New CPU builder looking for some friendly advice

[Wilkz]

Hey all, Im new to the site and new to the computer building skill so im looking for a little bit of help . I have been looking through newegg and mwave and have come up with, what seems to my untrained eye, a pretty decent line up for a new computer that will be used for basic college work, buisness and gaming, here are the pieces:

Motherboard - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131011
ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

Memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Hard Drive - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148261
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Case - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208005
XION II XON-101 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450W Power Supply

Sound Card - I couldn't find any that looked decent, need help!

Processor - http://www.mwave.com/mwave/viewspec_v2.asp?scriteria=BA24432
AMD Phenom X4 quad core 9500 (HD9500WCGDBOX) 2.2ghz w/4mb cache 65nm 95w (agena) 64-bit socket am2+

Op System - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116515
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP3 English for System Builders 1 Pack CD

Vid Card - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133205
PNY VCG88512GXPB GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

So I think that about covers it, excluding the keyboard, mouse and moniter which i think i can figure out

But if anyone has any suggestions for an upgrade or that something I've picked out is junk or anything please feel free to be blunt about it, looking to biuld a solid CPU here

Feel free to comment here or even hit my e-mail at xwilkzx@gmail.com

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[mark $]

I would recommend the ATI HD radeon 4850 graphics card and change the case psu combo. Mobo could go to the p5Q pro or the rampage formula or the gigabyte X48 mobo. If you're buying a new OS, just get vista 64 so you can utilize all of your ram. People complain about vista more than they should...
also the Western digital 640gb Sata HDD is only $30 more I believe.

 

[zenmaster]

#1 - If you absolutely must go AMD Phenom, At least get a Model that End in 50. (The Updated Version)

#2 - The HD4850 will Trounce the NVIDIA Boards. Look at a CF Board.

#3 - You will still need a PSU. Just Throw Away the one included in that case. The only Cases with decent PSUs are Antec. (Some VERY Expensive cases have good PSUs, but not in your price range.)

#4 - Get Vista for a New Build. It will be more important as time goes on. Check with your school to see if you can get a copy cheaply.

 

[Granite3]

Mark is on the Mark!

4850 may be the best bang for your buck in the history of cards. Beats my 8800 GTX at the $150 price.

Get a quality psu, a good brand (antec, thermaltake, corsair, pp&c, etc)500 watt beats a no name 1000watt case no name brand.

Case is a personal pref, it seems to cool ok, price is right, go for it.

Vista 64 bit is the only way to go now, just make sure you get SP1 with your copy.

And the WD 640 ROCKS! i have it in my gaming box, and my HTPC. Beats the Raptor on all but seek times, at 4 times the storage, and half the price.

If you are gaming, the intel side is the way to go. My HTPC is an AMD setup, perfect for it, 5000+ BE, foxconn 780G mobo w/hybrid graphics, 3870, etc.

Gaming comp is Q9450, 2x 8800 GTX's SLI'd on a 790i board, 4x 1 gig DDR3, vista ultimate 64.

The intel stuf just scales way better than the AMD on the cpu side. A half priced intel cpu will school the 5000+ BE, but I am happy with it in the use it is intended.

 

[Proximon]

Sorry Wilkz, but what they said. If you like the case OK. It has some air flow.

The PSU is about the worst I can imagine. The 12V rail is rated for 18A and 216W... and I'm sure that is MAX at 20c. A good way to destroy your build.

Unless you are flat broke or reusing some parts, there is no excuse for going AMD. You can support them by buying a 4850, which is an excellent video card.

 

[shadowthor]

+1 get a better psu, go with an intel build.

 

[rockyjohn]

What they say.

Also. get this 250 GB Seagate drive with 16MB cache instead of the 8MB for the same price - note the customer choice award.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

Since you are paying extra for an SLI board - I assume you plan to do it later. In which case you probably will need a much larger PSU - 600w at least. It will cost a bit more, but otherwise you will have to throw out your initial investment and buy a larger one anyway. Here is a great option - newegg back to school special - sale ends 8/15

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail Price after rebates $45 with free shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010

It will be hard to find a better value than that.

What is you budget?

