NewB needs help with first build.

[NateDogg]

I'm looking into building a PC as I am an avid DIY kinda person (mostly mechanics), and I hate getting ripped off (not knowing what I'm buying). I've put together the following hardware list. Any feedback would be appreciated.

ASUS P5B Intel Socket 775 ATX Motherboard
Pentium D 920 2.80 Ghz Dual Core Processor
Coolermaster Elite 330 Mid Tower Case
OCZ DDR2 PC-26400 2X512 Memory
EVGA 7600 GS 512MB PCI-E Video Card
Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy SE
Fortron 400W PSU
Western Digital 16MB 7200RPM 250GB HardDrive
Pioneer DVR 110D DVD Burner

I chose this motherboard because it will allow me to upgrade to an Intel Core 2 duo processor down the line (as they become less expensive). I am unsure of how much RAM i would like to start off with. I would like to have a single 1024MB DIMM of RAM (and buy another 1024MB DIMM when budget permits), but I am unsure if this motherboard requires 2 DIMMS of the same capacity or not.

If there are better choices for the money, I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks

[Moronicus]

It looks like you are cutting corners on both the processor and the graphic card. For not that much more $ you could get a E6300 and an X1950. So my feedback would be to wait a month or two and save some more so you don't have to settle for second choices.

[NateDogg]

I just read a thread regarding a guys new build problem which was the result of the ASUS P5B's incompatibility with the Core 2 Duo processor (even tho it is advertised as BEING compatible. ASUS customer reps say that the BIOS can be updated by sending it to the manufacturer). I read others have had this problem with this motherboard. Thats pretty crazy since I read the P5B's spec sheet on the asus website as being compatible. too much...


Is there a motherboard that is Pentium D and Core 2 Duo compatible that is also compatible with an EVGA video card?

[NateDogg]

yeah, you have a point on the processor recommendation. I'm guessing the larger FSB makes a huge difference. I figured the Pentium D dual 2.8 would be comparable to the Core 2 duo 1.86.

i can see the difference in the 7600GS and the X1950 is the DDR RAM types. It wasnt something I was looking too seriously at before. Would this X1950 be compatible with the P5B series mobo? and if the X1950 is a video card that you have installed, what mobo are you using?

thanks for the tips. been a while since i looked at computer specs (since i bought this PII 400)