Hey guys im building a computer for my g/f. this is my first build so im a little unsure about things. I have put together a parts list. my only concern is the mobo and the cpu compatibility and how good they are. I went through newegg for all the parts, if anyone knows of any better sites i can get these parts for cheaper please tell me. if you guys know any better combos for the money please post it

heres the list

Computer case & PSU - $40 - $3 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811148030
Motherboard + CPU - $150 - $12 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103645
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135075
Video card (optional) - $60 - $10 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814125263
Memory - $47 - $10 MIR (x2)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227420
1TB Hard drive - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152173
640W PSU - $70 - $20 MIR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817226002
DVD-RW - $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827140040
Card reader - $13
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820223103
Wireless card - 15
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166021

 

First off, I want to say that Newegg rocks. I've bought a ton of stuff from them and have never been anything but satisfied. They truly deliver on their promises.

That said, what will the system be used for primarily? That CPU should be fine for most anything right now. I've got the step up from it in my machine (the 6400+) and its blazing fast. Mobo should be alright, unless you're planning to game with it. That's definitely not a gaming board. Also, that video card won't play much more than minesweeper. In that same price range you can get a Radeon 3650, 3850, 4650 or nVidia 8600GTS, all of which will have a lot more power than that 9400GT.

Also, the PSU is one place you definitely don't want to scrimp on. Power wise, you're fine. That system won't begin to use what that power supply will put out in the short term. In the long run, some of the budget PSUs drop like a stone as they age. I'd look into getting an 80 plus certified Antec or Corsair. It'll save you headaches down the road.

 

The only thing that I would change would be the CPU Mobo. I hate hate hate hate ECS boards. I think they are complete garbage. I would stick with ASUS, Abit, Gigabyte or DFI, MSI or XFX.

If you are just gonna put Windows XP 32 on it, then 8 gigs of ram will do nothing for you.
Stick with no more than 4.

Everything else looks fine.

 

I may be missing something but it looks like the processor they packaged in that deal is a oem one. If that is the case you will need to buy a cpu cooler for it too.

I would probably go with a different motherboard as they said above, even though you won't get the savings from the combo deal. I would probably be looking at a Asus or DFI with a 780 or 790gx igp for around 100 dollars with a amd x2 7850 in retail form for 70.

Also, since that board has a 790gx IGP in it I would skip the stand alone graphics card unless she does something that uses it (games or design work). The hd3200 and 3300 amd chipsets should do fine with hd video and windows aero effects.

I would think about a better case too. For the first computers I built for myself I always bought cases that were cheaper to buy than to ship. Between the thin steel and the light feeling buttons they make the whole computer feel cheap no matter what parts you put inside. I would look at something like the Antec mini P180 that is built well and helps reduce noise.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129041

One of the combo deals for it is a antec 380 watt 80plus psu too.

The only thing is the 380 watt psu and the fact that the case is micro atx only will limit your options for upgrading in the future.

 

Build a mac! With Snow Leopard 64bit OS, you can run Windows XP and Vista in parallel and put in as much Ram as you like! Its damn near unlimited and the system will recognize all of it