First Time Build Components, Need Feedback

[Hotspur]

First off I'd like to thank the members of this forum for reviews and advice given to others, it's really helped me along in this process.

Second of all I would like to say that I am buying some parts at Circuit City because I have a $470 gift card there, I know I can get it much cheaper elsewhere, but I want to use that card.

Third, it's going to be a gaming/overall use machine with emphasis on gaming. It'll be my second PC and I have two laptops as well so it won't be really used for media storage or anything like that.

Here's what I'm looking at buying:

Motherboard:
Asus M2N-SLI Motherboard - NVIDIA nForce 560 SLI, Socket AM2/AM2+, ATX, Audio, PCI Express
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...&sku=A455-2812

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Processor ADX6400CZBOX - 3.20GHz, 2 x 1MB Cache, 1000MHz FSB
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...=CP1-AM2-6400A

Those two I am getting for $249.99 combined from TigerDirect.com

then...

Video Card
GeForce 8800 GT 512MB DDR3
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ....do?oid=201999

Case
Antec Sonata III 500 Super Mini Tower
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/produ....do?oid=195124

and...
Memory
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/OCZ-4...oductDetail.do
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231145

Hard Drive
Not sure yet, a friend of mine is going to give me a 250 GB something until I decide.

I'm not buying a CD or DVD drive yet. I'm putting the system into my 32" Toshiba 720p television with VGA and HDMI inputs and will be using a stock Dell keyboard and a Razer Diamondback mouse. I'd like to run the audio into my 5.1 surround system (mostly pioneer speakers) but don't know if that's possible, if not I have some old computer speakers that I will be using.

So what I need to really know is how well will all of that mesh running Vista and if ACP-EP memory is any good. Other than that, just let me know what suggestions you all have.

Thanks in advance for the helpful advice.

[shadowpr]

Never heard of that brand of memory. I would get something a bit more known.

You will need a cd/dvd drive to install your os, so make sure you have something.

Case and video card look good though.

[flanzig1]

Agree with shadow about the ram, the specs don't even say what the CAS is. And you would be better off getting a 2gig kit instead of a single 2gig stick. If you have a Microcenter near by, they have Corsair XMS DDR2 800 2gig kits for $28 with a MIR.

[Hotspur]

All right, well I've updated to my new memory choices. and then I would also like to add the new motherboards I'm trying to decide between.

It's going to be either ahttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128014

or a http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131234

what would be the limitations of my machine with either of these motherboards and what would be the strengths overall with either of these?

[phigdon]

you need to check out newegg. that ram is $92.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227199

that ASUS board only has 1 PCIe 16 slot so if you are planning on crossfire or SLI you're out of luck. also you need to check both boards memory compatability, OCZ supposedly is NOT supported by ASUS. although i have a gig of OCZ in my board and it works fine. The ASUS board is AM2+ the gigabyte is not but there is probably a BIOS flash that will let you run a phenom. all in all for upgradeability, i would get the ASUS between those two.

[Hotspur]

Thanks a lot phigdon, one question I have about the memory is the voltage. How can I be sure that the motherboards are compatible with 2.0 v or 2.1 v memories?

Also, I'm willing to listen to other suggestions for motherboards for around $90-$100, I've seen many on Newegg but I really don't know how to determine which are better or even have better upgrade capabilities.

[flanzig1]

CAS 4 is the 2v and the CAS 5 is 1.9v.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034

[Masaki 7-11]

Quick question, why are you going with AMD instead of Intel? An E8400/ P5K-SE combo will cost you about the same as the AMD combo from tigerdirect, but will provide a lot more performance in terms of gaming and it will allow you to increase that performance even more later on if you want to overclock. The AMD processor is also made using the old 90nm process which runs pretty hot and has little if any room for overclocking whereas the E8400 is made using a new 45nm process which runs cool and gives you lots of headroom for overclocking.

[Hotspur]

I chose AMD because I was told that I would be able to get more "bang for the buck" and that it had a brighter future. I have no real brand loyalty, in fact I have both Intel and AMD machines right now and don't have a problem with either.

