Buying new pc.opinions plz

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by ozzy214, Aug 25, 2005.

  1. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    I am getting my current comp through a rental facility. Its a hp pavillion a712n. It has a p4 2.8 ghz chip.

    Now I went to another facility and they had a pavillion just like mine except different mobo. It has a amd athlon xp 3000+ 2.10 ghz chip and it also supports agp. My current pavillion doesnt support agp. I took the cover off of the new one and confirmed it has a slot for agp. Now correct me if Im wrong, but I might be able to overclock the athlon slightly.

    The new pavillion is model a523x. Now do you guys think this would be a better comp in bother speed and performance? I know its running a slower ghz, but athlon is suppose to be more powerful. So maybe the speed difference doesnt matter. Plus I like the fact I can use a agp video card.

    This new comp is a pavillion A523x. I would mostly be using it to run games, dvd/cd burning software, and run stuff like vso divxtodvd. SO what do you guys think? Good choice or no?
     
  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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  3. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    Because I cant afford to put a grand down all in one shot to build one. So I need the credit from the rental places to do it.

    Thanks for the links ddp, but what do you think of the new pc? Is it better than what I have or no?
     
  4. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    According to the specs...it appears the athlon is more capable and what not.plus more room for expansion. But what bout speed?
     
  5. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    the new 1 is better than the old 1 as 1 gig more of ram & agp slot. but are you allowed to open the case to upgrade??
     
  6. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    Yeah I can. But what bout speed? Is it speedier than the pentium? Is it a better number cruncher?
     
  7. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    a bit faster than the intel as is equivalent to a 3ghz & number cruncher it depends on application
     
  8. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    well divxtodvd runs top 33 fps with what I got now...what bout with the athlon?

    Now ya got me confused? How is a 2.3 equivalent to a 3.0?

    Do they rate them differently or something?
     
  9. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    After much debating I decided to build my own. DDP you are right man. It is so much cheaper than factory and you get so much better. So can you or someone else tell me if this is a good combo. Or can recommend better. I already bought a old dell for $40.00 bucks that runs....that Im going to gut for the case to use.

    Here is the chip which I been told runs better than a pentium 4 3.4 ghz.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103547

    And here is the mobo...which is one of the few that could match the bus speed of the chip.


    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813152049

    So plz tell me what you guys think? Also let me know if you think the dell case will work with minor mods or am I looking at a case too. Thanks everyone.
     
  10. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    what is the wattage of the dell psu? you'll need a pci/e videocard. check the dell case to see if the wires from the front of case is 1 block connector or seperate connectors, preferably seperate. does the dell have a reset button??
     
  11. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    Hey ddp. The dell is a max of 200 watts. Its has two seperate connectors going to the mobo and then a bunch of four pins for the hardrives. If it dont work for the mobo...I will get another. I know Im going to need higher once I get a dvd burner and start burning movies again. But hopefully enough it will be enough for now. But what bout the board and cpu...good choice? Or should I find another board? I was looking at a epox, but it doesnt match the bus speed of the chip. Also I do have a external video card that is reg pci. It came with the dell. Will it work with the mobo...till I could afford the pci express card? Cause the board and the chip is killing me for the month..lol.


    Edit....Im on the dell right now and it actually runs decent for being five yrs old...lol. It was running at 466 mhz, but once I stuck in the promise card it bumped it right to where It should be....about 496.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2005
  12. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    can use the pci card for now as new motherboard has 3 pci slots. you'll have to get a new psu as old psu connectors might be different & you don't have a square 4pin connector needed for new motherboard. the wires from the front of the case, are they a block connector or seperate connectors. standard atx psu dimensions: 5.5"(14cm)depth x 5.875"(14.8cm)width x 3.25"(8.3cm)height
     
  13. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    The power on and reset is a single ribbon cable with a rectangle black block. Doesnt the motherboard come with its own switches? Ok since I need a new psu...which one do you recommend? And by the dimensions....do you mean it will or will not fit in the dell? And lastly you havnt told me if the mobo and chip are good or bad choices..lol.
     
  14. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    the board & chip should be alright. just couldn't find info whether it can take the dual core cpu. the only cables that normaly comes with the board is the ide & floppy cables. that is why i posted the psu dimension so you can check to see if can fit the case or not as have come across name brand cases that don't accept standard psu's. might have a problem with the wiring. download the manual from chaintech for the new board to do a pin comparison. remember pins in the connectors can be moved to another spot on that connector or another connector.
     
  15. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    Okay thanks. I really appreciate it. Do you think the asus you told me about are better? See Im trying to match the chip and also not break the bank either. The asus deluxe that you told me about had more capabilities than I ever would use. I just dont know. I heard epox was good, but it was 200 mhz slower fsb than the chip. The only reason Im asking is because you said it should be alright. What does, " Should be alright?", mean? lol
     
  16. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    i don't use chaintech boards very often as usually get biostar in systems i get for customers. the fsb on the board is same as cpu so should work. what ram are you going to use as can't use the old dell ram as it is sdram whereas the new motherboard is ddr?
     
  17. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    I got ddr that I was using with the hp I was renting. A gig of pc2700 from kingston. So that should be alright. Im gonna look up the one you said you get.. What bout brand of psu i should use?
     
  18. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    You said biostar is what you use...how bout this board. Has the same bus speed and all the features of the chain tech, but a hell of lot cheaper.

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138253


    Edit: This dell is a xps-t500. Do you or anybody else know what the mobo size is in here? I been looking for a hr and cant find nothing.lol

    Fricken Fracken 5 yr old paper weight. I just want to make sure the new mobo will fit or if Im going to have to the drill out...he he he.
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2005
  19. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    board dimensions are 12"x13" with a 2.25" x 3.1" notch with four non-ATX mounting holes. MS440GX Motherboard System ... Dell Dimension T Series: Dimension® XPS T500, Pentium® ...
    check this link & open the pdf file 456704 bytes than go to which ever board you are thinking of getting & take a look at theheir dimensions. you might be better off getting a new case with at least a 350watt psu in it. this way do't have to do any modding & you'll have usb ports in the front besides on the back.
    http://support.intel.com/support/motherboards/workstation/ms440gx/sb/CS-015052.htm


     
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2005
  20. ozzy214

    ozzy214 Regular member

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    Well the new mobo from biostar is small enough to fit in there. Just wondering bout the mounting holes. Cause you said non atx holes, but I always can drill and use nuts and bolts to tie it done. (Sorry me thinking like a mechanic agin..he he) Is this biostar you use for your customers? And what brand of psu do you use or trust? Thanks for all your help and sorry for all the questions. Im just trying to learn is all. All I knew is how to build an engine...now through you and this group along with a lot of reading...now Im starting in on comps.
     

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