Building An AMD-Based PC For Audio Recording & General Use

[amsumanravih]

Hey, I'm in the process of choosing parts for a new PC, and I could use some advice. This will be a general use computer (internet, listening to music, maybe watching dvds) & serve as a system for recording multitrack audio, working with programs like Reason, and editing/processing audio. I want to end up with a fast, quality system that will last, but one that's as inexpensive as possible.

I've decided on a processor [AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor, AM2], but I'm not sure what to do about a motherboard. After looking around & reading reviews, it's come down to the Abit KN9 & the Gigabyte GA-M55plus-S3G. [Apparently Gigabyte is changing the chipset in the M55plus to Northbridge: NVIDIA Quadro NVS 210S & Southbridge: NVIDIA® nForce 430] this mobo will be on the market in a week or so.] Has anyone had specifc experience with either (or both) of these boards? Think it's worth waiting for the Gigabyte?

My goals for the motherboard:
- Socket AM2
- ATX
- 2 PATA connections (thus 4 devices) so I can continue to use the IDE hard drives & optical drives that I have in my current computer
- Something in the $75 - $100 price range

I've picked out some other potential components:
- SAPPHIRE 100119L Radeon X550 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card (I don't do anything very graphics intensive, so I'm thinking this should be good enough?)l
- 1 Gig Corsair TWINX RAM
- Power Up 2525 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case (or something like it... looking for a plain black case. Open to suggestions.)
- Power supply: I'm not really sure... I was thinking 450W, and I'd like it to be in the $30 - $50 range. Suggestions?

[I'm planning on using my current monitor, mouse, keyboard, hard drives, & optical drives until I get the $$ to do some additional upgrading. I'm also looking into recording interfaces, but that will be another item for the future. Up to this point, I've been doing single track recording through a mic preamp into the line in on my Sound Blaster Live card with decent results.]

This will be my first build. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[newbuilder14]

Motherboard: Go for the Asus M2N-E - good quality board - especially for the new AM2 builds.
Power Supply: I guess I'd go with this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189003
or this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

[amsumanravih]

Thanks for the suggestions. The only problem with the ASUS is that it only has 1 PATA connecter, and I really need a board with 2.

[newbuilder14]

Well then I like both of your choices - it comes down to smaller features now.

[glc]

Have you considered a 939 instead of AM2? Lots less memory hassles.