New build components, and questions

[suitcase]

I'm getting together a system of listed components. Please look them over for any issues that you might see. I have a couple questions afterward. Thanks

Koutech PCI to 1394a Card, Model "KW-582V2" -

ENLIGHT Model# EN-4102C (Black/Silver) ATX Mid-Tower Case w/ 300Watt Power Supply

Plextor Black 8X DVD-RW/+RW Drive, Model PX-708A/SW-BL,

SONY BLACK 16X DVD-ROM Drive, Model DDU1612/B2, OEM

PANASONIC JU-256A-198P Black 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, OEM Drive only

Western Digital Special Edition 120GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD1200JB, OEM

Corsair Value Select Dual Kits 184 Pin 512MB(256MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - OEM

Best Data 56K V.92/V.44 PCI Data Fax Modem, Model 56FW-92 - Retail

Intel 865G Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU, Model "D865GLCLK" Supported CPU: Socket 478 Intel Pentium 4(HT)/Celeron Processors
Chipset: Intel 865G + ICH5
FSB: 800/533/400MHz
RAM: 4x DIMM for DDR400/333/266 Max 4GB
IDE: 2x ATA 100 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X/4X/1X(0.8/1.5V), 3x PCI 2.2
Ports: 2xPS2,1xCOM,1xLPT,1xVGA,1xLAN,8xUSB2.0(Rear 4),Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: Analog Devices AD1985 Codec
Onboard Video: Intel® Extreme Graphics 2 controller
Onboard LAN: Intel 82547EI 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet
Onboard SATA: 2x Serial ATA
Form Factor: microATX

Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8C GHz 800MHz FSB, 512K Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack SP1a - OEM

PC will primarily be used for multimedia and web surfing. Very little, if any, gaming. Internet is dialup.

Questions:
Sound.... will the Analog Devices AD1985 be good enough for a 5.1 system like the Logitec 640 or similar? Basicly for listening to CDs.

Ram... The board supports Dual Channel ram. Will that have to be configured in BIOS or will the board recognize it and set up automaticly. I've never used Dual Channel before. I've always used one DIMM of 512MB.

Opticle drives... Connecting the two drives to the secondary port, should the DVD writer be primary with the DVD-ROM slave, and should jumpers be set to cable select on both? Or how??

Are there any particular issues that I should look for in the system listed. Thanks alot, I want to order this today if you get back to me. You being anyone answering this post.

[kram 2.0]

A Few suggestions and answers:
Sound: It would probably be beneficial to have a good onboard sound MotherBoard. In that case, I would recommend the Asus P4P800 DX Motherboard - around here, it's popular and I hear it has great sound. EDIT: P4P800 supports 5.1 sound and many have their Logitech z640s on them.

Graphics Card: With the MOBO, you need a GPU. I would get the Radeon 9000 Video Card - it seems like you don't want to spend an awful lot, so there's that. Integrated Video, as seen in your primary pick of Motherboard, will be very reluctant to serve your games, if any, well.

CPU: If its websurfing and stuff, Downgrade your CPU. Go to 2.4C, and that'll save you a bit of money.

RAM: Downgrade that, too, if you plan to use it for common use and not gaming. Go with PC2700 Dual 256, probably Kingston, or Crosair, or Crucial should do you well. I believe you have to set up DIMM on your BIOS on this motherboard.

Optical Drive: It probably matters very little which you put as master and slave. I would put the one you use more on Primary, and the other on slave


Besides that, looks great.

Hope that helps,
kram

[Cricket]

Originally posted by suitcase Internet is dialup.

If that's the case, you might want to switch the modem to the US Robotics 2976 or 2977.

Originally posted by suitcase Ram... The board supports Dual Channel ram. Will that have to be configured in BIOS or will the board recognize it and set up automaticly. I've never used Dual Channel before. I've always used one DIMM of 512MB.

Dual Channel will be enabled automagically.

Originally posted by suitcase Opticle drives... Connecting the two drives to the secondary port, should the DVD writer be primary with the DVD-ROM slave, and should jumpers be set to cable select on both? Or how??

Yes, make the writer the master.

If you're using a 80 wire IDE cable, set the jumpers to CS. If you're using a 40 wire IDE cable, set the jumpers to master or slave. You might want to use a 40 wire IDE cable, I've had some Sony drives that didn't work when used on a 80 wire IDE cable.

Cricket

[suitcase]

Thanks for the suggestions.

kram8806, "With the MOBO, you need a GPU." Not really, it has extreme graphics which should be enough for his needs. He doesn't game but will be doing some digital video editing and working with photos. I've used this board before but the sound was "Soundmax" not sure how different this codec is. He just want's good sound but not interested in 3d sound for gaming.
"Downgrade your CPU. Go to 2.4C," the 2.8 is only about 12-15 bucks more so I figured what the heck.
I would rather give him the DDR 400 PC 3200 if it will work ok and I think it will. If there is issues with PC3200 I would go with the 2700.?? Thanks Kram,,,BTW I used to live in Harrison and have family there now. My brother lives in Sharonville. My sister and brother-in-law own and run the Circling Hills Golf Course in Harrison. They also have a Pumkin festival there in October every year.

Cricket: I use the USR external modem but he wants to keep cost low as he can, I'll check into it.

"Sony drives that didn't work when used on a 80 wire IDE cable." I can go with another dvd-rom, was just looking for a black one to match the case.

"If you're using a 80 wire IDE cable, set the jumpers to CS. If you're using a 40 wire IDE cable, set the jumpers to master or slave." I wasn't even aware that you could choose 80 or 40 on the same drive. I thought that the floppy was 40 and the others were 80. Is one any better than the other? I just normally use what comes with the MOBO. Intel boards I've used come with all the cables.

And Cricket, I've been to the Island too, but it was just on my way to Guam in '61 while in the USAF. Would love to go back some day. Aloha

Edit: I just thought of something. The mobo connector (IDE), will it except a 40 pin and 80 pin. Or, just one or the other.

[kram 2.0]

kram8806, "With the MOBO, you need a GPU." Not really, it has extreme graphics which should be enough for his needs. He doesn't game but will be doing some digital video editing and working with photos. I've used this board before but the sound was "Soundmax" not sure how different this codec is. He just want's good sound but not interested in 3d sound for gaming. "Downgrade your CPU. Go to 2.4C," the 2.8 is only about 12-15 bucks more so I figured what the heck. I would rather give him the DDR 400 PC 3200 if it will work ok and I think it will. If there is issues with PC3200 I would go with the 2700.?? Thanks Kram

Glad you looked into it, at least. About the graphics VPU - I was actually talking about if you changed to the Asus P4P800 DX I recommended earlier. But otherwise, Intel does provide integrated graphics, though I must say should be use exclusively for apps. The CPU - go for it - I didn't know there was that little gap in between the CPUs - heck, I might as well upgrade mine, while we speak .

Hope that helps,
kram

[Cricket]

Originally posted by suitcase Edit: I just thought of something. The mobo connector (IDE), will it except a 40 pin and 80 pin. Or, just one or the other.

It will accept either IDE cable.

Cricket