site doesn't list that particular RAM as compatible with that Intel motherboard. List of compatible RAM for that Intel motherboard.

That motherboard has built-in ethernet and that's all you'll need for your broadband connection. No need to get the modem.

And don't get the soundcard until you've heard the on-board sound. Most on-board sound is pretty good nowadays.

The Sonata II case doesn't meet Intel's thermal design specification of a air port on the side of the case above the heatsink...a minor issue but something to consider.

Cricket

[jayb1234]

Looks pretty good.

Antec has some other cases in that price range that have the side vent.

One assembly tip: Dont hook that card reader up untill after you have the OS installed.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by jayb1234 One assembly tip: Dont hook that card reader up untill after you have the OS installed.

LOL...I did that once. What a mess. Lesson learned.

Cricket

[rayotte]

Thanks for the advice. I dropped the modem and sound card and swapped the memory with the following.

Crucial Ballistix 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Unbuffered System Memory Model BL12864AA663 - OEM
Model #: BL12864AA663
Item #: N82E16820146558


I'm still not sure what to do about the case. I checked out the other Antec cases and was confused about the tradeoffs. Any suggestions?
How bad a choice is the sonata II?

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by rayotte I'm still not sure what to do about the case. I checked out the other Antec cases and was confused about the tradeoffs.

Trade offs? What do you mean?

Originally Posted by rayotte How bad a choice is the sonata II?

It's a good case, just doesn't meet the Intel Thermally Advantaged case specs. You could still use it, just the processor might run a little hotter than normal...no big deal.

Cricket

[rayotte]

By tradeoffs I mean for example when comparing the sonata II to the antec slk3000-b, the sonata comes with a power supply has 1 less external and 1 less internal drive bay, has more front ports, is a little smaller, and lists as features "advanced chasis air duct" and a "built in washable air filter". While the Slk3000-b additionally is TAC compliant. I'm not sure how to evalute these pros and cons. And if I went with the slbk3000-b I would need a power supply. Any suggestions?