computer building, need help (and some info)

[Muchtar]

ok, I am hoping to build a computer. not sure what the budget is, but not too expensive.

here is my idea for the system:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (AM2)
M2A-VM mobo (the cheap one, and it has integrated GPU)
1 GB RAM (probably OCZ or Corsair)
a good case (and not generic PSU, with at least like....350W)
80 GB hard drive or more (not too much)

i am also thinking of getting the:

Visionary i5050 (or i5060)

anyway, this is sort of a rough idea of it. was hoping people could help if they are able to find things, maybe even pre-built, if its good.

secondly, i indeed have an important question to whoever wants to answer it. The mobo above, has an IDE cable, but my cousin says its only for hard drives. i was hoping to use it for an optical drive, so can anyone confirm this?

[TurboVolvo]

IDE can be used for both Hard Drives and optical drives (CD/DVD etc...) You just have to set the master/slave jumpers on the drives (usually Hard drive would be master, DVD would be slave)
Or if you use a SATA hard drive, just connect your DVD drive as the master.

What do you want to do with this system? I would suggest using at least 2gb of RAM and a SATA hard drive for quicker file access.

[Gee]

If it is a newer motherboard, chances are it will only have one IDE connector and 4 SATA connectors.

If this is the case, the IDE connector is intended for the optical drive only. You can plug a hard drive into it, and it will work. But SATA is much faster.

If you have a hard drive and an optical drive, the overall speed will be slow and you will not be happy.

[Muchtar]

IDE can be used for both Hard Drives and optical drives (CD/DVD etc...) You just have to set the master/slave jumpers on the drives (usually Hard drive would be master, DVD would be slave)
Or if you use a SATA hard drive, just connect your DVD drive as the master.

What do you want to do with this system? I would suggest using at least 2gb of RAM and a SATA hard drive for quicker file access.

well, i am going to play some....slightly lower end games. i may buy a new videocard in the near future, but if i do, probably not before december (or i could ask for one for christmas, i guess).

anyway, i will also do a bit of cpu intensive stuff (i do some photoshop sometimes, and I will try to see if i can use 3d studio max or some equivalent).

anyway, i have two more questions, mostly based on opinion:

CanadaComputers discontinued the Athlon 64 X2 3800+, (though other stores sell it). is this a sign that its being outdated?

also, if i should choose either:

to build it (in the Original post is the basic idea of what it is)
or
to buy this:http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=014098&cid=170.315
or this:http://canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=014761&cid=170.45

[Muchtar]

also, he said this
"did they say that an ide cable that was manufactured for an Ultra ATA channel can be used for an optical drive?"

[Gee]

also, he said this
"did they say that an ide cable that was manufactured for an Ultra ATA channel can be used for an optical drive?"

IDE is 40 pin
Ultra ATA is 80 pin cable with a 40 pin connector.

So it will work on optical drives.