I need some help deciding on the last components of my first build.
But first, some background on my PC needs. I'm a student and will only be using this for word processing, web surfing, watching movies, and some moderate gaming, so I will only need a single core and I already have that picked out.
I don't know much about building a PC and don't have much time (studying, classes, work) to research all of this, so please be patient. I've looked at this forum and a few others, along with some sites, and am keeping a list of useful pages, so I'm learning :bald:
Anyway, I do want a 'fast' PC, though, even if most of what I will use it for won't necessarily require it (I hate slow computers). I plan on using this PC for the next few years, and at some point might also like to overclock it. I don't know much about which components (motherboard and memory) and brands/models are best for OCing and which are compatible with which, so that's why I only have a few things picked out and need help finishing the list.
Budget is around $1,500 USD. If it goes over by a hundred or so then that's okay, but preferably close to that. Orders will be from Newegg. Also, I already have a mouse, keyboard, and monitor (speakers not important; I use headphones).
I'll go ahead and first list the components I have picked out (with some comments underneath). For some of those things that I still need I kind of have an idea about but am unsure of which brand, exact model, etc.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 -- $319.99
PSU: Fortron 400W -- $41.99
I'll go with what I read in TriEclipse's thread.
Case: Antec P180B -- $129.99
I don't want a fancy case with l33t-seeming LEDs and crazy-*** windows in the side panels. (Also, while reading the Newegg reviews of the Fortron PSU above, one mentioned that the cables are somewhat longer than other PSUs', which would come in handy regarding the cable management for the P180B ... can someone confirm this? If not I won't worry about it.)
Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 250 GB -- $74.99 each
I would like to set up two of these in some RAID config, probably 0. I need some input on this matter, too, as I plan on backing up a lot of DVDs, and am wondering if 2x250 GB will be enough. Should I go with 2x500GB or add some more 250s on, say 4x250 GB? (If I understand RAID 0 correctly, the more disks in the array (though not too many) the faster the overall read/write speed, i.e. data would be read/written seemingly faster in, say, a 4x250 GB array than in a 2x250 GB array?)
I'll need a RAID controller, too, right?
Mobo: ???
So here's the first component I don't know about. I tried finding some threads by other people with the same CPU who also might want to overclock it, and one thread recommended some DFI board. I went to Newegg but couldn't find the exact one mentioned in that thread (DFI LanParty Ultra-D). What would you guys recommend that would be good for OCing and supports s939 and dual channel memory? (Also, I doesn't need to support SLI/Crossfire; I have no interest in wasting money!)
Memory: ???
All I know is I will need DDR2 RAM, and I'd like to run it in dual channel. One easy thing here, though: I won't be doing any OCing for some while (at least not until this summer) so this doesn't need to necessarily be RAM that is both suitable for OCing and compatible with whichever Mobo you guys recommend. So, you can go ahead and point me to some basic RAM and I'll just sell it later, or you can go ahead and recommend some RAM for OCing and I'll go ahead and buy it now. Either way.
Video Card: ??? (nVidia, maybe some 7900 or 7950 one)
Alright, gaming.
The gaming will mostly be older games such as some Half-Life mods and Tribes 2, but also some N64 emulating. Nothing too major, however, I will probably buy Half-Life 2 at some point, maybe also BF 2142.
I would like to get as good a GPU as possible with what is left with my budget and that will be possible to play those last two games reasonably well. I think the GeForce 7900s/7950s should be able to handle those... Thoughts/recommendations?
Optical Drive: ???
Meh, I just need something to read and burn DVDs.
Floppy Drive: ???
Yeah, I could use one.
The floppy and optical drive I can probably figure out on my own, but I'm open to any suggestions.
OS: Windows XP
I need to check if my uni offers student discounts on it, so I won't add the price yet. I won't be going with Vista -- I've been using Win2000 until the beginning of last December when my PC died.I won't upgrade further until I absolutely need to.
Hmm... okay, so just under a thousand bucks so far. Oh, yeah, some AS5, too, so add ~$5-6.
Alright, it's late. I'll go ahead and post this, and if I forgot something, let me know. I'll check back in between classes and such.
