First Build...yeh or neh?

[NathanLedet]

I've got my first build just about ready...i've spoken with quite a few friends of mine that are into the hardware side of things and they say i have a pretty good setup..now i need your opinion I'm a web guy, always multi tasking with a 3D apps, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, etc. etc...constantly switching between applications and just lookin to get rid of some lag issues with my current computer. So, here's what i've put together, and within my budget

Case: $129.99
Antec PERFORMANCE Black ATX Mid Tower with 500w power supply
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129158

MoBo: $149.99
ECS PX1 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813135038

Video Card: $139.99
eVGA Geforce 7600GT 256mb PCI Express
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130017

Processor: $167
Intel Pentium D 945 Presler 3.4GHz LGA 775
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819116255

RAM: $164.99
CORSAIR 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 667
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145098

Hard Drive: $94.99
Seagate Barracuda 320GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148215

Monitor: $199.99 (maybe 2?)
Samsung Black 19" 4ms DVI Widescreen LCD
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824001088

Burner: $28.99
Lite-On 18x DVD+/-R DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106042

Windows XP Pro w/SP2: $139.99
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116175

Backup Software: $29.99
Acronis True Image 10
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832200003

I do not need a keyboard, mouse, or speakers.

Total is $1,240.91

Please feel free to give your opinions on my selections. I want the best for my money, and I want this computer to last for a while.

I do have some questions I would like some answers for:

On the processor, I was looking at the Pentium D 945 and the Pentium D 950. The only difference is the Virtualization Technology Support...is it really necessary to have that?

For the monitor, what is 4ms? Should I go higher?

This is preference..i'd like to know yours, do you prefer one giant monitor? like one 22" monitor? or do you prefer 2 smaller monitors? like dual 17" or dual 19"?

More questions to follow...Thanks for your advise

 

[RepuLse]

change the processor to an allendale 4300, get a ds3 gigabyte motherboard, switch out the lite-on drive to a samsumg 18x (trust me on this one, my lite-on can't read crap), and for the monitor a lower response time is better

 

[Jrod]

Pay the extra 20 and get an Intel e6300. If you do, you might want a different board. Some goof boards for it include the Biostar TForce965PT (~$100), the Gigabyte DS3 (~$130), the Asus P5B-E (~$150), and the Asus P5B Deluxe (~$180).

Also, you can get a cheaper 7600gt and overclock it yourself if you want to save 30 bucks or so.

When it comes to monitor response time, like repulse said, lower is better. But there's only so much the human eye can detect, so I'd say just stay under 8ms to be safe.

 

[maroon1]

For a little more you can get 7900GS Extreme
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150202

 

[Jrod]

Yeah, either downgrade to the $89.99 7600gt or the $99.99 version (if you want dual monitors). Or upgrade to the 7900gs.

 

[blaackoran]

7300gt DDR3 is also good. Or wait till tommorow and get a 8800gts 320.

 

[Phrantic]

Your monitor having 4ms means how fast it can change colours, you'll only need this for gaming and to a lesser extent for watching movies. If you really are a 3D modeler / web designer, I suggest you get a monitor with an MVA or S-IPS panel (more and better colors).

Other than that your build is all over the place... Video card and memory will do but that motherboard and processor must be changed. If you're into multitasking then you can't go wrong with a Core 2 Duo paired with one of the motherboards mentioned above.

Also, you forgot to include a power supply. Here's a really nice one. Seasonic S12 430W.

 

[Evergreen]

Your monitor having 4ms means how fast it can change colours, you'll only need this for gaming and to a lesser extent for watching movies. If you really are a 3D modeler / web designer, I suggest you get a monitor with an MVA or S-IPS panel (more and better colors).

Other than that your build is all over the place... Video card and memory will do but that motherboard and processor must be changed. If you're into multitasking then you can't go wrong with a Core 2 Duo paired with one of the motherboards mentioned above.

Also, you forgot to include a power supply. Here's a really nice one. Seasonic S12 430W.

His PSU was included with the case, and it's an Antec case, so should be good

 

[NathanLedet]

Alright i've made some changes and price went up about 90 bucks...which is not bad at all.

New motherboard: ASUS P5B Deluxe LGA 775 Intel P965 Express

Processor: C2D E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA775

And I changed the burner from a Lite-On to a Samsung, exact same specs, 2 bucks more.

Other than that, everything is the same (including video card, because i'm not big on gaming)

Question about the motherboard & RAM, the MoBo says the Memory Standard is DDR2 800, and in my list i've got DDR2 667. Should I find some higher quality RAM? or is all still compatible?

As a web designer/graphic designer/3D modeler....is Overclocking something I should really worry about? the reviews on the C2D mention a lot of overclocking to over 3GHz, which sounds really nice..but i wonder if it's really necessary.

Thanks for everyones input!

 

[Jrod]

E6300. You'll save around 50 bucks.

Ram should still be compatible. You don't have to use the "standard" I believe.

Btw, if you're not big on gaming why are you getting the most expensive 7600gt on newegg?