Critique this computer build please

[stylin97]

first and foremost, i want to keep the price between $600-700ish for everything (minus monitor/keyboard, already have those)

2nd - what i use it for:
lots of internet browsing/downloading
aim
itunes
WMP
anti-virus/spyware programs
MUST be able to hook up to my TV and watch movies on it

and thats mainly it for the most part, maybe a few other things here and there. NO gaming at all.

now for the questions....what OS should i go with? I use XP right now, should i just stick with that? should i go dual or quad core? ive heard mixed reviews. (keep in mind i know nothing about computers really)

a friend of mine pieced this together based on what i told him i use it for and running off XP.. im sure there might be better choices, so give me opinions...

Motherboard -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16813131299

Processor -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16819115037

RAM -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820145221

Video card -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16814121244

Hard drive (probably gonna upgrade to a 350gb, dont need much more) -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16822148262

CD / DVD -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16827151173

Power supply -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16817139003

Case (just a quick pick, could change later.. not a big deal) -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147075

all of this comes to $644 before rebates... and theres $45 in mail in rebates.

 

[xthekidx]

The ram you chose is DDR3, you need DDR2. You dont need a xfire mobo since you aren't going to game, and won't need to add another GPU, so just get a single GPU slot board. You don't need that much PSU for your requirements, 400cx is plenty for you. That hard drive is slow and old, so get the one below, which is only a few bucks more and much larger and faster. That 9600GT is overpriced too. Your build is alright save for the ram, but you should probably spend your money a little differently. Take a look at this build:

Corsair 400cx $50 with this promo code: EMCLRLN23 and $30 after $20 MIR

Windows Vista 64 bit $80 with this promo code: EMCLRLN28

Rosewill R5730-P BK Case with free shipping and good cooling, also quite roomy. Great deal for the price. You need a case with good cooling for a passively cooled GPU. $45

WD6400AAKS $60

LG DVD Combo Drive $25

Mushkin 4gb DDR2-800 $45, $35 after $10 MIR

GA-EP45-UD3R and E8400 $265, $15 MIR

Saphire 4670 512MB Passive cooled $80, $10 MIR

Total: $661 after Shipping and promo savings, then $55 in MIR.

 

[xthekidx]

If you are interested in a quad, which may add some longevity to your system, and help in multitasking situations then I would do this:

Q9400

GA-EP43-UD3L

After shipping and promo savings your total would be $710.46, then $40 MIR

 

[xthekidx]

Add this fan and mount it on the side panel over the GPU.

 

[stylin97]

If you are interested in a quad, which may add some longevity to your system, and help in multitasking situations then I would do this:

Q9400

GA-EP43-UD3L

After shipping and promo savings your total would be $710.46, then $40 MIR

someone elese recommended this same setup. would it be that much better than the system i originally posted, for MY needs

like say im multi-tasking a few of the things i posted... like browsing like 5 or so sites at the same time, watching a movie, talking on aim, etc. ... all of which i do OK right now, but my browser tends to lag up quite a bit recently.

also what OS should i run on that setup? i get mixed opinions on Vista

 

[xthekidx]

If you do a lot of multitasking like that, then you would see a benefit from a quad, I think it would be a good option for you.

Get Vista, all the horror stories of how evil vista is came before it got SP1, it is quite stable now and you need it if you want to see all of your memory. I use it and am very happy with it.

 

[MykC]

AMD solution for the CPU/MOBO.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649 AMD Phenom II 720 $145 (triple core)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128379 Gigabyte 780G mATX (onboard video) $80

$225

upgrade options:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131325 Asus 780g ATX $20 (full sized board)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103650&Tpk=Phenom%20810 AMD Phenom 810 $35 (quad core)

 

[raybob95]

someone elese recommended this same setup. would it be that much better than the system i originally posted, for MY needs

like say im multi-tasking a few of the things i posted... like browsing like 5 or so sites at the same time, watching a movie, talking on aim, etc. ... all of which i do OK right now, but my browser tends to lag up quite a bit recently.

also what OS should i run on that setup? i get mixed opinions on Vista

If you're not going to game, I'd recommend trying Ubuntu.

I love Windows for the most part, but Ubuntu is great too, and tends to be faster. Plus you can convert EVERYTHING to and from Windows formats on demand.