Okay guys, I mentioned in another thread that I was buying a new computer, and I need your help!
I had a thread like this way back when, but today is different because I am actually going to buy the thing, today if possible.
I decided to build my own, since this seems to save a butt load of money. The problem is that I don't know hardware very well. To save me some trouble and shipping costs, I'm probably going to buy everything from Newegg.com. They look to have very reasonable prices. Here is my current wish list.
What I need is for someone to go through and make sure that everything is going to work with everything else, and give me advice on whether this machine is going to be a good one. Plus I need to know if I have everything I need on the list. The things I am least sure of would be the sound card and the ethernet card. Do I even need a network card or is it integrated into the motherboard? How about sound card? I have a keyboard and mouse, so those aren't on the list.
Then if everything checks out, I may need someone to help me put the thing together when I get it .
I know its a pain in the butt to do, but someday maybe I could do whoever helps a favor in return. I could even send a few bucks their way for their trouble...
I decided to go with a P4, mostly because the dual Athlon was going to be expensive, and I don't think I will need the dual processors much. The hyperthreading on the P4s mean that I can play with multi-processor programming without having an actual second CPU anyway. Plus I would like the added performance for gaming anyway. I have 512MB RAM to start, and will likely add another 512MB when I can afford it.
The monitor I want a 19" LCD. The only question I have is how good the particular one I have listed is a good one.
So anyway, I'm at an internet cafe now, and will be back later tonight. I want to order the computer tonight, so if someone could help me out before then, I would greatly appreciate it. If there's a question you need me to answer, feel free to call me at (315) 532 - 2009.
Thanks in advance!
[ January 20, 2004, 05:56 PM: Message edited by: Xavier ]
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
All I see on the wish list is a surge protector. Am I missing something?
[ January 20, 2004, 05:43 PM: Message edited by: Jon Boy ]
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
Really? Give me a min then...
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
Better now?
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
No dice. Do I have to be logged in to see it?
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
There we go, should be public now. Before it was using a history to display it, this one has no history. If not I may just cut and paste the darn thing...
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Aha! I can see it now.
Well, I don't know a whole lot about Intel-compatible motherboards and stuff, so I can't tell you if it's a good board (though it seems that you usually get what you pay for). It's got onboard ethernet and audio, so you don't need the network card (unless you want to connect to two networks) or the sound card (unless you want better sound—but the sound card has 5.1 channels, and your speakers are only 2.1, so it'll be wasted). Otherwise, it looks pretty sweet.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
I would recommend that you also try zipzoomfly , When I built my family pc last month, I compared prices between them and newegg, and ended up buying about half of the stuff from each site. They are just as reliable as newegg, ship just as fast, and have good customer reviews.
EDIT: They also have free shipping on pretty much everything, make sure you compare prices on each thing + shipping on each that has it.
[ January 20, 2004, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: Liquor and Fireworks ]
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
Good call Jon Boy. So I'll remove the network card, and either get better speakers or remove the sound card. I hear with integrated sound cards they push a lot of the calculations onto the CPU during games, and that slows it down a bunch. Is that true? If so, I will get the sound card and just get 5.1 channel speakers.
Posted by slacker (Member # 2559) on :
Looking at your list, I've got a few recommendations (I don't know what your budget is like).
For starters, I'd go with at least PC-2700 (333Mhz) DDR instead of 2100. You might even be able to get a good deal on 3200 (400mhz) or higher.
You mobo appears to have a network card built in. I'm not sure if you meant to have two cards in the machine (some people do).
Did you want video in/video out (VIVO) on your video card? If not, you might want to consider going with a 9600 Pro (non-VIVO) or a 9600 XT.
Compusa has the 9600XT for $199 ($149 after rebates) - linky
If you've got the time, I suggest stopping by Anandtech's Hot Deals forum. another linky Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
Anyway, I'm running up a ton of charges at the internet cafe, so I'll be back later tonight to see what else was said. Thanks guys!
