I have decided to build another computer. This new box will be used mainly to play games, i.e. COD4, RTC3, NWN2, TF2, HL2. After scouring the forums for advice I have decided on this build, all parts coming from New Egg. Please feel free to comment and critique this set up. Any advice at all is appreciated as I am not the most up to date on builds and compatibilities. I humbly submit my mid-grade system below:
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKA1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Real Power Pro 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: RC-690-KKA1-GP
Item #: N82E16811119142
I adjusted the build. I don't think I will over clock this. I'm hoping this will be fast enough running at standard settings. A few things I'm unsure of though; 1) can I run 4 gigs of ram with Windows XP Pro SP2? 2) Can I install Windows on a Sata hdd? Will Windows recognize it natively or will I have to install drivers for Sata?
Here's the adjustment:
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Model #: RC-690-KKN1-GP
Item #: N82E16811119137
$79.99 $79.99
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V V2.2 550W Power Supply - Retail
Model #: CMPSU-550VX
Item #: N82E16817139004
$104.99 -$5.00 Instant $99.99
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 Conroe 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6850 - Retail
Model #: BX80557E6850
Item #: N82E16819115028
$269.99 $269.99
Kingston HyperX 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/2GN - Retail
Model #: KHX8500D2K2/2GN
Item #: N82E16820104008
$139.99 -$60.00 Instant $79.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3320620AS (Perpendicular Recording Technology) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Model #: ST3320620AS
Item #: N82E16822148140
$79.99 $79.99
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner With 12X DVD-RAM Write Black SATA Model LH-20A1S OEM BK - OEM
Model #: LH-20A1S OEM BK
Item #: N82E16827106070
$25.99 $25.99
LITE-ON Combo Black SATA Model DH-52C2S-04 - OEM
Model #: DH-52C2S-04
Item #: N82E16827106100
$22.99 $22.99
Thank you for your helpful reply. One quick question if I could, I have XP Pro SP1 on the disk, and then I download SP2. Will that older version of XP see the SATA drive natively?
I know that 2-3 years ago I installed XP on a SATA HD (actually I have done this several times). I have two copies of XP, though, and I can't remember if it was the one that had SP2 or not. I want to say the non-SP2 XP works on SATA too, but I'm not certain.
I retract my last statement. I know non-SP2 XP will recognize and install on SATA HDs, because until I switched to an ATI card I never installed SP2, but I had to before the drivers would work (this comp is never hooked up to the internet).
I think you want to install from the SATA DVD to the SATA HDD. I have done that with SP2. Not sure about SP1. You can build a XP setup disk with SP2 with:
