1st build - $600 budget

[jrh2]

My current desktop is about 8 years old, so its time for a new one. I was looking at buying new and have decided I can get a much better system by building myself than say for instance a $600 dell. I have been reading these forums for a few days and so far I have chosen these companents from newegg, keep in ming I am a newbie, so feel free to give input:

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model GH22LS30 - OEM

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131381

ASUS EAH4350 SILENT/DI/512MD2(LP) Radeon HD 4350 512MB 64-bit DDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Low Profile http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121310

CORSAIR 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X4096-6400C5 - Retail

AMD Athlon 64 X2 7750 Kuma 2.7GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core black edition Processor Model AD775ZWCGHBOX - Retail

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Grand total comes to $589.87

I have a few questions:

I was originally going to go with the E8500 processor that seems to be the concensus here, but the one I have listed is $100 cheaper, is it worth the $100 for the Intel?

Should I get 1066 RAM?

What is the difference between the mobo I have listed and the PRO model which is $30 higher?

I haven't decided on an OS yet. But probably vista, should I get the 64 bit version, what is the difference?

Is the video card I have listed capable of light gaming?

Thanks in advance.

[Khalil]

Welcome to pcmech.
You chose Excellent parts for the money. Only thing I recommend changing is the monitor. Go with the Asus 22" http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236050
1066 over 800 in Memory won't make noticeable difference.

[pam123]

You've done your homework.
I would suggest the newer 4770 Radeon for gaming, it's about $100 and it can handle anything you throw at it now and in the future (It's a light game card with "legs".), which is what a light game card should do.

The pro model has more bells and whistles but think carefully, do you need them?
They will further complicate a first build, perhaps to no gain for you.

It's plain that we're, finally, entering the era of 64 bit operating systems.
So, unless you have crucial hardware/software that's 32 bit only then it's 64 bit.
That means it has to be Vista if you want to do the build now.

Many of us have a 32 bit retail disk of XP and can afford to "wait and see" with Windows 7 but you don't have that option.

[Masaki 7-11]

Originally Posted by pam123 You've done your homework. I would suggest the newer 4770 Radeon for gaming, it's about $100 and it can handle anything you throw at it now and in the future (It's a light game card with "legs".), which is what a light game card should do. The pro model has more bells and whistles but think carefully, do you need them? They will further complicate a first build, perhaps to no gain for you. It's plain that we're, finally, entering the era of 64 bit operating systems. So, unless you have crucial hardware/software that's 32 bit only then it's 64 bit. That means it has to be Vista if you want to do the build now. Many of us have a 32 bit retail disk of XP and can afford to "wait and see" with Windows 7 but you don't have that option.

Even after installing all the service packs and patches (for vista hp 64-bit), I find 32-bit vista hp to be faster and much more stable. If you have more than 4GB of ram, it makes sense to get 64-bit, however there really isn't any point to getting 64-bit for less than that. A lot of games either have run slower or have problems running under 64-bit. While I think at some point we will be using a good 64-bit OS, I don't think we are at that point yet.

[jrh2]

Well my budget is real tight so I decided to hold off on the monitor and I replaced a few parts to utilize combo discounts, here is the new list:

Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor Model AD785ZWCGHBOX - Retail

SAPPHIRE 100255HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail

ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK - Retail

Grand total $410 - $20 in rebates

I am about ready to order, do I need to order any thing else like mounting hardware, screws, cables, etc.?

Thanks alot.

[pam123]

Originally Posted by jrh2 Well my budget is real tight so I decided to hold off on the monitor and I replaced a few parts to utilize combo discounts, here is the new list: Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM Antec Basiq BP500U 500W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.01 Active PFC Power Supply - Retail Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail AMD Athlon X2 7850 Black Edition Kuma 2.8GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Dual-Core Processor Model AD785ZWCGHBOX - Retail SAPPHIRE 100255HDMI Radeon HD 4670 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card - Retail ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK - Retail Grand total $410 - $20 in rebates I am about ready to order, do I need to order any thing else like mounting hardware, screws, cables, etc.? Thanks alot.

Mounting hardware comes with the case.
Cables come with the motherboard (and some times with the case)