Just started assembling my first computer build last night...., Critiques and tips welcome Options

[Fastbird]

Pretty cool. I haven't ever built one from scratch before, though I've swapped cards and what not. It was a little confusing at first with getting all the wire pinout confirmations, but after that I got into a groove and moved pretty good. I've been wanting to do this for a LONG time and got the push with the kid on the way, figured I wouldn't have time or money to do it anytime soon.

Here's the system overview:

Case -- Ultra Microfly BX6 -- came with a Ultra modular 600 watt power supply -- 2x front USB 1 x front Firewire, 2 5.25 bay, 1 3.5 bay, front CPU temp display
CPU -- AMD Phenom 9850 Black Edition -- 2.5 gig quad core 125v
Motherboard -- Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-US2H -- This is a SWEET mobo. HDMI, HDCP compliant, great onboard graphics and sound, copper jacketed, expandable like a mofo
HDD -- Westerd Digital Caviar Black 750GB 32mb Cache SATA
Optical Drive -- LG Black Blu-Ray/HD DVD Drive, DVD/CD Burner, litescribe, SATA
Fan/Heatsink -- Ultra X-Wind 120mm copper (used OCZ Freeze paste)
Memory -- OCZ Platinum DDR2 Dual Channel, 4 Gigs (2 x 2 gig), PC6400 (800 mhz), 4-4-3-15 timings
Card Reader, internal, 3.5" bay -- PowerUp AIO USB 2.0, black
Monitor -- ASUS VH242H 24" (23.6 actually) 1920x1080, full HD

Just putting it together currently. Made a slipstream XP SP3/SATA Driver included installation disk last night, even with SP3 cut out a bunch of stuff and got the install down to 356MB (haven't installed yet, not planning on success first shot). Going to get a bluetooth keyboard w/integrated mouse (Logitech diNovo Edge -- pricey but AWESOME) and a 5.25" bay storage box (most awesome idea ever) in the near future. Down the road will add a larger HDD for archiving.

Point of the rig? My Dimension 8100, circa 2001 w/ a P4 1.3, 768K Rambus RAM, is on it's last legs. Need a new desktop for storage, and wanted the power for photo/video editing. That, and with a newborn joining the house in a couple of months, I'll be upstairs more and wanted something to watch hulu/blu ray's on in the office next to the nursery.

Anyway, just bragging a little because I'm pretty happy with how it's turning out. Never built one before, and by compiling parts over the last four months (save for case that I bought 1.5 years ago) the financial impact is minimal. I have a grand total of $800 in it so far.

So....thoughts, critiques, suggestions?

This post has been edited by Fastbird: Jun 5, 2009 - 2:46 PM

[Sinyk]

Is that hard drive the caviar black? Do you have a need for quad core? The new Phenom II's use less power and overclock like champs. I hope you don't run into issues with your motherboard and RAM. I have read many forum posts of people having issues with OCZ ram on gigabyte motherboards.

I just built a new one myself but I've been having too much fun overclocking it and benchmarking it that I haven't bothered installing windows for keeps yet.

My setup:
AMD Phenom II X3 720BE 2.8GHz || Overclock: 3588 MHz @ 1.475v (17.5x205), 2255 CPU-NB @ 1.275v, 2050 HTT, 5-5-5-15-25-2T - 1066 @ 2.1v
Sunbeam CCTF heat sink
G.Skill Pi 2 x 2GB PC8500 5-5-5-15 DDR2
Corsair TX850w PSU
Gigabyte GA-MA790X-UD4P Motherboard
Coolermaster Centurion 534 Case
Galaxy GeForce 8800GTS 512MB 740/1041 Graphics Card
Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS
WD WD6401AALS 640GB x2 Raid-0 (short stroked 40GB) and Seagate-320GB
LiteOn 16x DVD+RW
LG L203WT 20.1" LCD
Panasonic TH46PZ800U HDTV (not really part of the computer, but still hooked up to it!)


Computer pics: http://s187.photobucket.com/albums/x236/Si...d/Phenom%20Rig/

And THIS is a heat sink:




You will learn a lot by building your own system. I have been doing it for 11 years and it's still an adventure every time! Enjoy it!