1st build, suggestions/comments wanted

[carysb7478]

Ok, go easy b/c this is my first build, put Vista on 'er. My buddy recommended most of these parts as I really had no idea what to pick. I was trying to keep it around $500, came close at $550. Thoughts/suggestions much appreciated, I'd be willing to return parts if you think it would really make a noticeable difference in performance. Its hooked up to my HDTV, primary uses are browsing, d/l of movies & music. Seems pretty fast to me though. Should I look into overclocking?

Another dumb question....should my fan be exhaust or intake?

GIGABYTE GA-EG43M-S2H LGA 775 Intel G43 HDMI Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128354

Intel Core 2 Duo E7200 Wolfdale 2.53GHz 3MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115052

OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269

LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model iHAS120-04 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106263

IN WIN BL634 Black / Silver Steel MicroATX Desktop Computer Case TFX 12V PSU Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811108095

Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) ST3750640AS 750GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA-300 Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148134

GIGABYTE GN-WP01GS IEEE 802.11b/g PCI Wireless Adapter Up to 54Mbps Data Rates 64/128 bit WEP, WPA, 802.1x, AES - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839121008

Antec 761345-75081-3 80mm Case Fan - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209002

 

[auscanzukus]

The HTPC does what you want. The case comes with a 300W psu. Not a good make, but it works. As for the 80mm side fan, it should be intake cuz the psu has a fan that is exhaust.

 

[carysb7478]

Thanks for the comments...actually the PSU fan exhausts, but it is exhausted over the mobo, not out the case. Should my fan still be intake then?

 

[Wanker79]

Thanks for the comments...actually the PSU fan exhausts, but it is exhausted over the mobo, not out the case. Should my fan still be intake then?

Are you sure the fan over the mobo exhausts? That should be an intake and it'll exhaust out the back of the case.

 

[auscanzukus]

It depends on how it's positioned. If it is vertical, the side fan should be intake cuz it'll pull cool air from the bottom. If it's horizontal, the side fan should be exhaust. There are 2 large vents for the cpu fan & mobo. Gen-speak, the manufacturer knows best. The default config will be fine.

http://www.in-win.us/products_pccase_series.php?cat_id=1&series_id=44&model_id=187

The best solution is experiment with the airflow to find the lower cpu & chipset temps possible. Run this for 1 hour on each test.

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php