Just checking for anything wrong with this build

[Conn92]

Hey guys, well, first off, I'm a gamer looking for a new system for christmas, my budget is 600 but I'd like to get away with slightly cheaper as I will be paying some of the cost, but basically, I've been checking the site, it's very nice with great prices, now, I've built a system before and I was just wondering if you guys could check to see this build is OK and if I need anything else added to it?

Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz (Retail 775) (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/Intel/Core+2+Duo/Intel+Core+2+Duo+E6550+2.33GHz+%28Retail+775%29+?p roductId=27971)

nVidia GeForce 8600GT 256MB PCI-E (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/PCI-E/nVIDIA+GeForce+8+Series/nVidia+GeForce+8600GT+256MB+PCI-E+?productId=26918)OCZ 2GB PC2-6400 SO-DIMM (2x1GB) (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/Laptop/OCZ+2GB+PC2-6400+SO-DIMM+%282x1GB%29+?productId=28859)

320GB IBM-Hitachi Deskstar SATA2 16MB (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Hard+Drives/Serial+ATA/320GB+IBM-Hitachi+Deskstar+SATA2+16MB+?productId=24793)

ASUS M2N-E SLi nF500 Socket AM2 Motherboard (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+AM2+%28AMD%29/ASUS+M2N-E+SLi+nF500+Socket+AM2+Motherboard+?productId=2563 2)19" Hanton H340 Wide LCD DVI Monitor - Black (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Displays/Monitors/TFT+19/19%22+Hanton+H340+Wide+LCD+DVI+Monitor+-+Black?productId=28994)

X-Blade MIDI Tower Case - Silver (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/+X-Blade+MIDI+Tower+Case+-+Silver?productId=16834)

Terratec Aureon 7.1 PCI Sound Card - Dolby Digital Live! (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Sound+Cards/Terratec+Aureon+7.1+PCI+Sound+Card+-+Dolby+Digital+Live%21+?productId=29235)

OCZ 600W GameXStream SLI Ready PSU (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/500w+%2B/OCZ+600W+GameXStream+SLI+Ready+PSU+?productId=2458 6)LITEON DH-20A4P-21C 20x DVDRW - Black (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CD%2FDVD+Drives/DVD-R%2FRW+Writer/LITEON+DH-20A4P-21C+20x+DVDRW+-+Black+?productId=28914)

Also, I'm not too sure about the DVD drive, what capabilities does that drive have? Can it write and watch DVD-R/RW's and CDs or just DVD-Rs or what? If anyone could explain a bit I'd really appreciate it!
Thanks in advance,
Connor

[Micky007]

ok you carnt have the motherboard as thats an AM2 which means an AMD Motherboard, since you want a Core 2 Duo you want a motherboard out of this lot.

https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/

But from going off the price of the last motherboard you picked id buy this one.

https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/Asus+P5KPL-VM%2C+iG31+LGA775+Core2+Quad+%2F+Extreme+%2F+Core2 +Duo+?productId=28610

Also id pick a diffrent hard drive, i dont like Hitachi but thats my opinion
.
Also you havent picked any Ram(Memory) to go with the PC, i recomend 2GB.

Regarding the dvd drive, it can play & burn any cd/dvd.

[Conn92]

Thanks, I did pick RAM but I must have accidently deleted it in the paste, also I remembered I need an OS :(. That brings my cart to 660 plus shipping and I just can't afford it...

[Lynx]

DVD+R, DVD+R multi-sessions, DVD-RW, and DVD+RW
those dvd writing capabilities, and cds.

As for the gfx, do you need Dx10 power? if so then only the GT or higher, i would personally recomend trimming some 'fat' elsewhere and getting a 8800gt.

Also, the nf500 is the old chipset, go for the newer chipsets. The mobo is wrong too, youve picked a AM2 mobo for a 775 proc. Pick something like the 650 sli if you want a real good mobo.

