My first build(my first computer anything)

[Tommygunn]

Hi all,
After five years my laptop simply can’t handle it anymore therefore it is time for a change.
So after much thought I have decided to build my own desktop computer to a specification that fits my requirements and pocket.
It would be appreciated if you guys could look over my spec and give me your opinions. Things to bear in mind are that it is being built to handle a mix of general computer/business use, gaming(quite a lot), downloading, video watching and the like.
In my list there are multiple choices and this is simply a matter of availability/price so an overall opinion on all compnents would be great.
Also, bear in mind I do have the ability to add 17% to the total value of components(would rather save it than spend it) since I can get it tax free in San Marino. So, if there needs to be any significant upgrades just give me a shout.
Here's the list:

CPU:
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400

Motherboard:
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3P(rev.2.0 or more recent)
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS4(rev.2.0 or more recent)
ASUS P5B Deluxe Wifi

Graphics card:
Sapphire X1950GT (maybe a Nividia?)
Sapphire X1900GT?

Memory:
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2Mb kit 800Mhz (C4)
Corsair VS2GBKIT667D2 2Mb kit 667Mhz (C5)
Kingston KVR667D2N5K2/2G 2Mb 667Mhz (CL5)
Geil SKU#GX22GB6400DC 2Mb kit 800Mhz (C5)
Geil GX22GB5300LDC 2Mb kit 667Mhz (C5)

Hard Disk:
Seagate ST3320620AS 320Gb, Sata2, 16mb
Western Digital WD3200KS 320Gb, Sata2, 16mb

PSU:
Enermax Liberty 500W

DVD Drive:
Samsung S-182M DVD/RW
NEC 7173 DVD/RW

CPU fan:
Zalman CNPS9700LED
Thermaltake Blue Orb II

Monitor:
Samsung 920N
Samsung 940N

Now I was talking to a salesman yesterday, or rather my girlfriend was because my Italian is abysmal, and he was saying that it might/would be a mistake to mix an Intel chip with an ATI graphics cards simply because of the recent AMD/ATI merger.
He was also saying that he would reccomend having an Crossfire/SLI configuration, 2 hard disks and bigger (than ATX) case for airflow?
I didn't say anything at the time but I was thinking 'how much?' and that it was just bull sales patter.
Was he speaking the truth.
Cheers.

 

[stevorob]

The mixing of ATI/Intel is ok. That salesman was talking bull, because it won't be anytime soon when ATI cards will stop working on Intel boards, if ever.

Your choices are pretty good. If you're on a budget, for the mobo, I would pick up the gigabyte ds3. The P5B is a fine board though, but it does cost a pretty penny.

Not a bad choice on the proccy. I would go with the 6600 for the larger cache size, and I believe it's only a little more than the 6400.

Graphics, get whatever you feel you need... again, think of your budget.

I would go with 2gb of DDR2 800. Corsair and GEIL are both good choices. I don't know the exact specs of those 2 because I'm too lazy to look them up, but I suppose they are alright. I would also look into G Skill... they make good RAM at an affordable price.

Go with WD for the HDD. I guess it's my opinion. 2 HDD's isn't necessary unless you just need obscene amount of storage volume and or running a RAID setup.

Enermax is a pretty good PSU. I believe that particular PSU is rated a Tier 2 PSU on some charts that compare most of the common PSU's out. OCZ also makes an excellent PSU. Make sure you have a good number of AMPS (NOT WATTS). 18+ on each 12v rail is recommended.

If you want aftermarket CPU cooling, the zalman would be the better, but the stock intel fan is pretty good if you're not intending to do a serious amount of OC'ing.

Thats about it for parts... don't know much on those monitors.

 

[niko084]

If you can take the bite, the P5B is an amazing board. But the Gigabyte is supposed to be a nice board to though.

Get the x1950GT, its an under clocked x1950pro...

Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4 2Mb kit 800Mhz (C4) <you want your ram to fly!

Western Digital WD3200KS 320Gb, Sata2, 16mb
don't know about seagate, but I have always had great luck with WD drives. Probably pretty close performance wise.

As far as the sales guy goes... Obviously he isn't paid to know anything..

Case, you can get one bigger than atx or a wide case for better cooling, but if you aren't a big over clocker and are going to get a "Zalman" *wink* hsf I wouldn't worry about it too much. I over clock mine like crazy on stock air and I have no issues to date with a standard mid tower and 2 120mm fans.

As far as screens, you can't go wrong with a Samsung great looking screens.

 

[Tommygunn]

Thanks for the input both of you.
You've pretty much agreed with my choices which is what I was hoping for so that's all good.

Stevorob,
I would go with an E6600 but the price is a bit prohibitive over here. It's an extra 85Euros, approx, on top of about 210Euros for the E6400.
The Enermax does the business from what I can tell, does it to you?

DC Voltage Ripple&Noise Total Reg. Output current Min. / Max.
+3.3VV 50mVmV ±5% 0.50A/28A
+5VV 50mVmV ±5% 0.30A/30A
+12V1V 120mVmV ±5% 0.50A/22A
+12V2V 120mVmV ±5% 0.50A/22A
-12VV 120mVmV ±5% 0.00A/0.6A
+5VsbVsb 50mVmV ±5% 0.02A/3A

I will also probably go with the WD HDD, it's also cheaper.

