new build - suggestions/comments?

[regeisle]

Planning on ordering in next couple days. Please let me know if anyone has recommendations or bad experiences with any of the parts. Trying to keep it around $900, already have Antec Sonata2 case with 450w PSU.

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131070

Vid Card
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814125027
nothing fancy, but should be good enough (no gaming really)

Proc
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819115004
Does anyone have any STRONG arguments for going up to the 6600 for an extra $125 or whatever it is? I've heard only 1-3% performance boost, but will it have any benefits once vista hits? will the extra 2m cache mean a lot in a year or so?

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

HD for XP and programs
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148107

HD for Data
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148144

DVD writer
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106014

and to be recycled from current system...
24" dell lcd, 8x NEC DVD writer, 120gb external backup drive, floppy

Thanks everyone!

Rich

 

[TheEnd187]

if that PSU came with your case you better get a new one quick

 

[zerodayATK]

in a year or so it might make a difference but .... thats in a year or so.. that proc wil lbe solid for a while... i doubt we will go back to one core....

 

[Ronnie]

i think that if your going to go core 2 then you hsould go with atleast the 6600. sure its not beneficial now but with it you wont need to upgrade for a long *** time

 

[regeisle]

new psu?

Yeah, apparently it's hit and miss with the Sonata2's smartpower psu. a bunch of newegger's claim doa or dead within a couple months, and then others said they've built 10+ systems and all work fine. I have an antec case now with a 420w smartpower psu that came with it and no problems at all in 2+ years, so I'm surprised so many people have had bad luck with their antec psus.

To play it safe, I may get a backup either to swap out right away if I run into problems and avoid the hassle's of returning, or to keep on hand for what seems to be a likely problem down the road.

Does anyone with the sonata2 & stock psu have any comments? I got the case for $50 from frys shipped free after a rebate, so i don't mind another $40 or so for a decent 450w backup if needed.

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4587977?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG is free AR right now, shipped, so that could be an option but aren't ULTRAs crap in general? tigerdirect has a ton of 5star reviews for this model, but i have a hard time finding a bad review of anything on their so who knows...

 

[zerodayATK]

i looks like a good deal but a 500w for 40 bucks ... ehh.. is all i can say.... but its your build....