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

[Fastbird]

35A isn't bad for a 12V rail, if it's a multi-rail system. Cheaper to make, and not an issue if you're running components whose individual draws aren't that great.

That said, I like my EliteXStream with its single 60A 12V rail for the flexibility, but when I originally built this computer I had a 700W GameXStream with multiple rails and it managed the draw from my 8800 GTS 640MB just fine -- at least until I returned it due to the fan developing a whine. The trick is of course to ensure that you're not overloading one rail and underusing the others. Some PSUs are good enough to have the side label tell you what connectors are on what rail; it helps when the manufacturer puts high-draw connectors such as two PCI-E on separate rails.

Edit: Just looked up the Ultra XVS and it turns out my comments don't apply; it is a single 12V rail. That's unfortunate, as it limits your video card choices should you need to pursue that route. From what I can find, an HD 4850 requires 21A for a single card.

You guys are talking geek to me with the "rails" and such. That's new info to me. I'm an amateur builder here, this was a tinkering endeavour to put a new setup together.

wow, tiny tiny case!

i prefer large roomy cases like my coolermaster stacker 810 means i can also fit large coolers for overclocking and large video cards and have alot of airflow, etc etc.

you should seriously consider getting some air moving past that hard drive, just a little airflow lowers that caviar's temp by about 10c which can greatly greatly extend the life of the drive. i have a pair of the 640 AALS in RAID0, they run only a few C over ambient with a 120mm fan blowing through the HDD holder in the case, without the fan just setting in open air (was formatting them) they are about 15-18C above ambient temp.

I hate huge cases. I know they're good for cooling and working on, but I don't need one. I'm going to keep an eye on temps and if I can't keep them reasonably under control, I"ll mod the sides of the case for a fan in each.