My first build..suggestions, comments, help?-->800$ multipurpose PC

[abl5037]

Hey everyone,

Ive been debating building my own desktop for the past several months and about 3 weeks ago I deceided to start down the road to selecting the various components in order to successfully and hopefully build my own PC. This pc will be used for a variety of tasks including gaming, watching/recording tv (USB tv tuner), burning DVD's, and running intensive apps such as solidworks and autocad. Below is my current build that ive come up with. Since i am very new to this I am very open to any and all comments. I am mainly wanting to verify that each of these components are compatible with one another and any other suggestions that I should know about before purchasing the parts!


NOTE: I have two builds that I am currently contemplating. The first one I came up with on my own and the second one was recommended to me by a friend. Both are open to any changes that anyone suggests. Which one do you think I should go with?
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APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: 2-4 weeks

BUDGET RANGE: 800$ US

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Multitasking, gaming, CAD, Burning DVD's

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: Keyboard, Mouse, Monitor, Speakers, OS

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg.com, but I am available to buy from the cheapest vendor out there!

PARTS PREFERENCES: Does not Matter

OVERCLOCKING: Probably not

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

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BUILD NUMBER 1:


MOTHERBOARD:

MSI P45 Neo3-FR Intel P45 Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Duo/Core 2 Quad Socket 775 1600 MHz PC2-8500 DDR2-1066 ATX Motherboard (98.99$)

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Neo3-FR-PC2-8500-DDR2-1066-Motherboard/dp/B001B8KE5G
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CPU:

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz 6MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor (189.99$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115036
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GRAPHICS CARD

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card (199.99$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801
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PSU

CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply(74.49$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
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HARDDRIVE

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500AAKS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive (54.99$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136161
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RAM

Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory (33.99$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220335
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DVD-DRIVE

SAMSUNG 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 SATA 22X DVD Burner (24.99$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171&Tpk=Samsung%20SH-S223F
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CASE

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (58.99$)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=Antec%20Three%20Hundred

TOTAL COST: 736.92$

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BUILD NUMBER 2:


COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137

ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131366

MSI N260GTX-T2D896-OCv4 GeForce GTX 260 896MB 448-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card $165 ($145 after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127430

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply $70 ($60 after MIR)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703015

AMD Phenom II X4 810 2.6GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 4MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor $170
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103650

OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory $64
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227297

Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319

LG Black 22X DVD Burner $24
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

TOTAL = $782.92 - Rebates + S&H
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Like I said earlier..i am quite new to this and want to hopefully have a successful and positive build that will give me a desktop that will last for some time. i am open to all suggestions and comments.

thanks,

Austin

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I like the second build better, but I would tweak it up a little:

Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042&Tpk=Antec%20Three%20Hundred $58.95

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139006&Tpk=750tx $109.99 - $10.00 MIR (This PSU has enough power to run a second GPU in crossfire if needed in the future).

AMD Phenom II X4 940 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Black Edition Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103471 $189.99

GIGABYTE GA-MA790X-UD4P AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 790X ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387 $109.99

G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166 $54.99

SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 $189.99 - $15.00 MIR (I would get an ATI GPU so you have the option of crossfire in the future)

WESTERN DIGITAL WD3200AAKS 320GB SATA 7200 RPM 16MB Hard Drive Bulk
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10005615&prodlist=celebros $51.99

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 $23.99

Total - $789.88 - $25.00 MIR's

 

[tecmo34]

Here are my recommendations to update in Build #1: (Keep all other items the same...)

MOBO: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard ($134.99 [114.94 after MIR])

Case: COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ($69.99)

HDD: Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive ($74.99)

Total Cost = $803.42 - Rebates + S&H


Here are my recommendations to update in Build #2: (Keep all other items the same...)

GPU: SAPPHIRE 100259-1GL Radeon HD 4870 1GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card ($199.99)... Going to the 4870 will allow you to setup Crossfire down the road when you have more money

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power Supply ($74.49)

CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor Model HDZ720WFGIBOX ($139.00)... Phenom II X3 720 BE is a better CPU than the AMD Phenom II X4 810 due to the OC'ing abilities... IMO.

Total Cost = $791.48 - Rebates + S&H


Either option will be a very good system for your requirements. IMO... you'll be better served with the E8500 due to the higher clock speed.

 

[shortstuff_mt]

I have to disagree and say the quad core would be better since the OP said he will be using Solidworks and AutoCAD.

 

[tecmo34]

+1 shortstuff_mt...

I was looking at it as more of a Gaming System over the Multitasking requirements involving Solidworks and AutoCAD. The Quad core would be better for the multitasking and the E8500 would be better for gaming... IMO