Suggestions for a new system

[imported_xtravistx]

I'm building a new system. I use it mostly for school and some games (looking forward to HL2), but don't need top of the line performance. I plan on NOT overclocking the system at all.

Currently, I have the following parts that I want to build my system around:
AMD Athlon64 3400+ Processor
200 GB Seagate HDD
9800 Radeon Pro 128 MB
19'' Flat Panel
Keyboard/mouse
Wireless G USB
Speakers

Now, I need to know what components are recommended to complete the system.
I figure I need the following:

Motherboard
RAM (512, most likely)
Case
Power Supply

I'm hoping not to spend more than $300 or so on these remaining components, but I want a stable system that isn't too hard to build.

Any suggestions for these components is very welcome. Anything else I'm forgetting? Is a separate sound card even worth it?

EDIT: Also, I don't have a heatsink, what heatsink would be good (again, no overclocking)?

Thanks,
-xtravistx

 

[bob4432]

i don't think you will be able to do it for $300, i would say more like $500 you can't put high dollar equipment in a crappy case/mb/ram combo -> it would be a waste of money

ram - get 1GB of some good Mushkin, OCZ, Kingston or Crucial ram. PC3200 w/ decent timings like the Kingston Hyper X series over their Value Series. probably run you ~$250

case - how much room do you have? personally i like big cases like antec 1080 or atleast the 835 size and these cases have good pss ~$100

motherboard - from what i have read i would get a nforce 3 250 based board. the actual brand/board model will depend on price vs features benefit, get a good brand - Asus, Abit, MSI, Gigabyte, DFI etc, not something you haven't heard of. ~$100-$150

 

[Cannabis]

I dont think you can do it for $300. Maybe around $400. Heres my recommendations for that price range.

Ram 2 x http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-305&depa=1 $186
Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-241&depa=1 $135
Case http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-125-276&depa=1 $79

$400 for fairly decent suff. Wouldnt hurt to spend more money better ram. Any case with 350+ watt power supply and decent cooling should do. That one just seems kinda popluar.

 

[Lyfer]

Originally posted by: Cannabis
I dont think you can do it for $300. Maybe around $400. Heres my recommendations for that price range.

Ram 2 x http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-144-305&depa=1 $186
Motherboard http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-241&depa=1 $135
Case http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-125-276&depa=1 $79

$400 for fairly decent suff. Wouldnt hurt to spend more money better ram. Any case with 350+ watt power supply and decent cooling should do. That one just seems kinda popluar.

Ditch the Geil and get some Kingston or Corsair valueram for the same price. The chieftec case comes with a "mustang" powersupply. Definitely ditch that also and get an Antec case with atleast a 350W PSU, or you could get a maxtop case for $25-$30 and add a Fortron or Antec 350W PSU to it. STAY AWAY from crappy PSU's.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes, get an Antec Sonata or 3700BQE which both include good power supplies

 

[imported_xtravistx]

Is it a good idea to buy 1 GB of ram now? I heard prices were at a spike, and they should go down eventually, again?? I currently have 768 MB of PC2700 RAM from my old computer, would that work until I decided which PC3200 RAM to get? (albeit slower?) or is PC3200 all that is compatible?

The motherboard seems to be a good fit, how about a heatsink that I need? Is there any particular one (for the CPU)?

-xtravistx