1st build - compatibility check/comments

[nightmares_0]

Hi, this is my first build, and I'm hoping someone could check to make sure that all my parts are compatible and wont create any bottlenecks, or make suggestions on any ways to save money without a performance decrease. The PC will be mainly used for gaming. Thank you

CPU
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Orleans 2000MHz HT 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Processor

Motherboard
ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

Memory
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory

Video Card
ATI 100-435705 Radeon X1800XT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card

Hard Drive
Western Digital Raptor WD740ADFD 74GB 10,000 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150 Hard Drive

CD/DVD
SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner

Sound Card
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS SB0350 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

Case
NZXT LEXA-NP Black/ Silver Aluminum Construction Plastic Front Panel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Power Supply
ENERMAX EG651P-VE FM(24P) ATX 550W Power Supply 90V~135V AC or 180V~265V AC UL, cUL,TUV, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO, FI

Thanks again for any help you can give me

 

[dreams411]

Looks fine to me. I don't think there's a lot you could do to drop the price and not hamper performance. You could always drop the discrete sound card to save some $, but I'm assuming you've got it on there for a reason. Supposedly the new Nvidia on-board audio is better than the last generation, but I can't say for sure since I haven't heard it yet for myself.

 

[nightmares_0]

ok thanks alot I hope it all works out

 

[chewbenator]

Yeah looks pretty good for an AM2 set up. Only suggest you might want to look at a X1900XT, not a huge upgrade from the 1800 but its your choice.

If you go with that case come back and tell us how it worked out for you. I'm still undecided about my case option.

 

[The_Prophecy]

Suggested Changes:

Assuming you want to stick with AMD, here is what I would change,

Video Card: Sapphire Radeon X1900XT

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2

Now.... here's the part where I say, forget this entire lineup you have, and go for a Conroe. If you decide to take my advice here, this is what I would go for.

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (move up to a 6600 if you can afford it)

Mobo: Abit AB9 Pro

RAM: Corsair XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2-800

Video card: Sapphire Radeon X1900XT

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB SATA2

Power Supply: Antec Truepower 550W

Thermal Paste: Arctic Silver 5

The E6300 system will outperform the AMD rig by leaps and bounds in almost every area of computing. The performance gain from a Conroe build over an AMD rig is not as big as in gaming, but there is still some improvment. At higher resolutions though (like 1280 x 1024) the video card becomes the bottleneck, not the CPU, which is why the performance gain in gaming is not nearly as significant as other areas of computing. Agree or disagree as you wish with my suggestions, but ultimately it's up to you.

 

[nightmares_0]

First of all, thanks for all the suggestions, I appreciate the help. The problem is that I need the computer built by August 18th (which I should have stated in my original post) and I don't know if I can get a Conroe by then (please tell me I can ).

I will upgrade my video card and change the hard drive as you suggested.

 

[The_Prophecy]

You should be able to get one by August 18th.