Building a computer

[DUELMASTER30]

I've found some decent parts that are cheap-ish and compatible with each other (I hope) but I'm not sure where to go from here. I have these so far:

 

Mobo:

ASUS P5N-VM WS/TW100-E5 LGA 775 NVIDIA Integrated Quadro FX470 uATX Intel Core2 processors / Pentium D / Pentium 4 /Celeron CPU / 45nm, Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo Server Motherboard - OEM

[hide=Specs.]

Model

Brand ASUS

Model P5N-VM WS/TW100-E5

Supported CPU

CPU Socket Type LGA 775

CPU Type Intel Core2 processors / Pentium D / Pentium 4 /Celeron CPU / 45nm, Core 2 Extreme/Core 2 Quad/Core 2 Duo

System Bus 1333/1066MHz

Supported CPU Technologies Hyper-Threading Technology

Chipsets

North Bridge NVIDIA Integrated Quadro FX470

Memory

Number of DDR2 Slots 4 x 240Pin

DDR2 Standard DDR2 800

Maximum Memory Supported 8GB

Channel Supported Dual Channel

Expansion Slots

PCI Express 2.0 x 16 1

PCI Express x1 1 x PCIe x 1 (x4 Slot) for optional SAS card

1 x PCIe x 1 (x1 Slot)

PCI Slots 1

Storage Devices

SATA 6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s

SATA RAID 0/1/5

Onboard Video

Onboard Video Chipset Integrated Quadro FX470

Onboard Audio

Audio Chipset ADI AD1988B

Audio Channels 8 Channels

Onboard LAN

LAN Chipset Realtek 8111C

LAN Speed 10/100/1000Mbps

Second LAN Chipset Realtek 8111C

Second LAN Speed 10/100/1000Mbps

Max LAN Speed Dual 10/100/1000Mbps

Rear Panel Ports

PS/2 1

Video Ports 2 x DVI-I port ( Upper: DVI-I(single link, 1920 x 1200), Lower: DVI(dual link, 2560 x 1600) )

USB 1.1/2.0 6 x USB 2.0

Physical Spec

Form Factor uATX

Dimensions 9.6" x 9.6"

Manufacturer Warranty

Parts 3 years limited

Labor 3 years limited[/hide]

 

Processor:

Intel Pentium E5300 Wolfdale 2.6GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor - Retail

[hide=Specs.]Intel Pentium E5300 Wolfdale 2.6GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Desktop Processor - Retail [/hide]

 

RAM:Crucial 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model CT2KIT25664AA800 - Retail

[hide=Specs.]Model

Brand Crucial

Model CT2KIT25664AA800

Type 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM

Tech Spec

Capacity 4GB (2 x 2GB)

Speed DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Cas Latency 6

Voltage 1.8V

ECC No

Buffered/Registered Unbuffered

Multi-channel Kit Dual Channel Kit

Heat Spreader No

Manufacturer Warranty

Parts Lifetime limited

Labor Lifetime limited[/hide]

 

Case:

AZZA Helios 910 Black Japanese SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

[hide=Specs.]Model

Brand AZZA

Model Helios 910

Spec

Type ATX Mid Tower

Color Black

Case Material Japanese SECC Steel

With Power Supply No

Power Supply Mounted Bottom

Motherboard Compatibility ATX, E-ATX, Micro ATX

With Side Panel Window No

Expansion

External 5.25" Drive Bays 9

External 3.5" Drive Bays 1

Internal 3.5" Drive Bays 4

Expansion Slots 7

Front Ports

Front Ports USB / Audio

Cooling System

80mm Fans No

120mm Fans 1 x 120mm fan in rear

140mm Fans 1 x 140mm blue LED silent fan (19DBA) in front

1 x 140mm black fan on the top

230mm Fans 1 x 230mm blue LED silent fan (24DBA) on side

Physical Spec

Dimensions(L x W x H) 18.10" x 8.10" x 19.70"

