Some first build concerns

[Buren]

I'm working on selecting components for my first build and am on a pretty strict budget. After much thought and research, I settled on this motherboard, taking it from the tom's hardware "$500 gaming pc contest" article.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157176

It's obviously a lower end MB than is used in most builds, but my budget demanded it. The reason I am using it is because the tom's hardware article I read -

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/phenom-ii-overclock-graphics-card,3032.html

- paired this MB up with a Radeon 6870. I am using a 6850 in my build, with a 500w PSU. My question is, do I have to worry about my MB being damaged because of this bottleneck between the MB and GPU? I have chosen a case with plenty of ventilation, two 120mm fans.

My second question is a simple compatibility one; I was planning on getting this network card -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704059

This card should be fine with the PCI express x1 slot on my motherboard, right?


Thanks for the help!

 

[o1die]

No. Bottlenecks won't damage anything. IF your power supply is adequate and has the proper connections for the video card, then it should work fine. The 6850 should work fine with the 500w ps if it's decent. What brand is it?

 

[Buren]

That was going to be my next question. It's a 500w Cooler Master -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031

 

[o1die]

Get this instead: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341048&cm_mmc=BF2011_listing-_-58-_-N82E16817341048&nm_mc=BF2011_listing. It' much more reliable than coolermaster. I use ocz and mine is super quiet and I've had no problems with it for about one year.