Could use advice for first build

[jas83]

Hey picked out the following parts for my new computer, was wondering if any of you had any insight, let me know

Video card GeForce 8800 GTS 320mb $250 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133193

Mother board ECS KA3 MVP (V1.0A) Socket AM2 AMD 580X CrossFire ATX AMD Motherboard $110 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135024

RAM CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145590

CPU RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP Black SECC STEEL ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156062

Processor AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket M2 Processor $205
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103759

Hard Drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3250820AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive $70
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148142

Burner 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 IDE DVD Burner With LightScribe Technology $33

Also gonna get Vista, although there are several versions, not sure what differences are between them, was looking at the premium home system builder version, i think that means you can only use on one computer in the house but not quite sure

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116202

Let me know if you think i should upgrade anything or change anything, thanks!

 

[skyguy]

Looks good. Not a big fan of ECS for mobos though.......that board layout is a bit wonky, but not a deal-breaker I guess.

Gonna do any overclocking? If so, consider the OC'ing abilities of that mobo. And consider an aftermarket heatsink.

That included power supply is decent, technically strong enough to power your system. But not the best quality, so keep that in mind. If you have some more budget at some point, consider a PSU upgrade. Should work in the meantime, but I wouldn't trust it 100%.

Vista Home Premium is definitely the way to go.

Other than that, looks good.

 

[fender22]

get a better PSU, and take a look at the epox 580X I like it better, u might to.. I think its a little more, but you get what you pay for...

 

[chungdokwan]

I'd be slightly wary of that power supply speciall as one of the users reviews say that the 12v rail only carried 22a as opposed to 28a stated on the website.

Maybe he didn't know what he was talking about but could be worth your while buying a better on and keeping the one that comes with case as a spare ?

Someone else may have a better idea though.

 

[jas83]

Thanks for the advice guys, am now deciding between:

ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard $132
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131013

EPoX EP-AD580XR Socket AM2 AMD 580X CrossFire ATX AMD Motherboard $160
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813123022

 

[skyguy]

Well, one board is SLI, one is Crossfire. Which do you plan on using: ATI or Nvidia? That'll answer your issue right there.

ATI = crossfire board
Nvidia = SLI board

 

[jas83]

ok seems like i'll go with the EPoX and also purchase http://www.pricewatch.com/power_supply_for_case/600w.htm to replace the psu in case, seems $20 is pretty cheap compared to what I've been looking up on newegg though, thanks for all the help, let me know if this is bad psu or if you know any good deals on towers/psu around or below the $100 mark

 

[skyguy]

EpoX board is Crossfire......so getting an 8800 won't let you use 2 cards because those are Nvidia.....wont' work. Which means you might as well get a single-slot, non-Crossfire or non-SLI mobo.

Mixing across brands won't let you go with dual GPUs. So a dual pci-e mobo is a complete waste of money, no offense.

 

[fender22]

well I reccomended the epox becuase he had a ECS crossfire board and I thought that the Epox was better, but now it seems that he is comparing CF and SLI.... I thought he was consusly goin for CF with the ECS board.. but now im not so sure.. these guys caught that real quick.. Now you are comparing crossfire (ATI) and SLI (Nvidia) so depending on the GPU u want to get... one might be a better choice for you.. well crossfire boards tend to be cheaper the 580X is kinda competing with the NF590, and you have a NF570.. the 570 is just a little less.. umm feature-full as far as the boards go and stuff.. as of now if u want the best of the best, Id pair the NF570 board that you picked with a 8800 of some variety.. But with r600s comming out maybe you want to get the Epox 580X... Im gonna need a dx10 card soon for some sweet gaming, and if the r600 is all its craked up to be.. I might be temped to pair one with my NF590 chipset.. Anyways.. I kno alot of people with CF or SLI boards who don't even run the second PCI-E.. It seems to me, that CF and SLI are for those who want two cards, of the best there are out and smack them both in for sweet eyecandy but at $$$$ of money.. OR people have one card, and buy a second one later instead of buying a whole new card later... too keep up with the performance.. so most fresh builds don't go SLI or CF unless they get 2 of the best card available, because if u just gonna get midrange x2, just get a better card to start.. Now. to choose SLI or CF.... I wish I had a CF board actually.. that epox one... cept there was no good CF AM2 boards out when I made my rig..