Newbie trying to build 1st PC..need your expertise...

[Nickna]

So as of right now I am going with these parts (not all from tigerdirect, just using its site for the specs/images)

1. This Case Antec NSK 4400 Black/Silver

2. This CPU - Pent D 940 for $191. Will this work on the following MOBO?

3. This MOBO -Intel D945GPMLKR Intel Socket 775 MicroATX Motherboard

4. This CPU fan - Masscool 8W501B1M3G / Socket 775 / Intel Prescott / Copper Core / CPU Cooling Fan

5. This Power supply - Ultra/V-Series/500-Watt/ATX/120mm Fan/20/24-Pin/SATA Ready/Power Supply

6. RAM - Crucial 1GB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz Memory (2x512, because I have been told, and read that (2)512 sticks, is better than (1)1GB stick) Now I have the option for 64Meg x 72 or 64Meg x 64? What the heck is this? And which do I want?

So what else would I need to complete this build?

-1 more 80mm fan (whats a good brand for 80mm, and is quiet?)
-WinXP Home SP2
-Seagate 80GB for OS
-Seagate 250 or 320 2nd drive
-keyboard/mouse/monitor (already own)
-Dvd drives (already own)

I don't need any special video or audio cards, because the MOBO has them on it (I don't game so those basics will do)

That's all I can think of, but again this is my first attempt at a build so please, tell me if I missed something.

 

[clue69less]

2. This CPU - Pent D 940 for $191. Will this work on the following MOBO?

5. This Power supply - Ultra/V-Series/500-Watt/ATX/120mm Fan/20/24-Pin/SATA Ready/Power Supply

Considering that Conroe is right around the corner, I don't really understand buying a D940. If I wasn't going Conroe, I'd do an AMD AM2 like the 4600+. $191 for a D940 doesn't seem a bargain with all the recent price cuts. I'd avoid that PS too. Look at something like the mushkin 550 or one of the FSPs or OCZs.

 

[ikjadoon]

Any reasons for not waiting until tommorow when Conroe is released? And, no offesnse, but at the same price it steals its lunch money, pulls a wedgie up over its head, slaps it silly and then exits with the hot slutty cheerleader. And then does the same for heat and power levels. (Thank you, Price Grabber)


It looks good, but I don't trust that CPU fan. How about this one?

Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro

Two sticks are better because they can increase performance in dual-channel mode.

The 64MB x 72 is the amount of memory, meaning you have 72 chips that have 64MB each, but that isn't possible. It should be more like "64Meg X 8"...

~Ibrahim~

 

[The_Prophecy]

Suggested Changes:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (~ $210)

Mobo: Abit AB9 Pro

CPU Heatsink: Lose it.... the Conroe won't need an aftermarket heatsink unless you're planning alot of overclocking for this chip.

Power Supply: NEVER spend less than $50-60 on a power supply... even if the wattage looks good. Just because there's a high wattage on a certain model, doesn't mean it's going to be a good, reliable unit. Go for an Antec Truepower 480W

Video Card: Since you're not a gamer, an eVGA Geforce 7300GT will do fine.

RAM: OCZ Gold 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR2-800

Hard Drive: Forget about a small drive for the OS... unless it's a Raptor. If you're planning what I think you're planning, this should work much better:

Main Drive (OS and Applications): WD Raptor 74GB SATA

Extra Storage Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2

 

[ikjadoon]

CPU Heatsink: Lose it.... the Conroe won't need an aftermarket heatsink unless you're planning alot of overclocking for this chip.[/quote]

Is the boxed Intel cooler still loud, though, like the Pentium Ds?

~Ibrahim~

 

[Nickna]

Ok well I jsut read the revies for the mobo I thought I wanted, not so much anymore, need to update bios before pc with work, and some other problems, as a newbie, I really don't need that kind of pressure right off the bat

I would like to go with a Pent D 940, so anyone know a better mobo that will work for the processor?

 

[k-]

I would like to go with a Pent D 940, so anyone know a better mobo that will work for the processor?

Any new 775 mobos will do fine with the processor Especially if you aren't doing any gaming..

BUT I don't think you are understanding quite correctly...

D940 is bad. Compared to X2 4200+ which will be about same price range as D940 TOMORROW....

I bet your rig will be EVEN cheaper with X2....

If you don't even want 7300gt get a 7300gs, it will do fine.

 

[ikjadoon]

Yup. Price cuts have already occured on Monarch, Newegg to follow suit very soon.

~Ibrahim~

 

[The_Prophecy]

Is the boxed Intel cooler still loud, though, like the Pentium Ds?

The Pentium D stock cooler isn't loud at all. My dad's Pentium D930 system with stock cooler is running right behind me as I type this out, and i can barely hear it....

 

[ikjadoon]

Really? I've always heard in P4 D CPU cooler reviews that the stock cooling fan was nosiy. I'm not sure where I got that...I was so sure that they were very noisy under load. Interesting...

~Ibrahim~

 

[mrd]

Nickna: Now I have the option for 64Meg x 72 or 64Meg x 64? What the heck is this? And which do I want?

The x64 and x72 indicate how wide the data stored in the memory modules are. More commonly they're distinguished as ``non-ECC'' (x64) and ``ECC'' (x72).

 

[ikjadoon]

Ahh. I see, thanks for the info, mrd!

~Ibrahim~