Just your typical "How does this look?" thread

[86drop]

I'm admittedly not the most computer savvy person around but I've decided to build my own after my old Dell crapped out. I will be using this mainly for general computing, some video editing, and some mild gaming. I may also at some point decide to put in some limited use as a DVR. I plan on running Windows 7 when it comes out so I may hold off on buying most of the parts and upgrade a few of them if their successors price has dropped any by the time October comes around. Here is how it looks so far:

NZXT Alpha Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case with Open Window
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041&Tpk=nzxt%20alpha

GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128358

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115037

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231122

MSI R4670-2D1G/D3 Radeon HD 4670 1GB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127399

LG Black 22X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 22X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 22X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136147&Tpk=LG%20GH22LP20

CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

Western Digital Caviar GP WD5000CSRTL 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136334


Just wanting to check with the professionals that I haven't made any glaring mistakes and that everything is compatible. Thanks for any help or advice you can offer.

Ryan

 

[Dekasav]

I'd go with a 512Mb version of the HD 4670 if you're going that way, 1Gb ones use slower memory, and the extra memory is useless.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121274

And your hard drive seems expensive, considering it's only 500Gb. Here's a Terrabyte, same company, it's OEM, so you'd need a cable, too, but it's twice the size for $20 less.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136317

 

[86drop]

Is there possibly a better graphics card I should look at? I want something that will play some moderate level graphics games and have a dual DVI output.

As for the hard drive, Best Buy sells it for $80...don't know why newegg has it for so much more.

 

[alvine]

you should get ati 4770 for mild gaming

 

[86drop]

you should get ati 4770 for mild gaming

care to elaborate?

 

[Why_Me]

care to elaborate?

What's your budget, resolution, and what country you in ?

 

[86drop]

What's your budget, resolution, and what country you in ?

I live in the US. I don't want to spend more than $80 on a graphics card. And I don't know what resolution just yet, was planning on using my old dell monitor until i scrounged up enough extra cash for a decent monitor.

 

[86drop]

What's your budget, resolution, and what country you in ?

Was looking at this monitor recently:

Hyundai X224W 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor - 5ms, 1680x1050 (WSXGA+), 1000:1, DVI-D, VGA, Internal Speakers
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3876416&CatId=2775

 

[Why_Me]

I live in the US. I don't want to spend more than $80 on a graphics card. And I don't know what resolution just yet, was planning on using my old dell monitor until i scrounged up enough extra cash for a decent monitor.

The mobo you have chosen is set up for Crossfirre (dual vid cards), which is something you don't need. This mobo down below is the exact one you have chosen other than it only has once PCI-E slot (single vid card set up). I just saved you $35 on that along with the psu combo. Take that savings and get a better vid card.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.198142 Combo Discount: -$10.00 Combo Price: $209.98 $20.00 Mail-In Rebate $15.00 Mail-In Rebate Free Shipping*
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power - Retail
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 $94.99 Free Shipping*
SAPPHIRE 100245L Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

I don't know anything about Hyundi monitors, but that one you found looks like a bargain. I would jump on that.

 

[86drop]

If the only difference in the mobo is the crossfire setup then that looks like a good deal. The only reason I had the dual PCI-E slot was in case I decided to upgrade to a crossfire setup in the future. This is unlikely but I like to give myself options.

What else uses a PCI-E slot aside from a graphics card that I may wish I had a second one for? Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Why_Me]

If the only difference in the mobo is the crossfire setup then that looks like a good deal. The only reason I had the dual PCI-E slot was in case I decided to upgrade to a crossfire setup in the future. This is unlikely but I like to give myself options.

What else uses a PCI-E slot aside from a graphics card that I may wish I had a second one for? Thanks for the suggestions.

Only the vid card uses that slot, and that card you have chosen is one step above integrated video....barely... I would forget adding another vid card later on, one good vid card for now. You get what you pay for.

 

[86drop]

Sounds good, you've convinced me. Thanks again!

 

[cjl]

Only the vid card uses that slot, and that card you have chosen is one step above integrated video....barely... I would forget adding another vid card later on, one good vid card for now. You get what you pay for.

A 4670 is not "barely" above integrated. It trades blows with a 3870, IIRC, which makes it a decent budget level card. It's not spectacular, but it'll get the job done. However, if you can afford it, I'd definitely make the jump to a 4770, 4850, or 4870.

 

[B-Unit]

Only the vid card uses that slot, and that card you have chosen is one step above integrated video....barely... I would forget adding another vid card later on, one good vid card for now. You get what you pay for.

Put your e-peen away. The 4670 is leaps and bounds ahead of any integrated graphics solution.