Niko084,
I will most probably get a standard ATX case because I don't plan on over clocking until I'm a bit more experienced or the need arises. I will go with a set-up that, like you, has a 12cm top rear and another front lower plus the Zalman and PSU fan.

 

[stevorob]

I would go with the 6400 then if the 6600 is going to cost alot more. The enermax should do fine then with those stats.

 

[niko084]

Ya sounds good!

You shouldn't have any issue. I have had my chip Intel 915 2.8ghz clocked at 3.8ghz for days and days on end constantly being push on the stock heatsink and fan with my few extra fans... I never got over 65c...

Ya the e6400 is the best bang for the buck unless you really want the 4mb of cache, its around $100 more here also.

 

[SlipSlice]

Yea, those are great parts..and will definately show in gaming from what I know on those parts.

But for some tips, definately go for 2GB's of ram, which im sure you are. Because it seems as if today 1GIG is starting to become of minimum. I will be updated my system to 2GB's soon, because my graphics card has no trouble gaming..it is my system ram.. take a while to get smoothed in ya know?

Just some tips..hope they helped.
S1iP

 

[Chewy]

I personally have the 1900gt and am not very impressed with it, you should go with a 1950xt or xtx.. or the 7900gs if you cant afford the 1950xt, its an amazing overclocker.. and arond the same price as the 1900gt (maybe cheaper, but def the better card).

I´m personally going with a 1950xt/xtx card, I most of the games I play will ned the extra ram. futureproofing

 

[Zubasa]

I personally have the 1900gt and am not very impressed with it, you should go with a 1950xt or xtx.. or the 7900gs if you cant afford the 1950xt, its an amazing overclocker.. and arond the same price as the 1900gt (maybe cheaper, but def the better card).

I´m personally going with a 1950xt/xtx card, I most of the games I play will ned the extra ram. futureproofing

Which X1900GT do you have? The revision 1 or 2? The revision 1 can overclock quite well.
The 7900GS is slower than the X1950Pro and the image quality is not as good
And first of all, even the X1950XT has 256MB by default.

 

[niko084]

Which X1900GT do you have? The revision 1 or 2? The revision 1 can overclock quite well.
The 7900GS is slower than the X1950Pro and the image quality is not as good
And first of all, even the X1950XT has 256MB by default.

x1950Pro is probably the best bang for buck on the market...
What wont it run in crossfire honestly.... And for a whoppin $400...

 

[Chewy]

I got rev.1... well its not very good with fear at default settings and ofc Company of Heros.

Its ran fear max fine when overclocked, but I had some problems with my system when having my card overclocked so.. I just run it with Ati`s CCC program now. RTS games are going to need extra memory I think.

When comparing scores with my card overclocked as is in my system stats, tigger69`s 7900gs blows my 1900gt away.
Hopfully you can find a 1900xt-1950xtx card for a good price. I can get a 1950xtx for about 300usd from my dads friend, so I think that will do me good for a while.

x1950Pro is probably the best bang for buck on the market...
What wont it run in crossfire honestly.... And for a whoppin $400...

very true. you could have a kickass system if u get 2 1950pros and a duel pci-e mobo.
you could get just one card for now and a second later.

 

[niko084]

I got rev.1... well its not very good with fear at default settings and ofc Company of Heros.

Its ran fear max fine when overclocked, but I had some problems with my system when having my card overclocked so.. I just run it with Ati`s CCC program now. RTS games are going to need extra memory I think.

When comparing scores with my card overclocked as is in my system stats, tigger69`s 7900gs blows my 1900gt away.
Hopfully you can find a 1900xt-1950xtx card for a good price. I can get a 1950xtx for about 300usd from my dads friend, so I think that will do me good for a while.



very true you could have a kickass system if u get 2 1950pros and a duel pci-e mobo.

Thats what I'm going for a e6300, P5W-DH, 2 1950pros, 4 gigs ram, server '03 vroom vroom overlock that sucker! and 10k scsi 160 drives, but I wont see those too much in gaming, more want them for the reliability and sustained data transfer speeds.

 

[Tommygunn]

Cheers all.
Just as a reminder I'm looking at getting the new ATI X1950GT.



and defo 2Gb of ram.

 

[niko084]

Cheers all.
Just as a reminder I'm looking at getting the new ATI X1950GT.



and defo 2Gb of ram.

x1950gt is just an under clocked x1950pro... So that makes me think heh, you should by all theory just be able to clock it back up anyways... So save the $50.. Just get ready to buy a new HSF because they seem to use a cheaper one on the GT..

 

[Tommygunn]

Excuse my novice knowledge but what's an HSF, the graphics fan?

 

[niko084]

Excuse my novice knowledge but what's an HSF, the graphics fan?

Ya just internet terminology for short.. Heat Sink Fan.. So yes the entire heat sink and fan for the video card.