I already have a case, power supply, monitor, mouse, and keyboard
will these following products be compatible with each other?
also, are these quality components or should I get something different (keeping in mind the price of each)?

mother board, $63:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138029

graphics card, $200:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102007

Processor, $150:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735

Memory, $100:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231096

[Edited on August 26, 2006 at 11:21 AM. Reason : i'm willing to pay a little more as long as the performance will be significantly better]

8/26/2006 11:19:24 AM

what kind of power supply have you got?

8/26/2006 12:28:19 PM

300 Watt

should i get another one?

8/26/2006 12:58:46 PM

The brand/model of the PSU is a lot more important than the "rated" power. Tell us what brand/model you have.

8/26/2006 1:19:30 PM

ding ding

8/26/2006 1:37:41 PM

ATX Power Supply

model:ATX300W ATX12V

it also says MQ on it too

8/26/2006 1:38:35 PM

you need a new, and good power supply.

Antec/Enermax/Sparkle/e-Power/PC Power & Cooling/Fortron/Thermaltake brands are the ones worth getting. Anything over 350w should be fine. Stay away from anything else.

8/26/2006 2:15:57 PM

i'll get another power supply

what about the other parts?

are they compatible?

are they good for the price?

8/26/2006 2:30:23 PM

personally I'd spend more now on the motherboard and the processor and drop a little on the graphics card

8/26/2006 2:33:45 PM

i wanna sick gaming computer

will i get better gaming performance from a better motherboard and processor rather than a better graphics card?

[Edited on August 26, 2006 at 2:42 PM. Reason : asdf]

8/26/2006 2:41:37 PM

no

8/26/2006 3:09:03 PM

its easier to upgrade given a better mobo than graphics card though; get the good mobo, you can always upgrade RAM/CPU/graphics down the line

8/26/2006 3:47:57 PM

I also agree with getting a better motherboard. An all-in-one micro-atx mobo can be good for something small and cheap, but you're looking to add a really nice video card, there's no reason to get a motherboard with onboard video. You should also look into better brands like Asus or Abit and look at what chipset is good. I haven't been keeping up with the latest AMD chipsets so I don't know if the nForce 5xx is any better than nForce4. I'm also not familiar with the chipset of the mobo you chose, but I imagine it's not the best choice.

8/26/2006 5:58:16 PM

^^!

[Edited on August 26, 2006 at 7:03 PM. Reason : .]

8/26/2006 7:02:48 PM

ok...I will keep that in mind
I'll buy a better mother board


also...

nvidia or ati?
intel or AMD?

and based on what type of processor i buy, what socket type should i get?

[Edited on August 26, 2006 at 7:23 PM. Reason : asdf]

8/26/2006 7:20:43 PM

I'm of the philosophy that you should determine the board after you figure out the processor you want, as opposed to the otherway around. But if you're going with a fairly new board you shouldn't have any trouble finding a cpu to fit whatever particular standard

8/26/2006 10:58:23 PM

def go with an AMD like you've got unless you want to fork up the cash for an Intel Core 2 Duo and a mobo to go with it.

8/29/2006 8:15:26 AM

amd and the nvidia vs ati is really up to you.

8/29/2006 4:52:55 PM

i recently got http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1273336&Sku=ULT31844

(did not get from tigerdirect) for 5 bucks...is that a good power supply for 5 bucks

it was originally 55 with a 50 dollar mail in rebate and free shipping, so i got it for 5 bucks

[Edited on August 29, 2006 at 5:07 PM. Reason : if any lurkers dont feel like posting, feel free to pm and tell me if its an ok PSU]

8/29/2006 4:56:54 PM

http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4587957


FREE 400w power supply

8/29/2006 5:12:05 PM

why do people always want to skimp on the power supply, its what runs your whole system, if you get a shitty one, its possible that it could take out all of your components if it went down.

8/29/2006 5:59:28 PM

^^ & ^^^ those things are always on sale. while it's not worth $70 (like tigerdirect says) or $55, it's worth more than $5, so they probably are relying on people forgetting to mail the rebate.

[Edited on August 29, 2006 at 6:02 PM. Reason : ]

8/29/2006 6:01:51 PM

Find reviews on ANY Ultra brand power supply, any model. Not on tigerdirect or newegg, but on any actual hardware review site.

I have never read a SINGLE positive review for them. I have however read several reviews of DOA units (for freaking REVIEW units for god's sakes), horrible load imbalances, very inefficient switching, among other things.

I've also watched firsthand as now 3 of my friends who were duped into buying those shit tigerdirect barebones units had horribly unstable computers, constant lockups and reboots. Go with them to grab an Antec PSU fron Compusa and amazingly they never have another problem.

