Building a Computer

[HamletXXII]

I hope this greeting finds everyone well and willing to lend a hand. I would like to construct a very nice gaming computer but have not had experience with building a computer. I've been doing quite a bit of research and feel I am ready to tackle this project. My budget is 1500 dollars for this project. I would like a very nice motherboard, preferably with Pentium compatibility... but if there are reasons to go with another CPU, I am all ears. I'm looking for quality here. I don't like to skimp on quality if I do not have to. I am all about self-teaching and learning new things and would like the independence of customizing and upgrading my own system to free myself from the shackles of made-for-you systems that have usurious mark-ups.

Thank you for your help in this matter and hope this will become a fun and, most assuredly challenging, endevour that you all may take part.

I would like to apologize in advance if I ask many questions as I continue to learn and utilize this new skill.

[HamletXXII]

Originally Posted by HamletXXII

I hope this greeting finds everyone well and willing to lend a hand. I would like to construct a very nice gaming computer but have not had experience with building a computer. I've been doing quite a bit of research and feel I am ready to tackle this project. My budget is 1500 dollars for this project. I would like a very nice motherboard, preferably with Pentium compatibility... but if there are reasons to go with another CPU, I am all ears. I'm looking for quality here. I don't like to skimp on quality if I do not have to. I am all about self-teaching and learning new things and would like the independence of customizing and upgrading my own system to free myself from the shackles of made-for-you systems that have usurious mark-ups.

Thank you for your help in this matter and hope this will become a fun and, most assuredly challenging, endevour that you all may take part.

I would like to apologize in advance if I ask many questions as I continue to learn and utilize this new skill.

Update

This is the system that I would like to construct. Please give me insight into hardware that may be better suited or of better quality.

CPU

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ / 2MB Cache / 2000MHz FSB / Socket 939 / Dual-Core / Processor with Fan

MOBO

Asus A8N-SLI NVIDIA Socket 939 ATX Motherboard / Audio / PCI Express / Gigabit LAN / USB 2.0 & Firewire / Serial ATA / RAID / SLI


RAM

2 x CORSAIR 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM ECC Registered DDR 333 (PC 2700)
Latency – 2.5

VID

XFX GeForce 7800 GT / 256MB GDDR3 / PCI Express / SLI / Dual DVI / VIVO / Overclocked 450MHz / Video Card
AUD

Creative Labs Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic PCI Sound Card

CASE

Aspire X-Navigator Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB and Firewire Ports, Built-in Fan Controller and 500-Watt Power Supply

HD

Maxtor Ultra 160.0GB Internal Serial ATA Hard Drive

CD/DVD/CD-RW taking from my other system...

COOLING : I am concerned about keeping the system cool... if you have any tips that have worked for you... better case, whatever I'd appreciate the info

My budget needed to be augmented because of a few of the items but I feel that the marginal expense will have a larger payout.

So... I'm happily waiting your insight!

[curtybob]

Hey all... it's been awhile.

Firstly (just suggestions, don't take personally), ditch the memory. PC 2700 isn't matched up to rest of the system you have laid out. Corsair is a great brand, but opt for some PC3200 or higher. Also, registered memory is more aimed towards servers and mission critical applications. So, save some money and grab non-registered, non-ECC memory. And price search through some other makers, like g.skill, OCZ, buffalo, and Patriot. They all make pretty decent RAM (OCZ is awesome).

Then, about the harddrive, is it an existing drive from your current PC, or are you buying new? Maxtors are pretty decent drives, but if you are buying new, go for the DiamondMax 10 series or higher.

Now, my next advice is completely dependant on your intentions, and it is only advice, not trying to tell you what to do. You could save a little mney on the CPU by downgrading to a 4200, and overclock it to the performance of the 4400. It shouldn't take an insane overclock to reach and/or surpass the 4400, and you shouldn't even have to upgrade your cooling.

[ewanog]

If you wanted to go all out you could have a liquid cooling system

[komputergeek]

if you would not like to constantly dust ur fans and open the case it would be wise to have liquid cooling system to lower problems (temp censors would be good too because gaming systems can sometimes overheat making u frustrated)