Print

[lmk29o]

I decided that im going to try to build a computer. here are the specs i have gathered through research, and help from online forums. the only things is, i am looking for "better" ram because im told that it isn't up to speed with my computer, and other options for "cool" cases. Here it is:

Processor: AMD Athalon 64 3500+, 929 Socket             $170
Cooling: Included in case                     $0
Motherboard: DFI nVIDIA nForce4 SLI chipset motherboard      $225
Memory: 2x 512MB(1GB) Kingston DDR400            $174
Case: ASUS Vento 3600 Blue ATX Mid Tower Case         $140
Power Supply: ENERMAX Noisetalker series 470W Power Supply   $82
Hard Drive: 200GB Western Digital HDD *already have         $110*
DVD/CD Drive: NEC 16X Double Layer DVD RW Drive, w/ Software   $62
VideoCard: eVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra    $425
Speakers:
Audio: ?
Floppy: Mitsumi Floppy and Card Reader **not truly needed      $35*
Keyboard: Alienware MS Multimedia Keyboard         $30
Mouse: find one                        $0
OS:

My plan is to go SLI sometime in the future when i get more money, but i think this will be good at present. Advice, sugestions, etc would be appretiated, but im trying to keep it close to $1,500. THANKS

[Nosf3ratu]

I'd tell you to go with the FX-55 processor but that'd blow your budget to smithereens.

[lmk29o]

seriously, do you think that i will be ok with the 3500? What would be the "next step" if i wanted to go a little bit better?

[lebriznon]

i agree.
get a cheaper case, with a power supply included to save you even more.  Try an Antec case.

you could get a cheaper cpu as well.

SATA hard drive, i'd suggest
separate soundcard for sure; onboard is genearally OK for general casual use but it does suck.  decent speakers are a must

$30 keyboard seems like a waste of money to me. all you use it for is....to type...and then you use ASDW for FPS games lol.

as for a mouse, the logitech MX510 is a great gaming mouse thats cheap now.
and the video....6800ultra is nice...but thats a whole lot of cash.  if you've got the money to burn, sure why not. otherwise i'd personally just go with 6600GT.
i'd also put in a DVDrom, or a cd burner or somerthing.  that way you dont end up using the dvdburner for EVERYTHING, and plus you can burn cd's on the fly.

[thomes08]

i'd get a DVD-rom on top of the DVD burner, not a cd burner, so you can burn both cd's and DVD's without having to do anything but click a button to start the whole process

thomes08

[Nosf3ratu]

I find that pricewatch.com is a good place to find good deals on a lot of things. But yeah, the 3500 should hold you out for a while. Wait until the next line of processors comes out and you might find the FX-55 in the bargain bin. It will be a long time until games and apps become so demanding that you'll need the 55 anyway, although I wouldn't mind having it.

EDIT: pricewatch also has decent cases for $35 shipped.

[XplicitContent]

QUOTE(X_Gamer7 @ Mar 12 2005, 10:37 AM)

Is the AMD Athlon 64 3500+ gonna be good enough?  haha, my AMD athlon 2500+ is good enough for me.  Do not waste your money on a faster processor than that, you won't even be able to notice the speed gains unless you are doing a benchmark like 3dmark05.

[nightracer352]

here THIS might help a bit

[lmk29o]

QUOTE

BTX motherboards

What are these?

QUOTE

SATA hard drive, i'd suggest

I thought that SATA HDDs weren't that good. I was asking questions at my local computer store(small one) and i trust them, becaue they actually never try and sell me stuff, and have told me a lot to get stuff on the internet instead for cheaper prices, but they said that SATA only increase load times a little bit, and only if it has higher RPMs, like the Raptor, and thats $170 for a 74gig. Is it better even if it doesn't have faster RPMS? Link to a good deal? Because they all seem to cost more, and i can't see the advantage...

About the DVD drives and CD Drives, i didn't think about it, but its a good idea. Anyone like to sugest a good DVD Burner and DVD Drive to fit my budget?

About my case, yes, it is wasteful, but this is something im going to spluge on because i think it looks awesome, and i love the look of the alienware, though they are overpriced, i decided this was a compromise. The keyboard, yeah, im going to end up using one from the basement, but i just was thinking that it might look kinda cool

I wish to stick with the GeForce 6800 Ultra. I want to have a nice graphics card, and possibly make it even better. I read something on the boards though that they have a new version coming out in April thats like the same price, but better, forgot where i read it. Is this true, and worth buying instead?

Audiocards, i was planning to stick with the stock ones... Recomendations and link to a nice set of speakers and card? To fit my budget?

THANKS for all the help. Ive been posting at various comuter tech sites, and modding sites to research all of this, its going to be fun

[nightracer352]

QUOTE(nightracer352 @ Mar 13 2005, 02:10 AM)

here THIS might help a bit

[lmk29o]

I heard there was a 6800 Ultra with more something...I think cache? I don't really know that much about computer components(as you can see)....

Im considering a SATA HDD, i just already have a 200gig WD that was only $110, which i was going to use for my xbox, and i was just going to use that for my PC instead...

[AnThRaX]

QUOTE(lmk29o @ Mar 13 2005, 10:08 PM)

I heard there was a 6800 Ultra with more something...I think cache? I don't really know that much about computer components(as you can see)....

[lebriznon]

i find SATA drives practically the same price as IDE ones (or perhaps $5 more ) for the same capacity.

i prefer them for faster access and load times, and the thinner cables to free up space in your case, allowing better airflow/cooling.  If you have your big IDE one already, then you dont need a SATA one. perhaps a future upgrade.

if you dont care much for sound, the integrated would be fine. if you want some more quality to it and not go broke, i just picked up an Audigy2 ZS OEM card for $80 Canadian.  i use it with my logitech X620 6.1 speakers, but these arent anything fancy.

and it might be a good idea to invest in a nice monitor if you dont have one already. preferably a 17" or more LCD with DVI and a response time of no more than 16ms.

[lmk29o]

Does that make a big difference?

[lmk29o]

Does the raptor make that much diffence over regular SATA and ATA? Is the Raptor worth it? Because its only 74gigs, and it costs $170.. my friend insists that the Raptor is a HUGE diffence, but ive heard that it isn't worth it...

Previous Post, i ment the 512ram...