8/29/2006 8:15:21 PM

http://www.extremeoverclocking.com/reviews/cases/Ultra_X-Connect_1.html
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=1719

extreme & pcstats aren't what i would consider the place i go for hardware reviews, but fairly reliable sites, and both positive

btw, i own an Ultra 500w x-finity I got for $5AR from radioshack and it's been running for months, no issues.

though i can't say this is the same experience everyone has had, i have had no issues.

another positive (and a side note):
http://www.techgage.com/article/ultra_x-finity_flexforce_500w_power_supply/2

Quote :

"Rob's Add-in: One thing I would like to mention, is that this PSU proved very stable on the DFI Ultra-D. There have been numerous complaints in the past that the first-gen X-Finity and X-Connect PSU's were the cause of many problems, especially with the Ultra-D/SLI-DR motherboard. It looks like Ultra went ahead and fixed whatever problems were there (I hope) to make this more stable than the previous versions. Of course, unlike the previous versions, this PSU is equipped with a true 24-Pin connector, so I'm sure that plays a role."

i do not know however anything about the V-series.

[Edited on August 29, 2006 at 9:20 PM. Reason : .]

8/29/2006 9:14:51 PM

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/368/1/

Shows some of the problems with the X-Connect 550w

http://www.silentpcreview.com/article193-page3.html

Shows the fairly poor design of the X-Connect 500w, as is also pointed out in the PC Stats review. Very inefficient power supply, uses considerably more power per watt output, which means a lot more $$ in the long run. It also means a lot more heat generated and a higher likelihood of component failure over time due to heat.

The first and third sites you posted are worthless reviews. Using ANY software monitor for voltage levels is roulette at best. BIOS monitored voltage levels are never reliable at all.

In the case of your X-Connect, you are burning off 15-20% more power for the same output as a higher efficiency PSU, which could save you a couple bucks a month in power if you run your PC 24/7.

Good V series 400w review here http://www.jonnyguru.com/PSU/V-Series/V-Series.html

Basically says the same thing, terrible efficiency, fluctuating voltages at static load.

I still find it ridiculous to skimp on a PSU. It's the longest lasting component on nearly any PC.

8/29/2006 10:28:07 PM

as for your silentpcreview link, i've read that, and nothing negative about the Ultra PSU other than it's not "quiet" and not as high-end as other PSU's they've tested, but under power output and efficiency, both ratings were good... HARDLY a negative review.

i wouldn't consider 73-78% efficiency outside "normal" efficiency ratings for PSU, is it up there like the 80% of enermax?, no, but hardly unacceptable... i've seen thermaltake PSU's with worse efficiency. and as for the voltages, my rails have not fluctuated at all.

i'm not saying Ultra is the best option out there, i was merely just refuting this:

Quote :

"I have never read a SINGLE positive review for them."

and as your 15-20% more power assumption, let's put that in context. you're (or rather the article is) comparing one generation of psu w/out active PFC to the next generation psu w/ active PFC... that's not a fair comparison, but i agree it is something someone should consider on including when looking for a PSU.

on this:

Quote :

"I still find it ridiculous to skimp on a PSU. It's the longest lasting component on nearly any PC."

i couldn't agree with you more... maybe when i get my rebate back i'll have saved enough money to buy my enermax liberty

[Edited on August 30, 2006 at 9:16 AM. Reason : .]

8/30/2006 9:13:43 AM

Most high end units with Active PFC (which btw, this is completely fair comparison as PFC has been a standard on GOOD power supplies for the past 2-3 years) achieve 80-90% efficiency at PC loads. So yea it can be a pretty good difference.

As for rail fluctuation, as I've said before, unless you have it hooked up to external hardware, you really don't know. BIOS voltage reporting is hardly accurate.

Ultra has yet to "wow" me or anyone else with any of their products. I've seen too much of their stuff fall apart, fail, arrive in terrible condition or with faults.

8/30/2006 10:05:51 AM

Quote :

"so they probably are relying on people forgetting to mail the rebate. "

Not exactly. 4 to 6 weeks is plenty of time for them to invest your money and make a lot more off of it than the original $50 so they aren't loosing anything by honoring all the rebates.

8/30/2006 3:01:19 PM

i REALLY don't want to drag this out, i just wanted to mention this little tidbit.

it seems that the Ultra x-connects are prone to problems, but the x-finitys are not, the x-connect... seems that they were made by different plants, the x-connects have been known to have issues. all Ultra PSU's have lifetime warranties as well.

btw, if you read the reviews on the x-finity models, the rails are "rock solid"... i haven't read anything on x-finity models about voltage fluctuations, if you have point me to it.

