New System Build - Please Review

Hello Everyone:

I'm new here. I discovered this website after going through New Egg's help section. I've already gone through a number of 'sticky's '..... and I have now devised my own homebuilt system. Before I go ahead and make an order, I would really appreciate some input on my proposed build.

The Objective: Build at system that can handle most media related tasks. Also I would like to do a little number crunching (matlap, mathcad, excel). Multi-tasking is a big thing for me, as I intend on converting videos..and possibly running some software like matlab or mathcad. I do a lot of computational work...so its nice to have the power to do both. I plan on running Windows XP.

Here is my Proposed System:

Computer Case:

NZXT TEMPEST Crafted Series CS-NT-TEM-B Black Steel/Plastic

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811146047

Internal Hard Drive:

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KSRTL 320GB/7200 RPM SATA
3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822136039

Motherboard:

ASUS M3A79-T Deluxe AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131339

Video Card:

MSI NX8800GTS-T2D320E-HD-OC GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB
320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI supported Video

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127328

Power Supply:

Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 Power Supply

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817153052

RAM:

OCZ Reaper HPC 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066
(PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820227289

CPU:

AMD Phenom 9950 Black Edition Agena 2.6Ghz Socket AM2+140W Quad-Core Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103273

Also, I'm opting to install a Card Reader:

nMEDIAPC ZE-C98 All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader with USB/IEEE 1394/e-SATA Port/HD Audio Ports

Link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820132020

I'll add some thermal compound to my order. Any suggestions as to what else I'll need, besides tools?

Tony

Welcome

We aren't big on AMD right now, around here.... for many good reasons. if you were going to build an AMD rig today, you would do so with the hope that the new CPUs from AMD, due out "soon," will actually live up to the hype and will indeed be compatible with that AM2+ MB. If so, you would want one of those and NOT a 9950, which is equivalent in speed and price to a midrange Intel quad core (Q6600).

Beyond that:

- You are buying a rather pricey (but nice) crossfire board. It's a bit out of whack with the rest of the build. You could save money there that you need elsewhere.

- You are putting an Nvidia card on a crossfire board. You should put a card capable of crossfire on it. A 4670 would be as fast or faster than that 8800GTS, for around the same price. A 4830 would be faster for a bit more.

- The PSU would not be one I would trust. Thermaltake has a bad habit of sending out one model for reviews and then marketing a very similar looking model with a different part number. You pretty much get what you pay for with PSUs... there are a few exceptions to that rule and we're all over them here

- The Reapers are OK, but you would be better off just paying 35 bucks up front for some good 800Mhz RAM and forgetting the rebate.

- You would need more than paste to cool that 9950 BE - it does not come with a cooler.

In my signature you'll find a guide, which covers any reasoning I did not include. Also you'll see a list of recommended parts.

yeah the 4830 will work for the ati video converter here it is

http://ati.amd.com/technology/avivo/technology.html

if i were you i would get vista, unless it just doesnt work for what you want, but i use it and would never go back to xp for anything! It is so much faster!

oh yeah i guess Windows 7 is coming out but idk when so i guess it would be worth it to wait

and i suggested this in my first post