Finally, after almost two weeks of voracious reading in various forums my first system is ready. I am beginning to buy the parts right now and would appreciate any feedback from the pros. Here is what IÂ’m getting:
CPU: AMD AM2 4000+
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merc..._Code=M&Product_Code=120993&Category_Code=AM2
Motherboard: MSI K9N SLI Platinum
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130048
Memory: G. Skill 2x1GB 800DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231071
Hard Drive: Western Digital 74 GB; 10,000 RPM; 16 MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136033
Power Supply: Antec TruePower 2 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103932
Keyboard/Mouse: Logitech DiNovio Bluetooth Wireless
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126177
Optical Drive: BenQ DW1655 with Lightscribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101008
SoundCard: E-MU 0404
http://www.zzounds.com/item--EMU8803
Speakers: Alesis M1 Active MK2 Biamp
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ALEM1AMK2
Case: Antec Performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129017
The case took the most amount of time to look for. I had also these choices, among others:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811196006
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811165012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119035
Do I need a separate heatsink with AMD? Is this system OK for future overclocking? (I have never done that either.)
I know about Conroe and AMD price drops, but I need this system now. My goal is to upgrade my system in a year or so by simply replacing the CPU with K8L and adding 2 more GBs of memory.
I already received Samsung 19” SyncMaster as a gift and don’t need a monitor. Also don’t need a graphic card because I don’t play video games.
For CPU, I could get 4600 or 4800, but given that those are already “old” tech CPUs, I don’t think they are worth the extra money.
Any system suggestions? I wanted to get 4200 at first, but someone in another forum recommended to get 4000 instead b/c it has a larger cache. Do you agree?
(I will be buying the CPU last, in case dual core prices drop earlier.)
CPU: AMD AM2 4000+
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merc..._Code=M&Product_Code=120993&Category_Code=AM2
Motherboard: MSI K9N SLI Platinum
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130048
Memory: G. Skill 2x1GB 800DDR2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231071
Hard Drive: Western Digital 74 GB; 10,000 RPM; 16 MB Cache
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136033
Power Supply: Antec TruePower 2 550W
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103932
Keyboard/Mouse: Logitech DiNovio Bluetooth Wireless
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126177
Optical Drive: BenQ DW1655 with Lightscribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101008
SoundCard: E-MU 0404
http://www.zzounds.com/item--EMU8803
Speakers: Alesis M1 Active MK2 Biamp
http://www.zzounds.com/item--ALEM1AMK2
Case: Antec Performance
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129017
The case took the most amount of time to look for. I had also these choices, among others:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811196006
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811165012
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119035
Do I need a separate heatsink with AMD? Is this system OK for future overclocking? (I have never done that either.)
I know about Conroe and AMD price drops, but I need this system now. My goal is to upgrade my system in a year or so by simply replacing the CPU with K8L and adding 2 more GBs of memory.
I already received Samsung 19” SyncMaster as a gift and don’t need a monitor. Also don’t need a graphic card because I don’t play video games.
For CPU, I could get 4600 or 4800, but given that those are already “old” tech CPUs, I don’t think they are worth the extra money.
Any system suggestions? I wanted to get 4200 at first, but someone in another forum recommended to get 4000 instead b/c it has a larger cache. Do you agree?
(I will be buying the CPU last, in case dual core prices drop earlier.)