Ultra is not a "wow" company, but i wouldn't rule them out for a decent, affordable desktop psu. obviously if you have the money for high-end parts you should put that money into a quality PSU as well..

just watch, next week my Ultra will explode.

[Edited on August 30, 2006 at 7:27 PM. Reason : .]

8/30/2006 7:14:39 PM

Someone told me that heavier power supplies are better. My system used to crash randomly so I put some rocks in my power supply to weigh it down and now it's perfectly stable.

8/30/2006 11:00:56 PM

^^Yea, I haven't found anything really negative about the x-finity. Scares the hell out of me to see that several of their (older?) lines have had such varying QC. I guess to each their own.

The whole lifetime warranty thing seems silly to me, unless its gonna cover all the equipment that gets fucked up when/if your power supply does go south.

9/1/2006 12:40:55 AM

honestly i've had 2 psu's (rosewill) die and have had to be replaced, none have messed up any of my computer internals... but i've also run my computer on a UPS for years now... i think most of my psu failures aren't overloading issues but are heat / poor quality part issues.... i guess i've been lucky.

but i think i'm going with an enermax liberty in the near future </rant>

[Edited on September 1, 2006 at 1:39 AM. Reason : .]

9/1/2006 1:28:11 AM

Yea count yourself lucky. I've had about 50/50 experience with the people's computers I've dealt with. Half just needed a new psu and they were back on track, the other half had burned out caps or peripheral connections

9/1/2006 9:37:24 AM

Yeah, a poorly made PSU can produce massive voltage spikes in its death throws. Decent PSU's will generally fail a bit more safely.

I've had two friends lose their computers when their PSU's died. The first one had a short in his PSU that quickly overheated, smoked a little, then powered off. The problem was that somewhere in that fairly quiet if smelly death the PSU ended up blowing 2 caps on the mother board. Even after getting a new motherboard he found that the RAM and one of the Hard Drives were completely destroyed as well.

The other friend had a power supply that quit working without any dramatic smoke, fire or noise. The problem there was that it also managed to take out the video card and harddrive. The motherboard, CPU, and RAM were all fine, but two of the more expensive components of his gaming machine were fried.

Sure you're not guaranteed to fry your computer by buying an inferior PSU, but why would you scrimp a few bucks on such a crucial part. Some people will throw half a grand into a video card, but can't be bothered to spend more than 50 bucks on what is effectively the heart of the machine.

9/1/2006 11:55:45 AM

I finally received all my parts and my computer is fucking tight
here's what i got:

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138029
RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231096
Monitor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824254001
Graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102027
Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817153023
Processor:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103747



[Edited on September 3, 2006 at 9:13 PM. Reason : asdf]

9/3/2006 9:09:45 PM

terrible motherboard

9/4/2006 12:37:47 PM

i wasn't about to drop $100+ on a motherboard

plus it got good performance ratings

9/4/2006 12:40:08 PM

^that I'd like to see. You got a link?

9/4/2006 12:44:02 PM

and because you didn't spend more on the main board now you have no more pci slots since your video card takes up the space of two slots

plus the PS doesn't say its ATX2.0 Compliant which the motherboard requires

9/4/2006 1:16:01 PM

your motherboard is only the second-most important part of your computer, right behind the power supply ... good job getting a cheap one!

9/4/2006 1:53:28 PM

^^

Quote :

"Main Connector 20+4-Pin"

^not only that but it's the most difficult to replace if anything happens to it, and it can be the main source of problems if the quality is poor. there's also the fact that it only has 2x sata connections, only 1x pci slot left as previously mentioned, and get this... a fantastic 1-year warranty!

a good motherboard would have only cost you $20-40 more and imho would have been SO worth it... but to each his own.

9/4/2006 2:08:37 PM

he has no PCI slots left since his card is PCIE not AGP, unless the 16X is the lower PCI
somebody want to look that up?

9/4/2006 2:30:50 PM

that board has no AGP, the slots are as follows:

--- PCI-Ex1
------------ PCI-Ex16
----------- PCI
----------- PCI

so he only loses 1 pci slot.

9/4/2006 2:42:51 PM

yea, the top is pci-e x1, the lower one is x16, there's no AGP on that board.

[Edited on September 4, 2006 at 2:46 PM. Reason : ^sorry didn't see your post]

9/4/2006 2:43:41 PM

ah, this is why you don't let me around hardware

9/4/2006 3:12:29 PM

Don't buy a saphire graphics card man

Geforceeeeeeeeeeeee

9/4/2006 3:20:49 PM