im new to building computers. this is my very first build. what i really need to know is if all these parts are compatible. i have been on many websites with people just telling me what to get and what not to get. i need to know how to tell if parts are compatible so i can build on my own. here is a list of my parts. thanks for all the help! -spencer Motherboard (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4008497&CatId=1572) processor (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2905631) graphics card (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4114035&CatId=2306) ram (http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.aspx?IMODULE=CT2KIT25664BA1339) power supply (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3247721&CatId=2533) hard drive Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4131881&CatId=2459) case (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3424759&CatId=1510) cd drive (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4283338&CatId=89) cpu fan (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2882724&CatId=1588)
The parts are compatible, but you can do better and save money. Change the Motherboard, RAM, and Video Card. I am not sure if the CPU cooler is good. Someone else can comment on that. here are some suggestions: Video Card: HD 4850 Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-UD3R RAM: Dominator DDR2 1066MHz The DDR3 RAM is pointless. High performance DDR2 will save you money and performance will be the same, if not better. To tell if parts are compatible, you have to look at the specs of the motherboard. Really, you would pick the processor you want first and then find a matching motherboard. For example, the Intel board you chose supports; DDR3 RAM up to 2GB per slot. Also LGA775 CPU. It has 2x PCIe 16x slots for video cards. So when looking for components, you will need an LGA775 CPU (like the Q6600), DDR3 RAM, and a PCI Express Video Card. HDD, DVDRW and such are universal. For the case, you look at the form factor. The Motherboard is ATX, so you want an ATX case. The PSU, you just want a quality PSU that will supply enough power to your components. There are ways to calculate the power requirements. Your PC would need about 350 watts, so you can be safe with a GOOD 450 watt PSU. However, that PC Power & Cooling unit for $80 is a very good deal. It gives you lots of room to upgrade in the future. I have the same unit except in blue. For the CPU fan, you would want one that matches the socket of the CPU. Since you have an LGA775 CPU, you want a fan that supports LGA775. Some need some type of modification. The fan you chose looks compatible.
The motherboard is terrible. JaguarGod's recommended board is far better. The CPU is fine, but it's cheaper at newegg. The graphics card is overpriced, and a very mediocre performer in this day and age. The HD4850 is a much better bet. Since the motherboard has been changed, DDR3 is no longer necessary (you won't see any performance benefit from using it over DDR2) The Power supply is fine, if a bit overkill for your use, and I personally dislike having vast piles of cables everywhere as they are difficult to manage, but it does save you a lot of money not buying a modular PSU. The hard disk is fine, if rather inefficient. The case is horrendously overpriced for what is basically a large version of a $20 cheapo case., with similar build quality. The DVD drive is fine, but the cooler is very unexemplary, for the huge price. Here is a better parts list Core 2 Quad Q6600: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017 Gigabyte EP45-UD3R: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359 4GB Corsair XMS2: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145214 Sapphire HD4850: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 WD 1TB Black: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284 Corsair HX 520W: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139001 Antec Three Hundred: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042 LG 22x DVDRW: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152 Freezer 7 Pro: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186134
Alright guys here is my new build let me know what you think. Computer parts for build: Case Apevia X-Cruiser ATX Black ($79.99) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1446794&Sku=A107-1050 Cpu Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 ($189.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017 Cpu fan ZEROtherm ($39.99) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2882724&CatId=1588 Motherboard ATX Intel Motherboard ($119.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359 Memory CORSAIR DOMINATOR 4GB ($74.00) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145214 Video card SAPPHIRE 100245L ($154.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770 Sound card Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE ($29.99) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1870098&CatId=2771 Hard drive Western Digital ($119.99) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136284 Cd drive Lite-ON DVD Burner ($29.99) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4291644&CatId=482 Power supply PC Power & Cooling ($79.99) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3247721&CatId=2533 OS Windows vista home premium ($109.99) http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2864281&CatId=3778 Total = $918.91
I cannot comment on the CPU cooler or the case, but the rest of the build is good. The Arctic Freezer 7 Pro that sammorris suggests is a very good cooler. It will give the Q6600 some overclock room. It looks to me like you are looking for a case with a side window. I have an NZXT Alpha Black and it performs well. I had to do a slight modification so my Tuniq Tower can fit, but it looks very nice. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811146041 I would not know which performs better between the cases mentioned here. Sammorris would know best.
http://www.arctic-cooling.com/cpu2.php?idx=79 According to the specs on the Arctic Cooling website, it does support Core 2 Quad. Newegg says "Core 2 Extreme Quad", which is the same thing. Extreme chips just have unlocked multipliers and an "X" in the name like QX6700 vs. Q6700 and the price doubles because of that
can you guys let me know which video card is better. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4114035&CatId=2306 or http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102770
The Freezer 7 Pro is compatible with any CPU for Socket 775, which includes all Core 2 Quads. The HD4850 is also miles better than the 9600GT (about 80-90% faster) In my opinion the NZXT Alpha is better than the Apevia case as well.
