$860 computer setup (...nevermind)

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by drluv, Mar 24, 2006.

  1. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    haha ok so im trying to build my own computer! and i have all the parts i want figured out from very cheep sorces, but i cant help but think im forgetting something... heres what i have so far:
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------

    [bold]Case:[/bold]
    Antec Sonata II Mini Tower:
    http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=15139

    [bold]Processor:[/bold]
    AMD Athlon 64 3200t

    [bold]MoBo:[/bold]
    Micro-Star NFORCE4 SOCKET 939 ATHLON64FX ( K8N NEO4-F )

    [bold]HD:[/bold]
    (2X) Western Digital WD Caviar 250GB (so 500GB)

    [bold]Memory:[/bold]
    (2X) Crucial CT3264240B 256MB (so 512MB total):
    http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs.asp?imodule=CT3264Z40B&cpe=AFC-2D4S68503543

    [bold]Video Card:[/bold]
    nVida GeForce 6600GT 128MB DDR TV/ DVI

    [bold]Sound Card:[/bold]
    motherboard sound

    [bold]Other Drives:[/bold]
    Sony DRV-810A Internal Double/dual layer and dual format DVD burner
    The dvd-rom i have now
    A used floppy drive

    [bold]Modem/Network:[/bold]
    fax-modem im using now (as we speak)
    LinkSys Etherfast 10/100 Network Card

    ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    would a motherboard with firewire be important? it adds alot to the price, and im not so sure i would be using it...

    see anything else i would need, and how well would this setup perform?

    it is within my budget, and i think it could resell for a hell of alot more. i can buy all that listed above for about $860, but i have the feeling im forgetting something... please let me know what you think!
     
    Last edited: Mar 24, 2006
  2. djscoop

    djscoop Active member

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    MSI makes good motherboards. you only need firewire if you plan on doing video capture or connecting external drives to your computer.

    I would recommend 1GB of ram instead of 512 though.
     
  3. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    A 6600GT? Sounds like gaming, I'd recommend 1GB of RAM as well.
    As far as I knew the Antec Sonata is a quite expensive case. For a cheaper, and cooler looking case I'd recommend looking for either an emermax verre (not a typo!) or an NZXT trinity series. They should be half the price of the Antec, and have see through windows and all that. With the savings you make you could upgrade to an X800GTO, which is a graphics card I highly recommend.
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2006
  4. novicebb

    novicebb Regular member

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    Seems good but let me tell you what I got.
    All these items are from Newegg.com and I got it within 4 days after placing order and I placed order on the weekend. Safe to say I am very excited about Newegg.com.

    Biostar Micro Atx t-series 6100 939 motherboard
    2-1gb Dual Channel Red heatsink A-DATA PC3200 memory module
    250gb SATA Western Digital harddrive with 8mb cache
    NEC 3550 Dual Layer DVD drive with silver fron bezel
    Lynksis 4-5.25" case with side window, 1 80mm fan and carrying handle
    Hippo 24pin 400watt with sata support power supply
    AMD 3700 San Diego Core Retail 939 CPU

    Total cost was 635.46 and that also included 25 free 8x dvd-r disks.
    Yes I need a graphic card but that will come later.
    My 2gb of memory only cost 139.99 plus shipping.
    cpu was 212.00 but I wish I would have jumped on the deal Newegg.com had just a week before I ordered. The deal was the Biostar and AMD combo and you save 10 dollars.

    I would have gotten a graphic card but the refurbished version I wanted wasn't in stock. I want the best computer I can have at the lowest possible price I can afford.

    Today I have to get my pc tool kit and one rounded IDE cable.
    Within 5 weeks I should get a graphic card( probably the refurbished 8channel 256mb Powercolor ATI x700 PCI-express 16). The graphic card I want will cost less than $70 bucks. Well I will let you guys know of my stats in the coming weeks. WIsh me good luck.
     
  5. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    See? A far better setup. With an A64 3700+ and 2GB of RAM, that PC will go like stink. You may not see the highest graphics resolutions with an X700 but if you make that an X800GTO instead on that same PC you'll still be under $860, and have a much better PC for it.
     
  6. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    alright so far i have tweaked to:

    ------------------------------------------------------------------

    [bold]Case:[/bold] N2XT trinity (alot cheeper)

    [bold]Processor:[/bold] AMD 3700+

    [bold]MoBo:[/bold] MSI NFORCE4

    [bold]Memory:[/bold] ?? if you could grab me a link to a 2gb (1gb/1gb combo) that would work well (and isn't 2 expensive), that would be great!

    [bold]Hard Drive:[/bold] 1 Western Digital WD Caviar 250gb (i'll buy a second one if i really need 500gb)

    [bold]Video Card:[/bold] im leaning towards the Powercolor Radeon X800GTO found here http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814131424 , but im wondering if there is a better X800GTO out there (please let me know!).

    [bold]DVD Burner:[/bold] Sony DRV-810A (internal dual ect. ect.)

    ------------------------------------------------------------------

    and thats about it! like i said the other stuff i can get from computers i already own.

    if you see any problems with compatibility let me know please!

    other than that, how would this run so far?

    any more suggestions/things i forgot?
     
