plz critique my first build ever...

[hampstar]

hey everybody... well, im gonna try my luck with my first build with some Christmas money I got... here are the spec's... id like some feedback on it... like is it all compatible?... what i should add/remove?...

ASUS A8N-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail ($122)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131524

eVGA 256-P2-N517-AX Geforce 7800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail ($319)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130249

AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 1GHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail ($228)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103539

CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail ($100)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145450

Western Digital Raptor 74GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM ($136)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144160

COOLER MASTER Real Power RS-450-ACLY 450W Power Supply - Retail ($73)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817171001

ASUS Black 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2X DVD-RAM Read 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner - Retail ($49)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827135043

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS SB0350 8 (7.1) Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM ($70)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16829102178

totals to about 1100.. not including shipping and handling.... my price range is from 1000-1200 and the primary use of the comp is going to be gaming....

 

[georgekn3mp]

what about athlon 64 x2?

I personally went with an Athlon 64 X2 3800+, and I think you would do better with a lower video card (saves money for...) paired with a dual-core AMD 64x2. The X2 3800+ goes for around $340. Of course, the 3700+ is clocked faster, but the advantages of X2 seem worth the trade-off.

The HP A1250N I got the other day has great specs for $900, it just needs an upgraded video card and I am all set...to go with the HP 17" LCD I got for $100 bundled!

A64 X2 3800+
1 GB PC3200
250 GB 7200 rpm SATA HD
Light Scribe DVD-RW Combo
(Added a SB Live card)
UGH Radeon XPRESS 200 (needs at LEAST x700 or 6600!)

Otherwise, sounds like a speedy system for under $1000.

 

[turtile]

Don't listen to the above. HPs are crap compared to custom built PCs.

You said that you are using the system for gaming so the 3700+ is a great choice. A 3800+ x2 is a stupid choice for gaming.

You should always spend the most money on the GPU like you did.

With $1200 you could get a GTX.

 

[hampstar]

yeah, im going to have to stick with my original CPU... i dont think i need dual core at the expense of a downgraded vid card since the comp is primarily going to used for gaming... can anyone give me any insight on the motherboard i picked out?... is it good enough to keep up with the rest of my specs?

 

[turtile]

Yes. I would get an A8N-E and stick with single cards.

The 3700 will play games BETTER than the 3800+ x2.

 

[hampstar]

is the A8N-E the motherboard i picked out?.. if its not can u send a link to it.. thx

 

[turtile]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131530

 

[hampstar]

think ill go with this one.. ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813131540... its a little overbudget but thats okay

 

[ibbonkers]

that rig should have no problems with any games. happy building.

P.S. if you play fear or bf2 you may consider 2 gigs of ram bf2 is a ram hog