Selecting parts for new computer (One last question on Case)

zephyrcat

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***Big Question Now: Will this all work. I will be hooking this up to a hdtv hopefully. Uses: Normal stuff (text editing and web browsing) and possibly some gaming in the future. (Interested in Spore.)***

Also, I think I know what to do, but what are the best guides to putting it all together on the internet?

Latest Questions:
Any reason not to switch to the antec 900 for the case?

Thanks for all the responses!

----parts---------------

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

CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2M shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115004

Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140

Case: COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN2-GP Black / Silver Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119104

RAM: A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211061

Floppy: MITSUMI Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal USB 2.0 digital card reader with Floppy Drive Model FA404M BLK - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16821104104

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 IDE DVD Burner With LightScribe Technology - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151136

Keyboard: SpecResearch 01027 Black 86 Normal Keys 13 Function Keys USB RF Wireless Mini Keyboard with Optical Trackball Mouse Included - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823130006

Wifi: EDIMAX EW-7128G IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Card up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128-Bit WEP, 802.1x, WPA, AES - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315041

OS: Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Ultimate for System Builders Single Pack DVD - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116215

Video Card: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130082

Power Supply: COOLMAX CUG-700B ATX 12V( V.2.2) 700W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159058

Thanks!
 

zephyrcat

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Thanks for the suggestions, I will look into those, when I get a chance.

It will mostly be for standard tasks (text documents, web), and possibly some gaming in the future.

What are the differences (other than they take up two slots) of 2x1GB vs. 1x2GB?
 

qwertycopter

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Are you overclocking? If not, you might as well use the stock cooler and drop the Thermaltake.

Go with 2x1GB and don't bother with DDR2-800 unless overclocking. Check out this A-Data DDR2-667 2x1GB for $110!

You mentioned this would be a media PC. The Seagate 7200.10 400GB does not have the best price per GB. Your options in this range would probably be the 250GB, 320GB, 400GB, and 500GB models. After formatting and binary math, you end up with 7% less than the stated capacity. And at newegg's prices we see:

250 --- $75 / 232.5GB = 32.3 cents/GB
320 --- $85 / 298GB = 28.5 cents/GB
400 --- $120 / 372GB = 32.3 cents/GB
500 --- $145 / 465GB = 31.1 cents/GB

The 320GB beats out the 400GB.
Compared to the 400, buy one 320: Save $35 and lose only 74 GB
Compared to the 400, buy two 320's: Pay an additional $50 but gain 224GB!

Also, there are better cases in the $50 range. Check out the Coolermaster Centurion 534 - $40 after rebate. There is also a version with an all-black front, but it doesn't have the rebate.
 

zephyrcat

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Thanks for all the responses!

I looked at a review of the video card suggested above. It looks great, but I noticed that the review was from a while ago. Is there a newer version, or is this still a recent card as video cards go?

Thanks for the info about the RAM, I think I will change that.

Thanks for the case suggestion, again I will look into that when I get a chance.

I read some reviews on newegg about the cpu stock fan being very loud. Do you know it really is loud or if it will be fine.

About the motherboard, I have not yet found a review of it, but when I clicked on the link, I noticed that it had an unusual number of bad reviews of defective motherboards and such.

Thanks so much!
 

Mondoman

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I read some reviews on newegg about the cpu stock fan being very loud. Do you know it really is loud or if it will be fine.
It's free, and it helps cool your northbridge and PWM circuitry, which most aftermarket fans don't do. Why not give it a try?
 

zephyrcat

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Fair point. I guess I will give it a try.

A closer look at the reviews of the motherboard make like it even less. Multiple reviews say that it ships with an outdated bios that does not support core 2 duo and you have to ask the company to send you a new one.
 

zephyrcat

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I am not sure what you mean by this, but what I thought (correct me if I am wrong) was that the bios that is preloaded was an outdated version that did not support core 2 duo and so you can't boot it up to update the bios.
 

zephyrcat

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Ok. Your right I did't look at the date on those posts. I just looked at the ten most recent reviews of it and 4/10 say that they got a faulty one.
 

zephyrcat

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Ok, I am just trying to figure out the power supply, the motherboard, and the video card.

Video card: x1900 previously suggested, looks great, but the review I found was somewhat old, are the x1900s still recent?

Motherboard: The one that was previously suggested has a lot of bad reviews on newegg, so I am still looking for more opinions.

Power supply: I have heard a ton of different opinions on which company is the best. Should I just buy from any of these companies or can someone give me more information? Also, I am thinking of getting about a 600W. Is this enough? Should I get more?

Thanks!
 

zephyrcat

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Ok, I have an update on the motherboard. I am now looking at the GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS39 (link below) and I like it a lot! It even has a combo deal on newegg with a COOLMAX CUG-700B ATX 12V( V.2.2) 700W Power Supply which would solve my power supply question if this is a good power supply. The only thing that I am not sure about is what it says under features:
"Notice: Only DDR2-800 memory supporting JEDEC approved 1.8V operation with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 is supported on Intel Desktop Boards based on Intel 965 Express Chipsets."
Does this mean I must use ddr2-800?

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012
 

zephyrcat

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Wait for April 22 and get an E6600. Get a 750W PSU. Get an 8800GTS. Get a retail version of Vista.
I will wait for april 22 and possibly upgrade the cpu.
What about the 700W one as a combo deal (above).
8800GTS are WAY to expensive. I have not seen one that is in the 200 range. If there is one I might be interested. (EDIT: Just found one. Would I be best off with one of these cards?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130082
 

zephyrcat

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Thanks! Just one (well, two) questions:

1. Do I have to use ddr2-800 memory with the mother board? This is the same question I asked before:
Ok, I have an update on the motherboard. I am now looking at the GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS39 (link below) and I like it a lot! It even has a combo deal on newegg with a COOLMAX CUG-700B ATX 12V( V.2.2) 700W Power Supply which would solve my power supply question if this is a good power supply. The only thing that I am not sure about is what it says under features:
"Notice: Only DDR2-800 memory supporting JEDEC approved 1.8V operation with timings of 5-5-5 or 6-6-6 is supported on Intel Desktop Boards based on Intel 965 Express Chipsets."
Does this mean I must use ddr2-800?

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128012

2. Will this all work? I will be using it for normal stuff and possibly some gaming. (Interested in Spore.) I will also hopefully be hooking it to an hdtv.

Also, I think I know what to do, but are there any great guides on the internet to put it all together?

Thanks so much!!
 

hashbrown

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Your build looks great, great choice with the GA DS3, you can use most DDR2 memory, speed doesn't matter until you go above 800.