    Last edited: Mar 25, 2006
  7. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    Last edited: Mar 25, 2006
  8. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    HIS ICEQ cards are good. The large heatsink and fan for lower heat output cards means that the fans can run slowly and therefore quietly. I've heard that Iceq cards don't run much above the 20dB mark which is very quiet indeed.

    As for the RAM package, try this:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145579
    That's $141 for 2GB of good quality memory. May not have the best latency in the world, but it'll still run pretty well.
     
  9. novicebb

    novicebb Regular member

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    well I wasn't trying to compare my system to the best gaming system. Just giving an example so someone else can realize that you can get a great computer for the lowest possible price. Now my mobo that I chose did come with sata data cable but no IDE cable for my Dual layer burner so you will have to buy some IDE data cables yourself. I went to Comp USA yesterday and bought an 18in rounded cable with uv coating. Make sure if you going to buy a cheap psu that you get a surge protector that has EMI protection to provide your system with more clean and stable power.
     
  10. novicebb

    novicebb Regular member

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    Ok here you go. This is what I ordered from newegg.com
    A-DATA Vitesta 2g PC32000 with red heatsink
    Item number:N82e16820211014
    Price:140.50 plus 4.81 in shipping. Got five golden eggs as a rating(highest you can get) on newegg.com and appears reasonably overclockable.
     
  11. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Hmmm, call me a cynic but I'd still prefer the Corsair option, especially if OCing isn't your forte.
     
  12. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    yep i think i should stick to the corsair. which X800GTO should i purchace, 2 days left on the 45$ mail in rebate deal with the HIS, (real good deal). do you think it would fit in the N2XT trinity case im looking at?, and would it take up extra (crucial) room on my mobo (that would suck if it blocked a slot).
     
  13. byron02

    byron02 Regular member

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    I'm hooked on the Sapphire X800GTO2 actually. I'm going to get a VIVO version, but newegg has a GTO2 for very reasonable, $159. And it's guaranteed unlockable 16 pipelines! Comes with 12 pp's, but a little software modding, and bang!

    As the RAM goes, Yeah, I would love to have 2 gigs, but I'm trying to stay reasonable, and there's always add ons later, I'm getting the Kingston HyperX KHX3200AK2/1G 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Memory w/Heat Spreader for 72.90 after $25 MIR at zipzoomfly. 2-3-3-6 timing too.

    What's so great about Corsair?
     
  14. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    whats the difference between an X800GTO and an X800GTO2?? and VIVO (video input video output) does what exactly?
     
  15. byron02

    byron02 Regular member

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  16. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    k thanks, so someone just tell me what video card i should get haha, i dont think i'll be using one with vivo, so link me to a great X800GTO (2?) that does its job, and isn't 2 expensive. did i forget anything?? will i need another power kit, or more fans ect.?


    thanks for all your help :) i appreciate it!
     
  17. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    ok nevermind, im getting the sapphire X800GTO2 video card.
    but im still wondering:

    and other than that, i just figured out all the parts! haha i'll start ordering next week, and newegg will have me assembling it and setting it up by spring break! i'll keep ya posted!
     
  18. sammorris

    sammorris Senior member

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    Okey doke. Corsair are great because I've never heard of any of their memory going wrong, and they usually have good timings (except for the value RAM which is average).
    Checklist:

    Processor
    Motherboard
    Memory
    Hard disks
    Hard disk Cables
    Optical drives (CD/DVD/Floppy/Memorycards)
    Optical drive cables (IDE, Floppy)
    Graphics card
    Case
    Fans & CPU Heatsink
    Power supply & Power cable
    Sound card if using one
    Mouse
    Keyboard
    Monitor
    Speakers if necessary
    Should be the lot...
     
  19. vspede

    vspede Member

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    I would have to say Motherboard and CPU are the most important. I used to have a P4 2.2 Gig and I just switched over to AMD and I would have to say AMD is a better choice. Its a little slower but the graphics are so so so pretty. That and theres a Huge sale going on for Dual Core (2x CPU in 1) AMD processors right now. I wish I could buy another one lol.

    Dell Small Biz Software & Peripherals has 20% off most accessories including AMD Athlon Retail box processors with code: GTGWZ082MG4KW4 Exp 3/29 or sooner - Search for Athlon - Click on Software & Peripherals tab - Tax is charged. (Thanks Haroon)

    Athlon 64 3500+ $164.45 shipped free

    Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Dual Core $256.46 shipped free
    Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Dual Core $464.96 shipped free
    Athlon 64 X2 4800+ Dual Core $622.46 shipped free

    Athlon 64 FX-57 $704.81
    Email Deal Similar Deals

    Thats at www.techbargains.com

    I bought an AMD 64 3700+ Single Core for 225. For 25 more you can have a dual Core.

    I believe The Fx-57 are usually 1000 bucks but now they're 300 bucks off. Pretty damn good deal. I'd catch that deal if I could.
     
  20. drluv

    drluv Regular member

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    ok, but what motherboard would u suggest for the dual 3800's?
    and really how much better do those perform compared to just a single 3700?
     

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