First time builder 1.5k Budget

[sanjiwatsuki]

Case: RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811156062

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

CPU: Intel E4300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

Power Supply: (in case)

OS: Dual-Boot (On 2 HDDs)

Vista Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116204

Ubuntu 6.06
http://www.ubuntu.com

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400c4 (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145015

Video Card: 7800GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130077

Sound Card: *Integrated*

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JB 250GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144309

Speakers: Logitech S-100 5 watts RMS 2.0 Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121124

Mouse: Rosewill RM800U Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826193002

Keyboard: Logitech 967738-0403 Black USB Standard Deluxe 250 Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823126013

Monitor: SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V Black 19" 8ms DVI LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824112177

Optical Drives: LITE-ON 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model LH-18A1P-185
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827106042

Floppy Drive: SONY Beige 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16821103109

CPU Cooling: Scythe SCNJ-1100P 120mm CPU Cooling Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835185038

Arctic Silver CMQ-22G The high-density, ceramic-based thermal compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835100012

Sub-Total: $1,358.63
Total: $1,514.55

A few questions.

Will Vista be able to look at files on the Linux HD and vice versa?

Theoretically, shouldn't an E4300 running at 3ghz last as long as any Allendale running at a 333mhz clock speed?

 

[akhilles]

First off, you're planning on a 333mhz fsb overclock with 4300? Then you got the right cpu/mobo/ram/hsf combo. So your 675 ram will run at rounded 666mhz or 1:1 synched/linked (perfect) cpu/ram ratio. I run mine at 400fsb & 800mhz ram at 1:1. Your cpu will be at 2997mhz or 3ghz.

7800GT ain't a bad choice for the price. Sure beats 7600gs/gt. It's a bit warmer & more power-hungry than 79xx however.

Arctic Silver 5 is easier to apply & remove than Ceramic.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007

For LCD, Hanns·G sounds foreign to many buyers. It's a good underrated brand. The JW-199DPB has DVI, VGA, 5ms response time, widescreen, etc. & tons of good reviews. You want widescreen if you're watching movies or tv shows. Especially Japanese tv dramas.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254001

or standard definition if you want:;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254009

The bundled psu may be low quality. 7800gt needs 400w & 26a. This Hiper has 480w & 29a:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817128005

Any of these cases cools better than your chosen one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=centurion+534&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

I have no idea if Vista will look at Linux partitions. It shouldn't have trouble. I suggest you create 3 partitions: i.e. 50gb for vista; 50gb for linux; 150gb for FAT32/NTFS(if Linux has improved writing data on NTFS; FAT32 is the safest choice) for MY DOC = all your downloads.

I don't know how long 4300 will last at 333. I've read rumors that DS3/S3 mobos would last 5 years when overclocked. Personally, I sell my parts every year to keep me in the game.

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

First off, you're planning on a 333mhz fsb overclock with 4300? Then you got the right cpu/mobo/ram/hsf combo. So your 675 ram will run at rounded 666mhz or 1:1 synched/linked (perfect) cpu/ram ratio. I run mine at 400fsb & 800mhz ram at 1:1. Your cpu will be at 2997mhz or 3ghz.

7800GT ain't a bad choice for the price. Sure beats 7600gs/gt. It's a bit warmer & more power-hungry than 79xx however.

Just waiting for the DX10 card prices to get to a reasonable range

Arctic Silver 5 is easier to apply & remove than Ceramic.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007

I was considering staying away from the liquid metals. Are my fears misplaced?

For LCD, Hanns·G sounds foreign to many buyers. It's a good underrated brand. The JW-199DPB has DVI, VGA, 5ms response time, widescreen, etc. & tons of good reviews. You want widescreen if you're watching movies or tv shows. Especially Japanese tv dramas.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254001

or standard definition if you want:;

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254009

Hm. It doesn't sound like a bad deal but that $30 mail-in rebate for the SCEPTRE really won me over.

