Please evaluate this for compatibility

[jeffrey586]

Hello All,
This is a first build for me for a gaming machine that will also see other duties. Im hoping that you could look over my selescted components to see if there is anyting I missed or if there are any compatibility issues with what Ive selected. I had wanted to stay around 100.00 or so, but I can live with this if it will last me for a few years of gaming. I already have a case &peripherals.
THANKS MUCH FOR THE ASSISTANCE.


Qty. Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price
1 ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce SPP 100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8N32-SLI Deluxe
Item #: N82E16813131568
In Stock $182.99 $182.99

1 XFX PV-T71G-UDE7 GeForce 7900 GT EXTREME (520MHz) 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: PV-T71G-UDE7
Item #: N82E16814150139
In Stock $298.99 $298.99

1 Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: TP2-550 EPS12V
Item #: N82E16817103932
In Stock $99.99 $99.99

1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4400CDBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA4400CDBOX
Item #: N82E16819103546
In Stock $460.00 $460.00

1 CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model Twinx2048-3200c2 - Retail
Model #: Twinx2048-3200c2
Item #: N82E16820145574
In Stock $188.00 $188.00

1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD2500KS
Item #: N82E16822144701
In Stock $89.99 $89.99

Subtotal: $1,319.96

[freakitchen]

Welcome to the forums, that looks like a nice build.

One suggestion I'd offer would be to change the manufacturer of the video card to a more proven brand. eVGA is consistently high quality.

I believe the "EPS12V" in the model number of the Antec power supply, indicates the server version. Whilst not incompatible, you should be able to save $10 or so by getting the regular version.

Corsair XMS memory is generally considered unnecessary if you're not overclocking the system, with Value Select memory more than adequate. However, I've seen online vendors such as Newegg offering reductions on XMS memory that brings it down to cheaper than Value Select. Compare prices between the two.

You say you've got case and peripherals, all I see missing apart from that is an optical drive, and an operating system. You might also want to pick up a floppy drive (very cheap and can be useful).

FK

[blue60007]

If you want to slash costs, drop the SLI board. Unless you really want SLI, dropping to something such as the ASUS A8N-E, you'll probably save $100. Also, you could drop to a 4200+ X2 - it shouldn't hurt performance too terribly much, and would save you money.

I would spend less on the CPU and more on the video card. The video card has a much bigger impact on gaming performance than the CPU does. So, even switching to a 3800+ X2 and and going to a 7900GTX would probably be faster than a 7900GT and a 4400+ X2.

[glc]

A 7900GT is still a very powerful high end card. The Toledo core is a good high end choice, it has twice the cache of the Manchester.

[jeffrey586]

Thanks for the info boys.

Yes, I do have optical drives, an OS, and even a floppy (though I wasnt planning on using it)

Ive heard that eVGA is good, Ill go with them, though I will stay with the GT, only because while the GTX is better, I dont think its worth the price jump.

With regard to the PS, its actually less than the non server version on Newegg, and I beleive it has more connectors.

Mobo:
I dont really need SLI, so if you could recommend an EASY TO CONFIGURE Mobo WITHOUT COMPATIBILITY ISSUES and the corresponding memory, I would be grateful. I only chose that memory because its specifically listed by name/part # on the ASUS website as being compatible with this board. My biggest concern with the build is getting the mobo and memory to play nice out of the box without having to tinker with memory timings to get it to run. (this is one area where Id rather spend more if it means that the build go's easier for me)

THANKS again to all, you guys rock.

[pam123]

Look at this board : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131530

To avoid memory problems download the manual for the board from the Asus site and follow it's recommendations for ram : http://support.asus.com/download/dow...us&model=A8N-E

Or go to Crucial and use their selector : http://www.crucial.com/

[jeffrey586]

Hello all,
Thanks again to all for the guidance, it is appreciated. Based on the feedback here is the revised configuration. This saves about 100 bucks. The Video card is the same price (but more well known brand) The mobo is about 100 bucks less and the RAM is a little cheaper too.



Qty. Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price
1 ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8N-E Item #: N82E16813131530
** This item is warranted through the product manufacturer only.
In Stock $92.99 $92.99

1 eVGA 256-P2-N565-AX Geforce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Model #: 256-P2-N565-AX Item #: N82E16814130282
In Stock $339.00 $339.00

1 Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: TP2-550 EPS12V Item #: N82E16817103932
In Stock $99.99 $99.99

1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4400CDBOX - Retail Model #: ADA4400CDBOX Item #: N82E16819103546
** This item is warranted through the product manufacturer only.
In Stock $460.00 $460.00

1 CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX2048-3200 - Retail
Model #: TWINX2048-3200 Item #: N82E16820145486
In Stock $179.00 -$15.00 Instant $164.00

1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: WD2500KS
Item #: N82E16822144701 ** This item may only be returned for a replacement of the same make/model within 30 days only.
In Stock $89.99 $89.99

Subtotal: $1,245.97

[Dheann]

If you want to slash costs, drop the SLI board. Unless you really want SLI, dropping to something such as the ASUS A8N-E, you'll probably save $100. Also, you could drop to a 4200+ X2 - it shouldn't hurt performance too terribly much, and would save you money.

Question? So you would say it is better to save the hundred then have the option to slot in another card?

[glc]

If you are going high end, there are advantages to the Toledo core - twice the cache of the Manchester.

Dollar for dollar, a single card with the same performance of a pair of cards in SLI is considerably cheaper.