A New System

[swimwin39]

Would you say that this would be a good system?
(A * indicates already bought)

CPU:
AMD Mobile Athlon 64 3000+ (DTR) ClawHammer 800MHz FSB 1MB L2 Cache Socket 754 Processor - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103470
MOBO:
MSI K8M800-CE Socket 754 VIA K8M800 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E1681
*HARD DRIVE:
Maxtor 250 GB SATA
http://accessories.gateway.com/AccessoryStore/PC+Accessories_316441/Drives+_A1_+Storage_316507/Hard+Drives_316513/ATA_F1_IDE+Hard+Drives_381945/12557602_ProdDetail?cm_ven=SHP&cm_ite=ADF&sg=hm&ph1=8005552091
RAM:
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145526
*VIDEO CARD:
Raedon X700 PRO
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814103168
*Monitor:
Hyvision MV178 Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor - Retailhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824205006
CASE:
Im not sure about the type or PSU
Any suggestions?

[saphalline]

Welcome to the PC Guide Forums!! :D

What will you be using this new system for? And what's your budget? You might want to take a look at my sticky (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=39018) for recommended components.

As you have it right now, those core parts aren't a wise decision, mainly because they wouldn't work together. The CPU is an OEM version of a laptop CPU, so it doesn't come with an HSF unit. The vid card won't fit into the mobo, and neither will the RAM. Sorry, but those aren't good parts.

[swimwin39]

I'll be using it for some gaming and work on microsoft office.
My budget's about 700.
Could you give me a mobo that the two (video card and ram) will fit into?
Also, what cpu around that price would youe recommend?
Thanks

[swimwin39]

How about:
Athlon64 3200+ Venice
Gigabyte GA-K8NE (NForce4-4X) Socket 754
Corsair ValueSelect 1GB kit (2 x 512MB) PC3200 DDR400 or Corsair ValueSelect 1GB kit (2 x 512MB) PC2-4200 DDR2-533
With the Raedon X700 PRO and Maxtor 250 GB SATA

[saphalline]

DDR2 won't work with AMD, and I would recommend AMD for gaming and such. So let's go with Corsiar ValueSelect 1GB kit DDR400 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440) for about $80.

For the CPU & mobo, on the low-end we have the Sempron64 2800+ retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104245) and the Gigabyte GA-K8NE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128308) for $149 together. Moving up on the performance bracket, there's the Athlon64 3200+ retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535) and the MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130484) for $300 together.

For the PSU, you shouldn't need anything more than the Antec SmartPower 2.0 500W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937) for $78.

What else do you need?

EDIT - Haha, yes that looks good.

[swimwin39]

wait, so the system above with the 3200 will work?

[saphalline]

The parts that I gave will work together, but that Gigabyte mobo won't work the 3200+ Venice. They're different sockets. So the Gigabyte GA-K8NE will work with the Sempron64, and the MSI mobo will work with the Athlon64 Venice.

It's like a big puzzle, really. You have to make sure all the parts will fit together...

[swimwin39]

What case will work, and will this system work for gaming?

[saphalline]

Yep, this system will work for gaming. Well, as long as you do it right! ;) But we can help you with that, too.

Cases are more user preference so it's up to you which one you want. Any standard ATX case will work for your system. Here are some highlights:

Antec Super LANBOY silver (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129145)

Antec Performance PlusView II black (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129164)

Thermaltake Tsuanmi black (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133132)

Cooler Master WaveMaster silver (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119023)

Raidmax Horizon black (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811156041)

These cases give you an idea of what's out there.

[swimwin39]

A couple final ?s: Would you recommen a lite-on drive and thermaltake fan. And how about this case?
APEX PC-336 Black/Silver Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811154054
I really appreciate all of your help. You totally saved me a bunch of time and $.

[saphalline]

I use Lite-On drives almost exclusively, but lately this NEC drive (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152056) has been my favorite because of its speed.

Thermaltake makes good fans. But are you talking case fans or what?

That case has poor airflow, which is not a good thing for a gaming system. Try not to skimp too much on the case. That Raidmax I linked to is probably one of the cheapest cases you'll find that's still good enough for a gaming system.

[swimwin39]

Whats a good and cheap PSU?

[saphalline]

Whats a good and cheap PSU?Hehe, no such thing. Good PSU's costs upwards of $60 unless they're on sale. The Antec PSU I linked to above is a 500W ATX 3.0 unit. Very high quality, very good deal for the money. The two most important parts for any computer are the mobo and the PSU.