My First Build, Comments, feedback please

[Camk2004]

Hey I am building a gaming computer and I wanted you guys to pick it over and tell me how I did before I buy the components and put it all together.

Case:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

Mobo:


BIOSTAR TForce965PT LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Video Card:
XFX PVT71JYHE9 GeForce 7950GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP ExTreme Edition Video Card - Retail

Processor:


Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail

Memory:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model VS1GBKIT533D2 - Retail

Hard Drive:
HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722525DLAT80 (0A31611) 250GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA133 Hard Drive - OEM

Monitor:


SAMSUNG 941BW Black 19" 4 ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Power Supply:
RAIDMAX AURORA RX-580F ATX 580Watts Power Supply - Retail


Any feedback is greatly appreciated, I am new to the whole building process. Thanks.
It comes out to about 1200 on newegg. I could spend about 150-200 more if needed. I think mainly on upgrading the memory to 2 1 gig sticks.

[WoodenTaco]

No glaring compatibility issues. However, you might want a real hard drive, and not 1GB of memory

Also, the major limiting factor on this computer (by a lot, too) is going to be the memory. You will see a very substantial boost in performance with another 512mb-1gb of RAM.

Lots of overclocking potential here. If you want to take advantage of that, you'll have to buy a fan or two.

[UnderdawgIV]

No glaring compatibility issues. However, you might want a real hard drive, and not 1GB of memory

Also, the major limiting factor on this computer (by a lot, too) is going to be the memory. You will see a very substantial boost in performance with another 512mb-1gb of RAM.

Lots of overclocking potential here. If you want to take advantage of that, you'll have to buy a fan or two.

Meh, I am getting along fine with 1GB of memory, though I wish for more... but I slightly digress. In terms of a gaming PC, order of importance of parts to get (in order of priority):

CPU (You don't upgrade this often at all, usually 2+ years before changing)
Video Card
Motherboard (Same case with CPU, though only really matters if overclocking)
Memory
Hard Drive

Not too relevant to the OP, but thought I shoulda said it anyways.

Now to the OP:

Heres a cheaper 7950GT (512MB version):
eVGA 512-P2-N635-AR Geforce 7950GT KO 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
($240.99 after $20.00 Mail-In Rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130061

Can't go wrong with eVGA (Lifetime Warranty, awesome customer service, and step-up program huge pluses)

There is an even more cheaper one:
Foxconn FV-N79GM2D2-HPOC GeForce 7950GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 OC Video Card - Retail($209.99 after $35.00 Mail-In Rebate)


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814186005



Ditch that PSU, RAIDMAX PSUs aren't exactly know for their quality, if you want to read up on extensive guides/articles/reviews, refer to the following:

http://forum.ncix.com/forums/index.p...t=42&subpage=1
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/oth.../atx-psu5.html
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1000883

For that price range ($50), I suggest the purchase of the PSU listed below:

For the extra upgrade money, I would either get a bigger/better monitor or better/more memory (DDR2-800Mhz RAM if you are considering overclocking - which is greatly viable considering the motherboard and CPU).

That is all.

[Camk2004]

Alright so here are the changes i've made so far:

I switched to the cheaper, 512MB 7950gt..

Upgraded the memory:


CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail

I also saw a good deal on a larger monitor:



SCEPTRE X20WG-Naga Black 20.1" 5ms (GTG) DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

A new PSU:
Rosewill RP550V2-D-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX 12V V2.01 Power Supply - Retail

and added a fan:


ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 64 Pro with PWM fan control - Retail

This all totals about $1250 after the rebates and all that junk. I think it is a well put together/cost effective pc. Any more thoughts are greatly appreciated, and thank you for the great input I have gotten so far.

[HunterKYA]

I want that monitor!

[Drunken]

Camk2004, WoodenTaco was meaning the fact that under Hard Drive in you original post, you have linked to 1 gig of RAM, rather than an actual Hard Drive. (or atleast I thiunk thats what he was getting at )

[OTZ]

With a 19 or 20" LCD I don't know if you really need a 512MB card...at the native resolutions I doubt you will see much of a difference between a 256 and 512 meg card. Save the bucks and use it toward another 1GB RAM.

[UnderdawgIV]

You actually want this CPU FAN/Heatsink:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

The one you listed was the Arctic Freezer for Athlons. The above is for Core 2 Duos (Socket 775)

Also, Rosewill Psu's....... blegh..... not known for stability... Ditch it and get this unit:

FSP Group (Fortron Source)
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.2, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail $53.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

It is "only" 450 Watts, but wattage isn't everything. This FSP unit can put more power on its 12V rails than that Rosewill, plus it's efficiency is about 85% (No power lost). I don't want to explain all the technicalities, but just get this instead, it's the best for this price point (sub $50).

[Incinerate_IV]

Looks good, I agree with the PSU, Rosewill isn't really well known for making PSUs. That 450watt Fortron Source one looks good.

[Aedile Rich]

I'd go for a SATA HDD too.
I have a couple of Samsung Spinpoints which have been very reliable. I used to use IBM/Hitachi Deathstars until I did my second RMA on one.