Kinda of a Noob...

[AnubisReigns]

.... but I do have some tech terminology under my belt, and I do read magazines on computers and such. I am trying to build my first computer. I have been looking on newegg, but my question is, is there any place I can actually mix and match motherboards, cpus, ram, etc.? I find it hard to distinguish what's compatible and what's not. I did say i was a noob right?

any help would be welcomed. I thank you all in advance!

[jayb1234]

The major compatability issues are power supply, motherboard, cpu and memory. Hard drives and optical drives are generally not an issue.

What is your budget?

What is your intended use for the machine?

If you post that info, we can steer you in the right direction.

The decent motherboard makers such as Intel, ASUS and a few others have cpu and ram compatibility lists that you can refer to on their websites..

The better RAM makers also have configurators on thier sites.

[AnubisReigns]

I am looking for something at or a little above $700.00. I'd like to use an AMD. I looked at the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ on newegg. They don't have too many compatible motherboards linking to it. In any case, I'd like to do some gaming, (I'm a casual gamer), and at the same time I'd like it to be used for work and school. I am taking online courses too....

Thanks again.

[Spirit]

Originally Posted by AnubisReigns I am looking for something at or a little above $700.00. I'd like to use an AMD. I looked at the Athlon 64 X2 3800+ on newegg. They don't have too many compatible motherboards linking to it. In any case, I'd like to do some gaming, (I'm a casual gamer), and at the same time I'd like it to be used for work and school. I am taking online courses too.... Thanks again.

Hm, lets see... this is really similar to a build I posted earlier, just with a few tweaks to make it more for gaming. I think it'll be pretty close to $700.00, but thats without an OS.

The X2 3800+, thats what you wanted.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103562

The Antec SONATA II is a good case - but it also comes with a quality power supply. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155

Here's a Socket 939 mobo, looks pretty nice, not SLI or anything though, but it should do.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131569

I'd advise getting 1GB of ram for starters, something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440

Of course you'll need an optical drive. A combo drive like this would be nice: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827152058

You'll need a hard drive. How about a 160GB sata drive, something like this. It has 16MB cache too : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136009

And, the video card. For a casual gamer, the 7600GT should definitely be enough. What games do you play (maybe it's too much depending on what you mean by casual):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130017

I'm just doing this as a general idea. You can always switch around brands, and such.

[blue60007]

For virtually the same price you can get a 250GB hard drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701

Win XP Home OEM will run you $90 or so.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16837102059

I wouldn't really switch brands from what Spirit posted - those are all solid choices.

[glc]

The NEC OEM burner may not come with any software - get the retail boxed version or get a Lite-On OEM - those *do* come with software.

[jayb1234]

That NEC burner is OEM and the page at newegg doesn't indicate that it comes with any burning software.

Look at the Liteons, they come with Nero and PowerDVD in both the retail and OEM packages.

Edit: glc typed faster than me.

[AnubisReigns]

Originally Posted by Spirit And, the video card. For a casual gamer, the 7600GT should definitely be enough. What games do you play (maybe it's too much depending on what you mean by casual): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130017 I'm just doing this as a general idea. You can always switch around brands, and such.

I play City of Heros and City of Villains on a casual basis. That's about all my daughrter allows me to do. hehe

Thank yopu all for you help on this!