Building my first computer :)

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Jethro69

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Hi
I'm wanting to build a computer

I'm thinking C2D 6300
Seagate 400 Gb Sata II 16 Mb
2x Radeon X1650 Pro PCI-E 512 Mb
Asus P5W-DH Deluxe
I plan on a 2 Gb memory stick

The P5W has Dolby Master Studio technology... so does this mean I won't need a soundcard?

I'm going to need a case as well, and a monitor. For the monitor i want a 19 inch wide LCD

What amount of power supply do I need, will it be cool enough, will it be loud, will it connect to the internet, etc

I'll want to add another drive. As well, I'm new to gaming outside of consoles, so is this a good machine. My budget is 1500$

I'm going to be using it for surfing, a few games (Rainbow Six Vegas, Prey, Lego Star Wars), watching/burning movies, P2P and Torrents (I use Shareaza), listening to music, etc ...I'd like to add a home studio and hopefully watch television on it

Anyway, I've spent the last half week researching and I hope to make a purchase very soon. I figure i'll buy most everything from www.satacomputer.com (Their prices are about the same as online, and tho I know I sound like a *****, I'm a bit tenative about putting it together myself)

Thank you for all your help :)
Jeff
 
Put it together your self, its fun and easy! read the build posts on this forum, use the search function, check the stickys at the top of the pages...

welcome!

Onboard sound ok for now.

Mboard, hard drive, cpu above ^good.

Go ahead and crossfire...


PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104934

Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811112099


Memory:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231098

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231065

Lcd:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824116373

cheers.
 
Update

Hi, I've changed my mind a bit

E6300 CPU
8800 GTS GPU (is this really needed. I know the prices will go down but I want something good - i'm thinking the 604 Mb version, and I'll have http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustratingReview.asp?item=N82E16824001087 for my monitor))
mobo:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127011
power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817341002
memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231098
HD:
2x http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822145129
DVD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827151136

anyway, that's it. i could use some guidance regarding cases and extras like fans and cooling, thermal grease, etc

Will it connect to the internet and can i attach my webcam to it? Will everything fit and play nicely? I have windows XP Pro on disc
Feel free to tear it apart, endorse it, or send me out on errands

I'll probably upgrade the processor in a year and a half, and I'll add memory and drive space periodically. but ya, this is going to be my baby.

I'm gonna use it to watch television/movies, play games, multi-task, and torrents

Anyway, thanks again :)
:)
 
The PSU you posted is a bit too powerful, you don't really need that much power. Also, I don't see the point in getting a $220 motherboard unless you're gonna overclock heavily. Let me suggest a build.

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 2.4Ghz - $314.00
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 - $122.00
Memory: G.Skill 2 x 1GB DDR2-800 CL5 - $169.99
Video Card: eVGA 8800GTS 640MB - $389.99
Power Supply: Hiper 530W Modular - $79.99
Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar 500GB - $139.99
Optical Drive: LG Black 18X DVD+/-RW - $29.99
Monitor: Viewsonic Black 19" Widescreen - $199.99

Total: $1445.94

Missing: case, keyboard, mouse and speakers.

This rig will kick @ss. The video card is the second most powerful available today, and the E6600 is an excellent processor. The rest of the parts are picked to be of very high quality yet not too expensive, to stay within budget. I also went for a single 500GB hard drive, but if you want two separate ones for any reason (RAID0 isn't worth it), then go ahead. It will cost a little bit more, though.

The case is up to you, since it doesn't really make that much of a difference. I left a bit of room in the budget for it. Browse around Newegg and pick one you like. I recommend having front audio / USB ports (firewire is optional) and ideally front and rear 120mm fans (the side fan is not that important).

As for thermal paste, the best and only choice is Arctic Silver 5.
 
NewEgg has Seagate 7200.10 320GB HDDs on sale for $90 w/free shipping. Get two and RAID0 them.
 
Yeah, but 2 x $90 = $180, which is $40 more than getting a single 500GB hard drive (though 140GB less, I recognize). It's up to him anyway. I he doesn't mind spending the $40, then yes, I'd go 2 x 320GB.

RAID0 is cool and all but I wouldn't suggest it for a first time builder. It also doesn't provide a very noticeable performance difference (in my opinion RAID0 is more suited for Raptors than regular disks).

PS: did you hear of my hardware issues? I've been in a nightmare the past few days hehe, but it seems to be going uphill finally.
 
did you hear of my hardware issues? I've been in a nightmare the past few days hehe, but it seems to be going uphill finally.

Yeah, I caught that. Sux royally, but I'm glad to hear that it's getting worked out.

RAID0 is cool and all but I wouldn't suggest it for a first time builder. It also doesn't provide a very noticeable performance difference (in my opinion RAID0 is more suited for Raptors than regular disks).

Actually, two 7200.10 drives in a RAID0 is only slightly behind a Raptor. Plus you get all that extra storage. I'd still set up my OS on its own partition, though, so as to keep the fragmentation down.
 
Revised

Hi, thank you for all your comments

I've reconsidered my rig again. I don't play alot of games, I'm not sure that I would either.... but I would want to play a few. FEAR specifially, and Lego Star Wars I and II

I've checked on the 8800 GTX and I do want that, somewhere down the road. I've read you need at least an E6600 to respect it

I'm haven't confirmed whether New Egg delivers to Canada. However, that's for tomorrow or the next day....

Currently:

All prices CAD
X-Fi Extreme Music (120$)
Intel E6300 C2D (218$)
http://www.bcom.ab.ca/store/product.php?productid=205146&cat=355&page=2
(Sata price 81$ each so 162$)
Seagate 400 Gb Sata II 16 Mb Cache (137$)
Lg Flatron 204WTX 20.1 Widescreen (328$) (I do want a 20-22 inch widescreen)
Antec Sonata II Ultra Quiet w/ Smart Power 2.0 ATX12V 2.01 450 Watt PSU (114$)
EN7600GT/256 TV-OUT DVI PCI-E W/ 256MB DDR RETAIL BOX (245$)
I've read the 7600GT is decent with FEAR
however, should i consider the 7900GT because it has dual DVI (for watching tv??)(355$)
I'd like to upgrade to an 8800 GTX eventually, so I dunno. I read it's a friggin' monster in terms of size (and numbers)
For the mobo I'm thinking P5B-DX or P5B-E... they both seem pretty good, but I could definately use some guidance. (prices 225$ and 195$ respectively)
LG Lightscribe DVD-RW (48$)

My budget isn't tightly bounded, because I have an inheritance, but considering I mainly surf, watch movies, listen to music, download it doesn't seem like the end. However, I would like a nice machine. With an eye to Quad-Core and an 8800 GTX
No plans for dual monitors.
Will it be quiet, connect to the internet, have adequate current, can I add another 400 Gb drive later on and maybe even some more memory?

I hazard .... 1600 CAD ....

Feedback appreciated :)
 
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