The bundled psu may be low quality. 7800gt needs 400w & 26a. This Hiper has 480w & 29a:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817128005

I'm looking at the ePOWER ZU-550W ATX12V Version 2.0 / EPS12V 550W Power Supply. Great reviews and I'm no expert, but it's 12V rails look not bad.

Any of these cases cools better than your chosen one:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=centurion+534&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

Thanks for the tip-off.

I have no idea if Vista will look at Linux partitions. It shouldn't have trouble. I suggest you create 3 partitions: i.e. 50gb for vista; 50gb for linux; 150gb for FAT32/NTFS(if Linux has improved writing data on NTFS; FAT32 is the safest choice) for MY DOC = all your downloads.

No issues, no issues. If they can read each other's drives then it'll be more convienient but it isn't a large issue.

I don't know how long 4300 will last at 333. I've read rumors that DS3/S3 mobos would last 5 years when overclocked. Personally, I sell my parts every year to keep me in the game.

5 years? More than enough. I just needed more than 2 or 3.

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119106

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

CPU: Intel E4300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

Power Supply: ePOWER ZU-550W ATX12V Version 2.0 / EPS12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817101021

OS: Dual-Boot (On 2 HDDs)

Vista Home Premium 64-bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116204

Ubuntu 6.06
http://www.ubuntu.com

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400c4 (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145015

Video Card: 7800GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130077

Sound Card: *Integrated*

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JB 250GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144309

Speakers: Logitech S-100 5 watts RMS 2.0 Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121124

Mouse: Rosewill RM800U Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826193002

Keyboard: Logitech 967738-0403 Black USB Standard Deluxe 250 Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823126013

Monitor: SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V Black 19" 8ms DVI LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824112177

Optical Drives: SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black SATA Model SH-S183L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151141
Jmicron screws up installs with Ubuntu, so I'm going to go with the SATA model.

Floppy Drive: Removed. I'll most likely be booting off a USB port more often than a Floppoy Drive.

CPU Cooling: Scythe SCNJ-1100P 120mm CPU Cooling Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835185038

Arctic Silver CMQ-22G The high-density, ceramic-based thermal compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835100012
Should I go for the Arctic 5?

Sub-Total: $1,384.62
Total: $1,540.25

 

[akhilles]

Almost there. The psu you selected sounds good on paper. Why gamble your $1500 on a cheap psu? If it goes down, the other parts may go. You'd be out $1500 + shipping of the psu back to newegg/manufacturer, that's, if they take it back.

http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=108088

Buy a known good quality psu & you'll thank yourself later.

 

[geminireaper]

This is what I just ordered it came to $1540 ~$1570 with shipping then I have $50 in mail in rebates. My proc came with a free Ghost recon game and my vid card came with Dark Messiah Vid game.

Western Digital Caviar RE WD1600YS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136062

EVGA 768-P2-N831-AR GeForce 8800GTX 768MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130072

Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe 2.4GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6600 - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115003

LITE-ON 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black IDE Model LH-18A1P-185 - OEM http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106042

CORSAIR CMPSU-620HX ATX12V v2.2 and EPS12V 2.91 620W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817139002

XCLIO A380 Silver SECC 1.0mm thickness ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811103008


GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N8

 

[mkaibear]

To answer your Linuxy questions;

Ubuntu (use Kubuntu! ) will be able to read the files on the Vista disk (assuming it's formatted with NTFS) but won't be able to write to them without some hackery.

Vista will not, AIUI, be able to read the Linux filesystem.

 

[Crapola]

The mobo you selected has 1 ATA connector and 6 SATA... Initially, you had 4 ATA devices which could have been a problem..., But, I would also change the HDD to SATA to keep everything easy and more efficient. With one ATA connection, you have to do a master/slave configuration...

8O

 

[sillywabbit]

I'd switch to the Gigabyte DS3 mb over the S3.

 

[akhilles]

Very solid setup.

