First build, would appreciate advice

[mrjkwik]

Even though this is my first build, I have tore apart my existing pc and put it back together before.

This is also going to be my first attempt at overclocking. I'm going to be placing my order in the next couple days, and would like to run a few of the componets by you guys and get your opinion/approval/alternate suggestion. I've been reading a lot on the forums the past few weeks while getting the boss's approval (in otherwords, the wife).

Typical use, lots of multitasking. Photoshop, multimedia, ect. I've never been into Pc gaming, but have been considering giving it a shot. Thats why I picked an SLI board. The "just in case factor"

I'm also trying to build it with componets that I could easily expand/upgrade in the future.

so, here's my list of the componets that matter:

AMD 64 x2 4800+ (though I am debating the x2 4400+ for the costs. just havent much on what kind of numbers people are getting out of the 4800)

DFI Lanparty UT nF4 SLI-DR (seems to be "THE" board for oc'ing, though I know its not recommended for noobs. As long as it works at start, I'm willing ot work on my learning curve. Also seems the best board that Newegg has in stock right now (getting everything from them)

OCZ 2GB (2 x 1 GB) DDR400 Dual Channel Platinum This is probably the grayest area for me. Not sure if its best to go with the ddr400 and oc it, or go with a higher ddr#. Help here would be really appreciated.

WD Caviar SE WD2500JS SATA HD I know that I've read here that there really isnt much difference between a SATA drive and an IDE, but for 100 bucks for 250gbs, and the smaller cables for airflow, seemed like a better idea. Seems as though Raptors are suggested, but since I'm not gaming yet, I dont see the point for my usage.

MSI NX7800GT or ASUS EN6800GT Is the 7800gt overkill for my usage?

The powersupply is the 500w supply that comes in the XG Dragon case. From the reviews that I read, nobody had said theirs had popped yet. So I was hoping it will be good enough for now. The case/ps is $189. The reason I like the case itself is the style, the handle (even though I dont do the lan thing, I do tend to move my setup around. the temp ps, removable mb tray, and the cooling setup. If someone knows of a similar case and better ps setup for 200 or less, by all means let me know.

I think my 2 biggest concerns are if I'm wasting money on the x2 4800+ (save $290 getting the 4400+) and on the 7800gt ($50 dollar savings, unless even 6800gt is too much for my usage). Second concern is the powersupply.

Well, I'll apologize, I figure you guys see these threads all the time and I wrote more than I intended, but really dont want to waste my money. I'm willing to pay it if I'll need it. The one I'm on is a 3 year old P4 that just needs to go.

Thanks ahead of time.

[AJF]

The X2 5000+ rolls out soon, but if you're not willing to wait for any price changes or are willing to wait for that processor itself, it's really up to you whether you go for a 4400+ or a 4800+. If you buy a 4400+, you can overclock it and get much the same performance you would from a stock speed 4800+, but you also can overclock a 4800+ to go even faster.

Whether or not that price difference is worth it to you is, as that statements says, really up to you. Many people have found the 4400+ a good value for their money.

And there is no such thing as graphics card overkill unless you plan to upgrade it anyway in the near future. A good graphics card is an investment into the games of today and tomorrow, ;)

Your RAM is good, too, unless you plan to do some Earth-melting overclocking.

[Ampz]

Get a DFI expert.

[[XC] leviathan18]

i would say... this

amd athlon x2 4400

2 gigs kit crucial ballistix

1 250gb hdd sata II hitachi deskstar and 1 74gb raptor

1 7800gt xfx

1 ocz powerstream 520w or pc power and cooling 510 turbo cool NEVER and i said this very truly NEVER use a combo case psu.. THEY SUX

1 lian li 1200b plus there is no case that matches this one

and finally any LCD you considere fine from our lcd buyers guide i like the 2005fpw from dell or a very good 19"

[KoolDrew]

I would consider getting an Opteron. They have more cache and overclock a bit better. Forget about the SLI motherboard. SLI is just a complete waste of money. If you want to do some serious overclocking get some Crucial ballistix. However, it may be a wise choice to just go with value RAM as the real-world performance difference would be negligible. I do think the 7800Gt is overkill. Get a 6800GS. I would also definitely get a better PSU. Get a case and PSu seperate. For the PSu I would recommend a Seasonic S12-500.