System component selection comments

This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together my
first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs. I
also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently using a
1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.


Item Model Price
Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
Mouse inc
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
CPU E6600
$335
Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
HD WD5000KS 500gb
$190
DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
Modem
Monitor ASUS MW201U $379
Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24


TOTAL $1,907

I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and have
many opportunities to screw it up.

"Mellowed" wrote in message
newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together my
first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs. I
also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently using a
1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.


Item Model Price
Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
Mouse inc
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
CPU E6600
$335
Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
HD WD5000KS 500gb
$190
DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
Modem
Monitor ASUS MW201U $379
Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24


TOTAL $1,907

I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and have
many opportunities to screw it up.


One major problem, and one minor problem. Your RAM is not compatible with
your mainboard (timing, voltage, according to gigabyte). That would have
been a nasty surprise on build day. The following sets look like they will
probably work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146438 (times two)

Everything else looks good, other than the iffy quality power supply. For
about the same price, substitute the following:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101111
460W will have plenty of power to run your rig, and this one is much better
quality than the 550W you chose.

Or if you would feel better with 550W, the following will work OK on a rev.2
mainboard, and costs just a little mo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709004

Overall looks pretty good. The memory would be an easy mistake to make, and
at least the power supply you chose was not terrible, just could be better.
I cringe to see most posters list really high-end components and a 20-buck
power supply to run them, or a power supply that's included with a case
(always junk, no exceptions). So at least your choice was better than
average. -Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
reenews.net...

"Mellowed" wrote in message
newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together my
first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs. I
also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently using a
1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.


Item Model Price
Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
Mouse inc
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
CPU E6600
$335
Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
HD WD5000KS 500gb
$190
DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
Modem
Monitor ASUS MW201U $379
Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24


TOTAL $1,907

I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and have
many opportunities to screw it up.


One major problem, and one minor problem. Your RAM is not compatible with
your mainboard (timing, voltage, according to gigabyte). That would have
been a nasty surprise on build day. The following sets look like they
will probably work:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146438 (times
two)

Everything else looks good, other than the iffy quality power supply. For
about the same price, substitute the following:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101111
460W will have plenty of power to run your rig, and this one is much
better quality than the 550W you chose.

Or if you would feel better with 550W, the following will work OK on a
rev.2 mainboard, and costs just a little mo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709004

Overall looks pretty good. The memory would be an easy mistake to make,
and at least the power supply you chose was not terrible, just could be
better. I cringe to see most posters list really high-end components and a
20-buck power supply to run them, or a power supply that's included with a
case (always junk, no exceptions). So at least your choice was better
than average. -Dave

-----------------------------------------------------
Dave has good suggestions regarding the memory and PSU. Additionally, you
might want to look at these monitors, which are larger and slightly less
expensive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...NE&N=0&Ntk=all

I wouldn't get that Lite-On DVD burner; they have a reputation for being
very loud and having a relatively short lifespan. Look for something in a
similar price range from Samsung or NEC.

Since you're building your own new computer, you could save $100 by getting
the OEM version of Vista Home Premium, or upgrade to the OEM version of
Vista Ultimate for still $25 less than the retail Home Premium version that
you had selected.

Good luck to you,
--
-Russell
http://tastycomputers.com

"Dave" wrote in message
reenews.net...
:
: "Mellowed" wrote in message
: newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
: This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together
my
: first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs. I
: also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently
using a
: 1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.
:
:
: Item Model Price
: Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
: Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
: Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
: Mouse inc
: Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
: Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
: CPU E6600
: $335
: Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
: Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
: HD WD5000KS 500gb
: $190
: DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
: Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
: Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
: Modem
: Monitor ASUS MW201U
$379
: Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24
:
:
: TOTAL $1,907
:
: I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
: incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and
have
: many opportunities to screw it up.
:
:
: One major problem, and one minor problem. Your RAM is not compatible
with
: your mainboard (timing, voltage, according to gigabyte). That would
have
: been a nasty surprise on build day. The following sets look like they
will
: probably work:
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146438
(times two)
:
: Everything else looks good, other than the iffy quality power supply.
For
: about the same price, substitute the following:
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101111
: 460W will have plenty of power to run your rig, and this one is much
better
: quality than the 550W you chose.
:
: Or if you would feel better with 550W, the following will work OK on a
rev.2
: mainboard, and costs just a little mo
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709004
:
: Overall looks pretty good. The memory would be an easy mistake to
make, and
: at least the power supply you chose was not terrible, just could be
better.
: I cringe to see most posters list really high-end components and a
20-buck
: power supply to run them, or a power supply that's included with a
case
: (always junk, no exceptions). So at least your choice was better than
: average. -Dave
:
Thanks Dave. I was nervous about the RAM especially with the comments
about the Gigabyte by others. I'll go with the G.Skill.

