I am going to attempt to build my own PC, I have selected these parts can someone offer advice as to wether it will all work together:

Motherboard - Gigabyte Ga-EP45-UD3R DDR2.
CPU - Intel Core 2 DUO, E8500.
RAM - Kingston KVR800D2N6K2/4, 800Mhz, DDR2.
GRAPHICS Card - Palit 9600GT, PCI-E2.0, 1GB, 256 Bit, DDR2.
HDD - WD5001AALS CAVIAR 500GB 7200RPM 32MB CACHE 3GD/s SATA.
DVDR - PIONEER DVR-217 OEM SATA.
P/S - ANTEC 'TRUEPOWER' 550W.
O/S -WINDOWS XP.

Never done this before any helpful advice would be appreciated.

As far as I can tell these parts should fit together like hand in glove.

A few comments:
Depending on priorities (cost, computing power, graphics performance, power consumption, noise level, etc.), what you're going to use it for and any future upgrade plans, there are a few things to consider.

- A 550W PSU is overkill for the specified hardware. If you're not going to do some serious upgrades you could save money by getting a PSU with lower rating, 400W should suffice.

- The graphics card (GF 9600GT) seems like an odd choice. A Radeon HD 4770 will provide much better performance at the same price, Radeon HD 4670 will provide slightly less performance at considerably lower power consumption and slightly lower price.

- For future RAM upgrades you might want to use DDR3 instead of DDR2. Right now DDR3 is slightly more expensive, a relationship I expect to reverse within two years.

- No matter what type of RAM, do get the lowest CAS latency you can afford. The CL6 RAM you suggest isn't that good. If you're short on money it's most probably better for you to buy 2x1 GB of faster RAM (CL4) now, with the possibility to add more later on, should you think you need it. (With XP I've not noticed any difference in performance between 1GB and 3GB of RAM.)

- You don't mention anything about the computer case. Do you have one that can handle the items, or do you have to get one of these too?

Cheers
Olle

Olle,
Thank you for your views I was pleased that my choices would as you put fit like a glove, and even more pleased that there was a 'but'.
I am like many trying to build a P.C. that will be all things to all the people of our household.
There has been a bit of research behind my choices but that is tempered by what is available, budget constraints and a lack of knowledge as well.
From articles I have read I deduced that Intel and Gigabyte seem to be consistently favoured as manufacturers of reliable & sound equipment and that DDR2 was better value for my dollar now than DDR3, also performance between the two is very close.
I started looking for a Gigabyte board that would carry both DDR2 & 3, Gigabyte make 3 of these and only two are available here in Aus, thinking that installing DDR2 now would leave room for future upgrade to DDR 3 later on.
I cannot find stock and of GB-EP45C boards and RRP is near $4oo AUD.
But taking your advice I have started to look into the DDR3 option and with your tip regarding RAM and with a new found understanding of latency I can see a case of less being more.
Case yes case I was considering an Antec 300 the washable filters sounded like a top idea.

Olle would you still recomend the Radeon HD 4770 graphics card in DDR3? Any further considerations you can make I would be please to here.

Regards

I am like many trying to build a P.C. that will be all things to all the people of our household.Does that spell gaming, watching movies and editing movies?
Any other CPU-intensive activities?

I started looking for a Gigabyte board that would carry both DDR2 & 3, ... thinking that installing DDR2 now would leave room for future upgrade to DDR 3 later on.That's not how I meant. My suggestion is to pick either type now and then stick to it, since you can't use both types at the same time.
If you opt to buy as much RAM this computer (motherboard) will ever need within about six months, then DDR2 is the cheaper option. If you want to expand a year later then buying DDR3 now is probably better.

Case yes case I was considering an Antec 300 the washable filters sounded like a top idea.Seems like a very nice and easy to work with case. Top choice for your requirements!

Olle would you still recomend the Radeon HD 4770 graphics card in DDR3?I don't understand what you mean.
- It makes no difference what type of RAM you chose.
- HD4770 comes with DDR5.
- There are rumours about a coming version of HD4770, possibly called HD4750, that will use DDR3 instead (with less performance and lower price).

Right now I do recommend HD4770 in the ~100 USD price range.
If you're using a monitor with native resolution of 1280x1024 or less a HD4670 should suffice. (And if the motherboard supports CrossFire two 4670 will be plenty.)

Now, to stir things up a bit I'd propose some serious budget alternative:
CPU: AMD Phenom II X3 720 BE. Triple core, cheaper than E8500, and can overclock quite a bit.
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-MA790XT-UD4P (Socket AM3, DDR3, CrossFire). Slightly more expensive than the one you picked, but mobo+CPU is same price.
RAM: Some DDR3 CL6, pair of 2x1GB.

This combo seems a bit more "future proof", since it makes a Dragon (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_543~129698,00.html) computer. Socket 775 is old and within a few years replaced by some other for Core i5. Socket AM3 will probably get more support later on.
DDR3 is the future.
With CrossFire support you can buy one pretty cheap (ATI) graphics card now, and when needed/affordable another one later on.

Late addition:
For a tighter budget version of above mentioned AMD system, with an approach of low cost now, major upgrade later on, pick a cheap motherboard with Socket AM2+, AM3 support and DDR2.

Cheers
Olle

Olle,

I have to thank you for the consideration and time you have give my postings.
Some of your replies to my questions have helped me, pushing me to question some things that I thought of as fact thus broadening my understanding of what I'm dealing with.
The prospective use of the computer is as you guessed some CPU intensive activities but unless the PC can cope with this you can not indulge in these activities at all.
As yet I am undecided about to jumping to the dragon option and will look into it further.
For the moment I have taken on some of your suggestions and after talking with a few local suppliers of computer parts ammended my selection of components.

I am sticking to DDR3 Ram as you suggested and the HD 4770 graphics card
Motherboard - Gigabyte Ga-EP45T-UD3R DDR3.

The W/D hard drive will now be a Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST3500418AS 500GB SATA NCQ 7200rpm, 16MB Cache.

Corsair Ram TWIN3X2048-1333C9DHX 2GB
I am finding the determination of the various manufacturers Latency ratings some what confusing.

Olle in your initial reply you said "The graphics card (GF 9600GT) seems like an odd choice." Can you satisfy my curiosity and tell me what you feel is odd about the choice/card?


Thank you.

Olle in your initial reply you said "The graphics card (GF 9600GT) seems like an odd choice." Can you satisfy my curiosity and tell me what you feel is odd about the choice/card?Just the price/performance ratio.
9600GT has been around for quite a while and there are newer options (like aforementioned HD4770) that provide better bang for the buck. It's still good if you're having "GeForce card @1,000 USD" as an absolute requisite, but not many persons set those boundaries.

Cheers
Olle