First time builder, would like opinions

[ReNeGaDe*]

Hi I know there's quite a few other threads liek this, but I wouldn't want to be seen as 'jacking' someones thread so I thought I'd make my own. I'm building my first ever pc (I'm only 16) after a significant cash injection following the best ever exam resutls in my whole family (8A*s and 2As at GCSE is pretty good ) so I've been researching stuff and making lists and all since the end of June. The other day I finalised my list and started ordering parts yesterday, so i'd like any tips, feedback etc on this.

Case
Thermaltake Tsunami Dreams VA3000SWA (Silver Window) - £77 - komplett.co.uk
Antec PSU True Blue 480w Blue Led Fan - £75 - local store

Processor
Athlon 64 3000+ S754 1MB OEM - £110 - overclockers.co.uk

Motherboard
MSI K8N nForce3 250 (Socket 754) - £82 - overclockers.co.uk

Memory
Kingmax PC3500 tinyBGA Color 433Mhz 1GB (2 x 512Mb) Dual Channel - £110 - overclock.co.uk

Graphics Card
BFG GeForce 6800 GT OC - £260 - PC World

Drives
2x Hitachi Deskstar 7K250 160GB S-ATA 8MB cache 7200RPM - £128 (2x£64) - scan.co.uk
Pioneer DVR-108 Double Layer Dual 16x DVD-R/RW - OEM Biege - £65 - scan.co.uk
Benq 16x48 IDE DVD-ROM Drive - Retail Box - £18 - scan.co.uk
Mitsumi FA402M 1.44 Ivory FDD+Int C - £15 - scan.co.uk

TOTAL COST: £982

I haven't bothered working out the total cost exactly so it might come out at a few quid more but its around that. So far I am yet to order the RAM, gfx card and PSU. I might be getting them all today, though, so I was wondering what you guys think. Especially about the RAM, cause I'm not so sure about it, but I want to try and keep it all under £1000. Any comments will be appreciated

EDIT: Forgot to mention that I'm not bothered about a monitor and speakers atm, I can make do with my 3 year old 15 inch TFT and lamey speakers for now, as having a 17 inch TFT and 7.1 surround would add another £350 on, so If I can squeeze my parents for a little more money then I'll think of getting the following:

Sound Card
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Zs - Pci Soundcard With 7.1 Dts Support - £50 - ebuyer.co.uk

Speakers
Inspire T7700 7.1 - 5 X 8w. 1 X 20w Center Channel. 1 X 22w Subwoofer. Rms - £85 - ebuyer.co.uk

Monitor
Wiseview 1770A-MG 17ins TFT Multimedia Black (Samsung-OEM) - £211 - ebuyer.co.uk

 

[Clockworks]

Wow. You really know your hardware, that's everything that I would order but I don't know about the monitor and the speakers, ask the other parts of the forum about it, such as the display thread. As for the RAM, 754 doesn't support dual channel but you will still get that GB of RAM working.

P.S. Think about getting a Seagate HD instead of Deskstar. Deskstars were called Deathstars for a reason.

 

[Stugots]

i have those same hitachi hdd's and they are working great for me, no problems what so ever.

look to see if you can find the new nec 3500 dvdrw, it might be cheaper than that pioneer you have priced out.

 

[GodsMadClown]

There is a Chaintech NF3 250 board that is supposed to be pretty good and cheap.

Also, see if you can find a FSP530-60GNA powersupply. They are phenomenal power supplies, and better than most every Antec PS.

I also tend to like Lite-on DVD drives.

 

[sparkles]

also note that when you buy an oem cpu you do not get a cooler.

something to bear in mind given that you're close to your stated budget already!

 

[ReNeGaDe*]

Well I just got back from the local computer store, having spent almost £600 I ended up getting some Kingston HyperX PC3700 Ram, a Chaintech 6800GT (no BFGs to be seen anywhere here) and the Antec Trueblue PSU. This morning my motherboard arrived, as did my CPU and my Akasa CPU HSF and fan. Now I have everything and am only waiting for the drives to arrive. Hopefully I should have this done by Tuesday (ordered parts today and it's a bank holiday on Monday ) Thanks guys