First Build
 

Hi everyone. I have subscribed to this site a while back, but have only been lurking around. Anyway....

I have finally decided to build my first computer and I was wondering if you guys could give me some feedback on the parts I have picked out and recommend some parts I have not.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ - $376.00
GPU: SAPPHIRE Radeon X800XL - $379.00
RAM: CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) - $272.00
Sound Card: CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS - $93.00
HDs: Seagate Barracuda SATA 150 160gb (2 of them) - $89.00 ($180)
DVD/CD: NEC Black IDE DVD Burner (2 of them) - $39.99 ($80)
PSU: OCZ 520W - $135.00
MOBO: ABIT Fatal1ty AN8-SLI - $204.00

Monitor: ViewSonic E70F+SB - $129.99

The only part I need help with is the case. I found out that I need an ATX case since that is what my MOBO is. But all this expansion slot and interenal/external 3.5" and 5.25" (or I don't even know anymore) got me confused.

I'm guessing that the 3.5" is for the HDs and the 5.25" is for the DVD/CD drives. Yea, thats cool and all but some cases (the towers and mid towers mainly) have like 3x 3.5" external, 4x 5.25" external, and 4x 3.5" internal. I mean isn't that like way too much? And how can you have external HD bays? I mean I only want it so I can stick in like 2 more HDs if I ever need to, so wouldn't that be like 4x 3.5" internal?

Anyway, as you can see I'm lost here. So any help, and critics on my parts would be very apreciated.

(Also, I hope I posted in the right section :D )

why take an SLI motherboard if you have an ATI card?

What's an SLI MOBO?

A mobo that can link 2 nvidia cards to work together, wich you dont need becouse you're getting an ATI

Ahh, ok that makes sense now. Actually, I had selected a few MOBO's and then I finally narrowed it down to this acording to specs and reviews. I didn't even relise it could support to nVidia GPUs.

But it's not like I can't use the ATI with it...right? I mean it wont make a difference, it's just that if I would have two nvidia cards I could link em together, right?

it will work perfectly with the ATI, but you will most defintely be better of with an nVidia card at this time, 7800GT is the one to get, best performance/price. There's no comparable ATI product out there at this time:)

I'm sticking with the ATI.

I need more help finding the right case and fan controller...

any preference for the sticking with a card which performs really a lot worse then similar priced nVidia card? :)

$374: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814150108

check this review of the 7800GT
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2496

look at the results of the GT versus the X800XT PE

now the X800XL is a lot slower then the X800XT PE, you can see that here: http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=2406&p=3

so if you would decide to go with the 7800GT you will get a 20-30% performance boost in games, without paying $ more:)

The paying more is only $5 if I am looking at the prices correctly. As for the performance being weaker in the ATI, I don't believe they are. But you almost had me change my mind. I would have sureley choosen the 7800GT if I wouldn't have found the ATI.

uhm, it's not my opinion that the ATI X800XL is a lot slower, it's a fact, do some research ([g]7800GT+review[/g])

the X800XL is LOW end ATI X800 series

the 7800GT is NEXT gen nVidia high-end card;

the 6800GT from nVidia is in the same area as the X800XL, but the 7800GT blows them both away in the performance category.

if you are buying a new PC now, nVidia has the best performance card, simply because they are a production cycle ahead of ATI which still have to release their new product