Building my first computer

[Future Guy]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading the forums here for several months now and finally decided to join. Great place for computer information!


I've been wanting to build my own computer for some time now but have never really had the chance to buy the parts and put it together.

This is what I have planned to get so far:

Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard

eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB

SeaSonic S12-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice Socket 939 Processor

CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) Memory

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Card


I already have a hard drive and a CD/DVD-Burner, which is why they're not in the list of things to get.


SLI - I would like to at some point, but not right now. I want to have my system ready though.


Will the Power Supply work with the motherboard? Is a 20+4-pin the same as a 24-pin?



I'm working on a budget of about $1100 (excluding shipping cost).

Comments/Criticism/Suggestions/etc.

 

[SynthDude2001]

Are you interested in overclocking? You can probably get an Opteron 146 or 148 for around the same price, and it'll have twice the L2 cache and likely overclock better. Everything else looks good to me really...I've got the 600W version of that power supply myself, works great (then again, I'm not exactly loading down the thing with 12 hard drives or anything either )

Oh, and welcome to the forums

 

[love2skate824]

No, I believe 20+4 refers to a 20 pin mobo connector plus the aux. 4 pin connector. a 24 pin connector is than a 24 pin mobo connector and the 4 pin aux. Can anyone verify?

 

[gunit]

I would spent the 20 more dollars and get the 3700.

 

[Future Guy]

Originally posted by: SynthDude2001
Are you interested in overclocking? You can probably get an Opteron 146 or 148 for around the same price, and it'll have twice the L2 cache and likely overclock better. Everything else looks good to me really...I've got the 600W version of that power supply myself, works great (then again, I'm not exactly loading down the thing with 12 hard drives or anything either )

Oh, and welcome to the forums

I'd be interested in overclocking, but I'm a newb at this sort of thing. I'd probably break something.

 

[Rockhound1]

I am not a fan of SLI, but if you want a SLI system, then the motherboard you have selected is a good one.

Based on the components you have selected, it looks like you are putting together a high-end gaming system. You might want to consider increasing your RAM to 2 GB (2 x 1 GB sticks).

 

[Rockhound1]

Originally posted by: love2skate824
No, I believe 20+4 refers to a 20 pin mobo connector plus the aux. 4 pin connector. a 24 pin connector is than a 24 pin mobo connector and the 4 pin aux. Can anyone verify?

Actually, the ASUS motherboard you identified in your initial post specifies a 24-pin power connection. That does not include the 4-pin aux connection. The Seasonic you have selected will handle it just fine.

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Get 2 x 1 gbs of ram. 1 gig is too low.

 

[Future Guy]

OK, I switched out the 3500+ and replaced it with the Opteron 148 and changed the memory to 2GB.

This is what it looks like now:

Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard

eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT 256MB

SeaSonic S12-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply

AMD Opteron 148 Venus

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB)

Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sound Card

 

[EagleEye]

If you want a system that performs better for less money, you could easily get a differnt mobo (epox?) and case (Caliver 3 is very nice) and get a 7800gtx. Also, I wouldn't get Corsair XMS ram, you can get 2x 1gb sticks of G.Skill ram for 147 or something like that which perform very well.

 

[Future Guy]

Originally posted by: EagleEye
If you want a system that performs better for less money, you could easily get a differnt mobo (epox?) and case (Caliver 3 is very nice) and get a 7800gtx. Also, I wouldn't get Corsair XMS ram, you can get 2x 1gb sticks of G.Skill ram for 147 or something like that which perform very well.

G.Skill? Never heard of it.

But the system I have here is fine, the cost is about $1200 after changing the memory to 2GB and the processor to Opteron 148, adding an extra $100 isn't a problem.

 

[auveeb]

Sweet system.

 

[ElFenix]

ditch the case and get something that won't drive girls out of your room

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
ditch the case and get something that won't drive girls out of your room

Did the gf test - results: "It looks ok except for the blue lights"

 

[TheRyuu]

Great system, one thing though, get 2x1GB. Get Corsair, Gskill, Munshkin, ya know the good ones, and value ram will do just fine here (it's called OCing).

Also, about the 24 pin thing that came up earlier. Seasonic S12-500W+600W have a 24 pin ATX connector (good thing), and the 4 pin 12v connector (also good thing), it will work just fine, I got 600W model, though I doubt 7800GT's in SLI (that I have) tax it all the way.

 

[Bonesdad]

Nice system...I can't stand that case, but it's personal preference...go for it.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

With a budget of $1,100, there's no question you should be getting dual core. You're over-spending on the motherboard, case, & PSU. Also, SoundBlasters are overpriced. If you really need a dedicated sound card, get an M-Audio.

Try this (all prices NewEgg):
Athlon 64 X2 3800+ -- $323
ASUS A8N-SLI (the standard version) -- $125
Enermax Liberty ELT400AWT PSU -- $86
AMS CF-1089BK case -- $47
eVGA 256-P2-N516 Geforce 7800GT -- $304 <<I strongly recommend *not* spending hours on end playing video games, but if you insist, this card will do very well>>
OCZ Value Series 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 kit -- $174
total: $1,059 shipped

The board has integrated 7.1 audio. If you absolutely insist on using a PCI sound card, pick up a SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit for $37, and you'll still be within your budget at $1,096 shipped.

 

[fibes]

Get the Fortron 450W PSU for $59.00 @ Newegg. The Seasonic is a great PSU, but it's overkill for your system, unless you plan to have 2 video cards.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

get a opteron 165 for $99 more. it will be more than worth it.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: fibes
Get the Fortron 450W PSU for $59.00 @ Newegg. The Seasonic is a great PSU, but it's overkill for your system, unless you plan to have 2 video cards.

He does indeed plan on getting a second video card down the line. Plus, he'll hopefully be running an overclocked X2. Even so, I agree the Seasonic is overkill. That Enermax model I mentioned above should do the trick.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
ditch the case and get something that won't drive girls out of your room

Agreed, great system otherwise.

I just finished a high-end A64 3700+, ATi x1800XL, 2GB using this This CoolerMaster.

 

[Future Guy]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou

Originally posted by: fibes
Get the Fortron 450W PSU for $59.00 @ Newegg. The Seasonic is a great PSU, but it's overkill for your system, unless you plan to have 2 video cards.

He does indeed plan on getting a second video card down the line. Plus, he'll hopefully be running an overclocked X2. Even so, I agree the Seasonic is overkill. That Enermax model I mentioned above should do the trick.

So that Enermax will work fine with 2 video cards? I thought 500W was needed for 2 video cards?

How about this memory? CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB)

 

[Crescent13]

That value ram is wonderful!! I have it. I oc'ed it to 2.5-3-3-7 1T @ 200MHz. I would say get that instead of the XMS. Also, a Dual Core Opteron would be well worth it. get the opteron 165.

 

[GamerExpress]

If you really want my honest opinion you may not like it.

I don't like Thermaltake cases at all!!!
Don't get SLI, it's a waste of money!!!!
I would go with an Opteron 146 instead of the 3500+
Corsair Value would work fine instead of the XMS.

 

[alfa147x]

here is a better sound card

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829118104


this is what i have and im happy (if your willing to spend the $$$ )