Advice on building my own computer

[Mac Cool]

Andy in NJ:

Thanks for the reply. I will save this one to consider.

Forgot to mention that I think this motherboard will be good for
overclocking if you want to go that way.

 

[Andy in NJ]

I see, so with your thinking I should buy a $2000 machine for email
or $400 machine to do video editing or play current games. Although
you did say you were keeping your video card you never mentioned what
it was, Its not a one size fits all world. 'Use' is hardly
irrelevant.

*sigh*

I have $500. I want the fastest, most stable mobo/CPU/RAM combo for the
cost. Just looking for opinions on which ones fit this bill. I am no expert
in this field, but I do know more than the 'Got a Dell with AOL' new guy,
which is why I posted here.

 

[JAD]

HOW CAN SOMEONE GIVE YOU ADVICE ON A MOTHERBOARD THAT YOU INTEND TO USE A
MYSTERIOUS VIDEO CARD IN?

caps is so you don't fall asleep. *sigh*
Granted, you have 'pretty' good odds it will work, but the info would
definitely help those who are responding.
I may add you failed once again to inform the masses here as to what that
may be. SO it would be a matter of 'just tell me what the best barebones I
can buy for x amount of dollars'?

 

[Mac Cool]

JAD:

HOW CAN SOMEONE GIVE YOU ADVICE ON A MOTHERBOARD THAT YOU INTEND TO
USE A MYSTERIOUS VIDEO CARD IN? ....
I may add you failed once again to inform the masses here as to what
that may be. ...

He has a 9600Pro. Guess how I knew that...

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I have $500. I want the fastest, most stable mobo/CPU/RAM combo for the
cost. Just looking for opinions on which ones fit this bill.

From www.fatwallet.com, a thread about the weekly Fry's

(www.outpost.com) mobo/cpu specials:

AMD 1.6GHz Duron Combo, OEM CPU, Ethernet, Audio, $39.99
Pentium P4 2.5GHz Combo, Retail CPU, 533MHz FSB, $139.99
Pentium P4 540 Combo, 3.2GHz OEM CPU, 800MHz FSB, PCI-E $269.99
AMD A64 3200+ Combo, Retail CPU, $219.99

Retail CPU = includes a fan/heatsink
OEM CPU = fan/heatsink is extra

You may need a new PSU, and 400W is more than enough, provided the PSU
is a high quality one, like an Antec or
Fortron/Sparkle/Hi-Q/PowerQ/Powerman/Aopen/Trend (www.newegg.com can be
really cheap for the latter). But if it's low quality PSU, then even a
700W model may not be enough.

What I use the computer for is pretty irrelivant.

It's completely relevant because if you mostly play games from a CD/DVD
or do intensive CAD, video, or audio work, you want the fastest CPU and
graphics, but if you're using the computer just for Internet, business,
or wordprocessing, a 200 MHz CPU and the world's slowest graphics card
are more than enough and you should instead be more concerned about
reliability (UPS, RAID HDs, second computer for backups). I have no
idea what's needed for Internet gaming.

 

[Andy in NJ]

You may need a new PSU, and 400W is more than enough, provided the PSU
is a high quality one, like an Antec or
Fortron/Sparkle/Hi-Q/PowerQ/Powerman/Aopen/Trend (www.newegg.com can be
really cheap for the latter). But if it's low quality PSU, then even a
700W model may not be enough.

I intended on getting a power supply with the case that I will buy with this
setup. I didn't think I'd have to mention that. I figured cases came
standard with power supplies. The actual rating (400w, 500w, etc) is the
only thing I'm not sure about.

It's completely relevant because if you mostly play games from a CD/DVD
or do intensive CAD, video, or audio work, you want the fastest CPU and
graphics, but if you're using the computer just for Internet, business,
or wordprocessing, a 200 MHz CPU and the world's slowest graphics card
are more than enough and you should instead be more concerned about
reliability (UPS, RAID HDs, second computer for backups). I have no
idea what's needed for Internet gaming.

I don't need a graphics card. I have one that is fine for my applications. A
200 MHZ CPU would not be "just fine" because I'm not looking for "just
fine". I'm just interested in the fastest, most reliable mobo/cpu/memory
combination for the money. I don't care if it's overkill for what I may be
using the computer for. I didn't ask what people thought was appropriate for
a particular application, but rather, I asked what I could get with that
amount of money. I've gotten some good replies so far and I appretiate
those.

 

[kony]

I intended on getting a power supply with the case that I will buy with this
setup. I didn't think I'd have to mention that. I figured cases came
standard with power supplies. The actual rating (400w, 500w, etc) is the
only thing I'm not sure about.

Many/most cases do come with power supplies, but almost
every generic PSU that comes with a case is vastly
overrated, has lower than labeled actual capacity. Come to
think of it I don't recall ANY modern generic
comes-with-case PSU that are worth more than 330W sustained,
which is borderline for a modern system even ignoring
omission of saftety features.

Buy a name-brand power supply, whether it comes in a case or
seperate. The majority of the load is on 12V rail for a new
build, choose a unit with at least 14A 12V, but preferribly
more, >=17A.

 

[Andy in NJ]

Many/most cases do come with power supplies, but almost
every generic PSU that comes with a case is vastly
overrated, has lower than labeled actual capacity. Come to
think of it I don't recall ANY modern generic
comes-with-case PSU that are worth more than 330W sustained,
which is borderline for a modern system even ignoring
omission of saftety features.

Buy a name-brand power supply, whether it comes in a case or
seperate. The majority of the load is on 12V rail for a new
build, choose a unit with at least 14A 12V, but preferribly
more, >=17A.

I've had people putting together custom computers for me since 1997 and
they've always used the power supply that came with the case. I've never had
a problem. Currently running an AMD Athlon XP CPU, 1 gig ram, ATI Radeon
9600 Pro video card...

