Will these pieces work together (MB, CPU, RAM, HD)?

[cdimino]

Hey, stumbled on this site while doing some research on upgrading my current computer - I'm giving it new guts!

Here are the 4 parts that I plan on using:

$130 MOBO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138129
$120 CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103295
$66 RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220334
$55 HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

All seem to initially work together, but I've heard WAY too many horror stories to just click the "BUY" button without asking around. I was hoping for some advice about this setup.


Also, I have an nVidia 8800 GTS Video card currently, would it be worth it to buy a second one and do SLI? Here's the second one:

$110 8800 GTS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127328

This will be my second system build, I built my current computer 4 years ago (time for an upgrade, yeah?) for 600 bucks. This upgrade should cost me ~320, or ~460 if I go for the SLI.

Notes:

- I have a 500GB external I use for backup, so I really only need enough space to install all the necessary games, and to store the videos/music I'm currently watching/listening to. Everything else can be stored.
- Packing a 450w PSU currently. That'll be enough, right?

I apologise if I've broken some rule, please don't give me suggestions that brick my comp

 

[btc2008]

Hey, stumbled on this site while doing some research on upgrading my current computer - I'm giving it new guts!

Here are the 4 parts that I plan on using:

$130 MOBO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138129
$120 CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103295
$66 RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220334
$55 HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

Notes:

- I have a 500GB external I use for backup, so I really only need enough space to install all the necessary games, and to store the videos/music I'm currently watching/listening to. Everything else can be stored.
- Packing a 450w PSU currently. That'll be enough, right?

I apologise if I've broken some rule, please don't give me suggestions that brick my comp

Your parts work.

I would get another 8800 GTS to go SLI considering your motherboard has two PCI-E x 16 slots. I am not entirely positive, however, if your motherboard supports SLI though, hopefully someone else can chime in.

If you do decide to do SLI, you will definitely need a new PSU. I'm not going to tell you a wattage value because I think people get too overzealous with looking for a high wattage assuming that the higher is better. In most cases, higher is not always better. If you go SLI, you want the 12 V rails to be able to go above 34 A (amperage). The best thing you want is a PSU that's 80 + certified and SLI certified (preferably from nVIDIA, which I think you can look on their site for endorsed parts).

 

[Kaldor]

Hey, stumbled on this site while doing some research on upgrading my current computer - I'm giving it new guts!

Here are the 4 parts that I plan on using:

$130 MOBO - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138129
$120 CPU - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103295
$66 RAM - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220334
$55 HDD - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

All seem to initially work together, but I've heard WAY too many horror stories to just click the "BUY" button without asking around. I was hoping for some advice about this setup.


Also, I have an nVidia 8800 GTS Video card currently, would it be worth it to buy a second one and do SLI? Here's the second one:

$110 8800 GTS - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127328

This will be my second system build, I built my current computer 4 years ago (time for an upgrade, yeah?) for 600 bucks. This upgrade should cost me ~320, or ~460 if I go for the SLI.

Notes:

- I have a 500GB external I use for backup, so I really only need enough space to install all the necessary games, and to store the videos/music I'm currently watching/listening to. Everything else can be stored.
- Packing a 450w PSU currently. That'll be enough, right?

I apologise if I've broken some rule, please don't give me suggestions that brick my comp

That mobo will not support SLI. Im not a huge Biostar fan, so heres my suggestion for mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128352 Cost you a few bucks more, but Gigabyte has proven themselves to me build after build.

CPU looks fine.

The Patriot RAM isnt bad, but 1066 is not needed. Use this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146692 and its cheaper.

HD should be fine.

Id get a new PSU. Id look at at least a 600 watt PSU. Examples: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005 This will also cover you if you decide to ever get a faster videocard that needs more power.

If your looking at getting a new videocard in the future, a single ATI 4870 or Nvidia 260 216 core will more than cover your needs.

 

[cdimino]

That mobo will not support SLI. Im not a huge Biostar fan, so heres my suggestion for mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128352 Cost you a few bucks more, but Gigabyte has proven themselves to me build after build.

CPU looks fine.

The Patriot RAM isnt bad, but 1066 is not needed. Use this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146692 and its cheaper.

HD should be fine.

Id get a new PSU. Id look at at least a 600 watt PSU. Examples: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005 This will also cover you if you decide to ever get a faster videocard that needs more power.

If your looking at getting a new videocard in the future, a single ATI 4870 or Nvidia 260 216 core will more than cover your needs.

Thanks a lot for the advice, I really would have been dissapointed with the MOBO not supporting SLI :-D

I do have a few questions, though:
1) You say 1066 is "not needed". I don't fully understand why that would be the case, faster is always better, yes? I don't disagree with your suggestion, I just would like to know why such is the case!
2) You'd get a new PSU, yes, but would you buy it out of necessity, as an excellent upgrade, or as a, "This is something I should do at some point in the very near future"? I'd like to buy these parts in segments, and am wondering if a PSU is something that goes in the "required for other upgrades" column, or could be put into the second purchasing round. As things stand now, I'm considering the following purchasing plan:

Round 1:
RAM
CPU
MOBO

Round 2:
VIDEO CARD
PSU
HD

Will my 450w PSU be enough for a short period of time (2 weeks or so), or should I move that into the first round?

I really appreciate your help

 

[Kaldor]

1066 ram is nothing more than overclocked 800 in all reality. Thats why it takes 2.1v versus the 800 taking only 1.8v. Its not really any faster unless you over clock your CPU to take advantage of it.

Id move the PSU into the first round. The 2 most important thing in any PC build are the PSU and mobo. Not to mention, building twice = pain in the a__. Adding in a new HD or GPU at a later date is cake in comparison. You may be able to get away with the 450 watt you were running, but having a bad or under powered PSU can cause some really weird errors that are a real pain to diagnose. If your PSU is OK now, it may be OK, but it does need to be replaced.

If you plan on building a whole new PC and your ordering the parts within a few weeks of each other, Id wait till you have the coin for everything, order it all, and build it all in 1 shot.

 

[cdimino]

1066 ram is nothing more than overclocked 800 in all reality. Thats why it takes 2.1v versus the 800 taking only 1.8v. Its not really any faster unless you over clock your CPU to take advantage of it.

Id move the PSU into the first round. The 2 most important thing in any PC build are the PSU and mobo. Not to mention, building twice = pain in the a__. Adding in a new HD or GPU at a later date is cake in comparison. You may be able to get away with the 450 watt you were running, but having a bad or under powered PSU can cause some really weird errors that are a real pain to diagnose. If your PSU is OK now, it may be OK, but it does need to be replaced.

If you plan on building a whole new PC and your ordering the parts within a few weeks of each other, Id wait till you have the coin for everything, order it all, and build it all in 1 shot.

Okay, I understand about the RAM situation, thanks for the heads up on that.

As for the "waiting until everything can go together at once", I think that, based on your advice, I'm going to do just that. I can probably wait 2 extra weeks for everything, it's not a big deal. I'll also get a better PSU, I didn't know it was one of the most important pieces of a computer (well yeah it powers everything, but I'm not a big fan of weird errors ).

Seriously, thanks a lot for the advice, I'll come back and post about how it went once everything comes together, so someone else might be able to use the info here.

 

[Kaldor]

Good call on waiting and glad I could help. You will be much happier when you dont have to build twice and only install Windows 1 time as well.

 

[cdimino]

Good call on waiting and glad I could help. You will be much happier when you dont have to build twice and only install Windows 1 time as well.

Heh, who said anything about windows? >