First Time Builder... about to buy parts

Status
Not open for further replies.

stees

Solid State Member
Messages
10
Hi. I am going to be building a home machine to repalce my six year old amd 700mhz compaq.

I will be using the computer for internet, burning cds, movie transcoding, photoshop, programming, sound production, and gaming.

I will also be needing a montior and speakers, but let's not focus on that for now.
The core PC I will want to TRY to spend under $1000 USD

So far I know I want a dual-core system, because of the multi-tasking benefits.
I am not 100% sure on my video card and the hard drive.
At first i was going with a socket 939 cpu/motherboard, but now I think I will get the newer AM2 socket. I have not considered the Intel Conroe's because I think they would be too expensive....

Here is a list a compiled last week (all from newegg.com)
Are they any comments/suggestions on the parts I have considered so far.
ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

CPU-----------------------------------
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2000MHz HT Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800IAA5CU - Retail * $297.00.

MOTHERBOARD**********************--------------------------
* Foxconn C51XEM2AA- 8EKRS2H Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

AGP Slots: None
CPU Type: Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64
DDR2 Standard: DDR2 800
Dual Channel Supported: Yes
FSB: 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)
Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB
Number of DDR2 Slots: 4x 240pin DDR2
PCI Express x1: 1
PCI Express x16: 2
PCI Express x4: 1
* Model #: C51XEM2AA- 8EKRS2H
* Item #: N82E16813186098
* In Stock
* $15.00 Mail-In Rebate
* $8.69 Three Day Shipping
* [5 Reviews]
* Move item to Wish ListMove To Wish List

* $209.99

* ASUS M2V Socket AM2 VIA K8T890 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

AGP Slots: None
CPU Type: Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64
DDR2 Standard: DDR2 800
Dual Channel Supported: Yes
FSB: 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)
Maximum Memory Supported: 8GB
Number of DDR2 Slots: 4x 240pin DDR2
PCI Express x1: 1
PCI Express x16: 1
South Bridge: VIA VT8237A
* Model #: M2V
* Item #: N82E16813131024
* In Stock
* $5.46 Three Day Shipping
* [2 Reviews]
* Move item to Wish ListMove To Wish List

* $82.99

* Gigabyte GA-M59SLI-S5 Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail

AGP Slots: None
CPU Type: Athlon 64 X2/Athlon 64 FX/Athlon 64
DDR2 Standard: DDR2 800
Dual Channel Supported: Yes
FSB: 1000MHz Hyper Transport (2000 MT/s)
Maximum Memory Supported: 16GB
Number of DDR2 Slots: 4x 240pin DDR2
PCI Express x1: 2
PCI Express x16: 2
PCI Slots: 2
* Model #: GA-M59SLI-S5
* Item #: N82E16813128011
* In Stock
* $8.69 Three Day Shipping
* Combo Special
* [1 Reviews]
* Move item to Wish ListMove To Wish List

$199.99

MEMORY-RAM----------------------------------------------
* CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail

Cas Latency: 5
Features: matched pair, with Heat Spreader
Heat Spreader: Yes
Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime
Timing: 5-5-5-12
Voltage: 1.9V
* Model #: TWIN2X2048-6400
* Item #: N82E16820145590
* In Stock
* $40.00 Mail-In Rebate
* Free Three Day Shipping
* Combo Special
* [16 Reviews]
* Move item to Wish ListMove To Wish List

$198.00

POWER SUPPLY*********--------------------------------------------------------
Rosewill RP500 ATX 500W Power Supply 100-120 vrms or 200-240 vrms switch-selectable CSA, CB, TUV, FCC, UL - Retail - $54.99
Rosewill RV450 ATX12V 450W Power Supply 115/230 V CSA, CB, TUV, FCC, UL - Retail - $34.99
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V TUV, UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail - $69.99
Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL - Retail - $89.99
OCZ PowerStream OCZ520ADJSLI ATX, BTX, EPS12V 520W Power Supply 100~120Vac / 200~240Vac 10/6a - Retail - $134.99
ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W Power Supply 90V~265V (Auto Adjusted) UL, cUL, TUV, CB - Retail - $104.99 < $109.99




COOLING*************************************** multiply times 3-4+ because you need multiple fans for the whole system
MASSCOOL FD08025S1M4 80mm Sleeve Case Cooling Fan - Retail - $1.99
MASSCOOL BLD-08025S1M 80mm Sleeve Blue LED Light Case Cooling Fan - Retail - $3.89
MASSCOOL WhisperRock II 5F263B1M3 80mm Ball Cooling Fan/Heatsink - Retail - $9.99
VANTEC TD9238H 92mm 2 Ball Case Cooling Fan - Retail - $10.55
VANTEC TD8038H 80mm 2 Ball Case Cooling Fan - Retail - $10.99

