Another first time build ...

[Rig_Veda]

Looking for some input on this, my potential first homebuild. I am not a gamer, I use my computer for my work in web design and computer repair as well as photoshop and a little video editing. Looking for stability and longevity - current computer six year old ABS pentium III 770mhz (slightly overclocked).

I would like to do a minor overclock but with no intent to push it, just get a little extra oomph!

These are my choices at present with a $1000 budget - 2GB ram is more than i need but the price is right with a rebate and there is Vista in the future. Won't use SLI but will one day use another video card and go to 3 or 4 monitors - using 2 at present.

aloha and thanks

Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX w/450Watt SmartPower 2.0 Power Supply

Gigabyte GA-K8N Pro-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core

eVGA 256-P2-N549 Geforce 7600GS 256MB GDDR2 PCI Express x16

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel

2 x Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s

NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model ND-3550A

Windows XP Pro SP2

 

[HotSauce]

Looks good to me. I've heard a cheap vid card offloads the CPU's workload.

 

[sailer]

Main thing I would suggest is going to a 500-550 wt power supply, especially if you plan on powering 3 or 4 monitors. Next thing is to count on a better video card, a least in the future. Other than that, looks good.

 

[shadowduck]

Get a 7600GT instead of the GS. The GT is a better card.

I don't like Gigabyte motherboards to much, I have had bad luck with them. But thats just me. Consider the DFI Lanparty ULtra D board for $122. IT has 2 PCI x16 slots so you can run multiple monitors later.

 

[mesarectifier]

Main thing I would suggest is going to a 500-550 wt power supply, especially if you plan on powering 3 or 4 monitors. Next thing is to count on a better video card, a least in the future. Other than that, looks good.

Errr, why? Monitors don't draw power from the PSU.

 

[sailer]

Main thing I would suggest is going to a 500-550 wt power supply, especially if you plan on powering 3 or 4 monitors. Next thing is to count on a better video card, a least in the future. Other than that, looks good.

Errr, why? Monitors don't draw power from the PSU.

You're right, at least not directly. I was thinking powering the multiple video cards and their multiple lines to the monitors. Sorry about the confusion.

 

[Rig_Veda]

Yes I was wondering if a biigger PS would be good so a question - does SLI draw more power than two cards running separately?

 

[mesarectifier]

No

Don't got SLI though!!

 

[Rig_Veda]

Thanks for all the input

Gigabyte v DFI - in reading the forums I get the impression that the DFI boards are more complex to set up and slanted towards real overclockers so i chose the gigabyte board only for that reason

is that a valid impression?

 

[Newf]

Interesting choices you made, especially the fanless 7600 card.
All the items will work well together.
I would personally prefer the Antec TruePower over the SmartPower, but that means changing the case choice. I think two of the 7600's will work OK in that case/psu setup.
Take a look at these just for fun:

Antec Perf TX1088AMG Tower w/480 TruePower $139+19 3/06
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129159

Chenming CMUI-P-601AEB-0 Blk SOHO Tower w/o PSU $54+16 5/06
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811125480

FSP AX450-PN 450watt 12v:2x18a PSU 20+4pin $51+7 3/06
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954

FSP FX600-GLN 600watt SLI 12v:4x15a PSU Active PFC $140+7 3/06
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104014

Why the towers? They're rugged, roomy, run very cool and last forever.
Stylish?, well maybe not.

Also, the Gigabyte board will bring some comments. It's fine. I like Asus and Intel boards but everyone has their own favorites.

 

[wun911]

Do you need XP pro? if not just get normal XP home and save the money for a 7900GT

 

[Newf]

Do you need XP pro? if not just get normal XP home and save the money for a 7900GT

Why would someone who does not play games need a videocard like that?