Compatible new gamer build?

[marilyn]

Okay, a total newb is doing this, so be patient with me! It's a gaming PC...

Case: Aspire X-navigator ATXA9NW-BL/500 with ATX 500 W daul 12V power supply
MB: ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVidia nForce SLI ATX AMD
Video card: BFG Tech BFGR682560CX GeForce 6800 256MG DDR PCI expressx16 video card
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1 GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3700BNBOX
Memory: OCZ value series 512MB 184-pin DDR SDRAM DDR 333(PC 2700) unbuffered system memory (Model OCZ333512V) x 2
FD: Sony black l.44MB 3.5" internal Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP -OEM
HD: WD Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 rpm sata 3.0GB/s hard drive-OEM
Optical drive: Plextor black IDE DVD burner model PX-740A/SW-BL
Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 8 (7.l) channels PCI Interface Sound card
OS: Microsoft Windows XP professional with SP2 with plus! superpack single pack - OEM

Monitor: AOC T1780PI Black 17" 16mg LCD (your thoughts?)
Keyboard: Microsoft comfort curve 2000 B2L-0047 black with mouse
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker

Okay... will I fry anything with this set up? What are your thoughts on the video card? I've never heard of BFG before - good company? Got great reviews on newegg. Is this set up going to be easy for me to put together?
eek:

Thanks in advance for your advice. Remember -I'm a first time builder - please go easy on me if I forgot something!

Thanks again!
Marilyn

[flattius_maximus]

this set up will work but if your not going to run two video cards then i would consider switching to a Motherboard thats not SLI it will save you $$$! Get a better power supply. for your memory i would go with pc3200 400mhz it is better for gaming.as far as the video card Bfg is a decent company if you can swing it the 7800 series is awesome. the processor kicks and it is a good choice. the monitor is an AOC? what is that? i have never heard of them...i checked it out and the reviews arent to good, if that tells you anything.

if i may recommend this scenario... use this MOBO Asus A8N-SLI NVIDIA Socket 939 ATX and use dual channel pc3200 400mhz memory either kingston,corsair, or OCZ

[flattius_maximus]

on other thing here are a few links that might help you with you build.

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/step/1/

http://www.mechbgon.com/build/caseprep1.html

http://www.mysuperpc.com/

[marilyn]

Thanks very much for your advice! I'll look into the motherboard and the memory. What would you recommend for a power supply? I'll check on the BFG 7800 (perhaps I can use the money saved on the Mobo?).
I looked on newegg in regard to the monitor and it got good reviews from the purchasers on that site. But I'm going to keep looking.
Thanks again!

[flattius_maximus]

for a power supply use ANTEC or OCZ they are the most popular among gamersand nothing less than 400 watts . the reviews are only based on i believe one or two reviews. they were good but thats only two opinions as opposed to two hundred if you get my drift.

[marilyn]

Thanks very much for the links!
Oh, would I be able to use DSL to access on-line games with my set-up? Again, probably a stupid newb question, but gotta get my Evercrack and WoW fix!
Thanks!

[flattius_maximus]

you need a LAN card to connect to your router. but i am not very familiar with DSL. it would be better to post a thread on it to find out what your best bet would be.

[jayb1234]

The ASUS motherboard in your first post and most other new motherboards have built in LAN, no need for a card, Just plug the cable from the modem or router to the RJ 45 connector on the back panel of the motherboard.

[marilyn]

Thanks very much.. I was under that impression, but wasn't sure!

[marilyn]

Okay, made some changes... increased graphics card, added stronger power supply and beefed up the memory. What do you think??

Case: Aspire X-navigator ATXA9NW-BL/500 with ATX 500 W daul 12V power supply
MB: ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVidia nForce SLI ATX AMD
Video card: BFG Tech BFGR78256GTCOD2 GeForce 7800GT 256 MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 video card
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1 GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3700BNBOX
Memory: Corsair ValueSelect 1 GB 184 pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) unbuffered system memory model VS1GB400C3 x 2
FD: Sony black l.44MB 3.5" internal Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP -OEM
HD: WD Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 rpm sata 3.0GB/s hard drive-OEM
Optical drive: Plextor black IDE DVD burner model PX-740A/SW-BL
Sound card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 8 (7.l) channels PCI Interface Sound card
OS: Microsoft Windows XP professional with SP2 with plus! superpack single pack - OEM
Power supply: Antec TruePowerII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W

Monitor: AOC T1780PI Black 17" 16mg LCD (your thoughts?)
Keyboard: Microsoft comfort curve 2000 B2L-0047 black with mouse
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 speaker

Thanks again for holding my hand through this!

[marilyn]

Oh, forgot to delete the monitor. Can anyone recommend a good l7" LCD? Thanks again!

[Staren]

A few thoughts:

I wouldn't pay for a plextor unless you're getting it under $50. I just don't think the higher priced ones are worth it.

A specal 7.1 sound card with 2.1 speakers? If you are just using cheap speakers, don't bother with the high end sound card. I'd match them. Ether go up on speakers, or use on-board sound.

Do you need XP Pro for something? Otherwise Home is fine.

[J_ZeFF]

Just built my own similar to your's and i deffinetly recomend dropping the sound card. Your MOBO comes with pretty decent onboard sound. That would save u like 100 buck right there. And with the speakers your getting im assuming your not an audio nut. And also unless you plan on taking advantage of the extra features on XP Pro i would just go with XP home, and you would even save about 40 bucks there. You could either use that money to get a better monitor or just as some spare $CASH$.

EDIT: just realized i said almost the same thing as Staren... Sorry.

[marilyn]

Thanks very much for the advice! I'm gettin ideas from 3 different books, plus ongoing articles in PC Gamer! So, as you can tell, I'm mixing and matching stuff. No, not an audio nut; just want decent sound. Ideas for speakers and optical drive? I've got time to get this machine right, so please don't stop with the advice!
Thanks again!

[jayb1234]

You can save a few bucks if you get a case without a power supply. Enter no power supply in the search at new egg and you will get about 300 to pick from.

Optical drive: Liteon has some pretty good dual layer cd/dvd burners that come with the burning software, and a few with lightscribe.

[Staren]

As far as the sound goes, try it with on-board and the basic speakers first. You can always pop a sound card in later if you feel the need. I myself do not have the ear needed for the high end stuff. I just can't for example tell the diff between $20 headphones and $150 headphones so I don't waste money on them.

Let me see if I can find you a good DVD writer that isn't marked up quite so high. The top rated burners that do 8X DVD duel layer is a plextor for $79 and an Asus for $49. Both retail with software, both same speeds. The Asus actualy on paper seeks a little faster. It's here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135043

Lite-Ons are always a solid brand, but this Asus is reviewed as being rather silent compared to most.