new computer (serious this time)

[Drunkenseagul]

iv spent all summer working and my parents both agreed to help me buy this thing... so the price limit is about 5000 canadian at the very very VERY most. Iv been looking at gettin a new computer forever and i have picked most of the parts but some im not completly sure on.

This is the first time iv built a computer and im deffinitly gonna need some help so anybody interested in helping me put this top of the line beast together and get some real info on these parts esspacly the dual 7800s and CPU feel free to add me 2 ur MSN, my msn is jdude78@hotmail.com... ok here r the parts iv picked.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ / 2MB Cache / 2000MHz FSB / Socket 939 / Dual-Core / Processor with Fan (770.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1446877&sku=CP1-A64-4400 E

Case: NZXT Nemesis Elite Black Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB and Audio Ports and 400-Watt Power Supply
(165.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1287392&sku=A406-1024

GPUs: DUAL XFX GeForce 7800 GTX OverClocked 490MHZ / 256MB DDR3 / PCI Express / SLI / Dual DVI / VIVO/ Video Card
(705.00 x 2 = 1410.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1497498&sku=P450-7803

RAM: 2X OCZ Premier 1024MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory (175.00x2=350.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=587480

**Im probly gonna change this 2 eather the 1GB OCZ (-10.00) or the corsair 1GB (-10.00) because i don't have the time 2 wait 4 the premier RAM cuz school starts soon..


HD1:TSD-740GD :: Western Digital / Raptor / 74GB / 10K / 8MB / SATA-150 / OEM / Hard Drive (2 lbs) (285.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=709394&sku=TSD-740GD

HD2: Maxtor / DiamondMax 10 / 300GB / 7200 / 16MB / ATA-133 / EIDE / OEM / Hard Drive (185.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1487962

Monitor: Sceptre X9g-Gamer 19 inch 1280x1024 12ms S-Video/RCA LCD Black (410.00) http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1179159&CatId=0

**(probly changing to a cheaper monitor)

Sound Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI Sound Card (120.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284189&CatId=0

PSU: Xion / 600-Watt / ATX / 140mm Fan / SATA-Ready / 20 and 24-Pin / Titanium Coating / Power Supply (125.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1289176&Tab=11&NoMapp=

MOBO: MSI K8NNeo4 Platinum SLI Socket 939 ATX Motherboard / PCI Express / Audio / Dual Gigabit LAN / USB 2.0 & Firewire / SATA / RAID (250.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1218400&Tab=2&NoMapp=0

Speakers: Creative Labs INSP P5800 Speaker System (85.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1284196&CatId=0

Cooling: NEED HELP (case comes with 3 120mm fans but i think i might need more for this system but im no expert.. HELP)

Input Devices: not sure yet... maybe a nice razer diamondback but maybe not...

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Upgrade Serv. Pack 2 (135.00)
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1104427&CatId=0

*** Is the OS listed above a complete OS or is it just an upgrade 4 regular Windows XP home 2 give it service pack 2? Because there is something that seems to be almost exactly the same but it costs about 260.00..


Note: i would list the total price but i am changing parts and trying 2 get the price down if i can so the price keeps changing, most things in that list r staying its just mainly the monitor,RAM,HDs,and input stuff that im still deciding on. total is hovering around 4000-4400 before tax and shipping... after that its about 5k...


***any parts you think i should change just say and ill concider it***


Questions:

Most important question: Is everything compatible and is there anything i missed?

**1: need help with cooling, no idea how many and what type of fans ill need and also if fans will even be enough. (case has 3 120mm fans built in for starters)

2: Im thinking about only getting one 7800 for now and waiting till like christmas 2 get the other (because of costs)but by then a new card will probly be out so i was wondering can u combine 2 different types of cards in SLi obviuosly they both need 2 be nvidia but can u mix say a 7800 and a 6800??(probly gonna stick with the dual)

3: i have picked 1 fast smaller HD for stuff i use alot and a slower bigger 1 for stuff like movies and mp3s.. good idea or should i just go with dual large slow HDs 2 cut costs? or maybe a single HD..

4: i have never ordered anything off the internet, im ordering from tigerdirect.ca and im not 2 sure how yet but im in the middle of finding out, im thinking about gettin a paypal account and using that, any advice on that? and what about ship time from tiger, site says ussaly 3-8 bussniess days but some ppl say it took over 20 days 2 recive stuff... any1 who ordered stuff from them it would be nice if u could tell me the ship time you got or if any1 has some relieable info about this..

5: Is there any major mistakes i can make building this thing that could destroy all this expsive stuff im buying? also how long does it take 2 build a computer and is it hard?

6. RAM: corsair or OCZ?

7.I thought building was saposta be cheaper this thing is gonna be like 4500 at least... i know its cuz its all top of the line stuff but im really looking for some ways 2 cut costs... (im looking at a single HD , chaper monitor or maybe a single 7800 but id really like 2 get dual 7800s...any ideas?)

