Building new computer, need suggestions.

[Apple]

I'm going to be ordering parts for my new computer in the next week or so and would appreciate any comments/suggestions/compatability problems you guys may have on the components listed. This will be my first try at building a computer and I don't plan to overclock.
-Proc: AMD 1.4ghz(266) Thunderbird retail $259 from NewEgg
-Memory: 512MB DDR PC2100 Crucial RAM $118.70
-Mobo: EPOX EP-8K7A $130 from NewEgg
-Case: Antec SX830 $89 from Directron
-Harddrive: IBM 40.0GB DESKSTAR 7200RPM 60GXP (Retail) $155.37 from MWave
-Floppy: Mitsumi $9 from NewEgg
-CD-RW: Lite-On 12x10x32 retail $97 from NewEgg
-DVD: AOpen 12x 40x retail $41 from NewEgg
-Sound Card: Turtle Beach Santa Cruz $70 from MWave
-Video Card: Gainward CARDEXPERT GF3 64MB DDR retail $342 from AVlogic.com(scores a 5.9 on resellerratings)
-Cables?: Will I need to buy any extra cables or should all the components have the cables needed?
-Fans: Panaflo 80mm 4 Pin, Low Speed $20(2) from 2cooltek
-OS: Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional $145 from MWave(Anyone know where I can get this cheaper?)
-Mouse: Microsoft USB Intelli Mouse Explorer OEM $37 from NewEgg
Anything I left out?
I'd really appreciate if you can post any comments/suggestions to help this newbie out.

 

[CuriousAndy]

-Sound Card: Turtle Beach Santa Cruz $70 from MWave

I'm a happy man.. Your comp is now fine.

~mOo

 

[CuriousAndy]

PSU: Any good brands? will 350W be enough?

if it's a brand name PS that is certified to run AMD systems, even 250watts can handle it

Surprisingly, some generic PS, like my old 400watts.. they cause random restarts with my PC (powering Geforce2, TBird, 320sdram, CDrom, DVDrom, Harddrive1, Harddrive2 and 5 fans)

you should be fine. stick with brandnames

<<-Harddrive: I need a fast 40 gig, 7200 RPM drive. IBM any good?>>

Maxtor ATA100 7200rpm 40gig fot $130 shipped @ Staples (after $25 coupon)
Pretty good deal.. I like it a lot.. (it reads as 38.1gig in Windows because of their sneaky marketing strategy)

~mOo

 

[Apple]

So a 300W Enermax should be fine? I can get one for $53 from NewEgg.

 

[purplecow]

That PS should do the trick.

 

[splice]

For the MoBo get an Epox 8K7A

 

[Apple]

The Epox is sounding great from what I've heard, I'll update the list. I'd still like to know if the stock HSF on the retail version of the proc is sufficient if I won't be OC'ing.

 

[Duvie]

If amd is willing to package it in a retail box they are going to put a 3 year warranty on you can be assured it will be fine with default speed and voltage...

If you want to oc that may be another issue...

Taisol I believe are the brand of HSF in the boxes...

 

[Apple]

Nah, I won't be OC'ing, atleast not for a long while anyways. Thanks, I think I'll stick with retail then. Adding a HSF kinda scares me.

 

[Duvie]

Also...if you plan on ripping any dvds you may wish to check up on the Toshiba a bit more as a rumor I heard is that that model (the 16x, and not the 12x) has a bug that only allows ripping at 2x max...

The aopen 16x48x may be a good alternative at newegg....

 

[Apple]

Alright, I'll look into that, thanks for the heads up.

 

[flight23]

What do people think about this case:
Case
Info on the power supply is here:
Power Supply


Is there any worry anymore about whether or not you will need attachments with particular motherboards in order to fit them into some cases? Like for example when I built my last computer I had to get little connector wires to join the mouse port on the motherboard to the input on the back of the case.. How do things work now with some cases having USB ports on the front (like the one I linked to above?)

 

[Apple]

What do you think about the Antec SX830? It comes with a 300W SmartPower PSU(AMD approved).

 

[christoph83]

SX830 is a great case. Would reccomend it.

 

[Apple]

bump

 

[Apple]

I've decided to go with the AOpen 12x 40x I won't be using DVD's much, if at all, so speed isn't a big factor for me.

 

[Apple]

I swapped the Plextor with the Lite-On, Plextor was too much for my tastes(Trying to keep it around $1400). I'd still like to know if 98se can handle 512MB of RAM effectively, or would buying it be a waste?

 

[Apple]

I'm leaning towards the 40 gig IBM Deskstar HD, does anyone have any experience with these? Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[Grendel99]

The SX-830 is a great case with a great power supply. I have one

HD's, either get the IBM 60 Gxp (NOT THE 75 GXP) or Maxtor. They are both 7200 RPM, with 2 MB cache.

For fans, if you get the SX830. It comes with two, but has two more positions for 2 more. I would recommend Panaflo's. They are very quiet and good fans. Try www.2cooltek.com The 80mm ones are the ones you want. L1A's are the quiet ones, M1A's are a little more noiser.

I'm not sure about the RAM. But I think 98SE can handle it. Anyone else wanna clear that up?

Hope that helps

 

[Apple]

So if I slap 2 of these on in the front then that should be more than adequate for my system? Any reason on why not to get the 75gxp?

 

[Shalmanese]

If you dont need 512MB, then dont get 512MB. usually 256MB will be enough

 

[mackstann]

i've heard that panaflo's are awesome. for the ram--i would say if ya got the $$$, go with 512. ram is cheap and you can almost never have too much. for the HD-ibm gxp60's are good, but i prefer maxtor. either would be good, im sure. floppy's in general are all the same, although like anything, there are lemons. Santa Cruz is good, i have and like. GF3, of course sounds good. it doesnt seem like youre strapped for cash, but if you were i'd say go for an ultra, but since i dont think you are, GF3 will be enough for quite a while. you prolly wont need to buy any cables. floppy and ide cables come with mobo, of course monitor has its own. cd drive comes with audio cables to connect to sound card. (the santa cruz comes with an analog audio cable). You shouldnt have any problems with 512 ram, as long as the price isnt one. I dont think you left anything out, all sounds good! (better than my rig)-Good luck!

 

[mackstann]

oh yeah, people have had ALOT of problems with the gxp75's, they tend to die alot (obviously not good!!) do a search on this forum for gxp75 and you will see what im talkin' bout

 

[Apple]

Well, I may ditch a stick if my comp ends up being more than I'm willing to pay. I do multi-task all the time though.

 

[Apple]

Well, I have a fairly large budget($14-1600).