Upon looking into your suggestion I find that the P5K-SE has dreadful reviews. I also found that, while the E8400 has better reviews than the 6400+ it does cost quite a bit more and I am on a budget. I'm also not so computer savvy so overclocking is not so important to me.

[Hotspur]

Would also like to add that I will most likely be purchasing http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231145
the G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1000 and I just want to be sure that the motherboards I am looking at will both work with this RAM.

[Masaki 7-11]

I don't see how AMD has a brighter future when it continually misses sales targets and has nothing to offer in the high end market. Regarding the P5K-SE, it runs fine (I have one up and running) and is great for gaming and overclocking, reviews on newegg aren't always made by knowledgeable people, so you have to take them with a grain of salt. Even if you went for a slower processor from Intel and got a "better motherboard" you'd still see a large improvement in gaming over the AMD combo. Regarding your ram, I have to question the point of buying really fast ram and in a 4GB form. The type of ram you have picked out is meant for overclocking since almost all processors don't need more than DDR2-800, and 4GB is not necessary for gaming, 2GB is enough for gaming in Vista, and more than enough if gaming on windows XP, if you get 2x1GB Ram modules you could save enough money to get the Intel combo and have a better performing computer than with the AMD combo.

[Hotspur]

All right Masaki, in response to your critiques I've decided to put together what I would consider your suggestion (with a motherboard replacement, I'm sorry that other one just doesn't seem too great).

Motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128059

CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037

Memory:
G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) for $45 at Newegg

This set up compared to the previous set up (64 X2 6400+ 3.2 GHz, Asus M3A motherboard, and G.Skill 4 GB DDR2 1000) turns out to be almost, $2 difference, the same in price

What do you think of that? do you think it will be a better machine than the AMD I was planning to build? Which would be better? Are there any recommendations anyone would make for either set up? I'm open to suggestions here but would like to decide within the next few days.

[Masaki 7-11]

That looks like a much better build, and the gigabyte motherboard has been used my many PCMechers who have given it good recommendations (in addition to recommendations made by review sites). For the same price, I don't think you can get a better setup (at least when taking brand [quality] and into account).

[Hotspur]

Masaki, your recommendation inspired me to research further and I have found that not only does the 8400 out perform the 6400+, but almost every Core 2 Duo out performs the 6400+

So, needless to say, I'm sold.

Regarding the motherboard, what particular limitations and advantages do you see with my selected model?

The only real decision I'm left with is to decide on what memory to choose. My two selected option are...
2 GB option for $45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098

4 GB option for $70 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820211188

[Masaki 7-11]

The motherboard you picked out is pretty solid, it has a good PCB design, has the new P35 chipset (newest performance chipset from Intel), good expansion, and doesn't really have any problems. The only problems with that motherboard that you may encounter is the limited number of SATA ports (4 ports are ok, but if you plan on upgrading to more hard drives, it may get to the point of needing more than that, although as it is you'll have room for 2 additional hard drives for upgrading) and the integrated sound card which isn't good for gaming since it doesn't support EAX, you may want to take a look at a discrete sound card at some point in the future if you like EAX being enabled in games.

[Katreat]

I agree with masaki advice on an Intel build and if you need to save a bit of cash look at the E6750 processor. It is a 65 nm processors but still runs at 1333 FSB and is a great performer for the cost. For ram 2 GB is plenty for current games. Ram is cheap and if you want 4 it will not hurt and may make the system a bit future proof. If not OC'ing then stick with 800 speed. As for MB I like Gigabite boards but will back up Masaki's comments on the P5K-SE. I know two people using it and they have hand zero problems. Gigabite also makes good boards and from experience has good support.

Kat

[Hotspur]

I'm not particularly concerned with the SATA ports considering my Dell has a 500 GB hard drive that I use for media storage. I can't see myself ever using more than two hard drives or needing more than 500 GB for anything in particular on this machine.

As for EAX, I don't see that as a huge problem right now and if it bothers me then I can buy a card in the near future.

Other than that, I'd just like to make sure that everything is compatible.

Thanks so much to all of you, especially Masaki, who have replied and helped me out.