Collin
But first, some background on my PC needs. I'm a student and will only be using this for word processing, web surfing, watching movies, and some moderate gaming, so I will only need a single core and I already have that picked out.
I don't know much about building a PC and don't have much time (studying, classes, work) to research all of this, so please be patient. I've looked at this forum and a few others, along with some sites, and am keeping a list of useful pages, so I'm learning :bald:
Anyway, I do want a 'fast' PC, though, even if most of what I will use it for won't necessarily require it (I hate slow computers). I plan on using this PC for the next few years, and at some point might also like to overclock it. I don't know much about which components (motherboard and memory) and brands/models are best for OCing and which are compatible with which, so that's why I only have a few things picked out and need help finishing the list.
Budget is around $1,500 USD. If it goes over by a hundred or so then that's okay, but preferably close to that. Orders will be from Newegg. Also, I already have a mouse, keyboard, and monitor (speakers not important; I use headphones).
I'll go ahead and first list the components I have picked out (with some comments underneath). For some of those things that I still need I kind of have an idea about but am unsure of which brand, exact model, etc.
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-57 -- $319.99
PSU: Fortron 400W -- $41.99
I'll go with what I read in TriEclipse's thread.
Case: Antec P180B -- $129.99
I don't want a fancy case with l33t-seeming LEDs and crazy-*** windows in the side panels. (Also, while reading the Newegg reviews of the Fortron PSU above, one mentioned that the cables are somewhat longer than other PSUs', which would come in handy regarding the cable management for the P180B ... can someone confirm this? If not I won't worry about it.)
Hard drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 250 GB -- $74.99 each
I would like to set up two of these in some RAID config, probably 0. I need some input on this matter, too, as I plan on backing up a lot of DVDs, and am wondering if 2x250 GB will be enough. Should I go with 2x500GB or add some more 250s on, say 4x250 GB? (If I understand RAID 0 correctly, the more disks in the array (though not too many) the faster the overall read/write speed, i.e. data would be read/written seemingly faster in, say, a 4x250 GB array than in a 2x250 GB array?)
I'll need a RAID controller, too, right?
Mobo: ???
So here's the first component I don't know about. I tried finding some threads by other people with the same CPU who also might want to overclock it, and one thread recommended some DFI board. I went to Newegg but couldn't find the exact one mentioned in that thread (DFI LanParty Ultra-D). What would you guys recommend that would be good for OCing and supports s939 and dual channel memory? (Also, I doesn't need to support SLI/Crossfire; I have no interest in wasting money!)
Memory: ???
All I know is I will need DDR2 RAM, and I'd like to run it in dual channel. One easy thing here, though: I won't be doing any OCing for some while (at least not until this summer) so this doesn't need to necessarily be RAM that is both suitable for OCing and compatible with whichever Mobo you guys recommend. So, you can go ahead and point me to some basic RAM and I'll just sell it later, or you can go ahead and recommend some RAM for OCing and I'll go ahead and buy it now. Either way.
Video Card: ??? (nVidia, maybe some 7900 or 7950 one)
Alright, gaming.
The gaming will mostly be older games such as some Half-Life mods and Tribes 2, but also some N64 emulating. Nothing too major, however, I will probably buy Half-Life 2 at some point, maybe also BF 2142.
I would like to get as good a GPU as possible with what is left with my budget and that will be possible to play those last two games reasonably well. I think the GeForce 7900s/7950s should be able to handle those... Thoughts/recommendations?
Optical Drive: ???
Meh, I just need something to read and burn DVDs.
Floppy Drive: ???
Yeah, I could use one.
The floppy and optical drive I can probably figure out on my own, but I'm open to any suggestions.
OS: Windows XP
I need to check if my uni offers student discounts on it, so I won't add the price yet. I won't be going with Vista -- I've been using Win2000 until the beginning of last December when my PC died.I won't upgrade further until I absolutely need to.
Hmm... okay, so just under a thousand bucks so far. Oh, yeah, some AS5, too, so add ~$5-6.
Alright, it's late. I'll go ahead and post this, and if I forgot something, let me know. I'll check back in between classes and such.
Collin