Good catch, guys. Must get SATA harddisks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144417

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

Very solid setup.

Good catch, guys. Must get SATA harddisks:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144417

Done and done. Two SATA 250GB HDs it is.

As for the power supply I'll use the Sunbeam Nuuo 550W.

To answer your Linuxy questions;

Ubuntu (use Kubuntu! ) will be able to read the files on the Vista disk (assuming it's formatted with NTFS) but won't be able to write to them without some hackery.

Vista will not, AIUI, be able to read the Linux filesystem.

What does the KDE add over regular Ubuntu?

I'd switch to the Gigabyte DS3 mb over the S3.

Any reasons why? I heard the DS3 has little advantages over the S3.

Here is the current run-down.

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-KKN2-GP Black Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119106

Motherboard:GIGABYTE GA-965P-S3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128017

CPU: Intel E4300 (334 * 9 == 3006 mhz )
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819115013

Power Supply: Sunbeam NUUO SUNNU550-US-BK ATX12V / EPS12V 550W Power Supply (I've heard good stuff about this PSU and it should have enough on the 12V.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817709004

OS: Dual-Boot (On 2 HDDs)

Vista Home Premium 64-bit (Oh the 64-bit humanity...
It's the way of the future! *grunt* The way of the future! *grunt* The way of the future! *grunt*
Kudos for those who got that Aviator reference.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16832116204

Ubuntu 6.06 (or Kubuntu?)
http://www.ubuntu.com

RAM: CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 675 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-5400c4 (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145015

Video Card: 7600GT (Even though the 7800GT was a great deal, I could use that $40 to further upgrade the video card later down the line. 7600GT will be fine for now.)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130077

Sound Card: *Integrated*

Western Digital Caviar SE WD2500JS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822144417

Speakers: Logitech S-100 5 watts RMS 2.0 Speakers
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16836121124

Mouse: Rosewill RM800U Black 3 Buttons 1 x Wheel USB Wired Optical Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16826193002

Keyboard: Logitech 967738-0403 Black USB Standard Deluxe 250 Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16823126013

Monitor: SCEPTRE X9g-Naga V Black 19" 8ms DVI LCD Monitor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824112177

Optical Drives: SAMSUNG 18X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write, LightScribe Technology Black SATA Model SH-S183L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151141

CPU Cooling: Scythe SCNJ-1100P 120mm CPU Cooling Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835185038

Arctic Silver CMQ-22G The high-density, ceramic-based thermal compound
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16835100012
Should I go for the Arctic 5?

Sub-Total: $1,375.62
Total: $1,529.29

 

[sillywabbit]

The solid state capacitors on the DS3 may help with board longetivity when overclocking.

As you can see on the sticker that comes attached to the motherboard slots, Gigabyte used only aluminum solid electrolytic capacitors on this motherboard. This kind of capacitor provides a higher life span and also is immune to the infamous leakage problem.

from http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/406

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

The solid state capacitors on the DS3 may help with board longetivity when overclocking.

As you can see on the sticker that comes attached to the motherboard slots, Gigabyte used only aluminum solid electrolytic capacitors on this motherboard. This kind of capacitor provides a higher life span and also is immune to the infamous leakage problem.

from http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/406

Point taken, motherboard upgraded.

Luckily, the RAM I have chosen falls under the compatible RAM for the board. As long as the board I get isn't a lemon I should be fine.

 

[akhilles]

Ceramic then, you seem to like it better than AS5 which is the majority favorite. Maybe for knocking 2 degrees off the cpu temp?

DS3 is much better. Same solid caps as DQ6.

 

[sanjiwatsuki]

Hm. I'll probably be waffling about the AS5 and the ceramic for a while.

Kubuntu it is. The KDE sounds like a solid add-on.

Now time to learn how to make 32-bit Flash Player run in 64-bit Linux & Windows .

 

[mkaibear]

>what does the KDE add

I much prefer KDE over GNOME That's all