Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.40GHz system for just over CAD2,000

[AndreXn]

Hi, I'm looking for constructive feedback (suggestions to do better/cheaper for comparable quality/tier?), please:

Here's a list of components I am thinking of putting together for just over CAD2,000 (plus taxes/shipping):

Any ideas are appreciated, maybe comments about compatability:

Power Up 2525 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case 106.99
with an Ultra V-Series 500 Watt Power Supply

Asus M2N4-SLI NVIDIA Socket AM2 ATX Mobo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.40GHz OEM Processor 385.99

ZEROtherm / Butterfly BTF80 / Socket 775/754/939/AM2
/ Copper Base / Heatpipes / CPU Cooler 73.99

Crucial Dual Chan. 2048MB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz
Memory (2 x 1024MB) 209.99

WD Caviar SE 120GB 7200 8MB SATA-300 OEM 79.99

EVGA GeForce 7950 GT KO SuperClocked 512MB GDDR3
/ SLI / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card 364.99

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium Upg.DVD 189.99

ViewSonic VX2235wm / 22" Wide / 5ms / 700:1
WSXGA+ 1680 x 1050 / DVI / Black·Silver 465.99
Widescreen LCD Monitor

Aopen DSW1812PL / 18x DVD±R Burn / 16x DVD±R Read
8x DVD+RW / 6x DVD-RW / 8x DVD±R DL / 12x DVD-RAM
Nero Software / Internal DVD Burner with Lightscribe 59.99

Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi Extreme Audio 86.99

Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Sound Speakers 106.99

Sabrent SBT-VT6306 Firewire 4PT(3+1) IEEE 1394
PCI Card with 6pin-4pin Firewire Cable 17.97

2149.86

 

[alcattle]

You gave no links to know where you are buying and what the case looks like, sounds ok from here. Wonder about your choice of motherboard and CPU, seems high for what you are getting, even in CAD$$. Also the cooler is overkill unless you plan on overclock to the max. They might work fine for you, also what are the planned uses? A little info to help us help you.

 

[AndreXn]

hi there, - sorry, i should've mentioned: all of the components are off tigerdirect.ca and the system is for general use as a home computer: games (such as flight sim...), music (a bit of editing, cd making/mix.meister type of software), video, internet; besides all - general upgradeability...

 

[alcattle]

I would like you to look at this option. Same price range and much better system.
Intel MB bundle $399 CAD

 

[AndreXn]

Thank you for the suggestion re: Intel MB bundle $399 CAD off tigerdirect.ca , - however it does not seem to include a processor w/ the bundle, while the

Asus M2N4-SLI NVIDIA Socket AM2 ATX Mobo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ 2.40GHz OEM Processor 385.99

comes with mobo and the processor?..

 

[alcattle]

You are totally correct, another slight of hand pulled by TigerDiect. You will have to pay much more than the price on the AMD combo. Sure do hose you guys for parts, eh?

 

[f1nal_0men]

For 2000$ you can do much much better.

Cooler Master Centurion 534
$52.92

OCZ GameXStream 700watt
$117.61 after $25.00 MIR

Asus P5B-E
$176.58

Intel Core2Duo E4300
$208.45

Corsair XMS 2048-5400C4
$198.10

eVGA 8800GTS 320MB SC
$362.44

Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
$103.68

2x Seagate 7200.10 320GB
$197.98

LG DVD Burner
$45.90

Viewsonic VX2235WM
$369.93

Logitech X-540
$83.59

Windows Home Premium OEM
$133.99

+Tougher PSU (OCZ has decent power supplies, and with 700watt thats plenty of power)
+Way more CPU power (Core2Duo is obviously vastly superior to AMD processors currently)
+High overclocking potential (Almost guarenteed 3ghz without even overclocking memory, and using stock cooling. 333x9 = 3ghz cpu, 667mhz memory)
+Over 5x as much HD space (2x 320GB vs 1x 120GB)
+Much faster videocard (8800gts has much more power and future longevity then the 7950gt, videocard memory isn't that important yet)
+faster memory (Corsair XMS2 667mhz memory, timings at 4-4-4-12)
+Better soundcard (The X-Fi Xtreme Audio doesn't have it's own processor, thus if anything decreases cpu power, the X-Fi Xtreme Gamer does.)
-Crappy Case (In comparison to other parts, anyways)

Total: $2178.00 w/ shipping w/ taxes