[Carbon]

Here's the Sonata. For amounting to a $80 case it's not bad. You could also do the Earthwatts with the case you chose, but the Sonata's a better case overall.

I recommend this motherboard to those looking for a solid P43. It'll also overclock well for around the same price.

The RAM is exactly the cheap stuff I was looking for, good job finding it. Should perform well, especially for $12 after rebate! OCZ's pretty crazy with the rebates.

This 9800GT is extremely good for the price - $100 AR. You could drop to a 9500GT and save roughly $40 but you would be shaving a lot of performance off. I think this is your best bet.

Rest looks excellent.

Vista vs XP is really your call, FC2 runs well in DX10 so I'd go with Vista.

[thingie2]

I would say don't go with an Earthwatts, assuming they are all fairly similar, they have very low current on the +12V rails, according to Newegg, that one linked above only pumps out 15A on the 12V rail, go for this PSU instead, you could get away with the 550W version, or maybe even the 450W version, but the one I linked to (at the moment, due to rebates) is cheaper than the 550W, and the same price as the 450W unit, it also isn't much more than the earthwatts unit, but is much more powerfull.

[aceatc]

Alright well. The only thing left is putting the computer together once I get it.

Is this skill somehow learn-able over the internet. Some instructional video or even text?



To make sure, I'm gonna list all the parts real quick to see if I have absolutely everything that is needed. (last minute check before buy)

Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157130

Video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814162017

Ram (Is 2gb of ram good enough to play FC2 on high setting or do I need more?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227198

PSU & Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024

Hard disk drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136153

Vista
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16832116485


That's it. Everything good?

[thingie2]

Well for instructions, the following video seems quite good, I will try making a guide for building a PC when i have time, but I can't guarantee that it will be done for when you build you PC, most of the video is good, however I would recommend you don't spread the thermal compound out yourself, but instead you just place a blob in the middle, then set your heatsink on top, this will spread it out well. Also, I recommend putting in the RAM before the GFX card, as with some cards you can't open the RAM clips with the card there. Also, I if you don't have a removable motherboard tray, I would say install everything except your expansion cards (GFX card etc) on the board before you screw it in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFNqI2AKMwM

[aceatc]

Thanks for the video and advice. This will help me a lot, although I think the person who made the video skipped a bunch of stuff, because well... he said he did lol.

[thingie2]

he skiped a bit, but that stuff wasn't too technical, it was just connecting up the power supply and the drives mainly, they aren't too hard to do, basicly, the PSU will have a very long power connector (24 pins of you want to count them, but it's the biggest by far so you don't need to) This plugs into the motherboard (there is only one place it will fit) and there will be a 4 pin, or an 8 pin that splits into 2 4 pin plugs, they also plug into the motherboard, also quite obvious where they go, and if you look at the shape of the pins, you can see which way round they go. you will then have connectors that are plug into the HDD and optical drives, these are also fairly easy to do, as they won't do in the wrong way round. There will probably also need to be power connectors plugged into your GFX card, these will come in 6pin, or 6+2 pin flavours, if you only need a 6Pin, plug one of those in, if you need 2 plug 2 in, however if there is only 1 of each connector type with your PSU, you can unclip the 2 pins from the 6+2Pin connector (will look like 1 8 pin connector) and use the 6Pin connector (that's why it comes apart) if you need a 6 pin and an 8 pin, plug them both in.

this video explains how to connect a SATA HDD up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCgFYNLzn18

This video explains how to connect an IDE drive up:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXvM_FTTzaY

I think all those combined covers about everything you need.

[aceatc]

Awesome thanks.

[aceatc]

I forgot to put a harddrive on the list also.

How's about this one.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136075

[Carbon]

It isn't a 640GB dual platter, but that's twice the price, so that's good enough. :) WD is a good brand.

[aceatc]

Thanks a huge bunch for the help guys.

In about a week I'll be starting to build my first computer and hopefully in time I finally be able to say that I actually know what I'm doing with computers. :-)