1st Build and Need Help - Newbie?!

[MAG00]

I am currently looking at my first build. I am new to all the components and am lacking in a lot of knowledge. I am looking for a build for a home office and only need the CPU. I am not a big gamer but use our computer for alot of pictures and I will be having kids who want to play games for real young kids. Here is the list I came up with and it may be lacking. All help is appreciated.

Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Video Card (not sure which one?):
EVGA 256-P2-N615-TX GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
XFX PVT71GUDF3 GeForce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail

Memory: Patriot eXtreme Performance 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model PEP21G6400LL - Retail

Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader with color Black - Retail

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600YS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

DVD/CD Drive: SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black IDE Model SH-S182M/BEBN - OEM

Case/Power Supply/Cooling: Not sure what case but will probably need something with good cooling. My computer sets in an armoire enclosed alot of time. Would like a case with fans, PSU included.

Probably looking at spending about $1,000. Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[chuck4456]

An ASUS P5B would be a better board choice.
Video Card wise, you should be fine with the 7600.
E6600 - no question there.
I haven't heard anything bad about the PATRIOT RAM, but you can get 2 Gigs of CORSAIR VALUE SELECT for about 160. right now. It's proven. Ask anybody here.
Get a SEAGATE 16mb PRT 250GB Hard Drive
You can get a good XClio 450 watt PSU for 40. bucks. Tough to beat that.
LITE ON would be a better choice in DVD Burners.

[freakitchen]

Here's a top quality case suggestion. Absolute bargain after rebate - it comes with a quality power supply.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129155

From what you've told me you want this computer to do, I think you're spending a bit too much on the CPU. The E6600 is a fine processor, but it's very powerful, and quite expensive as a result. If you'd asked me to spec you a system for those kind of uses, I'd have recommended the E6300.

My suggestion on a video card would be the 7600GS - great value for money:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130075

I concur with Chuck's other suggestions. Here's the RAM he suggests - if you downgrade the processor you should be able to afford the 2GB kit. I think it would be a worthwhile upgrade.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098

FK

[danielson]

Wow, I just spent half an hour pasting links to every part. Sorry I can't do it again, but I can tell you this, it all adds up to $885 and it's a perfect system for you.

Antec P150 comes w/430 power supply. $150
Asus P5B-E $150
Intel E6300 CPU $185
2GB Corsair Value Select PC-5300 Ram $169
7600GT Video Card $120
Seagate 320GB hard drive $88
Lite On CD/DVD Burner $38
Card Reader $10

Sorry, I had every product linked to Newegg for you. You'll have to look them up yourself. The case is very quiet and excellent at keeping your parts cool. It comes with the Antec HE430w PSU which is very stable and quiet. The P5B-E is solid and reliable, has firewire, esata and solid capacitors. The CPU will handle all your home office work and any gaming with ease. The video card is a bit more than what you'll need but it's at such a sweet spot for pricing that it's very worth it. All in all it's a great system for you and you'll get it for under $1000 after tax. Good luck

[glc]

Save 100 bucks and get the Sonata case. There's a 7600 GT at Newegg for $100 after rebate. If you don't need Firewire, get the baseline P5B. This will allow you to get the E6600 and 2gb ram and stay in budget.

[Cricket]

Don't forget to factor in the cost of the operating system too. That'll add another $90 or so to the final cost.

Cricket

[MAG00]

Are there anymore suggestions on cases? I looked at the Antec P150, but all I found was white in color. I would prefer something other than white. Sorry if being to picky. Would I be better of getting a case with fans and such in it and then get the power supply separate from each other? If so, what are some suggestions?

Also, when you have everything put together and ready to fire it up do you just insert the operating system disc like windows XP? Or is there much more involved? In other words, once you have it put togehter, what are the steps to start up?

Like I stated previously, I am a newbie and don't know that much but am willing to learn. Thanks again for all the help.

[Alaron]

You can grab any case you like. The important part is the power supply. And because they are easily replacable, buy any case that strikes your fancy and put in a good PSU. (Most cases come with poor units). I like Antec cases, but Thermaltakes are very popular. You would probably like the Antec Sonata II. It comes with a good PSU and is black.

Check out our BYOPC Guide and book: http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

Once it fires up, the key is to set your optical drive as the first boot device, then pop in the Windows disc and follow the instructions. Then check out our guide to proceeding after Windows: http://www.pcmech.com/show/os/1058/

[Disgrace]

Originally Posted by MAG00 Are there anymore suggestions on cases? I looked at the Antec P150, but all I found was white in color. I would prefer something other than white.

