My build!

[PhantomGrey]

you guys have given me some input and I think I am ready to make my purchase.

I already have Windows XP and a monitor.

Case
Antec Sonata III w/ 500w PSU
140$ (-40 Rebate) = 100$

Motherboard
Abit Fatal1ty FP-IN9 SLI
128$

Processor
E4500
127$

Memory
crucial 2GB (2 sticks of 1 GB ea)
79$

Video Card
EVGA Geforce 8800GT Superclocked 512MB 256bit GDDR3 PCI-Express 2.0
303$

Input and Speakers
Creative Inspire P7800 7:1
94$
Logitech LX70 Keyboard and Mouse
58$



Okay a few questions:

I built a rig about 5 years ago, and back then Artic Silver was all the rave. Do I still need to get that or does the processor come with compound and heatsink?

Also the video card says PCI-E 2.0 is that compatible with my video card?

I will order this tomorrow evening. Thanks for the input!

 

[MBrown]

looks good to me.

 

[PhoenixOrion]

what do you plan on using this computer for; in particular, what applications do you think may push this computer to its max?

why do you want a motherboard that specifically has a 650i chipset? do you plan to SLI down the road? I'm just curious because there are other boards for intel processors that have better features or more desirable northbridge chipsets at that $129 price point.

DDR2 prices have come down hard. 2x1GB PC6400 can be had at the $35-$55 range. you might want to look for hot deals on corsair, a-data and g.skill.

1. if CPU is retail boxed then heatsink will come with thermal pad. i still would advise getting arctic silver...and its too cheap not to get a tube of it.
2. PCIE 2.0 videocard will work on a motherboard that has PCIE 1.0 since the slots are both x16 size.

 

[DSF]

What about hard drive and optical drive?

 

[cozumel]

Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
what do you plan on using this computer for; in particular, what applications do you think may push this computer to its max?

why do you want a motherboard that specifically has a 650i chipset? do you plan to SLI down the road? I'm just curious because there are other boards for intel processors that have better features or more desirable northbridge chipsets at that $129 price point.

DDR2 prices have come down hard. 2x1GB PC6400 can be had at the $35-$55 range. you might want to look for hot deals on corsair, a-data and g.skill.

I agree with Pheonix. Need to know for what this machine will be used.

The mobo you have chosen, unless you plan to SLI is not the best architecture. A P35 chipset offers much more but cannot SLI (only crossfire). A P35 will accept the latest CPUs when they come out next year and have an ICH9R southbridge will also allow RAID.

Memory. If you are not planning on overclocking then their would be no point getting crucial ballistix as other branded modules will offer a similar performance at stock speeds but at a reduced price.

Depending on what you are doing with your rig it may be good to get Vista x64 with 4GB memory for a performance boost. But like I said all depends on what you intend to be doing with your rig.

 

[j13jjs]

Looks good