[Micky007]

If i was you, id have a look at this topic and then do some upgrading on a few things untill your happy with your system and its comes in reach of your budget.

http://www.aria.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=3081

[Micky007]

ok this is what iv come up with for you:

Cd/Dvd Player: LITEON DH-20A4P-21C 20x DVDRW - Black (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CD%2FDVD+Drives/DVD-R%2FRW+Writer/LITEON+DH-20A4P-21C+20x+DVDRW+-+Black+?productId=28914)
Case: Thermaltake Soprano - Black, Window Side Panel (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Cases/MIDI+Tower/Thermaltake+Soprano+-+Black%2C+Window+Side+Panel+?productId=27594)
CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66GHz (Retail 775) (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/CPUs+%2F+Processors/Intel/Core+2+Duo/Intel+Core+2+Duo+E6750+2.66GHz+%28Retail+775%29+?p roductId=27972)
Memory: Patriot 2GB PC2-5300 Extreme Performance (2x1GB) (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/DDR2/DDR2+667+%28PC5300%2F5400%29/Patriot+2GB+PC2-5300+Extreme+Performance+%282x1GB%29+?productId=26 801)
Motherboard: ABit IL9 Pro Socket 775 (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Motherboards/Socket+775+%28Intel%29/+ABit+IL9+Pro+Socket+775?productId=25424)
Hard Drive: 160GB Samsung Spinpoint SATA2 8MB (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Hard+Drives/Serial+ATA/160GB+Samsung+Spinpoint+SATA2+8MB+?productId=24013 )
Monitor TFT: 19" Hanton H340 Wide LCD DVI Monitor - Black (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Displays/Monitors/TFT+19/19%22+Hanton+H340+Wide+LCD+DVI+Monitor+-+Black?productId=28994)
Sound Card: Terratec Aureon 7.1 PCI Sound Card - Dolby Digital Live! (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Sound+Cards/Terratec+Aureon+7.1+PCI+Sound+Card+-+Dolby+Digital+Live%21+?productId=29235)
PSU: OCZ 600W GameXStream SLI Ready PSU (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Power+Supplies/500w+%2B/OCZ+600W+GameXStream+SLI+Ready+PSU+?productId=2458 6)
Graphics Card: MSI GeForce 8600GTS 256MB PCI-E (https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Graphics+Cards/PCI-E/nVIDIA+GeForce+8+Series/MSI+GeForce+8600GTS+256MB+PCI-E+?productId=26874)

TOTAL = £591

[mac124]

Micky's recommendations are good but i would go for faster memory, ddr2 667 just wouldn't be good enough imho.

I would recommend this https://www.aria.co.uk/Products/Components/Memory/DDR2/DDR2+800+%28PC6400%29/OCZ+2GB+PC2-6400+Platinum+Rev+2.0+%282x1GB%29+?productId=26605 , ocz platinum, its only £10 more than the stuff Micky recommended, also drop the sound card if you can't stretch to the extra £10 as most motherboars have decent onboard sound and you can upgrade later if you feel the need to.

[Biodoid]

don't forget guys he also said he needs an OS

[cleggypdc]

if going for gaming i'd recommend XP, if you like to mess around then Vista 64-Bit, but that can be fun :), i have both dual booted for Dx10 Support.

[Micky007]

Hmmm getting an OS will go over your budget. But im sure you will b e able to find £50 somwhere.

[Conn92]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys, I'll see what I can do with all those suggestions and I'll come back if I need more advice :).
Thanks again
Connor

Edit: Despite the reviews of Vista I must say I'd rather go with Vista as I'd love to try it and it's only a matter of time before XP is obsolete. Also, by gaming, I don't need cutting edge stuff, the system will mostly be running source engine games like Counter Strike Source although it would be nice to maybe play some newer games although for a system at this price I don't expect high framerates on them or to be able to run newer games on high settings.

[cleggypdc]

:) vista is a nice OS, if you would like any tips on what to disable in it to get the most out of it performance wise just lemme know.

[PeterStoba]

:) vista is a nice OS, if you would like any tips on what to disable in it to get the most out of it performance wise just lemme know.

I wouldn't mind it

[tystar]

:) vista is a nice OS, if you would like any tips on what to disable in it to get the most out of it performance wise just lemme know.

Perhaps Cleggy could make a new thread with details on and make it a sticky??

[Micky007]

Cleggys Vista Reviews :p

[melblakey]

Whats happened to these tips cleggy?
Ive just got a new lappy with Vista on it and Im finding it painfully 'sluggish'.
Seriously thinking of wiping it and puttin XP on instead.........

[Micky007]

uninstall Vista and install XP ;)