First stab at parts. Do they work?

kscott0986 · 02-12-2009, 05:00 AM

Ok this is going to be my first build. the computer will be used for basic photoshopping and 3d modeling.

not gaming now, though i'm patiently waiting for starcraft 2 and diablo 3.

i have a monitor purchased and unless someone here can steer me in a good video card direction, i plan on waiting until those previously mentioned games come out before i purchase a video card.

this will be used with xp.....if xp works with it.

ok so heres what i have so far, all from newegg. budget, (including the forthcoming video card) is aimed at 500.

cpu= amd athlon 64 x2 5200 brisbane 2.7Ghz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210

mobo= asus m3a78-em
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131324

RAM= OCZ Reaper HPC 4gb (2x2gb) DDR2 1066
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227289

HD= Western digital caviar black 750 gb 7200rpm
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136283

dvd= lg 22x dvd+/-R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136152

case= raidmax smilodon w/ 500w psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156062

please please please criticize as much as you can.
also, with the parts i buy i plan to upgrade down the road to 8gb ram, tv tuner and wifi (and the video card of course)

thanks in advance!

dai · 02-12-2009, 09:11 AM

we recommend buying the case and power supply as separate items

a raidmax psu is not recommended

you will not know what power supply you will need until you decide on the video card

pcie starts at 550w-1000w depending on the card you choose
there is not much point in buying a supply just to cater for the initial setup and then having to fork out again in a short while

your 500 budget will look sick when you take out a gaming card and a quality psu to run it

Scarthos · 02-12-2009, 06:51 PM

I'd like to make a few points.

Video:
The on-board video on this board looks pretty good. However, if you will be doing ANY form of 3D rendering, you will find it much better to go ahead and get a nice Video Card. This will take a lot of strain off both the CPU and RAM, allowing the system to perform better.

RAM:
32bit OS's will only recognize around 3GB of RAM. Unless you are going to put a 64bit OS on the system, 8GB of RAM is completely unnecessary. If you do decide on a 64bit OS...try to stay away from XP Pro 64bit...I've seen A LOT more reliability out of Vista 64bit

HDD:
I've noticed that the larger drives are not always very stable. It might be best to use a smaller drive, 80-250GB, for your main, and user a larger drive for storage. Also, I've seen that Photoshop tends to work better when you have a "scratch" drive. The program is able to copy any pictures that you are working on to that drive, thereby reducing strain on your main HDD. Just a thought.

HTH

**Jtsou** · 02-12-2009, 07:09 PM

Whats wrong with XPPro 64? I've always heard the opposite.

kscott0986 · 02-12-2009, 11:10 PM

so if i go with this video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127383
what kind of power supply am i going to need?

also, i have an old dell case somewhere (6 years old or so)...will that work for now until i can afford something better are those cases way outdated?

dai · 02-13-2009, 12:17 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w

**wrench97** · 02-13-2009, 01:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscott0986

so if i go with this video card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127383
what kind of power supply am i going to need?

also, i have an old dell case somewhere (6 years old or so)...will that work for now until i can afford something better are those cases way outdated?

What model Dell case most of them are proprietary and a lot are BTX not ATX style cases?

Cal510 · 02-13-2009, 10:37 AM

how about this?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817148024
btw i also like this video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102804

kscott0986 · 02-13-2009, 12:07 PM

is 550W the minimum i need or can i get away with 500W?

i have nooooo idea what model the dell is. its somewhere in my moms attic so i might just but a cheap shoebox for now to hold it all together

**wrench97** · 02-13-2009, 12:47 PM

550w would be the minimum.

Cal510 · 02-18-2009, 11:42 AM

this is what im actually building with; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

this is the 550watt version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005

its a $10 difference between the 2, after the rebates, so might as well go for the 650watt, 10 dollars for a hundred extra watts sounds good to me

Cal510 · 02-18-2009, 11:42 AM

this is also a cheap case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068

dai · 02-18-2009, 07:12 PM

go for the 650w
the case is a good buy
with a dell case i believe you just have to enlarge the opening for the psu slightly to fit the psu

**Doby** · 02-18-2009, 08:36 PM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208009

Another case to consider, cheap, decent airflow and good looking, you will have to add a front case fan it only comes with a rear and side.