My friend has that case with the PSU that came with it and he likes it very much. Even in white looks sleek. Seems to work flawlessly. Understood about the colour, however, no problem.

[MAG00]

I appreciate all the input thus far. Below is an updated parts list based upon what I have read and your responses. I will be loading Windows XP for the operating system. Sounds like there are still some bugs to work out with Vista.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail

Motherboard: ASUS P5B-E LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Does anybody see any problems or suggestions with this motherboard?)

Memory: CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory Model VS2GBKIT667D2 - Retail

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Video Card: EVGA 256-P2-N541-T2 GeForce 7600GS 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

CD/DVD: LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM Write and Replaceable White Front Panel Black SATA Model SH-16A7S-06 - Retail

Card Reader: Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Card Reader with color Black - Retail

Cases and/or PSU (I listed two cases with PSU and one case with PSU separate. What are ya'lls thoughts on these as far as quality, PSU, space for wiring and parts, etc.?)
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply - Retail

Thermaltake Soprano VB1430BWS Black 0.8 mm SECC Chassis, Plastic Front Door ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

SILVERSTONE ST50EF-Plus ATX 12V 2.2 500W Power Supply - Retail

Thanks for all the help.

[freakitchen]

That's a great list and a powerful system. The Sonata II is a fine case at a great price, and would power that system well as it is. If you were looking for some more headroom on the power front - perhaps to upgrade to a more powerful video card at some point - then the Silverstone PSU would be an equally good choice. The cooler master case is fine. I'd say avoid the Thermaltake case - their power supplies aren't the greatest, and their common 430w PSU isn't an ATX 2.0 spec model.

FK

[glc]

The Sonata power supply is decent. I would not use the Thermaltake power supply. There is a 7600GT at Newegg for 90 bucks after rebate - that would be a better choice than a 7600GS considering the price.

[MAG00]

I was looking at the CPUs again and have a question.

Again, I am looking a building a computer for personal use and I want something that will last a while. In other words, something that is not going to be outdated quickly.

I know the E6300 will do everything I want and save me about $130. The E6400 seems to be a small step up. Then you have the E6600. I will be getting 2G memory regardless.

What is everyone's opinion on the processor selection. I am leaning towards the E6600 because I think that if I am going to spend the money on a new computer I might as well get something that is the most up to date (within reason monetarily).

Opinions?

[MAG00]

Some variables that may figure into the case selection:

Cooling: Unit will be sitting inside a computer armoire. Enclosed when not being used and most often I leave the computer turned on.

Noise: The computer armoier is in my bedroom.

Size: Don't really have room for a very large case. Your average case should fit, but not an oversized or large case.

It appears that the Antec Sonate case is good (been suggested several times) and has recevieved good feedback. My only concern is if the one fan will sufficiently cool the system I am wanting to build. Can you easily add fans to this case? If so please give suggestions. Thoughts?

I think I may be leaning towards the Cooler Master case and Silverstone PSU I have listed above. Any opinions or other suggestions?

[glc]

You building now, or can you wait till after April 22? The E6600 is being reduced by $100 then.

[MAG00]

Now that I think about it...I am going to go with the E6600. I don't really want to wait till April 22nd if I can help it. I am not going to worry about the $100 on the processor part of the build.

What are your thoughts on the case and PSU? I listed the Silverstone, but am open to suggestions in that price range or cheaper.

[glc]

Cases are a personal thing. I have no complaints with Silverstone PSU's.

[MAG00]

Bump back to the top for more input on cases, PSUs and for general compatibility on the parts I listed un my previous post with my updated components.

Does anybody have suggestions on an internal card reader i.e. brands, etc.?

[glc]

I like the Mitsumi combo floppy drive/card reader. It fits in a standard 3.5" bay, uses a ribbon cable and also connects to a set of USB headers. Leave the USB disconnected till *after* Windows is installed or the reader will grab drive C. This applies to *any* USB device that has removable drive capability - card readers, printers with card reader slots, etc.

[MAG00]

I think I have made my decision on case and PSU.

Case: Thermaltake matrix VD2000BNS Black/Silver SECC Japanese steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

This case had good reviews on newegg.com and seemed to have the features I am looking for. I may put an additional 120mm fan (Antec 761345-75120-9 120mm Case Fan - Retail) to it as well.

PSU: SILVERSTONE ST50EF-Plus ATX 12V 2.2 500W Power Supply - Retail

This PSU had good reviews on newegg.com as well and I think the fan that it has included will be a plus.

From my previous updated list of all componenets...does everything look compatible and work well together?

Thanks for all the help. It is greatly appreciated.