//Recommendations and System Check\\

[Steralite]

This week comming up I plan on building a new rig. But before I do this i'd like to have everything as perfect as I can get it, making sure the parts will perform at max with the motherboard i've chosen. Im hard pressed for cash. If anyone has any recommendations please help!!! Im in need of help with the power source as well!!! :)

SPECS
------------------------
Motherboard:
- Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe

Video Card:
- EVGA 512-P3-N865-AR GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported

Sound Card:
- Undecided (help?)

Memory:
- CORSAIR XMS 4GB (4 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory

Hard Drive:
- Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3250310AS 250GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Power source:
- Undecided (help?)

Im going to try and find a water cooling system. If anyone knows one that will fit an asus a8n32 motherboard please send me the specs.

Thanks! :) hope to get some good feedback from the community.

[gvblake22]

Are you planning on using an old s939 processor you already have or something since you don't have one listed? Is this a completely new build or are you just upgrading certain parts? What are the primary uses of this system?

[RAID]

Welcome to HL!

yes, we will need to know which CPU you'll be using, what tasks and goals you have for the system.

[Dread]

I'd go with 2 x 2 GB sticks of memory, rather than filling all four slots with 1 GB sticks.

[Steralite]

Originally Posted by gvblake22

Are you planning on using an old s939 processor you already have or something since you don't have one listed? Is this a completely new build or are you just upgrading certain parts? What are the primary uses of this system?

I plan on getting a brand new AMD athlon 64 x2 4800+ processor and making the unit from scratch.

Originally Posted by RAID

Welcome to HL!

yes, we will need to know which CPU you'll be using, what tasks and goals you have for the system.

Goals? well I plan using the unit for gaming mostly. A little photo editing and I want to make sure the unit can multi task like hell :P

Originally Posted by Dread

I'd go with 2 x 2 GB sticks of memory, rather than filling all four slots with 1 GB sticks.

I tried, can't seem to find 2x2gb sticks in a decent price range. If Theres any out there under $150ish link it :D

[screwballl]

Originally Posted by Steralite

I plan on getting a brand new AMD athlon 64 x2 4800+ processor and making the unit from scratch.

ok then you need a board that has the AM2 socket, not the 939 Socket... You really do have a better option for the same or less money: Intel based setup

Newegg.com - Intel Pentium E2160 Allendale 1.8GHz 1MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor - Retail

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX All Solid Capacitor Intel Motherboard - Retail

If you have little choice as to the CPU then anything along the lines of these boards should be fine depending on the options you are looking for:

Newegg.com - AM2/AM2+ Motherboards

plus they are all AM2+ which gives you some wiggle room for future upgrades.

As for memory, getting DDR2 is cheap nowadays, here are 2 such 2x 2GB kits...

$72.99 after promo code EMCADBJBC
Newegg.com - A-DATA 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail

$104 after promo code EMCADBJBD
Newegg.com - CORSAIR 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail




As for sound card go with your preference. I myself love my Creative X-fi sound card but other people have their preferences. As for power supply, look over some of the reviews on our front page and maybe get a lower watt version of one of those.... Stick with name brands: thermaltake, Antec, OCZ, FSP/Forton, Corsair...
something like these should fit the bill nicely:
Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX ATX12V
or the modular version: Newegg.com - CORSAIR CMPSU-520HX ATX12V

[One4yu2c]

Since you're building from the ground up, you'd be wise to ditch the s939/DDR foundation, which is now a couple generations old. Instead, look at Intel's Core 2 architecture as a first choice, or if absolutely sticking with AMD, an AM2+ foundation as mentioned above.

What kind of budget are you working with, and do you need supplementary components, such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, and OS?

[Parker]

Welcome to HL!!

As others have said, ditch the AMD and get modern stuff like Intel!
Don't get four 1GB sticks of RAM either, 2 x 2GB is better than 4 x 1GB, and mobo's tend to like only two of the RAM slots filled instead of all four.

What OS are you going to get? XP or Vista? 32-Bit or 64-Bit?
You'll need a 64-Bit OS in order to see all 4GB of memory, I'd go with Vista 64-Bit.

Listen to these guys, they have very very good recommendations here.

[oldman_gamer]

Even if you go with 64 bit,you really don't need 4GB of memory to start out with.You will find that 2GB is plenty for most operations.I had 4GB to start with and ended up giving 2 sticks to my son.I have'nt had any problems.I had more problems with 4 x 1GB as a matter of fact.

[Steralite]

Originally Posted by One4yu2c

Since you're building from the ground up, you'd be wise to ditch the s939/DDR foundation, which is now a couple generations old. Instead, look at Intel's Core 2 architecture as a first choice, or if absolutely sticking with AMD, an AM2+ foundation as mentioned above.

What kind of budget are you working with, and do you need supplementary components, such as monitor, keyboard, mouse, and OS?

I've got all the fun things; monitor keyboard mouse. For the OS i've got a version of windows Vista Ultimate. budget wise im tryin to stick under $900 as best I can.

I'd really like to stick with an AMD based motherboard.

Thanks for suck quick comments, Its extremely helpful!


Ditching the motherboard for Newegg.com - Open Box: ASUS M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi AM2+/AM2 AMD 790FX ATX AMD Motherboard Little pricey at 189.99 but I should be able to manage. Think it'll work out well? or am I Just buying some overpriced Peice. :\