Asking for feedback for this first build o' mine

[heres2life498]

So, this is my first ever build. I read around the forums here for awhile and surfed Newegg checking things out and this what I came up with. I'm going to use it mainly for gaming, but I'm sure I'll be surfing some on it too, and maybe schoolwork for awhile if I need to. Many of the things I chose were suggested by people on other build posts, so I'm thinking I shouldn't look like I don't know what I'm doing TOO badly...haha

I already have a Video Card which I'm going to put in here (PNY nVidia GeForce FX 5500), but I plan on upgrading at a later date, once I can afford one with Directx 10 lol. Anyway here's what I've got:

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119106

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817103937

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115003

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131030

Hard Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148143

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145527

CD/DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106042

Floppy Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16821103116

Sound Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16829102010

I know a sound card isn't necessary or anything, but I love my music as well as my games! I'm still debating on whether to get Vista or wait a while longer, so any suggestions on that as well will be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks everyone!

[Mr.Ferrari]

If your gonna buy a sound card, mind as well buy one thats actually better then onboard..but up to you. I would personally go with a X-Fi or Audigy2 ZS.

Only thing I would change is the Powersupply. Swap out for something more ready for DX10. My suggestions are the Silverstone ST50EF non plus version, or the Corsair HX520W.

[glc]

1. Do not buy an IDE hard drive, get a SATA.
2. You need the DDR2-667, not the 533 ram.
3. Get a SATA burner, retail, so you get software.
4. That's a low profile sound card, will not fit in a standard ATX case.

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by heres2life498 I already have a Video Card which I'm going to put in here (PNY nVidia GeForce FX 5500), but I plan on upgrading at a later date, once I can afford one with Directx 10 lol.

Is that a PCI-Express 16 video card? If not, it's not going to work in that motherboard...the ASUS P5B doesn't have a AGP slot.

Cricket

[heres2life498]

Wow, thanks for the quick replies!

I decided to go ahead and nix the sound card, if I wind up still wanting one I can pick it up later. It'll give me a little bit more cash to add to the system.

Mr. Ferrari, I couldn't find the Silverstone ST50EF - non plus on newegg, they only had the plus version. The Corsair one is a bit too expensive for me, I've only got about 100 bucks to spend on a PSU, if you or anyone else has another suggestion it'd be greatly appreciated.

glc, I think i've got everything you said I should do...here's what I changed:
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148144
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098
CD/DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106046

Cricket, Yes the vid card is PCI, but it's not express (If I remember correctly). Should I look into a different Mobo?

Thanks everyone!

[Alaron]

Good changes. Here is the PSU Mr. F suggested, fits in your budget: http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=267000

You are fine with a PCI video card. It will work as a place holder until you upgrade. Your mobo choice is excellent.

[Mr.Ferrari]

Well, thats odd, checked two days ago and it was there.

The Silverstone ST50EF Plus is $100. The PLUS adds a higher efficiency, so its actually a good thing. This would still be a good choice. Exact same thing HERE @ $70.

Also the Corsair 520W is at zipzoomfly for $106 with free shipping. Same price as the silverstone from newegg once you calculate shipping.

Edit: Alaron also linked the silverstone at zipzoomfly for $95 with free shipping, bargain too.

[heres2life498]

Sweet, thanks guys...I think I'm just about set now. I just have one more question, which OS do ya'll recommend? I've heard both sides of the Vista/XP thing, but I dunno if I should wait a while to get Vista, or just go ahead and get it now. What do you folks say?

[danielson]

I think the smartpower is a bad choice. Not super bad but there are many better choices. The smartpower is known to have some fan complications. The Silverstone ST50EF is great, the plus version is totally unneccessary since the ST50EF is already as reliable as it gets, and very quiet. I would also get the P5B-E, since for very little more money you get better capacitors, firewire and e-sata...as well as a better bios. Also, i take it you're not overclocking, since you're getting the P5B which does not exactly overclock well. If you did, you could spend half the money on the processor and get an E4300 and easily overclock it to be much faster than a stock E6600. The money you would save could be put toward an XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB. Anyway, it's definitely the way to go, but some people just don't want to bother with overclocking...and that's fine. If you're not then you could even save a bit of money and get an E6400, which performs almost equal to an E6600. I think you might want to just look at getting the Antec Sonata II or the P150, they both come with excellent power supplies built in, and it will save you some money too. Anyway, good luck.

[Staren]

danielson, I have to disagree on...well a few things actually. While I do agree that the P5B-E is the best board in the P5B line and exactly what I look for in a board, it does not sound like heres2life needs to spend the money on those features, and would probobly not use them. The P5B is all basic builds need. As for the processor issue, I don't consider overclocking a money saving measure, especially for someone with little hardware experience let alone OC experience. To get any real advantage out of it you need to pick parts from the get go for it. You don't just figure on overclocking to get you to the next notch up lightly. The E6400 also I don't consider just a step down from the E6600. It's a little bit of a drop. The general view here is go with the 6300 if you are on a budget, and the 6600 if you can swing it. The 6400 just doesn't work out on the price vs. power scale all that well with the other options.

[heres2life498]

Yeah, I've thought about overclocking, but I'm already a little nervous about just building one so I decided not to. I'm just a little afraid that I'm gonna break something as I'm installing it in the case...cause that's just about how lucky I am lol.

[Staren]

You really shouldn't have any problems. I was feeling the same way before I did my first build, but if you use a little common sense everything will go together fine. You do need to do some research and be able to understand the numbers to overclock, but putting a system together isn't as hard as people think it is.

[TimPoet]

Vista is too new now, especially if you want to build a gamer. Wait at least until they put out Service Pack 1. Drivers are lousy right now, too.

[heres2life498]

Yeah, that's what I've heard about building computers. My physics teacher and my old chemistry teacher (husband and wife actually) have helped some of the kids at my high school build and they said it's not really that hard. That's what the kids say too. It's just really intimidating seeing all those wires and circuits and whatnot lol.

That's what i've read about vista also, way to many times to make me comfortable, so I think I will get XP and upgrade at a later date.


I want to thank everyone for responding and helping me out so much, you guys have earned a great reputation in my book. Thanks once again!