Don't use the dell to much trouble making the led lights and switch work plus airflow ain't so good

02-12-2009, 05:00 AM	#1 (permalink)
kscott0986 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista home premium	First stab at parts. Do they work? Ok this is going to be my first build. the computer will be used for basic photoshopping and 3d modeling. not gaming now, though i'm patiently waiting for starcraft 2 and diablo 3. i have a monitor purchased and unless someone here can steer me in a good video card direction, i plan on waiting until those previously mentioned games come out before i purchase a video card. this will be used with xp.....if xp works with it. ok so heres what i have so far, all from newegg. budget, (including the forthcoming video card) is aimed at 500. cpu= amd athlon 64 x2 5200 brisbane 2.7Ghz http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103210 mobo= asus m3a78-em http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131324 RAM= OCZ Reaper HPC 4gb (2x2gb) DDR2 1066 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227289 HD= Western digital caviar black 750 gb 7200rpm http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136283 dvd= lg 22x dvd+/-R http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136152 case= raidmax smilodon w/ 500w psu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156062 please please please criticize as much as you can. also, with the parts i buy i plan to upgrade down the road to 8gb ram, tv tuner and wifi (and the video card of course) thanks in advance!

02-12-2009, 09:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? we recommend buying the case and power supply as separate items a raidmax psu is not recommended you will not know what power supply you will need until you decide on the video card pcie starts at 550w-1000w depending on the card you choose there is not much point in buying a supply just to cater for the initial setup and then having to fork out again in a short while your 500 budget will look sick when you take out a gaming card and a quality psu to run it __________________

02-12-2009, 06:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
Scarthos Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Over Here Posts: 33 OS: XP SP2	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? I'd like to make a few points. Video: The on-board video on this board looks pretty good. However, if you will be doing ANY form of 3D rendering, you will find it much better to go ahead and get a nice Video Card. This will take a lot of strain off both the CPU and RAM, allowing the system to perform better. RAM: 32bit OS's will only recognize around 3GB of RAM. Unless you are going to put a 64bit OS on the system, 8GB of RAM is completely unnecessary. If you do decide on a 64bit OS...try to stay away from XP Pro 64bit...I've seen A LOT more reliability out of Vista 64bit HDD: I've noticed that the larger drives are not always very stable. It might be best to use a smaller drive, 80-250GB, for your main, and user a larger drive for storage. Also, I've seen that Photoshop tends to work better when you have a "scratch" drive. The program is able to copy any pictures that you are working on to that drive, thereby reducing strain on your main HDD. Just a thought. HTH __________________ Scarthos Last edited by Scarthos; 02-12-2009 at 06:56 PM.

02-12-2009, 07:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jtsou Hardware Specialist Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Louisburg, NC Posts: 1,214 OS: Vista Home Premium SP1 My System	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? Whats wrong with XPPro 64? I've always heard the opposite. __________________ CPU-Z-----GPU-Z-----CoreTemp-----Speedfan

02-12-2009, 11:10 PM	#5 (permalink)
kscott0986 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista home premium	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? so if i go with this video card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127383 what kind of power supply am i going to need? also, i have an old dell case somewhere (6 years old or so)...will that work for now until i can afford something better are those cases way outdated?

02-13-2009, 12:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...corsair%2b550w __________________

02-13-2009, 10:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cal510 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Bay Posts: 21 OS: Dual Boot - Windows 7/Vista SP2	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? how about this? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817148024 btw i also like this video card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102804

02-13-2009, 12:07 PM	#9 (permalink)
kscott0986 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 6 OS: Vista home premium	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? is 550W the minimum i need or can i get away with 500W? i have nooooo idea what model the dell is. its somewhere in my moms attic so i might just but a cheap shoebox for now to hold it all together

02-13-2009, 12:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,419 OS: Win7	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? 550w would be the minimum. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

02-18-2009, 11:42 AM	#11 (permalink)
Cal510 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Bay Posts: 21 OS: Dual Boot - Windows 7/Vista SP2	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? this is what im actually building with; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 this is the 550watt version: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 its a $10 difference between the 2, after the rebates, so might as well go for the 650watt, 10 dollars for a hundred extra watts sounds good to me

02-18-2009, 11:42 AM	#12 (permalink)
Cal510 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Bay Posts: 21 OS: Dual Boot - Windows 7/Vista SP2	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? this is also a cheap case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068

02-18-2009, 07:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
dai Manager, Hardware Forums Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: west australia Posts: 56,539 OS: win 7 32x 64x rtm	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? go for the 650w the case is a good buy with a dell case i believe you just have to enlarge the opening for the psu slightly to fit the psu __________________

02-18-2009, 08:36 PM	#14 (permalink)
Doby Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Central PA (USA) Posts: 8,077 OS: XP sp2/ Vista My System	Re: First stab at parts. Do they work? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811208009 Another case to consider, cheap, decent airflow and good looking, you will have to add a front case fan it only comes with a rear and side. Don't use the dell to much trouble making the led lights and switch work plus airflow ain't so good __________________ Would you like to help TSF fight cancer and other diseases??? JOIN TEAM TSF