Converted!! Self-build here I come!!

[RufusW]

So,

after a lot of help from Floppy I've finalised my component list for my new build. I was going to get a pre-built... but then you guys suggested me building it myself.... and I trust your advice

It'll be for video-editing, UT2004 and hopefully UT2006, and the basics, word, internet etc...

So here it is...

Processor £123.32

Intel Pentium 4 630 "LGA775 Prescott" 3.0GHz (800FSB) HT Technology Retail (CP-094-IN)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Intel_Pentium_4_LGA775.html



Motherboard £114.53

Asus P5ND2 SLi Deluxe nForce4 SLi (LGA775) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-102-AS)

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12677961118&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=95466



RAM £65.10

Corsair 1GB DDR Value Select PC3200 CAS3.0 Kit (2x512MB)

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=92877



Graphics Card £117.23
XFX GeForce 6800XT 128mb 256bit DDR AGP DVI/TV-out

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12674680324&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=97506

(noticable improvement on the 6600GT?)


Hard drive £83.13

Samsung SpinPoint P SP2504C 250GB SATA-II 8MB Cache – OEM

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Samsung.html


Monitor £199.74
AG Neovo F419 19" TFT 12ms 500:1 (1280x1024) (Analogue/DVI) Monitor (3 Years Warranty)

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12650628199&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=55183



Case £78.02

Antec Sonata II Piano Black Quiet Case - 450W Smart Power PSU

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Antec_Cases.html



DVD Drive £31.49

NEC ND4550 16x16 DVD±RW Dual Layer ReWriter (Black) – OEM

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/DVD_RW_Drives.html


Keyboard £19.92

Logitech Media Keyboard Elite - Retail (KB-066-LG)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Keyboards_2.html



Mouse £6.46

Logitech S96 PS/2 Optical Wheel Mouse Sea Grey - OEM (KB-047-LG)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Optical_Mice.html



Operating System

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition £98.64

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Operating_Systems_20.html



OR from Ebay – cheaper!



Wireless Internet Card £17.65

Belkin F5D7000UK 802.11g Wireless PCI Adapter (NW-007-BE) -

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?rb=12677106122&action=c2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X3Jldmlld3M=&product_uid=45622



Plus a 120mm fan - the Antec comes with one so I'll need another (?)


GRAND TOTAL = £1080.15 (inc. P+P)


If you guys could take a second to answer a few questions I’d be really grateful...


How does the upgradability look on this?
If I want to go up to 2gig Ram, would I need to buy 2*1G, or does the mobo have four ports, therefore only needing 2*512 to upgrade?
I looked at the Antec website and it said you shouldn't use a 'Prescott chip'.
http://www.antec.com/us/support_roductInfo_FAQ.php?Qnumber=13&FAQno=15
Is this true, or is my case not an Aria?
Anybody know how good the inbuilt sound'll be? Would like to edit music for my video editing.
What's the overclocking ability look like... I'm sure that's something I'll look into
I can install XP etc without the floppy right?

And finally... would you guys say it's good value for money? It's turned out a fair bit more expensive than I thought it would, but I don't mind paying a bit as long as it's worth the money... and it'll be a wicked system.

Thanks for your help, I'll keep you guys updated on how the build goes.... I am a complete amateur, but it can't be too hard right?

Rufus

p.s if anyone wants to build this for me.... bristol/bath area... I'd be more than happy

p.p.s sorry for the second thread on my comp, just a little nervous about ordering all this stuff

 

[Me__2001]

the motherboard has 4 slots so you can buy another 2x 512MB when needed, the PSU in the case should be fine with a prescott, the onboard sound on ASUS motherboards is fine and will be good enough for music editing and watching DVD's, you should be able to overclock atleast 200Mhz but you'll want a better heatsink if you do as the prescotts get hot

and one note dont get XP 64 bit you'll have a nightmare trying to get drivers for everything, normal XP home or Pro will be fine

 

[muckshifter]

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is a near feature-complete version of Windows XP Professional

This is NOT Vesta ... this is an updated XP Pro version of window with some bits-n-bobs added.

Re; Win ME ... Frigging MS Junk.

 

[RufusW]

hey,


"should" be okay with the PSU?

what possible problems could I find with it?

Should it be okay because it's not an 'Aria case' as it says in the Antec FAQ.

think that's the last thing I need to sort out...

do you guys like the system?

thanks again

Rufus

 

[muckshifter]

hey,


"should" be okay with the PSU?

what possible problems could I find with it?

Should it be okay because it's not an 'Aria case' as it says in the Antec FAQ.

think that's the last thing I need to sort out...

do you guys like the system?

thanks again

Rufus

Nup, only fault I see is the Intel bits ...

 

[Sharkychris]

Good luck with the build fella, I also am a complete amateur to this lark and found the whole process very straightforward and suprisingly hassle free and the satisfaction at the end of it was fantastic

The best thing you can do is take it all slowly and triple check every step as you go. "Build your own pc" by M Rosenthall is a good guide to the basics and has 3 example builds which will most likely cover most of your component choices and helped me heaps when I did mine

All the best!

 

[floppybootstomp]

The 480W PSU will be ok although you'll be pushing it if you add another graphics card at a later date.

Is 6800XT 128Mb improvement on 6600GT 256Mb? No.

6800XT:

Core: 350Mhz
Memory: 300Mhz
Pipes: 8
Memory size: 128Mb

6600GT:

Core: 500Mhz
Memory: 500Mhz
Pipes: 8
Memory size: 256Mb

 

[RufusW]

Okay then,

I'll swap out the 6800XT 128 for a 6600GT 128.

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=80521
- £112.57

Can't find a 6600GT 256. Although I'm presuming it'd cost more than a 6800XT 128.

Case'll be fine, if I'm going to put in another graphics card I presume it'll have to be another 6600GT 128.... same manufacturer? What's the increase in performance going to look like?

Do I need to get another fan for this set-up...two fans?
And finally, do you guys think this sytem is good value... is it worth the cash I'm spending??

thanks for the expertise again.

Rufus

 

[muckshifter]

if I'm going to put in another graphics card I presume it'll have to be another 6600GT 128.... same manufacturer?

Nope! but it will have to be another 6600gt

is it worth the cash I'm spending??

Yup ...

 

[floppybootstomp]

As Mucks said

6600GT 128Mb still a good choice.

6800GT even better choice, only your budget limits you.

And yes, two identical cards working together will show an apreciable increase in performance.