I wasn't aware about the Power Supply. That caught me off guard. I
took a look at the AMS and it looks good. I'll also make that change.

Thanks again.

"RussellS" rsullivan@tastycomputersdotcom_replace"dot"with". " wrote in
message . ..
:
: "Dave" wrote in message
: reenews.net...
:
: "Mellowed" wrote in message
: newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
: This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together
my
: first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs.
I
: also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently
using a
: 1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.
:
:
: Item Model Price
: Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
: Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
: Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
: Mouse inc
: Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
: Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
: CPU E6600
: $335
: Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
: Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
: HD WD5000KS 500gb
: $190
: DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
: Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
: Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
: Modem
: Monitor ASUS MW201U
$379
: Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24
:
:
: TOTAL $1,907
:
: I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
: incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and
have
: many opportunities to screw it up.
:
:
: One major problem, and one minor problem. Your RAM is not
compatible with
: your mainboard (timing, voltage, according to gigabyte). That would
have
: been a nasty surprise on build day. The following sets look like
they
: will probably work:
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146438
(times
: two)
:
: Everything else looks good, other than the iffy quality power
supply. For
: about the same price, substitute the following:
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101111
: 460W will have plenty of power to run your rig, and this one is much
: better quality than the 550W you chose.
:
: Or if you would feel better with 550W, the following will work OK on
a
: rev.2 mainboard, and costs just a little mo
: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709004
:
: Overall looks pretty good. The memory would be an easy mistake to
make,
: and at least the power supply you chose was not terrible, just could
be
: better. I cringe to see most posters list really high-end components
and a
: 20-buck power supply to run them, or a power supply that's included
with a
: case (always junk, no exceptions). So at least your choice was
better
: than average. -Dave
:
: -----------------------------------------------------
: Dave has good suggestions regarding the memory and PSU. Additionally,
you
: might want to look at these monitors, which are larger and slightly
less
: expensive:
:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...NE&N=0&Ntk=all
:
: I wouldn't get that Lite-On DVD burner; they have a reputation for
being
: very loud and having a relatively short lifespan. Look for something
in a
: similar price range from Samsung or NEC.
:
: Since you're building your own new computer, you could save $100 by
getting
: the OEM version of Vista Home Premium, or upgrade to the OEM version
of
: Vista Ultimate for still $25 less than the retail Home Premium version
that
: you had selected.
:
: Good luck to you,
: --
: -Russell
: http://tastycomputers.com

Thanks for the input. I wasn't confident about the Lite-On anyhow.
I'll look into alternatives.

What are the disadvantages jof using an OEM OS?

"Mellowed" wrote in message newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together my
first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs. I
also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently using a
1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.


Item Model Price
Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
Mouse inc
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
CPU E6600
$335
Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228



HD WD5000KS 500gb
$190


I do not like the idea of these huge drives. 500 g is a bear to backup AND NO ONE SHOULD
HAVE 500 gigs of data stored on a drive, so whats the point? 2 x 250's would be my
choice.



DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
Modem
Monitor ASUS MW201U $379
Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24


TOTAL $1,907

I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and have
many opportunities to screw it up.

