Questionable Components.

[arsenic480]

Hey guys, this is Colin. As some of you know, I'm building a "Zelda Mod" computer... and while the whole "mod" process is going well, i do have a lot of questions about WHAT a should be putting in. I'm building it to run games like Guild Wars and World of Warcraft (along with other MMORPGs), and wasn't sure if these pieces would be worth investing in (or if they'd be compatible). I think I may go with an AMD processor, because I've recently heard some negative things about the Intel chips. If you guys have any alternate setups that you would recommend, please post them (in their entirety if possible).

So, here's what I think I may go with (along with links on newegg.com):

Operating System: Windows XP Professional w/ SP2B 1 Pack
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ AM2 Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103759

Motherboard: NVIDIA nForce 590 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131163

Memory: A-DATA 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211014

Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Driv
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074

Video Card: XFX GeForce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150185

Power Supply: APEVIA ATX 500W Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817148027

Fan and Heatsink: ZALMAN CNP5 9500 AM2 2 Ball CPU Cooling Fan/ Heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835118004

---

I'm gonna get two drives as well (reader and writer, for CD and DVD). I'm not sure if there are better versions or more powerful ones I could get for similar prices, but these seemed to fit my budget well. Just wondering what other good setups would be, or if this would be descent ^_^ Thanks guys. All your help is very appreciated.

[.Maleficus.]

You've heard negatives about Intel chips?! Slap whoever said that. They're probably just an AMD fanboy who's mad that the Core 2 Duo (http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/index.htm) line destroys anything AMD throws at it.

But, everything you have is compatible, though like I said, you're money would be better invested in a C2D. Prices just went down, and you can save a lot of money, as well as have a better system. If you have your heart set on AMD though, that system will perform excellent. Only thing I'm sketchy about is A-Data RAM. These would be my top RAM choices: OCZ, Corsair, Kingston, G.Skill, GeIL, or Patriot.

[NuKS]

Yeah I am not too sure on your ram choice either. I was looking and the mobo supports 240 pin and the ram you picked is 184 pin. A few suggestions to replace them would be:

Patriot 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220231
Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134192

Since it is DDR2 800 some that meet those specs are:

G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231111
GeIL Value Series 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144067

Other than that, I think you are building a pretty solid computer. And, personally, I like AMD. The first computer I built was an AMD K6-2 with 3d Now! and I loved it. But, I believe your CPU choice is your own choice. Intel processors have come down in price so it really can go either way, depending on your preference.

[Exley]

Yeah I am not too sure on your ram choice either. I was looking and the mobo supports 240 pin and the ram you picked is 184 pin. A few suggestions to replace them would be:

Patriot 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) -
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220231
Kingston 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134192

Since it is DDR2 800 some that meet those specs are:

G.SKILL 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231111
GeIL Value Series 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820144067

Other than that, I think you are building a pretty solid computer. And, personally, I like AMD. The first computer I built was an AMD K6-2 with 3d Now! and I loved it. But, I believe your CPU choice is your own choice. Intel processors have come down in price so it really can go either way, depending on your preference.

since your motherboard supports DDR2 800 ram i would defiantly go with that i mean why go slower :D

[CanaBalistic]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231114
This is a much better G.Skill 800mhz substitute. Cheaper and better timings.

[arsenic480]

thanks for the help on the memory ^_^ as long as it runs my games and allows for some other programs to run (at the same time would be great), then im happy.

are there any benifits to having the intel instead of AMD?... other than price, is there a big difference? the only reason i chose AMD is cause ive heard a lot of good things from gamers when discussing their CPUs. i suppose i just dont know many people with intel chips :/ hmm...

thanks again guys ^_^ i think ill go with the 800... speed is important (even for more cash).

[.Maleficus.]

I'll let the benchmarks do the talking. (http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/core2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/page12.html#games)