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

[soulshadow]

Your case does not offer much in terms of upgrades especially if you want to go dual SLI / Crossfire. Not to mention you motherboard, but overall this is a good PC, if you want to type on a word processor, and since it takes up hardly any space its good for a small cramped room like dorms ect. You didn't you settle for the PC-1066 ram instead of PC-800? 1066 will make the most use out of that CPU not to mention that speed wise it is faster. Just load it with VISTA 64 and you have a machine that can go 24/7.

[Fastbird]

Your case does not offer much in terms of upgrades especially if you want to go dual SLI / Crossfire. Not to mention you motherboard, but overall this is a good PC, if you want to type on a word processor, and since it takes up hardly any space its good for a small cramped room like dorms ect. You didn't you settle for the PC-1066 ram instead of PC-800? 1066 will make the most use out of that CPU not to mention that speed wise it is faster. Just load it with VISTA 64 and you have a machine that can go 24/7.

Price was a factor, and the 1066 was markedly more pricey than the 800 (I got a sale deal w/a mail in rebate). I'm NEVER going to need to go dual SLI or anything, crossfire came up because it's a ready option on this board. I don't game at all. I got it for using as a media player since my office is next to my forthcoming baby's nursery, to use for photo and video editing, and your typical computer user stuff (web surfing, website development, ect). If I wanted to build a hard core gaming rig the build would have been MUCH different, but I just don't need something like that.

I went with the SFF because I like it. I'm not cramped for space at all, I just don't see a need for a huge tower hogging up space when it could be more effectively utilized in other ways.

No vista for me. I've got XP Pro and don't see changing from that for a LONG time.