Custom Computer

I have not built a custom computer before so Ihave found several parts. Tell me if these are any good and if the price is okay, or if I am leaving anything out that is important. This is just the desktop itself, not any accessories.


1. Biostar NF4SLi-A9 NVIDIA Socket 939 ATX Motherboard with Two (2) XFX GeForce 6600 256MB PCIe Video Cards & an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.80GHz Processor with Fan $479.99
2. Premium 2526 Blue ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB and Audio Ports and 400-Watt 24-Pin Ready Power Supply $39.99
3. Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy™ 2 ZS Sound Card
(circuitcity.com) $149.99
4. Mach Speed - SK-9521 - 10/100/1000 Gigabit PCI Ethernet Adapter $4.99
5. Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005 OEM $109.99
6. Masscool / Socket 754, 939, 940 / AMD Athlon 64 / Ball Bearing / CPU Cooling Fan $19.99
7. Maxtor / DiamondMax 10 / 160GB / 7200 / 8MB / ATA-133 / EIDE / OEM / Hard Drive $49.99
8. Corsair Value Select 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory $124.99

 

No, I don't want a floppy, and I do not need the ethernet card. Okay.

Does everything look okay as far as compatibility; will the Windows XP Media edition work on this hardware that I have? Thanks.

 

I think you should buy 6600 gt,6800 or even 6800 gt instead of 6600 sli. The 6600 sucks and so does sli.I know it because I had 6600 gt sli and it sucked in gaming.So I would prefer single card.And if you don't overclock your cpu you should buy 3200+ or 3500+ because that's required for gaming especially with sli.BTW that's very high price for Creative Sound Blaster® Audigy™ 2 ZS.

 

The sound card is on sale! Where is it cheaper because it is regular price $199.99.

I think you are talking about the card itself. The version that is on sale for $149.99 and then with a $60.00 rebate making it $89.99 comes with a drive that has firewire, RCA, optical and coax digital inputs/outputs on it, along with a remote control.

That is probably the difference there because I know they sell the sound card by itself without the other stuff included.

 

If you are going to be running dual videocards in SLI, then you should replace the elcheapo PSU that is included in the case with a higher rated one. Otherwise looks pretty nice. I think Newegg is selling that Corsair memory for under $100. Also, you can probably just use the stock HSF for your processor. $89 AR for that Audigy platinum is a great price.

 

what is psu? And what should i get that is better, and cheaper or the same?

Thanks

 

PSU= Power Supply Unit. The 400w one that came free with that case probably cost the manufacturer $5-10 to make. If it flakes out on you, it could possibly fry all your electronics (VERY expensive). Here's an entry level Nvidia SLi-certified PSU that has some pretty good reviews http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817709004 .

If you can afford a little more you can try one of these:
Antec TrupowerII http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103931 .
Thermaltake Silent Purepower 680 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153021 .

These power supplies aren't cheap, but there are definately more expensive ones out there. Good luck on your build.