Suggestions for a new system

[Ryutatsu]

I'm about to build my new system and I was wondering if anyone could provide any helpful info about it. This is my first full build by myself and I really want to have an awesome system to show for it. I already have a parts list in mind but I wanted to see if anyone saw any problems with it before I start dishing out money for parts.

Aspire 500W PSU: Hopefully enough juice to power my multiple drives and the graphics card

Athlon 64 3500+: Something pretty fast that will last me until AMD's new dual-cores come down to a reasonable price

Abit AV8 motherboard: I chose this mobo for the POST code readout and uGuru

BFG 6800 Ultra OC AGP: Something I won't have to upgrade hopefully for a very long time, I chose AGP because I won't use SLI and so far no graphics card has ever saturated the AGP bus so I don't feel the need to get PCI-E

Dynex Dual-Layer DVD/CD burner: All-purpose drive

2 Maxtor 300GB hard drives: Needed the extra memory because my system will be used as a sort of mini-server on my network

2 Corsair 1GB DDR400 kits: This is what I'm debating about, is 2GB really necessary? I never want to have to worry about RAM again but is this overkill?

Audigy 2: Has really great reviews

Please keep in mind that this system is going to be used for heavy gaming, development, and as a low-key file server. Any comments will be appreciated, but I would especially like to hear from someone who has had first-hand experience with these products and can verify their quality (or lack thereof).

 

[HvyMtl]

ok you got a link to the specs of the power supply?
you still might want to consider pci express due to future upgrade possibilities -
if you need to save some $$$ look at ati's x800xl - I believe agp versions are available.
as for 2 gb of ram, 1gb is all you need and you can save some $ that way. do keep it at 1gb tho. good choice of ram
what type of server? is it going to be a gamer or a server? Or gaming while acting as server host to games? you stated it to be a "low key file server" - hmm might I suggest you use this as a sole gaming system and use your old system as a file server? pata drive prices are lowering and you can get great prices thru rebates on occasion... and low key file servers dont need much punch - just a decent network card and fast drives. IF you want reliability go seagate (around the same price and 5 year warranty vs 1 year) in a raid 1 - if you do go maxtor get their high end 16mb cache drives.
audigy 2 is the only way to go for games I believe there are newer versions of the Audigy 2 out. (zs? or am I thinking something else...)

 

[MrMitch]

Definetly get a different power supply.

Remeber that A64's cannot address 4 sticks of ram 100% perfectly. Older Cores run at DDR333 2T and the newer venices will run at DDR400 2T(a more effecient 2T, but still 2T), If you need 2 gigs get 2x1 gig and run DDR 400 1T.

If you truely need an audigy, get a audigy 2 ZS, and not the value card.

Have you considered PCI-E?? Getting something like the MSI-Neo4 SLI does cost more, but with built in soundblaster you could save on the sound card and put that towards the cost of the board, then you have a much better future upgrade path.

Throw in an x800xl or even the faster than a 6800 ultra x850xt and you'd have a much more "future proof" machine.

 

[Ryutatsu]

Thanks for the feedback. Please elaborate on why the PSU is a problem. As for the RAM I think I'll go with 1GB based on what you have said. I'll consider PCI-E to make it more future proof. As for the file server thing, all of the other computers on my network have tiny (20-40gig) hard drives and this systems drives would serve as extra storage for them.