My First Computer Build

[ejxsd]

Link to page with parts:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewV...stem+%288%2D28%2D07%29"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=4835214&WishListTitle=AMD+System+%288%2D28%2D07%29">https://secure.newegg.co.........8%2D28%2D07%29</a></a>

I have decided to build my own computer, partly for my A+ Cert class I'm taking this year and partly just to mess around with various operating systems. I need something cheap, but it still has to be decently powerful. This is my first time building a computer from the ground up, so I don't exactly know where to start yet. How does my configuration look? Am I missing anything? What needs to be changed?

Motherboard: Foxconn NF4UK8AA-8EKRS 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16813186037

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Manchester 2.2GHz Socket 939
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16819103604

Memory: pqi POWER Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16820141212

Video Card: PNY VCG8600GXPB GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16814133199

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE WD1600AAJS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16822136075

Power Supply: Thermaltake TR2 W0070RUC ATX 430W
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16817153023

Case: COOLMAX CS-480-Black W/O PSU Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower
http://www.newegg.com/product/...p?item=N82E16811212033

Thanks

 

[George Powell]

You need a heatsink if you buy an OEM cpu.

Apart from the graphics card, it's all very last generation.
Don't forget to include all the peripherals that you will need.

It would be well worth looking at a prebuilt at this price point, you tend to do quite well at the budget end.

 

[Abu Som3a]

I found this deal at http://www.techspot.com/deals.html

Today ONLY! Dell Small Business - Dell Vostro 200 Desktop with 1.6Ghz Intel Dual-Core E2140, 1GB DDR2, 80GB HD, 16x DVD-Rom for $379 with FREE shipping plus 19" Widescreen LCD Monitor

A $260 instant discount takes the price of this configuration down to $379 with FREE shipping. It comes with a 1.6Ghz Intel Dual-Core E2140 processor, 1GB of dual channel DDR2 SDRAM, 80GB hard drive, 16x DVD-Rom, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 3100 video (there`s a PCIe x16 slot free if you want to upgrade later), 1 year warranty, and Microsoft Windows XP Home. It also comes with a widescreen 19" Dell E198WFP LCD monitor. Expires TONIGHT, 8/28/07. DELL SMALL BUSINESS VOSTRO 200 DESKTOP DEAL

 

[MarcVenice]

That's prolly the worst build I've seen in years Don't go socket 939, it's a dead socket, you go socket AM2 for less money and get the same or better performance. Besides, you can pair am2 motherboards with ddr2 ram which is a lot cheaper then ddr ram. Videocard, well, if it suits your needs, fine I guess. I'd rather go with something dx9, for the same price, yet will deliver more power. As for the PSU, if you fancy an unstable rig, and a PSU that might blow up on you anytime, then by all means go ahead and purchase that TR2.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813138052 Check out the combo, mobo + 2.2ghz dualcore cpu. Pair it with 2gb of this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16820220144 and you're allready 10 times better of then with what you picked. Then you've gotta shop for a relatively cheap yet decent psu. At fry's they had a antec earthwatts 500w for 50$, best PSU you could buy for that kind of money. If you go lower then 50$ you're buying yourself something worthy of the description JUNK.

 

[pcsavvy]

I currently have a 939 based system and an apg video card. So I can speak from experience, once you get started on diy'ing computer builds, you will quickly want to upgrade your system to an AM2 or Core 2 dual core system.
The first thing to consider is what you want to do with this system-basic office computing tasks vs intense gaming vs multimedia box.
Second to consider is your budget.
Third whether or not you want to overclock your cpu.
Once you weigh those three things you can then decide which cpu to go with which in turn will give you a choice of motherboards and memory.
For instance:

With a tight budget you can get a am2 dual core cpu and motherboard combo cheaper then a core 2 duo cpu and motherboard.
But if you are interested in overclocking then the Intel Core 2 Dou is your best bet. Just get the least expensive one with a decent motherboard and you'll have a fast system.
But if money is no object, get the fastest Intel core 2 duo cpu and the latest motherboard for it and you will have a hard core gaming machine with the appropiate memory and fastest graphics card.

If you can't afford a cpu, motherboard, memory, graphics card at this time then maybe you may want to consider a motherboard with integrated graphics until you can afford a graphics card.

I would suggest doing more research into the various parts of a computer and look at the reviews here and other trusted websites.

Good luck