The Official PC building thread!

Hello everyone,

I'm finally ready to build my new computer and this is what I have chosen so far...

http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Shopping/shoppingcart.asp?submit=view

I definately want to build off of this Processor and RAM (or even the 3800 would probably be sufficient if I want to spend more on the grpahics card or something else and stay within budget). The burner and HD are probably good enough. I think the motherboard is solid...but I am open to suggestions on that. I am trying to build a PC for less than $1,000 (not including monitor which I have already purchased).

My heart is not set on this hideous case...so I am open to suggestions on that as well. I just want this thing to be fast and quiet....good enough to watch DVD's seemlessly on my 20" flat-panel monitor and for playing madden and Age of Empires III.

Please recommend (and provide a link to newegg or a cheaper retailer if possible) a case, graphics card, and any cooling items or any other critical components I may be forgetting.

Thanks everyone!! I appreciate your help.

 

Well I think there are a lot of people that can help. Your link uses a cookie stored on yor computer so plz post the links seperately. Then we might be able to help.
You have a pretty decent budget since your already have a monitor.

 

Oops...sorry about the previous bad link...

RAM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145486

Case
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129155

Mobo
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131540

DVD Burner
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827129001

Fan
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16835118003

GPU
Still undecided

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

HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701

 

dougisjc, everthing looks good , i would go with a Lite-On or a BenQ drive/burner being that you can booktype with either and you cant with the Pioneer.

on the video card i would go with the NVIDIA 7800 GTX, that should be within your price range

 

Thanks for the reply...

Any suggestions on where to get the NVIDIA 7800 GTX at a good price? Doesn't look like there is much of a selection for that specific card on newegg.com

Thanks again.

 

WOW.....newegg is getting RIDICULOUS....

This ram...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145486

...I was looking at about a month ago and it was selling for $118 after rebate. NOW it is $200 after rebate. Outrageous. It shot up $30 from what I saw EARLIER TODAY!!

At this point I'm thinking getting the AMD X2 4200+ AM2 is better than getting the Socket 939 because DDR 400 ram is getting too out of control. Maybe socket 939 is becoming obsolete now and that's sending RAM prices up...i'm not sure. Does the AM2 processor require DDR2 ram?

Please help me pick out quality 2GB ram for the AM2 processor at a better price (hopefully around 150 - 175 dollars) if that is the better value alternative.

I'm still trying to build this system for less than $1k, but these skyrocketing RAM prices are killing me.

Help Please!...I'd like to order on Tuesday so I dont' risk items arriving while I'm gone for the long weekend. Please reference my post above with the links for what I was originally looking at.

Thanks everyone!!

 

Hey, i really didnt want to start a new thread for this so thought id just post in here.

Basically i was wondering. How do you short a psu? So it starts the computer without having to turn the pc on from the button?

Im sure someone once told me how to do it. Dont you lever the pins with a spoon or anything?

Sorry if this seems stupid just needed to know!

Thanks

 

Hey, i really didnt want to start a new thread for this so thought id just post in here.

Basically i was wondering. How do you short a psu? So it starts the computer without having to turn the pc on from the button?

Im sure someone once told me how to do it. Dont you lever the pins with a spoon or anything?

Sorry if this seems stupid just needed to know!

Thanks

 

Hey everyone.. what happened to sammorris?
Afterdawn's mods are becoming a lil pissy..
except for an couple exeptionall couple..
and whats the deal with amd vs. intel?
when are they going to open that up again?

 

@Lecsiy
http://www.gideontech.com/content/articles/196/1

 

@Lecsiy & BigDK,
going along with that link, here is a nice picture for you to do with what you want that I got off a different thread awhile back on this very subject.



Adding the switch is great if your power supply doesnt have one. If it does, just jumper those two slots together and tape it off and you should be fine.

 

I am trying to bring up my new PC.
It has 2 SATA drives.
Sata 1 - 80 gig - I set a 8 gig partition for Windows XP Pro.
Sata 2 - 200 gig.

I have an ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe mobo.

I got the OS on, but all I see is the 8 gig partition on SATA 1. I am missing SATA 2 entirely and I'm missing 72 gigs from SATA1. How do I get these to appear?

 

Is 8 gig enough for just the Windows O/S?

 

1.5GB is emough to load the operating system correctly.

 

8 is big enough for OS as long as you dont install any apps or programs on that partition. Our IT guy at work set us with new computers and partitioned like that but with programs he put on the same partition stupidly, the partition is too big to defrag because you need at least 10% of it free to do.
As for your problems joker, I'd say you only set up 1 partition instead of 2 on that drive with OS. You did one thats 8 but did you do the other 72? Check disk manager, click your START button<right click MY COMPUTER<MANAGE and see if you can partition the remaining space.
As for the one that doesnt show at all, does it show in the startup BIOS screen? I dont think drivers are the problem or it wouldnt see the 1 with OS on it (unless a totally different model or brand check updates).

 

A guide to setting up partitions correctly is here for you.
If the 72GB is showing as unallocated, then jst run through the windows partition wizard.
http://www.theeldergeek.com/hard_drives_02.htm

 

Thanks. I had to set up a partition for the other 72 gigs and format the 200 gig drive. All are now online.

Going back to the 8 gig os partition. When possible I try to install all software on the 72 gig partition, however a lot of drives (ati apps) just install everything on the C: drive. I am down to 1.25 gig on the C drive and I have yet to install office, firefox etc.

Should I just take my loss now and reinstall the os on a bigger partition?

 

Try to find a used copy of Partition Magic. This is a great app you will always use. You can change partition sizes, combine them, set new ones, etc., all with data on the drive.

 

BigDK---great link.
Joker---thats exactly what I was talking about. Try doing a disk defrag with that (with Windows defrag, I'm sure people have 3rd party apps that would do it).
If you are just starting the process maybe you want to start over and double the partition size, or go through your programs that make temp files and reroute them to your other partition or SATA-2 thats now working.