Putting together a new PC

Hardware and technical stuff
1

After a little research this is what I got. Consider that in Italy there’s not a huge choice of parts and prices are rather inflated.

  • Case Tacens Algeo (case is important because the computer needs to survive the heat, this one gets a 250x250 fan that hopefully is up to the task)
  • Enermax ATX EPR525AWT (525W) PRO82+ (this should be a decent power supply, hoping it lasts a while, +12V1: 25A / +12V2: 25A / +12V3: 25A)
  • Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Box
  • Asus P5Q PRO (the cheap version of the latest chipset, P48)
  • Dimm 2X2GB DDR2 PC2-6400 Corsair C4 XMS2 DHX (some decent RAM at decent price. I could get higher speed versions but it’s the easiest part to upgrade later)
  • Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA-II
  • Sapphire ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB (not much to say here, I guess. Right now it’s like a forced choice)

Anything you would change in there?

2

P5Q is a good board. Good choice with the E8400.

I would have gone to 4G of RAM but the 2G is easy to upgrade later.

Looks good.

3

RAM is 2x2, so 4.

4

I wouldn’t buy a Seagate HD; I’ve pretty much converted to Western Digital fulltime. The 640GB is awesome and not too expensive. Also wouldn’t mind getting a slightly beefier power supply, but other than that… I hate ATI’s.

— Alan