CASE************************************************************************************************************----------------------------
Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 for AMD & Intel systems Power Supply - Retail $99.99 < $104.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $49.99
***********
Antec Solution SLK3000-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $49.99 < $54.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $49.99
Rosewill TU-155 Black Steel ATX Black 0.8mm SGCC Steel Mid Tower Computer Case 400W(20+4 pin) Power Supply - Retail - $54.99
COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-WW Black/Silver Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $55.99
ASPIRE X-CRUISER-BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Original Price: $69.99 - $64.99
Thermaltake SViking VA4000BWS Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $75.99
Antec Solution SLK3700-BQE Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case Single fan 350W SmartPower ATX12V Power Supply - Retail - $95.00
COOLER MASTER Praetorian PAC-T01-EK Black All Aluminium Alloy ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $109.99


SPEAKERS
Logitech Z-2300 200 watts RMS 2.1 Speaker - Retail - $98.99


MONITOR
BenQ FP91G+ Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor 250 cd/m2 550:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch - Retail - Original Price: $215.99 - $210.99
ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 500:1 Built in Speakers 0.294mm Pixel Pitch -Original Price: $209.99 - $204.99
ViewSonic VX924 Black/Silver 19" 3ms gray-to-gray (avg.); 5ms white-black-white (typ) LCD Monitor 270 cd/m2 550:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch - Original Price: $269.99 - $257.99
BenQ FP202W Black 20.1" DVI 8ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 600:1 0.258mm Pixel Pitch - Retail - Original Price: $299.99 - $294.99
Rosewill R912E Black 19" 8ms LCD Monitor 270 cd/m2 500:1 0.294mm Pixel Pitch - Retail - Original Price: $234.99 - $224.99

PRINTER

KEYBOARD

MOUSE
 
Wow what a great first build. Good choices(except the PS)

CPU- good pick(but prices are SUPPOSED to drop on the 24th)

MOBO- Foxcon has great reviews, MSI is good too and DFI is comming soon(absolute best)

Memory- is fine, but check out Gskill and Mushkin too

PS- never Rosewill, Enermax has a lot of RMAs, I would use a Silverstone or the Trupower is good too.

Cooling-Look at the Arctic Cooling 8's and 12's. Excelent fans and cheap too.

Cases- The centurion is excelent for the money. It looks a lot nicer in person than in picts.Look for the one with the side window. If you are into shiney check these out,
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1647301&Sku=D15-1060

Speakers- I got them, they shake the walls!

Monitor-I dont know if I would go wide screen, I have had good luck with Benq.
 
wow thanks everyone for the quick replys, keep em coming please.

nitestick: anything specific besides the CPU ?

meefle: i overlooked that RAM because on newegg bcuz I only looked at items that: 1) had a "LOT" of reviews and 2) had perfect reviews (once in a while i would look at the ones with 4 stars). That being said, I saw that the CAS latency was kind of high on that but I assumed it was typical with ddr800 ram... i will look into what you recommended, and thanks for recommending the PSU... I am really unsure about what brands and etc....
I hope I do not overlook other items because of my methods of gathering options.

markkleb: wow... thats a significant price drop... for the motherboard I was planning on getting a DFI Lan Party but i did not see any listed for the AM2 socket, so im glad to here that they are coming soon, i just hope the price is not ridiculous (sp.) also thanks for recommending/ruling out some of the options for PSU,case, and fans!
 
a few suggestions...

well for one i wouldnot look past the conroes, yet. The cheapest one willbe going for like 200 and it would still knock the **** out of the 3800+

but i have to say great choice on the motherboard if you do go am2. its a wonderfulboard.

other then that i say good selection.
 
meefle said:
I can make a few suggestions:

First of all, wait till the 24th, then u can get a X2 5000+ for the same price as the 3800+ is now. That X2 3800+ will be around $150.

PSU: OCZ Gamexstream 600W or 700W
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231087 Better CAS than the RAM u picked out

DUDE! hes not going to need a GameXstream 600W or 700W if he has a $1000 budget build! sry to be rude, but WTF are u thinking, u help people here get a good rig not waste money on something they wont use. from you about PSUs, no matter the persons budget you always suggest a absurdly high wattage, and expensive PSU.

anywayz......

for a psu you would want an Antec, either SmartPower or TruePower

go here and see how much wattage you would need
http://www.extreme.outervision.com/

then pick whichever you one u want.

as for mobo, stic, with the Asus one.
 
well i just finished going over the article about the conroe's at tomshardware. very detailed with many benchmarks, graphs, etc...
[http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/14/core2_duo_knocks_out_athlon_64/]

it seems like the debut prices for the conroe's are going to be relatively cheap... according to an article from zdnet
[http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=48]
the intel core2duo E6600 will have an approx. price of $320 which is not much more than the now current athlon x2 3800, 4000, etc.. i guess we will see what happens after the price drop.

so for the chip i will hold that off until the conroe's are out and get a more user-based perspective of them rather than the professional benchmark tests that are currently out right now.... (than i would also have to compare intel conroe-compatible motherboards)
but as far as the other components keep the suggestions coming... thanks
 
Yeah, conroe hits on the 27th, wait for it and then order what you want because AMD prices will drop by sometimes half I hear.

Conroe itself is pretty nice too.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom