New system build, does this make sense to everyone here?

[pyromaster114]

Okay, so I have carefully compiled a list of parts to order to build a new desktop computer.
I was originally going to go with AMD, but decided that Intel looks like the better idea for the purpose the computer will serve.

I think I got everything, and I think everything should be compatible. If not, someone tell me what I missed or what I need to change.

Any comments about better hardware, different hardware that might work better, better deals, etc. are appreciated as well.

CPU:
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

Motherboard:
ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131377

RAM:
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPI-B
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231246

Video Card:
BFG Tech BFGE981024GTOCE GeForce 9800 GT OC 1GB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143185

Hard Disk Drive:
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F DT HD502IJ 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152112

Optical 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
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Power Supply Unit:
Antec BP550 Plus 550W Continuous Power ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Modular Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021
OR
XION AXP 100 Gaming Series AXP100-001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case (Cheaper)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208027

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116493

EDIT: Sorry for missing the description upon hitting the submit button the first time, and also here's what we already have that we don't need for this computer:
1) Monitor + cables.
2) Keyboard, mouse, + cables.
3) Speakers / audio device.

 

[spehling]

well, for starters it would be easier to tell you if we know what you already have.

 

[pyromaster114]

Okay now the first post should make more sense...

 

[hellokitty[hk]]

Great post actually.
I would recommend going with an AMD build instead, look at this build I canablized from one of Rage_3K_Moiz's older posts:
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Callisto 3.1GHz Black Edition 6MB L3 Cache CPU - Retail
ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit - Retail
Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
POWERCOLOR AX4870 512MD5 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Note, AMD will (or maybe already has, i've already forgot their pricing) drop their prices soon, so I would definatly wait for that, that powercolor 4870 already looks price-dropped.
CORSAIR CMPSU-550VX 550W ATX12V V2.2 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Compatible with Core i7 Power ... - Retail
I like the Antec 900 better, kind of personal preference.

 

[pyromaster114]

Hmm... I wish I had money to build both machines so I could compare them side by side... unfortunately only enough money for one... grrr... oh well.
I think I'll go with the Intel build, but [hk] is right, the AMD build would most likely be comparable and at a slightly lesser price. It's definately a close call at this point, because although I like Intel a lot, AMD has some pretty competitive pricing... but I think since I've had such a good experience with Intel's Core 2 Duo's so far, I'll go with that one.

My main worry about the proposed rig setup is if the motherboard and graphics card will agree.
The video card has an Nvidia chipset, but the description for the motherboard mentions something about ATI... and I've had motherboards really dislike graphics cards before.

 

[hellokitty[hk]]

ASUS PQ5 Pro is a great motherboard, but I suggest you stick with the 4850 and corsair 550w power supply, and the WD500 instead?

 

[pyromaster114]

Alright well we have a competing AMD design here, based on the parts suggested by some of the users here.

We'll be deciding shortly which to build, so everyone feel free to argue lol ^_^.

CPU:
AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition Callisto 3.1GHz 2 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

Motherboard:
ASUS M4A78 Plus AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131381

RAM:
OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ2F10664GK
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227364

Video Card:
POWERCOLOR AX4870 512MD5 Radeon HD 4870 512MB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131140

Hard Disk Drive:
Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136178

Optical 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
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151171

Power Supply Unit:
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

Case:
Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

Operating System:
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate SP1 64-bit for System Builders
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116493

 

[hellokitty[hk]]

I think that sounds great ^^.
Aside from Vista and the Samsung drive, both of which i'm not too fond of the companies for no particular reason, so its probably good. I like pioneer drive, and people here seem to claim their reliability too, I think.

 

[raybay]

If you have not built a PC before, the ASUS can present difficulties you do not need... I would prefer a Gigibyte

 

[red1776]

Hey Pyro,
just a couple of suggestions for a motherboard, the second one is a personal favorite, i have been using AMD/DFI boards for a while and I absolutely love them, nice build btw
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813136058
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010200022 50001307&name=DFI

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

@pyromaster, ASUS boards have issues with OCZ RAM. I would advise going for the Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 instead. It is cheapest here with free shipping. Also consider one of red1776's recommendations as well.

Also, I recommend the WD5000AAKS instead of the AAJS.

Lastly, if you want, you can go for this PSU and save some cash.

The rest of your build looks great IMO.

 

[pyromaster114]

If you have not built a PC before, the ASUS can present difficulties you do not need... I would prefer a Gigibyte

I have built PCs before, but out of curiosity, what difficulties are you referring to?

@pyromaster, ASUS boards have issues with OCZ RAM. I would advise going for the Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 instead. It is cheapest here with free shipping. Also consider one of red1776's recommendations as well.

Also, I recommend the WD5000AAKS instead of the AAJS.

Lastly, if you want, you can go for this PSU and save some cash.

Rage_3K_Moiz, wouldn't it be also possible to use a different brand of RAM? Or is it that Asus boards have trouble with RAM compatibility in general on the models produced recently?

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

That RAM is the cheapest 1066 kit I can find with free shipping and a rebate, potentially saving the OP some money. And yes, ASUS mobos have always been picky about RAM. I have had problems with my old P5WDH as well; I returned about 4 kits before the last one worked. But I have to say that when it did work, it worked perfectly without issues.

 

[LinkedKube]

@pyromaster, ASUS boards have issues with OCZ RAM.

I dont know how many times this has been told to people in this forums, maybe 20 times, but its so true. I own a p5q, p5n32, p5k3 delux and my lastest mobo in my specs, all which wont run at rated speeds with some mushkin chips, ocz and some patriot chips.

 

[pyromaster114]

Rage_3K_Moiz, will this board you suggested work with the processor I was planning on using?

AMD Phenom II X2 550 Black Edition (Socket AM3)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 amd 770 chipset ATX form factor (Socket AM2+)
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/SKUSearch_v3.asp?scriteria=BA31343

They're listed as different socket types... so... it's my understanding that they won't work with each other... or am I missing something?

EDIT: Wikipedia SAYS that AM3 processors work on AM2+ sockets... but Wikipedia has wronged me once before on this... am I to assume this is true?

supersmashbrada, are you saying that the OCZ RAM is bad? or all that stuff? Or just the motherboards?

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

The Phenom II X2 550 should work, but I just saw that it is not on the CPU Support list for that board. I recommend this motherboard instead to be be on the safe side.

 

[shossofe]

hmmm, that's a nice set of parts you gathered up there. But I would reccomend getting an AMD processor (mainly for cheapness and Intel is only for buying the best in the market so far)

I'm not sure if you are using that computer for gaming but, there is a GeForce GTX 250 graphic card out there for the same price and it should work better than that 9800 you picked.

 

[pyromaster114]

shossofe, why would you say that the GeForce GTX 250 would work better? Can you provide a link to a review or a comparison?

 

[Rage_3K_Moiz]

He has revised the build; he is going for an HD 4870 now.

The GTS 250 (that is what I assume you are talking about) is a renamed 9800GTX+ and is inferior to the HD 4870. If you are referring to the GTX 260, the cheapest GTX 260 is around $40 more expensive than the cheapest HD 4870; not worth it for a card that performs on par with the Radeon.