Tell me what you think

[mgunnin]

Building a computer for a friend of mine. He gave me a $2000 spending limit. I am at $1500 now. Is everything compatable? Is there anything else I should add to the list or upgrade to?

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133152
HDD 1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136033
HDD 2 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136040
Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131568
Video Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130034
Ram - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145486
Processor - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103531
DVD Burner - http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16827106015

Thanks

[PnyK1d]

I'm a firstime builder too, so i understand if you dont trust my opinoion, but from what I understand the 512mb memory on you video card dosent really mean nothing unless you got the clock speeds to really use that amount of memory. also I know for a fact that no game at the moment really needs 512mb of memory. I would just go with 2 of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130033 you pay the extra 130$, but rember your getting 2, and you utilizing the SLI on you mobo. 1 more thing from what i've read there is not much of a difference between a amd 3500 and 3800.

[Sousuke]

Why not swap out the 3800 for the X2 version?

Unless speed is everything to you, it might be cheaper to go with 2x320GB drives. You get a bit more space, and performance isn't too shabby..

Don't forget to get a PSU with enough juice to power everything, especially if you go for PnyK1d's suggestion for SLI. The case doesn't come with one..

[mgunnin]

I got him a truecontrol 2.0 550 watt PSU so I think I am good there.

Thanks for the help guys, keep 'em coming.

[Alaron]

Definetly go dual core on the CPU. With that budget, you can certainly afford a bit more on the CPU.

Are you planning on using SLI? If you're not, you could switch to an Asus A8N-E motherboard to save some money.

I would also look into some other cases. That one is fine, but $190 for a case is a bit overkill. Just because you have $2k, doesn't mean you have to spend it all.

[PnyK1d]

You could think about going to an AM2 mobo, socket 939 is going out somtime this mid year

[glc]

Right - and AM2 is having all kinds of performance and ram issues. There will be 939 processors on the secondary market for many years to come. There's still lots of Intel 478's out there in spite of Intel's efforts to kill it.

[786ARS]

yea, 939 is good if you want to make a budget build which yopu are not planning to upgrade. But if you are going AM2 (940), then remeber that your ddr2 ram has to be at least DDR-800, otherwise you actually get a decreace in performance over the relative 939 chip. As for the Kandalf, it is a great case as Alaron said, but the thing is expensive, and is huge. I doubt you would need all the airflow and space. It would be better to get a cheaper psu-less case and get a cheap good quality xclio psu which would do the job just as well. And have you taken into account peripherals (mice, keyboards, printers, screens, etc.) and remeber the OS.

[KUNFUCHOPSTICKS]

Originally Posted by 786ARS yea, 939 is good if you want to make a budget build which yopu are not planning to upgrade. But if you are going AM2 (940), then remeber that your ddr2 ram has to be at least DDR-800, otherwise you actually get a decreace in performance over the relative 939 chip. .

dude are you serious? But why is that?

[glc]

Go read the extensive test over at Tom's Hardware. The AM2 has some serious memory controller issues. It just goes to show how GOOD the controller was on the 939.