Need some help on first-time build

[ChrisDude]

After doing tons of research into all manner of computer related things, I think I'm ready to build my first rig. I'm going to use it primarily for gaming, and I don't plan to overclock at all. I have a few questions about some stuff that I couldn't really find any reviews about, so I'll stick those at the end. Here's what I've got so far:

Case - Chenbro PC61122

Motherboard - MSI K8N Neo Platinum

Processor - AMD Athlon 64 3400+

Vid Card - BFG Geforce 6800 GT OC

Memory - Corsair VS512MB400 512MB DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Select (x2, so I'll have a gig of RAM)

Hard Drive - Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9

Power Supply - Antec Solution Series SL450 450W

Sound Card - Creative Audigy 2 ZS Gamer

DVD-RW/CD-RW - Pioneer DVR108BK 16X Dual Layer

I already have a normal DVD/CD drive, so I don't need that. I would like some suggestions on a CRT monitor under 200 bucks, and a 5.1 speaker system under 100 bucks. Also, I've heard the Logitech MX510 is a badass gaming mouse, so I'm planning on getting one of those. And of course, critique away on the rest of the components.

Thanks a ton in advance!

 

[KarmaPoliceSTL]

maxtor HDD = lose

go with a seagate or hitachi... hell i even think Western Digital is better than maxtor (though some will disagree with me there)

 

[D3v1an7]

A system that bad ass needs Raptors.

That system makes me all tingly inside. Nice job!

 

[DRJ1014]

ya lose the hard drive and get 2 74gb raptots on raid 0. thats case just doesnt seem right.

 

[ChrisDude]

Thanks for the replies so far guys.

About the case: I read a review on Tom's Hardware and it piqued my interest. I think it's a pretty nice looking case (although that's not the reason I'm getting it) and it's sturdy and has a good range of cooling options. I don't need a window or anything fancy, it just need to keep all the components together.

Anybody have any good ideas for the monitor, mouse, or speakers?

 

[BillLeeLee]

Needs better power supply. You only picked a Smart power series, go for True Power.

For badassity.

Mouse: Logitech MX510 or MS Intellimouse Explorer 4.0
Speakers: Logitech Z-680
Monitor:
19 inch CRT - Mitsubishi DP930SB or Viewsonic G90F
21+ inch CRT - NEC FP2141

LCD - Samsung 710T (17 inch LCD)

 

[DRJ1014]

oopps delete

 

[pbXassassinX1524]

as far as the HDD thing, like I just posted 30 seconds ago(different post). 2 raid 0 74GB raptors, and I'd reccomend 100% for seagate, their reliability is top notch and they're very quiet.

 

[unhappy_mage]

seagate: yes.
raid0: NO
raid0 decreases the lifespan of your data, while doing nothing for desktop/gamer performance. if you have to have the speed, get scsi. nothing else, just scsi.

for monitors, look at your local be$t buy and see what you like. you really have to see monitors to know what they're like.

 

[KarmaPoliceSTL]

for monitors, look at your local be$t buy and see what you like. you really have to see monitors to know what they're like.

YES!

 

[DRJ1014]

seagate: yes.
raid0: NO
raid0 decreases the lifespan of your data, while doing nothing for desktop/gamer performance. if you have to have the speed, get scsi. nothing else, just scsi.

for monitors, look at your local be$t buy and see what you like. you really have to see monitors to know what they're like.

raid 0 does not. it makes 2 drives into one.

when one person has one thing (like you have scsi) thats the only things they like (if somone has raid 0) then they like what they have. one can never like the other side.

 

[EnderW]

as far as the HDD thing, like I just posted 30 seconds ago(different post). 2 raid 0 74GB raptors, and I'd reccomend 100% for seagate, their reliability is top notch and they're very quiet.

Quit spamming the boards with your RAID 0 nonsense.

ya lose the hard drive and get 2 74gb raptots on raid 0. thats case just doesnt seem right.

raid 0 does not. it makes 2 drives into one.

It does not make 2 drives into one. And what he means by decreasing the life of your data is that if one drive fails, you lose everything, so you have a greater chance of data loss.

Striping (RAID 0)

when one person has one thing (like you have scsi) thats the only things they like (if somone has raid 0) then they like what they have. one can never like the other side.

I don't even know what to say in regards to this nonsense.



Why You Don't Want RAID 0 for a Gaming Machine:

http://faq.storagereview.com/SingleDriveVsRaid0
http://www.storagereview.com/articles/200406/20040625TCQ_1.html

In the “SR Gaming DriveMark… a 4 drive Cheetah array.. lags a single Raptor running on the "dumbest" of SATA controllers by a margin of 9%.”

Discussion of RAID 0 and the very few instances in which it is useful in a desktop machine, gaming NOT being one of them:

http://forums.storagereview.net/index.php?showtopic=15912

 

[EnderW]

Needs better power supply. You only picked a Smart power series, go for True Power.

For badassity.

Mouse: Logitech MX510 or MS Intellimouse Explorer 4.0
Speakers: Logitech Z-680
Monitor:
19 inch CRT - Mitsubishi DP930SB or Viewsonic G90F
21+ inch CRT - NEC FP2141

LCD - Samsung 710T (17 inch LCD)

Excellent suggestions. Look at the Antec True Power 430 (or the True Power 480 I have for sale )

and if you want a cordless mouse, look at the MX700.

Case looks pretty good IMO, but you may also look at the Antec Sonata which comes with a 380 watt True Power PSU.