building a nice power workstation - comments on parts selection please?

[tracyballard]

I need a new business computer to replace my old emachines 2Ghz Celeron with 1GB RAM. I was thinking about just building one, because I can't really find the features I need without getting a lot of others that I don't need, but the last computer I built was a K-6 233 about 10 years ago. I don't need a lot of video processing, but I do need to have a computer that will run lots of firefox and internet explorer windows simultaneously and won't slow down when I switch between them, and also be able to upload photos to ebay quickly. I have come up with a short list of components, and I'd like to get input on my choices, as well as mentioning important parts I may have left off. thanks in advance!!

processor - Athlon II X4 640 Propus Quad-Core (3.0 gigahertz)

mobo - GIGABYTE GA-M68MT-D3 Socket AM3 Motherboard - supports DDR3 and up to 95 watt Athlon II.

memory - CORSAIR XMS 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 Ultra Stable Desktop Memory

power supply - XClio GoodPower 500W power supply

hard drive - SAMSUNG Spinpoint F4 HD322GJ/U 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s

PCI fan - AOC FC-2000 PCI Slot Case Cooler

OS - Windows 7 home 64 bit builders edition

case - my old emachines T5212 Pentium D case, seems to be normal ATX config, with new replacement case fan.

optical - DVD RAM drive from my current emachines Celeron, compatible with all types of DVD/CD media, I may also try to use the front USB hub from one of my old machines.

cpu cooler & heat sink - recommendations?

anything else?

[RickyTick]

For about $20 more, this is a much better motherboard and offers many more features that could be useful for you.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128394

I don't know if you're buying from Newegg or not, but the Samsung Spinpoint F4 500gb is only about $5 more than that 320gb.

Don't see any reason for cpu cooler or heatsink since the cpu will come with one.

If you can spring for more ram, that might help out a good bit with heavy multitasking.

[tracyballard]

after some further evaluation and tips from other builders, I think I'm going with this MSI mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130295&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4169961&SID=o78szt3sb2q6


good tip on the 500gb Samsung, I am a newegger.


and, when you say more memory, this board has 4 slots - would I be better off with 4 2GB sticks or 2 4GB sticks?

[RickyTick]

Go with the 2 sticks of 4gb each. It's less stressful on the motherboard (at least that's the assumption).
Maybe something like this. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231311