Suggestions Please - Hardware checklist for Custom (home) built P

Hello, I'm a recently registered member to devshed; this is a hardware checklist for a computer a friend is preparing to purchase and build. I felt that my own opinion wasn't sufficient and that consultation on the configuration might be a good idea; any suggestion on improvement that might involve compatibility or overall cost (lower ;D) would be greatly appreciated!




Externals

Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster 172X

Case - Lian Li PC-V2100

Input - Logitech Cordless MX Duo Combo

Sound system - Windows XP Proffesional Logitech® Z680 5.1 Speakers


Internals

Mobo - ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe - Intel 875P

CPU - Intel Pentium 4 with HT Technology 3.2GH

Hard drive - Seagate 120 GB 7200 RPM

RAM - PC3200 (DDR400) 2 x 512 MB

GPU - Ati RADEON X800 XT Platinum Edition

Sound card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI SB0350

Optical drive - Plextor PX-708A 8x DVD±R/W Drive

Power supply/cooling. - Turbo-Cool 510 Deluxe (PSU)

Man, thats one hell of a system. Personally, though, I would go for a AMD chipset, seing as they are much more effeciant than Intel, an AMD Athlon 64 FX-53 may only be 2.4Ghz, but when you compare bandwidth efficiency, its equivelent to about 3.8Ghz apparently, and your getting a 64bit CPU for future OSs.

But that system is still a good system. Are you a hardcore gamer or something like that?

for one, that motherboard is GREAT. i have one in this machine right here and couldn't be happier with it, great software with it too, full temp sensors and fan monitors. And the board supports SATA hard drives, i LOVE these things. you'll get faster and better data transmissions from them, plus the SATA cables are really REALLY easy to put in and look cool in the case and do not block air flow like the IDE ribbons do.

second, buy a floppy drive. you can get them off www.newegg.com for like $7, and if you don't have one, boot-disks will not exist for you, and if you ever have a problem, you'll be up **** creek without a paddle in a cement boat that's got a hole in the bottom, k?

also, with that kind of power, i might suggest buying an extra case fan or two, just to be on the safe side. A second CD-ROM would be nice if you ever wanted to copy a CD, you will see about a 60% increase in speed from one disc to another. Other than that it's not 100% necessary.

AdamTT

Good luck finding an x800 PT. I would second the idea that you get a floppy drive. You usually don't need it, but its nice for boot disks and such. (Unless you have a bootable usb key... ) Check out this one, its pretty cool.

You don't specify if you're getting the 3.2C (northwood) or 3.2E (prescott) cpu. Get the 3.2C, if you were considering both.

I assume the hard drive is SATA, if not, it should be.

I would personally get a case with more fans, but I OC. If you are going to run stock, you have no problems. If sound is an issue, consider a Zalman heatsink instead of the stock Intel one. It cools better too, but again that is not much of an issue of you don't OC.

Overall, a pretty sweet setup. Wish I could afford it