Building my first PC, need advice!

Ok, so I am a complete PC noob. This is my first PC I am going to build and basically have no knowledge of what all the terminology means. Please inform me if these parts aren't compatible, or if I need something else.

Also, please don't tell me that this isn't the best combination. I know it's not. I'm not looking to have the best PC on the market. Just one that can support most games at a decent rate.

Also, some random questions.

Can games released prior to Vista be played on vista? Like Doom 3? Thanks

RAIDMAX Sagitta 2 928 WU Black/ Blue SECC Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case -

HITACHI Deskstar P7K500 HDP725025GLA380 (0A35399) 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

BFG Tech BFGE96512GTOC2E GeForce 9600GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T - Retail

Rosewill RP550V2-S-SL 550W SLI Ready-ATX12V V2.01 Power Supply - Retail

Kingston HyperX NVIDIA SLI-Ready 2GB (2 x 1GB) DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KHX8500D2K2/2GN - Retail

BFG Tech BFGRINF680iLTS LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 680i LT SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail

Pretty good. Only changes I would make are the following:

- For the same price as that 9600GT, you can get either a EVGA or a XFX 8800GT. Get the 8800GT. You will easily be able to play the latest games at max settings with that CPU and hardware.
- Switch out the 680i mobo for a 750i.
- Switch out that 2 gigs of Kingston RAM for G-Skill instead...or Corsair, either one is better than Kingston (ewww).

The 8800gt 512mb is deffinetly a good choice cause I have that same one or should I say simalar one. I have the 8800gt superclocked 512mb and it is amazing. I can only imagine what it would look like on that machine.

I'm getting ideas for a pc of my own and am thinking of buying the parts and putting them together my self.

Scence most of the people in here think that pc is good just change the mobo and the gpu then I may whent time comes build this pc maybe.

Just cause I saw the 3.0 ghz and I don't plan on oc ing on it but maybe as time goes along and I get confident then maybe but when I do build it I'll keep it as is.

The only thing that I can think of when I goto build my own is that I'm wanting to stick to xp and I'm not sure if I already have the cd for windows or not cause it would be nice if I did but if I don';t then that is where the price will go up on.

I don't want vista too buggy.

Ok guys. Thanks for all of your help. I've replaced my Graphics Card, memory, mobo and PSU and am wondering what you think.

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail

XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W ATX12V Version 2.01 Power Supply - Retail

Also, will I need to purchase anything like fans or anything else to get going?

Ok guys. Thanks for all of your help. I've replaced my Graphics Card, memory, mobo and PSU and am wondering what you think.

ASUS P5N-D LGA 775 NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ - Retail

XFX PVT88PYDF4 GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

Antec Basiq BP500U 500W ATX12V Version 2.01 Power Supply - Retail

Also, will I need to purchase anything like fans or anything else to get going?

jumalinen

Much, much better. Only thing, keep that Rosewill PSU. I personally use Rosewill PSU's and they rock, never ,EVER, had one fail on me. That G-Skill RAM is EXCELLENT for the price by the way.

As for fans, with the Sagitta case you plan on getting, probably not. You will be fine. Good luck!

Ok, what version of vista would you recomend?jumalinen

home prem 64bit

and also, fyi the raidmax smilodon is on sale, and it has much mroe to offer than that case, like a fold down mobo tray, completely tol less, 2 80mm fans, 2 120mm fansm, and an open space for another 80mm fan, plus it jsut lookis pretty damn cool