If you are not planning to SLI or can't afford the higher costs now, consider the Antec 300 case combo option with Antec Earthwatts 500w PSU for $100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042

Or the Antec Sonata III 500 with Earthwatts 500 - on sale for the same price. It is an excellent case with good airflow - and it is particularly quiet so you won't keep your roomate awake while pulling those all-nighters.

Neither of these are as racey as the one you selected, but I think they are much better cases. But you have to decide if you want quality or style. After you get that degree - and pay off all those college loans - you might be able to afford both.

 

[Zorg]

Yeah that Sonata III and the EA-500 is a good budget case/PSU combo.

 

[Wilkz]

Ok lets see if I got this down

for the video card I should be looking at

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=ATI+HD+radeon+4850&x=15&y=29
POWERCOLOR AX4850 512MD3-H Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP

For the Operating System:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116488
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD

For the Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250410AS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

As for the case I think i found a replacement to go along with this PSU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341010
OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply 100 - 240 V CB, CE, CSA, UL, FCC
Case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

So that leaves me in need of a sound card and from the sounds of it I should switch from a AMD build to an intel, which in that case any suggestions?

and to answer rockyjohn my budget is in the 1500$ range and to tell you the truth im not really sure what a SLI board is

 

[Proximon]

Ok so you have the budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115041
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
and
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146731

 

[Zorg]

Better PSU.

PC Power & Cooling S61EPS 610W

Original Price: $199.99
You Save: $90.00
$109.99
$79.99 after $30.00 Mail-In Rebate

 

[Proximon]

Totally agreed on the PSU. Top notch quality.
Didn't realize the deal was so good on those now.

 

[Wilkz]

Ya i like that PSU as for that processor i think 330$ is a tad out of my price range, anything in the 200s? and still no sound card

 

[Proximon]

On board sound is good. I have used Creative cards for years and I'm not real happy with them, but there is little else going. Current card is a X-fi.

Look to the ASUS Xonar series, that is getting good reviews.

Get this CPU:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

And for cooling
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Then you should be able to OC to 3.6 without breaking a sweat.

 

[Wilkz]

Alright I almost have it, one last question what motherboard should i pair up with the CPU you suggested?

 

[Proximon]

The P5Q pro is still a solid choice. It leaves you with the option to add a second ATI card later.

Also, I use the step up from that:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131296
A few more BIOS features, slightly better MB cooling, some extra connections notably an eSATA port.

 

[Zorg]

Totally agreed on the PSU. Top notch quality.
Didn't realize the deal was so good on those now.

That sale ends on the 15th, tomorrow.

 

[cork kyle]

Like the others recommend, invest in a good power supply - Corsair and PC Power & Cooling are two of the big names that get recommended over and over.

A case really comes down to personal preference. As long as it gives you decent airflow and is easy enough to work with.

I do want to point out one of the most popular gaming cases is the Antec Nine Hundred. It is $109 at NewEgg, but only $70 after the mail-in rebate.

Here's another awesome case for $85 at NewEgg. I just used this in my latest build and can't say enough good things about it: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP.

Congrats on your new build - have fun!

 

[rockyjohn]

Totally agree on e8400 - that's what I have.
I would still suggest the OCZ PSU - its a great PSU with more power than you need - less than half the price - and much quieter than the PC Power and Cooling. And PCPC silencer series is not really silent - only quieter than their earlier model that sounded like a jet engine. Still louder than most PSU's whereas StealthXStream is quieter than most. If you get the PCPC - find a muffler for it and get a blanket to throw over case. Although you might get lucky - some reviews have said it is not too bad while others have reported negatively on sound level - there must be some significant differences between units to get the level of variation I have seen in reports - professional reviews and anecodotal reports.
Also - I recommend VISTA over XP - why buy the older OS that will have support cut before too long. But if you really want to stick with XP - then go back to the Professional because it will be supported longer than Home version.
You might just try out the onboard sound before worrying about a sound card. Onboard is really quite good now-a-days. And if you want more it is easy to add later.
You should actually be able to put together a good build with the suggested parts for under $1,000 I think - then save the $500 to upgrade in 2 years with Nahelem.