Now that we have some lower prices, I'm finally going to put together a new modest computer that I have been promising myself for a while now. I'm not really a gamer, but do some, but am in no way "hardcore" or anything like that. I don't even own any of the games listed in the VGA charts here, though very much enjoy playing any WWII shooter. Anyway, the major reason is for DVD backup, mP3 creation, storage and listening, web browsing (fantasy football, basketball, baseball and NASCAR - I may have a problem) and e-mail. I'm also getting more into digital photography, but again, nothing serious at all.

Anyway, the idea here is something that is at least moderately future proof, decent performance, and low cost. I'm not really ready to make the leap to DX10 as the 8800s are too much, and from what I've seen, the other 8000s just suck. Anyway, here's what I got so far....

Mobo-
GA-965P-DS3 or Asus P5N-E SLI 650i ($116-136 shipped)
Any clues on the revisions of the DS3? I doubt I'll ever use SLI, but the P5N-E has firewire and I've had good experience with Asus before.

CPU-
C2D E4300 ($125 shipped)
Much faster than I'll most likely need anyway

Memory-
Corsair XMS2 2GB DDR2 800 ($117 shipped)
Would like to stay with 2 GB

Video Card-
EVGA 7600GS or EVGA 7600GT ($76-106 shipped)
Not being much of a gamer, I though the GS would be enough. Is the GT worth the extra $30 (would I know the difference in basic gaming and everyday tasks)? Any foreseeable price drops with more DX10 cards entering the market?

Hard drive-
Seagate Barracuda 250GB 8MB ($68 shipped)
Seagate Barracuda 250GB 16 MB ($70 shipped)
Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB ($80 shipped)
I've seen great things on these drives. 250GB is most likely way more than enough, but an extra $10 for 70 GB isn't bad. Anything else out there in the same price range that much better than any listed here? Is the extra buffer worth it between the two 250GB drives?

Power Supply-
Antec TruePower II - 430 ($36 shipped)
Anything else anywhere near this price range comparable? This is obviously after a hefty mail in rebate.

DVD/CD Burner-
Any good ideas for a cheap one? I have a 4 year old Samsung right now that works, but is a bit old and not quite as fast as some of the newer drives. A good drive in the $30-40 range would be great.

Case and fans, Operating System, floppy drive and DVD drive will all be recycled from current rig.

Also, I have an older Sound Blaster live card with a front bay, is that any better or worse than the onboard sound on either of the above Mobos?

If there is any other info you'll need to help make a good recommendation, just ask. Thanks for any help you might have.

Oh, and before every starts asking about OCing.....

Honestly, I doubt I will at first. This is probably more rig than I need right now anyway. If I start getting into stuff where I feel I could use a bit more, then I might.

Well, I say that, but I might just clock it to 2.0 GHz off the bat to get to a round number, maybe 2.5 if it isn't too much trouble. Is somewhere in there easily doable keeping the noise down with the components that I picked? Will it just be as easy as changing the FSB to the appropriate level? Is that memory I chose going to be ok for it?

I'd get a better power supply.
Or perhaps your fine with that one.
But if you decided to OC I'd get a better same with if you decided to get a better video card.

for what you do i would keep everything but go with a cheap AMD setup with a X2 3800+($80) and an asus M2N-E($100). the onboard sound i belive may turn out better than that live.

I have setup almost identical to what you want but with a OC'd X2 3800+ @2.45 and it takes evrything i give it even under vista.

well, the power supply is enough, if you don't overclock, and don't get a huge graphics card latter on. Eather go with the Seagate Barracuda 250GB 8MB or the Seagate Barracuda 320GB 16MB as the cashe size over 8mb doesn't seem to make a huge difference with most hard drives right now. Unless your going to over clock or use you computer for allot of gaming 800 for your memory is probably going to go to waste. I've had issues with Asus before, but with motherboard choice you will be better off looking for the pros and cons of each motherboard and decide which set of problems you would rather live with IMO. As far as the graphics card look at Call of Duty in the VGA charts and see if the difference in performance between the two cards is worth the extra money to you.

From what I've been seeing, I'd like my CPU company to still be around when I need an upgrade to my CPU in a few years......

Seriously, though, I thought that AMD would be going to a new socket, whereas with the Intel 775 socket on either of the Mobo's listed, I'd at least be able to go up to a 1333 FSB quad core in the future and not have any of it's abilities disabled.

Could someone please help me out with the differences between the AM2 and the AM2+ sockets and chips? I'm not really considering an AMD rig, though.

Thanks for the idea, though. Your thoughts on the PS I have listed? I mean, I can't go wrong with a name brand PS at that price, and it will more than handle the hardware I'm throwing at it.

Most of our crystal balls are still showing static, AMD still has a chance, especially if they knock socks off with there new graphics and CPU.

Well, like with the AMD dual course working with 939 slots, I think that is the idea with the AMD K10's that are coming out. Really though with AMD and Intel, I think the new Native quad cores that they are about to release will give you a better idea of what is the better path to take.

Well name brand isn't everything, but I personally haven't heard anything bad about Antec, so I have no objections.

Antec isn't bad but they aren't considered good either fyi.
As I said ok but if you go to OC/throw a nvidea 8 series or R600 psu problems likely to arise.

If you go with the DS3, look for the Rev. 3 as its the newest. The E4300 can easily overclock to 2400mhz at stock voltages by changing the fsb to 266 (which is what the other Core 2s run stock) You can save some money by going with the DDR2 667 version of that Corsair ram ($110 shipped with no rebate required) You could still overclock your 4300 to 3000mhz and still be at spec with your ram. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145015
As for your video card the 8500gt would be a good choice. The cheapest 8000 series card is at least as fast as the 7600 it replaces and its around the same price ($100)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130089
Go for the 320gig for the extra $10, you can never have too much space.
The power supply should be fine for your system, you wont find a better one for the price.

You made some good choices. The main thing I would change is to get the E6600. Best Bang for the buck. Later down the road, you'll be thankful you made the decision.

you might want to go with a 6320 and get a open box p5n-e for $88 at the egg!

Your usually missing parts from the mobo open box with newegg and warranty is an issue too. I wouldn't suggest and open box with a mobo.

Out of curiosity, on open box items, what is and what is not included?

Obvious the board itself is. What about documentation of any sort? I'm ok with them leaving out IDE cables, so I have more than enough, but I don't have any SATA cables.

I guess I could just buy some sata cables, as I doubt they would come with the hard drive itself.

The thing I'm really concerned with is the boards backplate, as aren't they different for every board, and where would you get one if it's not included?

OK, look at it this way. Lets say you bot a new motherboard, and then realized as you were installing it, that out of a strange brain fart, you got a mobo that takes a different possessor then you bought. So you put the motherboard back in the box and send it back, to swap out for a mobo that has the socket you need. Now the thing is that you conveniently forgot to send any thing but the motherboard back. Well newegg knows the mobo is probably good, but that the box has been opened, so it can't be sold as new, so they sell it at a reduced cost as "open box", and they can't guarantee everything you need for the modo will be in the box. (ie: screws and the plastic thingies and the cords and etc.)

You're lucky to get the board itself.

You're lucky to get the board itself.

I like this explanation better.

the 6320 definately is the better option for you. But an open box motherboard as others have said is unwise. Just get a Gigabyte DS3 and you'll be set. You should really look at a more decently powered PSU but you could get away with it you should even be able to clock up to 6600 speeds with ease.

for the DVD burner, just go with something like a Pioneer series one. They're all pretty good nowadays. Just don't go Generic brands.