Posted by slacker (Member # 2559) on :
I've got onboard sound, and neither the 2200+ or the 2600+ has ever had a problem due to sound card pushing calculations on the CPU.
One thing you might want to do is to take a look at the AMD XP chips. They're a bit cheaper (my 2600+ runs about $100), but they give comperable performance (my 2600+ is gives me roughly the performance of a 2.8 p4).
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
Yes, you will get higher CPU utilization with onboard sound, atleast from what I understand. I have read that the sound quality on those is nearing soundblaster live levels, although that may only have been on nforce bourds. If you are going to get cheap speakers, it would probably be fine, but if you need good sound quality, go with a descreet card.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
quote:I hear with integrated sound cards they push a lot of the calculations onto the CPU during games, and that slows it down a bunch. Is that true?
I've got onboard sound, and I don't think I've ever noticed slowing due to sound during games. And I've only got a 900 MHz processor. I think you'll be safe with onboard audio (unless you want the 5.1 experience).
Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
Okay, I ordered it. I took your advice slacker and went with the PC-2700.
I also went with the sound card and 5.1 speakers. Theres just something about spending this much money that makes you not care about an extra 40 or so dollars.
I looked at the website you suggested Liquor, but to comparison shop would cost at least another ten dollars here at the cafe. I probably would save at least that much, but the physical cash in my pocket is more meaningful to me then the imaginary number in my bank account .
Thanks again everybody. Expect this thread to be bumped when I get the stuff, since I know I'll have problems and questions putting the darn thing together.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
Umm, crap, I just noticed that your motherboard and processor aren't compatible. Sorry, I got kicked off the computer for a while and couldn't post until now. You bought an 800 Mhz FSB CPU for a 400/533 mobo, I guess you'll have to return the motherboard for a new one or something.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
You could probably call them or e-mail them or something saying you need to change your order, maybe they won't charge you if you alert them before it ships.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
They're the same socket, though. Shouldn't it still work? Unfortunately, I'm not as familiar with Intel stuff as I am with AMD. I think the only problem is that the motherboard won't be able to take advantage of the CPU's 800 MHz FSB, which doesn't really matter, because the RAM is only 333 MHz anyway. But you might want to try to change it to this motherboard instead. It has the 800 MHz FSB, and it's got 6-channel audio onboard, so you can probably get rid of the sound card. And it's only two bucks more.
[ January 20, 2004, 10:25 PM: Message edited by: Jon Boy ]
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
I think it will work if you underclock the FSB, but that would mean you spent more on an 800 FSB proc for nothing, to use 800 FSB, you need an 865, 875, or if you want to go single channel memory, 848p chipset based motherboard.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
You can still take advantage of the FSB with slower RAM, but it is much better to have the FSB and RAM the same, or that's how I understood it anyway, I'll try digging up an article on it somewhere.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
Did you get the 'puter up and running?
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
There's only one way to find out *checks online poker pages*..... Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
Yep, on it right now .
I love it. It was actually not very hard to get it to work. I am having some issues with the sound though. I switched motherboards due to your concerns (to the one JB suggested), so I had to buy a sound card. I got the SoundBlaster Live 5.1 card, but I can only get it to work with two of the five speakers in the 5.1 channel speaker set. That's not too horrible, cause at least I am getting sound, but I'd like to get the full experience out of my speakers and card.
Also, I love the fact that my video card has TV in, since it will save me from buying a TV, and it also looks nice on my 19" LCD (and I can have CNN or ESPN run on my desktop ), but I can't get any sound to work for it. When I first installed my sound card it asked what set-up it was, and I accidently picked the wrong one, and cant figure out how to set it again.
Other than that though, its been great. Thanks for the help guys.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
I think you can change that by going into the creative folder in your start menu. There should be something called speaker settings in there.
Posted by Liquor and Fireworks (Member # 5785) on :
Good to know it worked out for you though, despite that one problem.
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
Sounds pretty sweet (except for the sound issues). Glad I could help.
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