First time new build. Advice needed.

[mjd1974]

I'm planning to build my first PC and would like some general advice on the system I plan using.

I will be mostly using it for gaming, internet, storing pictures, music and some basic video editing.

I am on a tight budget and plan on re-using my existing monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers and DVD drive until i can afford to upgrade.

CPU
Intel CPU Core 2Duo E6320 2x1.86GHz 1066FSB LGA775 4MB cache Retail inc.Fan

MOTHERBOARD
ASUS P5NE-SLI nForce 650i SLI Quad-Core DDR2 1394a SATA3G PCIe

MEMORY
Corsair 1GB Kit (2x512MB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-12) Heat Spreader

GRAPHICS CARD
Gainward GeForce Bliss 7600GS 256MB DDR3 PCI-E

HARD DRIVE
320 GB Samsung HD321KJ SpinPoint T, SATA300, 7200 rpm, 16MB Cache, 9 ms, NCQ Hard Drive

CASE
Thermaltake Soprano VB1000SWS Silver c/w 3x case fans + USB2 + window

PSU
ThermalTake TR2 470W Black Silent +ATX 12V 2.0 PSU, 20pin +4pin SATA ready

Does this seem like a good system to go for? Any advice much appreciated.

[perkster]

firstly, do you need a SLI motherboard? i would recommend a basic P5B board, probably cheaper.

you dont need 800mhz RAM unless you plan to overclock, so go for the cheaper corsair value select 667mhz ram.

if your dvd drive is IDE then i wouldnt keep it, id spend the cheap amount on getting a new SATA drive.

gainward im unfamiliar with, would go EVGA or asus for the graphics card or another major brand.

otherwise looks very good

[Cricket]

If you're going to be gaming with this computer you'll want to try and get 2GB now while RAM is cheap.

I wouldn't use a Samsung hard drive, they've had terrible reliability in the past and I haven't heard if they're improved their quality control in this area yet. Get a Seagate instead.

Do you need all the features of that motherboard? If not, get this motherboard instead.

If you're not going to overclock you don't need DDR2 800, this will work.

The Gainward video card is fine.

But I don't know if I'd use a Thermaltake power supply. Be nice if you could afford something a little better.

What is your budget for this build?

Cricket

[mjd1974]

Thanks for the advice Perkster & Cricket.

My budget is around £400 ($790) I have made the changes you suggested and it comes to just under £427($844) but thats with the 2Gb RAM a DVD Drive and a better PSU. Think i can find the extra dosh from somewhere.

New system:

CPU
Intel CPU Core 2Duo E6320 2x1.86GHz 1066FSB LGA775 4MB cache Retail inc.Fan
£97.95

MOTHERBOARD
P5B ATX LGA775 Core 2 Duo P965 FSB1066 8Gb DDR2 SATA GigaBit LAN Audio
£64.58

MEMORY
Corsair Value Select 2048Mb (2x 1024Mb) DDR2 667 Memory
£50.47

GRAPHICS CARD
Gainward GeForce Bliss 7600GS 256MB DDR3 PCI-E
£59.71

HARD DRIVE
Barracuda 7200.10 Hard Disk Drive 250GB SATA II 7200RPM 16MB Cache- OEM
£39.55

CASE
Thermaltake Soprano VB1000SWS Silver c/w 3x case fans + USB2 + window NO PSU
£48.18

PSU
OCZ 600SXS StealthXStream 600W PSU
£46.94

DVD Drive
NEC Optiarc AD-7170S-0B 18x DVD±RW/DL/RAM Serial ATA Black - OEM
£19.56

Total = £426.94


Any further advice welcomed.

[freakitchen]

That's a decent list, with some quality components. All I'd say is that £400 is a light budget to build a gaming computer with, and the component that's suffering there is the video card - the 7600GS is really a bottom-end gaming card. If I was configuring a system with the rest of the parts you've chosen, I'd have included something like an ATI x1950pro, which are ~100. A 7600GS should be able to run the latest games on low-mid visual settings.