8. when an item says: ussaly ships withing x-y days does this mean it gets 2 u within that time or it gets 2 tiger within that time and then they send it 2 you? cuz most items just say in stock.

9. Iv heard you can remove PSUs that come with cases like the 400w in the case im looking at ^^, this is true right because if not i need 2 find a new case cuz as soon as i get that thing im taking out that crappy 400w peice of junk...

10. **Important**I need help picking the right OS, there r a bunch of versions of XP home and i can;t see to much deifference between them besides the price...

11.**also important** There were alot of mobos and iv heard good things about most of them so i just picked 1 after a bit but im probly gonna take a second look at the mobos so i need some advice on those..

thats all the questions i have for now... if i have more ill post... i realize for some ppl this is the third time they have seen questions from me over the last 4 months about building a comp but i ask all these questions here cuz i ussaly get good anwsers and now i finaly have a very good chance in actually getting this thing for a couple reasons .. so help if you can, it will be greatly appreateated **sorry for any typos, screwups or mistakes**

 

[Drunkenseagul]

almost forgot... which is better out of an ultra-ATA HD and a SATA HD?

Also im seriously thinking about getting XP pro instead of home because the sucurity seems to be worth it and it seems to be a more stable OS... it would be nice if some1 would post the link for the version of home that would be best for me and the link for the pro that woud be best for me. TY

 

[lurkswithin]

The Sata drive will be faster than the IDE Ata

 

[jac006]

Just go with pro... faster boot time, more secure, etc.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102153

 

[Fisher]

Thats going ot be one very very very nice computer. I take it youre a gamer then. Cant help you with putting it together as i am only a newbie to building computers myself. Just going to get myself a raptor harddrive as well tomorrow to install xp pro on it

 

[Gamingfreak]

1. that case is fine 3 120mm fans is plenty so dont worry about that r u playing on overclocking?
2. waiting is a good idea because just 1 7800 will own any game with max settings and if u wait the next one will be cheaper and no u cant mix them it has to be 2 7800s or 2 6800s..etc
3.1 fast hard drive would be sweet just put your os and what ever games u play most on there and use a bigger one for storage
4.tigerdirect.ca is good and reliable but try www.anitec.ca i order everything from there because nearly everything they have is cheaper
5.the only thing u have to worry about when building is static i suggest u get a anti static wrist band thing because i wouldnt wana fry any of that and no its not really difficult if u get stuck just tell us your problem and we will help
6.for the ram i would say corsair or kingston both r very good
7.to save money i would deffinately only get 1 7800 even though 2 would be sweet but just wait a while for them to get cheaper then buy the second one
8.it means they will ship it to u in that time
9.yes u should be able to take it out i havent seen a case in which u cant i suggest at least a 500W psu for your system
10.xp pro is better it has better sercurity and it boots faster and for that system your gona want a good os
11.MSI, ABIT and ASUS r all very good and reliable makes but the one u picked should be fine it says it has 2 pci-e slots which is what u need but from the pics i couldnt see 2 so im a little confused about that

for that last question about the hard drives make sure u get a SATA2 hard drive cause theyre twice as fast

hope that helps

 

[Drunkenseagul]

thanks you gaming freak that helps alot but unfortunitly dad uhh... backed out (yea hes a &$%#er) so now i need 2 cut costs... so now my plan is gettin a decent computer that is easy to upgrade so by christmas i can have it upgraded to what i want now... so that means dropping.... 1 of the 7800s :'( ,the raptor HD and cuting costs anywhere else i can.... it will still be a really good computer i think just not like the best computer ever.... and thanks for pointing out that other site too im looking at it now...

more questions

1. im seeing (OEM) beside a few items like the OS and on a HD too, what does OEM mean?

2. do i need 2 buy CD and DVD bays or do they come installed in the case?

3. Everything i have so far is compattible right?

4. where an i buy ad awear or can i get it free somewhere?

5. all the parts come with the cables needed to connect them right?

o yea and gaming freak what games do u play, once i get this thing maybe ill see u on sometime

 

[Gamingfreak]

1. OEM dont know exactly what it means cause i forget lol but basicly all it means is u dont get the retail box but who cares about the box right? but the actual thing is still brand new
2. when u say bays do u mean the actaully drives? because yes u will need to buy those but if u actually meant the bays then ya they come with the case
3. yes everything so far is compatible
4. adaware is free along with spybot everything good is free
5. yes all the parts come with the cables they actually give u way to many cables lol

i play cs mostly not css lol sry but i just prefer the old one

 

[Drunkenseagul]

are there any mobos that can use SLi and DDR2 RAM? or is it the cpu that needed 2 be able 2 use DDR2... or can all computers use DDR2?

 

[Mack1982]

ON AMD FX/64/X2 the memoy controller in onboard the chip, and currently AMD only supports DDR1 memory. So any AMD mobo wouldn't work with the DDR2 memory.
However, AMD will support DDR2, i think 2 or 3 months into 2006. But the bad news is that those processor wouldnot be S939. It would be a new socket called M2. So all of us who want to upgrade would have to upgrade over mobo too.