First Time Builder

[UnknownUser]

Hello, I've been reading a few guides about building your own PC and decided I think I'd have a go as it seems to be cheaper than buying one. Only problem is I'm not entirely sure if everything I've found is compatible. A little help or a few recommedations would be great, I don't mind if I end up changing what I've got completely

My budget is about £400-£500 but preferably as low as possible. Thats about $780-$975 according to xe.com.

I plan to be using it mainly for browsing the web, using chatting programs, listening to music and playing games (online and offline, generally roleplaying or strategy if that helps).

Here's what I have so far:

Case
Processor
Fan
Hard Drive
Motherboard
Power Supply
RAM
and good ol' Windows XP Home.

If any of my links don't work then I'll change them to the right thing. I'm pretty sure that's everything.

Except:

I already have a DVD-RW that I will be using from my current PC.
My Graphics card which I will also be using (until I can afford a new one.. for now I'll stick with what I really need)
Monitor
Speakers
Mouse
Keyboard

Thanks for your help

[Mr.Ferrari]

That is an AM2 Heatsink fan assembly. You need one for the socket 775. And remember that your Processor, which is retail boxed, does come with a perfectly good heatsink fan assembly. No point in wasting money on an aftermarket one.

That Hard drive is a bit slow, has IDE interface, and is a maxtor, which I dont trust. Get something in the Seagate SATA series. IDE is old news now and is being slowly wiped out.
Seagate Sata's

That gigabyte board is not one the most stable I would suggest. Go with this instead:
Asus P5B

That is a junk powersupply. The psu is not something to skimp on as if it goes out, it will likely take your whole system out with it. Get this instead:
Akasa 400W

Swap that ram out for some quality stuff:
Corsair 1GB DDR2 533

And is your video card PCI-Express? If so what model?

[newbuilder14]

Have you checked out eBuyer and Overclockers?

[glc]

That's DDR2-667 ram, Mr. Ferrari. That's the right stuff for stock and mild overclocking.

[UnknownUser]

First off, thanks for replying and secondly thanks very much for the info, you've actually saved me almost £85

I wasn't aware that they were packaged with the processor so I'll remember that for in future.

I did read about those hard drives but assumed they'd be alot more expensive and wouldn't be very easy to find a compatible motherboard (my impression from one of the guides I read.)

Thanks for helping me to change the rest of it aswell.

My current graphics card isn't PCI, it's a Radeon 9200 SE. Dies that mean I'm gonna have to buy another?

Thanks again for your help.

[glc]

Yep - P965 boards do not have onboard video or AGP slots. A 9200SE is a weak gaming card anyway.

[UnknownUser]

Okidoke, thankyou.. What would you reccommend then? Nothing too expensive I hope? :P

[Mr.Ferrari]

I would suggest something like a X300SE or X1300 if your not doing any major gaming. But if you are planning on gaming, plan on a 7600GT as minimum.

That's DDR2-667 ram, Mr. Ferrari.

That was my mistake, I accidently typed in DDR2 533 instead of 667. It is indeed 667.

[glc]

Just don't get a Hypermemory or Turbocache card.