 

[Rod]

I just bought a Soltek Mobo, Ever Case Gaming case, 1 Gig Muskin PC3200 and
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ along with some other components from NewEgg to assemble
a PC for my son's up coming B-day and I'm very impressed with the gaming
performance, quietness, and cool operating temperature of this unit.

The above mentioned components run 418 shipped, but I also had an 80 Gig HD
and a Geforce 6600GT video card as well. The video card is one thing you
omitted on your need list. And since your wanting to game, it will make as
much or more importance than the processor.

 

[Andy in NJ]

I just bought a Soltek Mobo, Ever Case Gaming case, 1 Gig Muskin PC3200 and
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ along with some other components from NewEgg to
assemble a PC for my son's up coming B-day and I'm very impressed with the
gaming performance, quietness, and cool operating temperature of this unit.

The above mentioned components run 418 shipped, but I also had an 80 Gig
HD and a Geforce 6600GT video card as well. The video card is one thing
you omitted on your need list. And since your wanting to game, it will
make as much or more importance than the processor.

Like my original post said, I only need the case/power supply, mobo and
memory. Everything else that I'm currently using doesn't need to be
replaced. I will keep those items you mentioned in mind.

 

[IDIDIT]

I've had people putting together custom computers for me since 1997 and
they've always used the power supply that came with the case. I've never had
a problem. Currently running an AMD Athlon XP CPU, 1 gig ram, ATI Radeon
9600 Pro video card...

Add the word YET regarding a problem. Then again maybe you have and
blame other things as the cause.
I personaly would rather have a rock solid PS than the bragging rights
to items that work flaky because of a weak PS. GOOD LUCK

 

[Rod]

Like my original post said, I only need the case/power supply, mobo and
memory. Everything else that I'm currently using doesn't need to be
replaced. I will keep those items you mentioned in mind.

Yeah, I know you said that is all you needed. However, if you have
something like a 9700Pro ATI or FX5900 video card, Your new system will
simply be mediocre. I know, I have a P4 3.06 with an ATI 9700 Pro, and the
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ with the 6600GT video card smokes the P4/9700Pro setup
in Games and 3D benchmark program I've run on either.

But otherwise, the hardware I mentioned, I'm very pleased with.

 

[Andy in NJ]

Yeah, I know you said that is all you needed. However, if you have
something like a 9700Pro ATI or FX5900 video card, Your new system will
simply be mediocre. I know, I have a P4 3.06 with an ATI 9700 Pro, and
the AMD Athlon 64 3000+ with the 6600GT video card smokes the P4/9700Pro
setup in Games and 3D benchmark program I've run on either.

But otherwise, the hardware I mentioned, I'm very pleased with.

*sigh*

You guys provide great advice and you've given me many different setups to
consider and I appretiate it. Just don't read too much into the post.

 

[manny]

I've had people putting together custom computers
for me since 1997 and they've always used the power
supply that came with the case. I've never had a
problem.

Why are you asking if you have that much experience?

It's obvious you're a lightweight who's more interested
in fluff than substance, so just get something nice
and pretty.

 

[kony]

I've had people putting together custom computers for me since 1997 and
they've always used the power supply that came with the case. I've never had
a problem. Currently running an AMD Athlon XP CPU, 1 gig ram, ATI Radeon
9600 Pro video card...

Sure, and systems used less power in the past, and that
power was more evenly distrubuted on 5V & 12V rails. Just
trying to be helpful, I throw away piles of generics because
they're not even worth fixing.

 

[kony]

Add the word YET regarding a problem. Then again maybe you have and
blame other things as the cause.
I personaly would rather have a rock solid PS than the bragging rights
to items that work flaky because of a weak PS. GOOD LUCK

Something else not-so-obvious to some is that a marginal
power supply may kill other parts yet remain working. If a
video card, motherboard or HDD dies, will the owner blame
the correct part?

 

[kony]

Yeah, I know you said that is all you needed. However, if you have
something like a 9700Pro ATI or FX5900 video card, Your new system will
simply be mediocre. I know, I have a P4 3.06 with an ATI 9700 Pro, and the
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ with the 6600GT video card smokes the P4/9700Pro setup
in Games and 3D benchmark program I've run on either.

But otherwise, the hardware I mentioned, I'm very pleased with.

The proposed $500 budget was already thin, no way to squeeze
in the video card unless it's the only thing replaced, since
the CPU & mobo kinda go together as a pair.

 

[Andy in NJ]

Why are you asking if you have that much experience?

It's obvious you're a lightweight who's more interested
in fluff than substance, so just get something nice
and pretty.

I don't have "that much experience", but I know (in general) what I need, so
I'm asking for very specific parts. The rest of the computer is not that
important as those parts will work with whatever people recommend here. Some
people are just reading too much into the original post.

 

[kony]

I don't have "that much experience", but I know (in general) what I need, so
I'm asking for very specific parts. The rest of the computer is not that
important as those parts will work with whatever people recommend here. Some
people are just reading too much into the original post.

Andy, the odds are MUCH higher that you're going to get
negative replies when you crosspost. Try picking a group or
two and sticking with it for a while. Web-oriented forums
are a good way to find details of particular boards, you
might try those as well.

 

[Andy in NJ]

Andy, the odds are MUCH higher that you're going to get
negative replies when you crosspost. Try picking a group or
two and sticking with it for a while. Web-oriented forums
are a good way to find details of particular boards, you
might try those as well.

Then again, if I post once on each of the newsgroups, I will have to check
each and every one of those newsgroups for replies. Crossposting allows
people that read each of those newsgroups to reply, since not everyone reads
every one of those newsgroups. My topic is broad enough to cover each
newsgroup that I crossposted to.