Please review my first build...

[trevclem]

I'm building a $400-450 computer (without Keyboard, mouse, optical drive or monitor) for everyday use. No gaming, some photo editing and casual music listening. I only plan to recycle my CD drive and possibly my video card (VisionTek 9250 128MB PCI). Please review!! I chose the AMD processor because I felt it was a better bang for my buck compared to Intel. If anyone can comment on that, too...that'd be great.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.1GHz Socket AM2 89W Dual-Core Processor Model ADV60000DOBOX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103272

Case/PSU: Antec NSK4480B Black 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 380W PSU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129032

Memory: OCZ SLI-Ready Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2N800SR4GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227269


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


CD/DVD (I may wait to purchase this later, I do have a decent optical drive in my old computer): LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA Model GH20NS15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136149

I'm very unsure of a MOBO...possibly the most confusing part for me!

MOBO: ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboardhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324

or

GIGABYTE GA-MA78GM-S2H AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128090


I purchased a VisionTek 9250 128MB PCI video card a few months ago because it was on clearance. Is there any benefit to putting this into my new system or should I stick with the onboard video?


Thanks again, I'm very excited to start my first build!


EDIT: I don't need to buy an OS yet. I'll use Ubuntu/XP for now and eventually upgrade to Vista.

 

[lunyone]

Nice budget build! The mobo is a very good selection and I'd just run with the onboard GPU, it's much better than the 9250 that you have. The Case/PSU combo is a great and should last you for quite some time, assuming you don't add too much to it, but with 27A on the 12v rails you should be fine (even with a mild GPU added!).
I'd consider a different RAM. The Muskin DDR2 800mHz RAM is faster and also runs at a lower voltage (which means a cooler running RAM).
$70 - $20 MIR = $50!!! Only $7 more than your selection.
mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

The HD is good, but the one listed below is a little faster and costs the same!
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500AAKS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

 

[trevclem]

Lunyone...Thank you!! Excellent suggestions, I'll probably change my setup to include them.

Any problems with choosing an OEM HD instead of Retail?

I've been researching for weeks on this build and have wanted to order it days ago, but here I am at 4am still shopping! It feels good to know I'm off to a good start!

 

[lunyone]

OEM is standard HD. The cables that are needed for the HD come with your mobo, so check the list on the mobo, but they should have at least 2 SATA cables with the mobo. In fact you get 2 VERY NICE locking SATA cables with that mobo, I know this since I just worked on a Gigabyte mobo that came with those exact cables!!

 

[trevclem]

Ok, awesome. I've read a lot and have seen good reviews for the Asus mobos, and have just started to read up on Gigabyte's mobos. Go with the Gigabyte model?

Thanks for the quick replies!

 

[lunyone]

Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, ASRock have been very good boards for several different reason on AMD systems. I like the Gigabyte SATA cables, because they have a nifty locking tab on them, alot of the other ones just slide on and dont' have any way to lock the plug.