Features

Features Cable Management

Easy Assembling

USB & Audio Ports Located on Top

Manufacturer Warranty

Parts 1 year limited

Labor 1 year limited[/hide]

 

HDD

HITACHI Deskstar 7K1000.C HDS721032CLA362 (0A39264) 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

[hide=Specs.]Model

Brand HITACHI

Series Deskstar 7K1000.C

Model HDS721032CLA362 (0A39264)

Packaging Bare Drive

Performance

Interface SATA 3.0Gb/s

Capacity 320GB

RPM 7200 RPM

Cache 16MB

Physical Spec

Form Factor 3.5"

Features

Features Halogen-free design for eco-friendly footprint

Built on award-winning proven design

Manufacturer Warranty

Parts 3 years limited

Labor 3 years limited[/hide]

 

So I just have a few questions after that.

 

Will any CD/Optical drive work as long as they connect? I'm looking for a decent one that isn't too expensive, but if they have to be a certain type I'm looking for one that can do certain things.

Will any power supply connect or does it have to be a certain type?

Do I need to get any other video/graphics cards? The motherboard has built in ones but if they aren't that good I'd rather get a good one.

Besides all of these, what else do I need for a good computer?

 

If any of you have any suggestions that aren't too expensive I'd love to hear them.

 

I know I need a mouse/keyboard/monitor but I can get those myself.

[Sbrideau]

I would get something that isn't ancient that a socket 775 Motherboard and even would stay far away form old Pentium processors. Get an I7 or an I5 instead, but that means it's giong to cost more since the RAM isn't going to be the same neither.

[DUELMASTER30]

I would get something that isn't ancient that a socket 775 Motherboard and even would stay far away form old Pentium processors. Get an I7 or an I5 instead, but that means it's giong to cost more since the RAM isn't going to be the same neither.

What type of Mobo would you recommend? I'm looking for something that isn't super expensive either, hopefully between 100-200 dollars. If you gave me a good one to work off of I could probably find most of the other stuff.

[JoeDaStudd]

Don't buy into the 775 socket (or AM2 for amd) and don't buy DDR2.

 

You need to read through some articles to get a better grasp of computers in general before you actually start looking to build one.

 

The actual building will take 30 to 60 minutes, but picking the parts and reading up on them can take days if not weeks of research.

 

A few questions:

What do you want this computer for?

If you said gaming what resolution monitor do you want to play on and which games are you mainly looking at?

Whats your budget and country?

How much computer knowledge do you have?

Have you ever looked inside the case of a PC?

Have you ever installed an operating system?

[shawn3090]

Here's an optical that will get the job done (no blu-ray or that junk):

 

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM

[indy500fan]

Here's an optical that will get the job done (no blu-ray or that junk):

 

Sony Optiarc Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache SATA DVD/CD Rewritable Drive - OEM

 

Don't want to thread hi-jack, but quick question: is there any DVD drive that reads at faster than 16x?

[DUELMASTER30]

What do you want this computer for?

Mainly downloading things, surfing the internet with some gaming in it.

 

If you said gaming what resolution monitor do you want to play on and which games are you mainly looking at?

I'm not sure about these two yet, but nothing too extreme. I mainly play on my xbox because all of my friends play there.

 

Whats your budget and country?

Nothing over $1000 and USA.

 

How much computer knowledge do you have?

Not an extreme amount, but I'd say above average.

 

Have you ever looked inside the case of a PC?

Yes, I tried to fix my computer before but the HDD had failed so we just took it in.

 

Have you ever installed an operating system?

No, it came pre-installed on our last computer.

[JoeDaStudd]

In which case this would most likely be more then enough

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103809

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227479

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139008

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128411

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151192

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152185

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116754

 

It comes out at Subtotal: $621.93

Add a case of your choice and if you want to play anything more then the odd source game you can add a $100 graphics card.

 

If your not a gamer just install Ubuntu as it will be enough for downloading stuff and browsing the web.