"RussellS" rsullivan@tastycomputersdotcom_replace"dot"with". " wrote in
message ...
:
: "Mellowed" wrote in message
: news:vzGzh.10185$Yn4.2479@trnddc03...
:
: "RussellS" rsullivan@tastycomputersdotcom_replace"dot"with". "
wrote in
: message . ..
: :
: : "Dave" wrote in message
: : reenews.net...
: :
: : "Mellowed" wrote in message
: : newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
: : This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting
together
: my
: : first system. I was looking for performance Vs value
trade-offs.
: I
: : also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm
currently
: using a
: : 1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.
: :
: :
: : Item Model Price
: : Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP
$50
: : Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
: : Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
: : Mouse inc
: : Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
$135
: : Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
: : CPU E6600
: : $335
: : Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED
$44
: : Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
: : HD WD5000KS 500gb
: : $190
: : DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
: : Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
: : Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS
$200
: : Modem
: : Monitor ASUS MW201U
: $379
: : Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24
: :
: :
: : TOTAL $1,907
: :
: : I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
: : incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this
and
: have
: : many opportunities to screw it up.
: :
: :
: : One major problem, and one minor problem. Your RAM is not
: compatible with
: : your mainboard (timing, voltage, according to gigabyte). That
would
: have
: : been a nasty surprise on build day. The following sets look
like
: they
: : will probably work:
: : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098
: : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820146438
: (times
: : two)
: :
: : Everything else looks good, other than the iffy quality power
: supply. For
: : about the same price, substitute the following:
: : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817101111
: : 460W will have plenty of power to run your rig, and this one is
much
: : better quality than the 550W you chose.
: :
: : Or if you would feel better with 550W, the following will work
OK on
: a
: : rev.2 mainboard, and costs just a little mo
: : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817709004
: :
: : Overall looks pretty good. The memory would be an easy mistake
to
: make,
: : and at least the power supply you chose was not terrible, just
could
: be
: : better. I cringe to see most posters list really high-end
components
: and a
: : 20-buck power supply to run them, or a power supply that's
included
: with a
: : case (always junk, no exceptions). So at least your choice was
: better
: : than average. -Dave
: :
: : -----------------------------------------------------
: : Dave has good suggestions regarding the memory and PSU.
Additionally,
: you
: : might want to look at these monitors, which are larger and
slightly
: less
: : expensive:
: :
:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...NE&N=0&Ntk=all
: :
: : I wouldn't get that Lite-On DVD burner; they have a reputation for
: being
: : very loud and having a relatively short lifespan. Look for
something
: in a
: : similar price range from Samsung or NEC.
: :
: : Since you're building your own new computer, you could save $100
by
: getting
: : the OEM version of Vista Home Premium, or upgrade to the OEM
version
: of
: : Vista Ultimate for still $25 less than the retail Home Premium
version
: that
: : you had selected.
: :
: : Good luck to you,
: : --
: : -Russell
: : http://tastycomputers.com
:
: Thanks for the input. I wasn't confident about the Lite-On anyhow.
: I'll look into alternatives.
:
: What are the disadvantages jof using an OEM OS?
:
: -----------------------------------------------------
: The main three differences between the retail/upgrade versions and the
OEM
: versions of Vista a
:
: 1. The OEM version is only licensed for installation by a system
builder
: (you, if you're building your own) and you'd be providing your own
tech
: support for the OS
:
: 2. The license ties the operating system with the original computer
(can't
: re-use it on another system that you might build/buy at a later date.)
: Component upgrades in your original system are OK, but you may have to
talk
: to a Microsoft activation rep on the phone if you've reinstalled the
OS a
: number of times and/or have upgraded major components.
:
: 3. The OEM versions cost quite a bit less, of course.
:
: I've attached the actual License Agreement in RTF format that is on
the OEM
: Vista DVDs, if you'd like to read it.
:
: Hope this helps.
: --
: -Russell
: http://tastycomputers.com
:
Thanks for the license info. I wouldn't us MS tech support anyhow. I'm
not sure about any systems restrictions. I doubt that would be a
problem.

I would NEVER use a $55 550 watt PSU..At that price for that power output
they are using CHEAP components that will not last and will NOT provide a
full 550 wattts at operating temperature.

--
DaveW

----------------
"Mellowed" wrote in message
newsqqzh.1559$TG6.479@trnddc06...
This is the parts list that I am about to order in putting together my
first system. I was looking for performance Vs value trade-offs. I
also tend to keep a computer for many years. i.e. I'm currently using a
1998 PII-400 with upgrades along the way.


Item Model Price
Case CoolerMaster RC-534-KKN2-GP $50
Power Supply Epower ZU-550W ATX12 VER2.0 $55
Keyboard Microsoft Comfort Curve 2000 B2L-00047 $22
Mouse inc
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $135
Memory Patriot PDC22G6400LLK 2gb 800mhz $200
CPU E6600
$335
Heat Sink Zalman CNPS9500LED $44
Operating System Win Vista Hm Premium - retail $228
HD WD5000KS 500gb
$190
DVD/CD Lite-On SH-16A7S-06 SATA $37
Floppy SONY MPF 920 Black OEM $8
Video Card Nvidia Gforce 7900GS $200
Modem
Monitor ASUS MW201U $379
Wireless card EDIMAX EW-7128G PCI $24


TOTAL $1,907

I would appreciate comments on any omissions, warnings,
incompatibilities, better choices, etc. I'm 'green' at this and have
many opportunities to screw it up.

"DaveW" wrote in message
...
I would NEVER use a $55 550 watt PSU..At that price for that power output
they are using CHEAP components that will not last and will NOT provide a
full 550 wattts at operating temperature.

--
DaveW

Not necessarily. There are good ones and bad ones. Some of the
lesser-known good ones can be found at bargain prices. The epower is not
one of the good ones, though. -Dave