Here we go, 1st build

[CL Dave]

This build is for a family computer;

Son 17 - plays MMO and RPG type games(?? got me!!), then genreal homework, internet stuff, IPOD

Daughter 15 - general homework, internet stuff, IPOD

Mom - Picture editing, wants to get into video editing, possible TV/Computer entertainment integration.

Dad - Same as Mom also possible music mixing (playin the blues!)

I've installed memory, video card, DVD drives in the past. No concern on the installation of the hardware. My concern is the initial set up working with the BIOS and all the little details I read about in the mother board manual. So many topics i know nothing about.

Should I stop now and go to Best Buy/Dell?? Really be honest

Anyway, here is my system as of now. I'll use my current monitor, Proview 19" LCD(?) a thin one!! Will use existing speakers/sub, and key boards.

CASE: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Newegg.com - $44.99
http://[URL="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119106"]

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-
Core Processor
Newegg.com - $165
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...tel-_-19115037

MOTHERBOARD - ASUS P5Q LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
Newegg.com - $118.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131295

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Newegg.com - $69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145176

VIDEO CARD: ASUS EAH4670/DI/1GD3/A Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
Newegg.com - $90.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814121305

HARD DRIVE: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
Newegg.com - $75.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136319

CD/DVD: LITE-ON Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA 22X DVD Burner with LightScribe
Newegg.com - $28.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...Tpk=IHAS422-08

FLOPPY/CARD READER: Rosewill RCR-FD400 74-in-1 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 Card Reader w/ Floppy Drive
Newegg.com - $35.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223111

POWER SUPPLY: COOLER MASTER eXtreme Power Plus RS-500-PCAR-A3 500W ATX12V V2.3 Power Supply
Newegg.com - $40.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171031

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 for System Builders
Newegg.com $131.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Tpk=E85-05683

Thank you so much for your comments in advance.

[shadowpr]

Looks good.

Only thing you might want to change is get a more powerful video card.

I'm also not positive how good that power supply is.

[Brencog13]

According to the Power supply guide in the General hardware forum Cooler Master are reputable, so you should be good there, and if shadowpr says your build is fine I'd say you're pretty good to go But don't take my word for it, see what some other members say

[glc]

3 recommendations.

1. I would go with a stronger video card. Read this article:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...hics,2296.html

The card you chose is the best at the $65 price point, you are overpaying just to get more video ram - which you do NOT need with only a 19" monitor. I'd get at least a 4770. Hopefully, they will be coming back into stock soon, they are ALL on backorder at Newegg.

2. I'd take a pass on that particular PSU. It's not TOO bad, but I'd recommend something better made. You can't go wrong with a Corsair. $100 is not an unreasonable price to pay for a RELIABLE power supply.

3. Save your money and get XP Home. XP Pro doesn't have anything that a home user would really need.

[CL Dave]

OK, putting the parts in the case correctly is pretty straight forward. As I see it, the most difficult part of building your own is the first boot up and then setting up the BIOS. Reading the manual for a Asus P5Q Green, MB and there are so many options to chose from.

Am I reading to much into this and just leaving all the settings as default is the right direction here? Are there any good books or links that can educate me on all these options.

Just as an example, if SATA drives are used the manual says you can create RAID 0, RAID1, RAID 5, RAID 10 configuration. I've heard of RAID, but not sure what it really is.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[glc]

RAID is only used with multiple hard drives. Keep it simple. The only default setting that you should change is to change the SATA controller mode from IDE to AHCI. You will need that floppy drive to install XP on a SATA drive running in AHCI.

One tip - do NOT connect the USB cable from the card reader till AFTER Windows is installed.

[CL Dave]

GLC, thanks for the feedback, I found the AHCI info in the manual.

Does XP come with a floppy, I thought they only come with a CD now days.

But please give me some feedback on the difficulty in setting up the BIOS. Do you see many people that built and then never get the thing running and they're out $800 or whatever?

Thank you

[LeftyAce]

The BIOS should be fine on default settings. I've never had to jump through hoops getting a SATA drive working...if you have issues, we can help you out :-)

[glc]

You have to put the AHCI driver on a floppy - it's on the motherboard support CD/DVD. When installing XP, you have to press F6 when prompted at the beginning of Setup and insert the floppy.

[CL Dave]

Is the AHCI driver readily visible/accessible on the motherboard support CD/DVD? Then I just copy from the CD onto a floppy on my old jalopy computer?

As Ron Santo says "Oh Boy"

[nicolaus corelius]

sometimes the cd has a bootable dos image, so you can actually boot from the mobo cd and make the sata driver floppy. otherwise you'de have to look for the directions in the manual

[CL Dave]

So will Windows 7 recognize the SATA drives or do I still need to have the AHCI driver on a floppy as needed for XP?

Thank you.

[glc]

Vista and Windows 7 have native AHCI support.

[CL Dave]

So when you say W-7 has native AHCI support, does this mean I wouldn't need to use the floppy to install the dirvers and could do my initial boot and install W-7 directly from the CD?

Would I have to buy the full version or would the upgrade work?

[glc]

Yes. By the time you get the final software, I'm sure someone will have figured out how to do a clean install with the upgrade.

[CL Dave]

Thanks GLC, do you know when W-7 will be released if pre-purchased now?

[tomtoon]

You can download the RC(release candidate from MS) now.

It is officially released on 22nd October.

However, you can pre-order though.

[CL Dave]

Still working up the courage to start the build, but getting there.

Video Card question;

I would like this build to put me in a position to use the computer with the home entertainment system. Be able to down load from the camcorder and then edit without being slow, as well as play down loaded movies on the wide screen TV. Games are really secondary, but my son would like to be able to play some games.

Are there multipupose cards out there that give good performance for both Home Theater/Multimedia and gaming? Any suggestions? the information on Tom's Hardware site was geared toward gaming.

Also changing the power supply to: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply,
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

Is this OK with my MBO and CPU?

TY

[nicolaus corelius]

i dont know much about the media/tv dept., but that psu is an exellent choice.

on the side note corsair is destroying the competition and singing from the way to the bank. Tt and coolermaster watch out.

[Khalil]

Any ATI 48xx will do the job.