New build, tight budget. Did I get it right? :)

[BrokenKingdom]

Hi thanks in advance for all your help I love this forum you guys are awesome.

Now as for this new build. I want to build a gaming rig that I'm also going to be using for programming and programs like maya 7, 3ds max and softimage 3d and I have to upgrade because the computer which I have now is my back up (and I will not even tell you how awful it is *sadness!*) I only have about $800 to spend I don't need a hardrive or monitor I also already have a copy of windows xp brand spanking new . I've built before so I'm sure I'll have no issues about putting it together I just wanted suggestions as to what I could improve upon as far as what I have listed for now.

So heres what she looks like. (mind you only $800 to spend)

MoBo: -$159.99
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard

CPU: -$201.00
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor

Tower case: -$21.99
Spire BlackFin II SP-2709B Black/Grey Metal SECC/ABS ATX Mid Tower

PSU: -$39.99
Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply 115/230 V

CD/DVD: -$38.99
NEC Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner

Video card: -$178.99
MSI RX800-TD256E Radeon X800 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

RAM: -$78.99
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory

TOTAL:
$729.94

I figured I'de buy from Newegg because I have a lot in the past and they are beyond awesome. Haha any suggestions would be AWESOME.

[blue60007]

Save yourself $60 and get the A8N5X or the A8N-E. You don't want a SLI board on a tight budget, and besides, you can't use dual ATI cards in a SLI board anyways. (One would work, just not two).

Spend the extra bucks on a better supply, like the XClio 450W. (about $10 more). Next bump up to a faster video card or a 3700+. You might look at the X800XL and see if you can squeeze it in there - I've got that and it plays pretty well any game on max settings on an older processor.

[BrokenKingdom]

Hmm. Well I would eventualy like to make use of the sli function the limited budget is only temp in about 3 months I plan on upgrading this rig for better performance (ie upping the RAm and vid card). So what Video card should I be looking at perhaps I should be looking for a card that can make use of my mobos SLI feature?

Any good suggestions for a better Video card

P.S. thanks for the suggestion I'll definatly look into it.

[jayb1234]

You might need a floppy drive at some point in the setup.

Liteon has some nice burners in the same price range as the NEC that come with the burning software.

Here is the list of SLI certified parts. Look through it and see what video card you can fit in the budget.

If you can get a certified PSU now it will save replacing it later.

The Antec TPII 550W would be a good choice if you can squeeze it into the budget.

If not the 450 X-clio would be good for now.

[BrokenKingdom]

Would I be better off getting 2 geforce 6600s instead of the one x800?

Or should I buy one eVGA geforce 6800gs and another one later on?

P.S. oh thanks I half about forgot thefloppy drive, But I'll just pick one up localy they only run about a handfull of pocket change anyway haha

[blue60007]

Get one 6800GS for now. And keep in mind you'll need the Antec that Jay recommended - that XClio won't cut it.

[USMDude]

Yeah. The PSU with a SLi setup is probably a most-overlooked item from what I'm able to tell from other threads. I've been caught and corrected on it myself from time to time. SLi rigs are power-hungry, so make sure whatever PSU you have that's rated for SLi, that you give yourself enough wattage in case you want to make those upgrades that you're talking about using the same PSU.

My biggest piece of advice for you is this: Don't be penny-wise, pound-foolish. If you know you're going to upgrade certain things in the future if you aren't b/c you think you can't afford it right now, take a good look at whether you'd be willing to squeek over your budget a little bit. In the end you'll save yourself more money, and you'll probably be a lot happier.

[jayb1234]

SLI parts list

[BrokenKingdom]

Ok well, I've ordered the parts as follows:

MoBo;
ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

CPU:
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail

Tower case:
Spire BlackFin II SP-2709B Black/Grey Metal SECC/ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

PSU:
Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL - Retail

CD/DVD:
NEC Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner - OEM

Video Card:
eVGA 256-P2-N391-AX Geforce 6800GS 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

RAM:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail

Just under $800. Can't wait until the parts come in its ilke I'm waiting for christmas morning or my birthday haha.

[BrokenKingdom]

Just wanted to say that I got all the parts in te other day and finished this build.

Man alive it runs just as I had hoped it would and even a little better. thanks for all the input guys, and for helping me build this great gaming rig for $800!

By the way a little side note. That video card amazed me. Seriously for the price I was not expencting it to be as powerful as it is I'm very impressed. Again thanks a lot for all the input guys!