**First Time Builder: Rig needs 'proof-reading' Plz!!**

[eightyeight]

Alright, so instead of shelling out serious cash with Dell, I've decided to save my money and just build the computer myself.

I've never built a computer before, so I was hoping that you guys could look over what I'm potentially going to buy just to make sure everything is compatible and even make some suggestions/give advice.

Thanks a TON in advance!

CPU:
Intel® Core™2 Duo processor E6600

MoBo:
Asus P5W DH Deluxe Socket 775 Intel 975X + ICH7R Chipset 1066 FSB DDR2 DDR2 800/667/533 Dual Gigabit Lan 8-Channel Audio Firewire Dual PCI-Express x16 Slot Cross-Fire Ready Remote Control 8-Phase Power Design Support Intel Core 2 Duo Processor

Casing:
Antec TX1050B - SmartPower 2.0 500W - 2 Front USB Port, 1 Front IEEE 1394 Port - 120mm TriCool - (Black)

Video Card:
BFG GeForce 7900 GT OC (475MHz) 256MB GDDR3 (1360MHz) 24 Pixel Shader Processor 2 Dual-Link DVI-I, HDTV-Out SLI Ready PCI-Express x16 Graphics Card With SINE

RAM:
OCZ DDR2-800 PC2-6400 Platinum XTC 2GB (2x1024MB) Dual Channel Kit

Hard Drive:
Samsung 250GB SP2504C SATA II 3.0G 8MB 7200 RPM High Performance Hard Drive NCQ w/ One SATA Power Cable Adapter – OEM

DVD Drive:
LG (CDR-8162B) 16X DVD-ROM Drive (Black) (OEM)

Speakers:
Logitech (970118) Z-2300 2.1 Speaker System - 200W RMS - THX-certified - w/ Wired Remote - (Retail Box)

OS:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Edition – OEM

Monitor:
Samsung SyncMaster 920N 19" TFT (Black) 8ms 700:1 1280x1024

 

[darkstar782]

OCZ Ram has some compatibility issues with Asus boards, I'd go Corsair or Cruicial myself.

You'd be much better off with a 7950GT than a 7900GT, 512mb ram and 550 core speed. Maybe even the eVGA 7900GT KO SC at 580/1580.

Have you considered ATi cards? The x1900XT is about in that price range and is a solid performer, unless you play alot of OpenGL games probably better than the 7900GT.

The x1900GT is slightly cheaper but quite a bit lower performance imho.

Other than that it all looks good!

 

[eightyeight]

K, so I'm changing my RAM to this:

Corsair DDR2 PC2-5400 667MHz Value Select 2GB KIT (2X1024MB) 240-pin Unbuffered DIMM (VS2GBKIT667D2)

With the new Corsair RAM, do I still have to go into BIOS and change the voltage settings or should it be pre-loaded??

 

[darkstar782]

Yup, unless you play alot of OpenGL games then the x1900XT is the better choice.

G.Skill ram isnt bad, try to stay away from 'value' RAM, I cant even find the CAS latency for the ram you just found :/

Assuming you are in the US, I'd suggest This.

After rebate its only $15 more than the RAM you linked.

Bear in mind that if you are not overclocking you are better running at 533MHz anyway, not 667MHz.

Of course, 667MHz ram gives you the ability to easily up your FSB to 333 and it will be perfect.

Logain is right, memory prices have gone stupid recently

 

[enforcerfx]

I would not get value select it is not that good. You may want to consider G-skill ram. I read somewhere on here that they are actually a division of samsung who also make much of the ram for today's video cards. OCZ an asus problems I think were mainly with DDR2 800 in general with the AM2 boards due to the voltage requirements of the ram versus the voltage the boards would allow. They would not support voltages over like 1.95 and much of the ddr2 800 was 2.0+. I was originally going to suggest crucial or mushkin but the prices for both have went up ridiculously the past couple weeks. The muskin alone has went up like $60 recently. It was $209 and it is now $269 and after rebate $249. Oh and like darkstar782 suggested you may want to look at the x1900xt. They are actually faster than the 7900gt. And since you are getting a crossfire ready board it would make more sense to get the ati card cause if you ever got the extra money and wanted to try it you could add another card and go crossfire.

I agree with everything you pointed out, but the crossfire idea. Crossfire is terrible apparently, since the unity is done through the wiring interface and not through the hardware like SLi does. The x1900xt 256mb is your best choice and i like that Corsair ram that darkstar pointed out. Very fast, but pricy, but will get the bang for your buck. Overall, it looks nice. Have fun

Heres link to x1900xt:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102051