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First off, I'm glad I found this forum because it has a real wealth of knowledge. I am admittedly a newcomer to the internal workings of pcs, but I am eager to learn whatever I can. Right now I'm looking to build a pc from the ground up to replace the one I currently have that's become outdated, at least in terms of gaming. I do game but my current setup can't cut it with current gen games like Vanguard etc...

My friend who is relatively knowledgeable when it comes to pcs made a build suggestion, but I'd like to run it by you all and get some feedback/suggestions. Is it all compatible, reliable, and a good choice? Basically I'm looking for a decent gaming pc on a budget of roughly $1000-$1200ish.

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2m shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004)


Intel BLKD101GGCL LGA 775 ATI Radeon Xpress 200 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121309)


CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145575)


MSI NX8800GTS-T2D640E 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127225)


Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136003)


SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner With LightScribe Technology
(http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827151136)


Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133132)


Will there be sufficient cooling with the fans the case has included, if not is there a specific type/size I should be looking for? Is there any need for a 3.5 drive at all? I heard him mention something about the need for one in certain instances for driver installation, if I understood correctly. Is the 400 watt psu big enough?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, welcome to TechSpot!

First of all, that motherboard doesn't claim to support the Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Also, that RAM isn't compatible with most Core 2 Duo motherboards.

Here's what I recommend:

RAM: Corsair 2x1GB CAS5 DDR2-800 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590)

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965GM-S2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128024)

Power supply: Cooler Master RS-500-ASAA 500W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817171010)

Just my two cents...

Regards

i recommend this memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820161030
and this motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130082
and if you can afford it an 8800gtx

I'll second that RAM and that motherboard.

However for the power supply. Go with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341002

And for the video card always go with eVGA, XFX, or BFG. My friend purchased 2 MSI motherboards and both died within 6 months.

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130071

I actually second notion this, although its different and yet similar to my own system.

I agree that m/b is good.

Here's a good guide to which m/b to choose from.

http://www.overclock.net/intel-mothe...ard-right.html

Do you really need to run mATX? Cos ATX boards would be a better choice IMO.

yes, I'd say do atx, and not micro, more surface area to disapate heat( if i spelled that right) and more room to do what you want, in a good lookng case. I suggest, a mid tower atx case with atx mobo, with at least a 1 pci x16 slot. If you're on a budget go pent D 805 to 3.5Ghz( overclocked of course) and some G sklll 800 ddr 2 memmory(in which if you choose might go to 900 or so)

I don't really see any advantages other than the dimentions of mATX boxes... It all boils down to whether you like the cube shape... mATX is only marginally smaller than their ATX counterparts.

Then again, its your own preferences, the m/b thats been recommended is the best you can get for mATX.

Thanks everyone for your responses and valued input. It is appreciated. Sorry it's taken a few days to get back to reply.

There is no desire, as asked, for the micro setup. I would actually prefer the standard size/dimensions of a regular tower. Taking this into consideration, what would the best (keeping price in mind) option be for me with an ATX mobo?

So far the recommendations have been...

RAM: Corsair 2x1GB CAS5 DDR2-800
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145590)

OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply 100 - 240 V
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341002)

EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130071)

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136003)

SAMSUNG Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner With LightScribe Technology
(http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16827151136)

Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000BWA Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133132)

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz 2m shared L2 Cache LGA 775 Processor
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115004)

-------------------------------------
Am I missing anything else? Any other components or supplies I would need to assemble this once the parts arrive? Thanks again.

This is a pretty good board: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128012

Of course that's assuming you get an Nvidia card, as those manufacturers do not make ATi cards.

Any motherboard with P965 of 650/680i chipsets are good, but if you are going to get a 965P, get it from Gigabyte.

Looks like a good buy. Heavy objects like the computer case it might be more cost effecient to find them at a local store if you have one. Shipping can be around $20 for cases.

For a motherboard, I would highly recommend one of the nvidia 680i mobos. If you eventually decide to SLI, it will give you major benifits. The board by EVGA is pretty good and not that expensive. You can get the ddr2 800 version for ~230 and a ddr2 1200 for about $250

The best overclocking motherboards are 965P and the best overall are 680i, or 650i if you are on a budget.

I'd take the DS3 over the S3, but if you go for the DS3 either get a longer IDE cable or buy SATA optical drives.

Also, were you interested in doing a RAID configuration? I'd probably put two 160's on a RAID0 config rather than getting a 320. Alternatively you could try a 150gig 10k RPM drive and keep a 250 for data... just a suggestion.

If you can afford it, go with 3 or 4 gigs of DDR2, I heard Vanguard is a monster.

If you're not overclocking then heat shouldn't be a problem while running stock cooling.

I'd go for the DS3P if its available. Just a few bux more, and you get basically a DS4 without the fancy NB cooling.