critique my build ideas?

[nsomniac]

I'm working on ideas for my first build, as follows:

Processor: AMD x2, either 3800 or 4200

Motherboard: I'd like to use my current AGP video card for a while, but want to have the ability to upgrade...so I'm thinking of a board with both AGP and PCIe. Which, it looks like limits me to either the asrock 939 dual-sata2 or the mach speed mk8?

I can probably figure out RAM and drives ok after I get the above figured out, but could use some advice on a PSU that will give me some breathing room for upgrades like a good video card.

Thanks for any input.

 

[Baez]

first of all i think u should get a new card now unless u really cant afford it. an agp card would slow that beast of a cpu down a lot.

also for a PSU get this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817711002

or this if u can:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817711001

 

[Ste]

It would really help us help you if you did the following.

Tell us what you budget is.
Tell us EXACTLY what you need and Do not need for parts.
Tell us what this Computers MAIN purpose will be for.


But as for the power supply, I would go with An Antec Truepower 500 watt. Then again, I shouldn't say that as I need more information to make a proper decision.

 

[nsomniac]

>Tell us what this computer's MAIN purpose will be for

I'll be using it for a lot of things, most of which aren't terribly demanding...web, lots of word and excel, some low-level cad, spss for stats...and eventually gaming. I'm not going to have the time to do much in the way of serious gaming for 3 or 4 months, which is the main reason I thought I might put off a new video card until then.

>Tell us EXACTLY what you do and do not need for parts

Just about everything, with the possible exception of hanging onto the video card (ATI AIW 9600) until this summer. I already have good monitors.

>Tell us what your budget is.

Assuming I'm in the neighborhood of $400-450 for processor and mobo, I was imagining <200 for case and psu, <100 for a decent hd, around 100 for a decent mb of ram...plus a little more for cd/dvd and miscellaneous whatnot.

Thanks for you interest...I hope the additional info helps.

 

[jeremy]

only the asrock have real agp , the mach mk8 have fake agp (agp that runs very slow on the pci bus), anyway the asrock is overall a good mobo but it doesnt have some features the more expensive ones have and it aint so good for overclocking and of course its about 3-5% slower then nforce4 based mobos but thats not much, as for psu
antec truepower2 550w eps12v
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103932
you dont need to spend more then 100$ for what you gonna be using , but if you do wanna spend over 100$ then get the fortron 600w
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104014
it have a much higher amper ratings then the ocz powerstream psu's suggested by cvb724 , the thermaltake tsunami is an excellent case it looks cool+good ventilation and its aluminum made too
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133132
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133133
as for the hd best for that budget is western digital 250gb sata ii 16mb buffer
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701 , as for the ram i recommend this one
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450
but 2gb is more future proof might wanna expand that budget a bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231032
and as for the cd/dvd nec 3550
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...Ntk=all&N=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

an agp card would slow that beast of a cpu down a lot.

absolutely untrue

 

[nsomniac]

hmmm...maybe I shouldn't be trying to get away with having a mobo with both agp and pcie...3-5% isn't much, but I'd kind of like to do this right. Maybe I'll try to nurse my p.o.s. Compaq along for another few months and do everything at once.

 

[Spartan]

hmmm...maybe I shouldn't be trying to get away with having a mobo with both agp and pcie...3-5% isn't much, but I'd kind of like to do this right. Maybe I'll try to nurse my p.o.s. Compaq along for another few months and do everything at once.

i would recommend the. Conroe, am2, R600 and G80s, AND vista along with DX10 are rite down the road in 5-10 months