Building First PC -- Please Advise

I am buying components to build my first PC. I intend to use the system for general purposes, some graphic and web design and a little gaming. Some components I have already purchased and others I am waiting on. This is what I am considering or have already bought...

ASUS A7V8X motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 2100+ or 2200+
Zalman CNPS3100+ Heatsink
Kingston 512MB 333MHz DDR PC2700
BFG Asylum GeForce4 Ti4200 128MB DDR (Purchased)
WD 80GB 7200rpm Hard Drive (Purchased)
Plextor 48x24x48 CD-RW Black (Purchased)
Hitachi-LG 48x CD-ROM Black (Purchased)
Viewsonic E70fb 17" 1280x1024 PerfectFlat CRT Black (Purchased)
Antec Performance II Model# SX635BII

After reading reviews of the listed Antec case, I am disappointed to learn it is not really black. After going to the expense of acquiring blank components I would like a case that is truly black. What would you guys recommend? I would prefer something traditional -- no windows, LEDs or other accessories.

Any recommendations on what I should buy would be very welcomed. I would like to finish this project up soon. Thank you.


Conrad

Get a Nforce2 chipset mobo instead. If you aren't overclocking the stock HSF on a retail CPU is fine.

<font color=red>GOD</font color=red> <font color=blue>BLESS</font color=blue> <font color=red>AMERICA</font color=red>

Is Antec SmartPower really that bad? I have higher rig then him and I'm using Antec SL400 400W SmartPower, with 8 fans running in my system together I don't find any problem at all. So what's the "long run" problem will arise?

You never know how stupid you are until you have done something stupid enough for you to realize it.
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I advise NOT to buy a volcano 11, it's just a waste of money.

Why do you recommend a Nforce2 chipset motherboard? What makes it a better motherboard?

I don't plan on overclocking. So if I don't need anything but the stock HSF then I won't get the Zalman flower I was looking at. Thanks for the suggestion.

well..one thing to look at, if you are buying XP2100+ or 2200+, make sure you got the T-Bred B version, much cooler version than the A and Palomino
I personnaly have a KT333..not bad, but nForce2 board has the best performance among all the chipsets now, such as KT400 or KT333, KT266A, SiS745... whatever it exists now can't beat nForce2, if you wish, search in THG and you will see some benchmarks that how nForce2 beat them
also, it included a onboard sound card which is very nice.
The upcoming KT400A might be able to beat nForce2 or at least same performance.. ( I hope?)
and yes, Stock HSF is enough, but I don't know what's that Zalman Flower is, is that the thing that runs without a Fan and take a lot of place? if that's so, then it is very very quiet..if you want a silence PC, Get it, otherwise, if you are not planning to Overclock, stock HSF is enough
if I said wrong thing, anyone are welcome to correct me~
have fun with your new PC~~

nForce2 is the fastest Atholon chipset now.

Buy MSI K7N2-L instead of ASUS A7V8X. It's the fastest of all athlon mobos and costs only $95

Someday Microsoft will use safedisc copy protection on Windows, and we have to insert the Windows CD evertime we boot pc.

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That Antec is a nice case. But I think I prefer to have something without a door. I think a door which just get in the way. I guess a door which help keep some dust out. What is the general opinion on cases with doors?

Does anyone know of any other good, black cases?

Antec cases are available in two versions of black, the cheaper color is a dark grey "black" and the more expensive one is "blacker".

<font color=blue>Watts mean squat if you don't have quality!</font color=blue>