Computer Build ?

Clarifications

sense the new stuff has come out (like the i7) prices have dropped dramatically, either sell for pennies on the dollor for what you paid for or personally keep it and give it to your kid, a better system can be built for around $600

You didn't elucidate on that point.

*However, for the level of this machine's spec, I'd have thought it prudent to have installed a DVD+/-RW rather than a DVD-ROM which will severely limit the scope of use.

Also the 400W PSU seems a bit teeny - 550W (or greater) would be a better bet.

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I personally have gone right off AMD CPU's because of the poor Chip Sets available for the M'Boards. The Intel CPU on a Intel Chip Set M'Board just work much better.

That's just my opinion though and I may be completely wrong but the Intel's that I build last a lot longer than the AMD's from my previous experience.

Your Choice of CPU fitted to a suitable Gigabyte M'Board [b]without[/b] On Board Video and then a reasonable PCI Express Video Card. Ranging from 512 MEG for Workstation use up to a Gig for Games or higher depending on the required Frame Rates and just how Video Intensive the game's will be. Personally I prefer ATI Video Cards because of all of the failing NVidia Chip Sets that have been occurring recently but if you need a NVidia Chip Set Video Card make sure that it is well cooled with a Big Heat Sink and a decent Sized Fan.

As for RAM Corsair Value Select RAM suitable for the M'Board that you chose it's cheap and ultra Reliable. But more importantly it just works with the M'Boards without issues.

Nothing other than a Antec Case & Power Supply they are just better, and a 350 W Antec PS will give as much power and filter it better than a 600 W No Name Brand. So I would say an Antec Sonata Case with a 350 W PS included and finally a DVD Burner.

These Days those Old Combo Drives are more expensive than a decent DVD Burner and the Sony IDE or SATA ones can be picked up for around the $40.00 mark.

Depending on which OS you plan to install there 4 GIG of RAM may be a waste of money as all 32 Bit Operating Systems can not use more than about 3.2 GIG and that includes the Video RAM. So if you have 4 Gigs of System RAM and 1 GIG of Video RAM that is a lot that isn't getting used and sitting there ideally eating electricity and your money.

Then depending on where you live a couple of extra Case Fans the Sonata Series Case uses 80 MM Fans and I would be fitting at least one int he front behind the Front Panel blowing air into the case and one in the back blowing air out of the case. Make sure that the Trumpet for the CPU is down all of the way covering the CPU and Ideally fit a Filter to stop it sucking in too much dust & other crud.

That's my 2 cents worth.

Col