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[StoOgE]

I havent actually put together a computer since my old 486.. Ive bought prebuilt ever since, but have been talked into the fact that I can build something more powerfull than I could buy in a store for alot less money as well. I'm actually going to build two computers, one for me one for my father (who has my old old one a P3 600 mhz :lol )... so please suggest everything (case, mobo, Ram placement, etc.).. and do it in two categories.. a) full blown nuts money is no object computer and b) low/mid end PC for about 1500 bucks or so (dont worry about monitor here, my dad went out and bought a 21" one last year so he could see stuff easier)..

also, if anything is coming out in the next 5-6 months that is going to be significantly better than what I have now let me know.. I dont care too much about a vid card coming out soon because I can replace that easy, but new processors or something I might want to wait for...

 

[Tarazet]

This is what I would do if I were to build my own computer, although I'm probably going to eventually buy a complete unit directly from ASUS because I don't have the computer savvy to DIM.

ASUS Tek A8V Deluxe motherboard ~$130
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 2.2 GHz ~$310
ASUS ATI Radeon 9600XT video card ~$200
Sound card of your choice, I dunno ~$50+
Win XP Professional $200
Case of your choice ~$100+

 

[Lhadatt]

Step #1 to building a 1337 box: Read this comic. Yes, I know it's Megatokyo, STFU n00b.

Step #2: Do not buy Dell.

Step #3: Wait for me to assemble some solid specs for you.

 

[AntoneM]

an easy way to do it wou be to go to Falcon Northwest or Alienware (or some one that them), see what parts they're usung and go from there.

 

[StoOgE]

Step #1 to building a 1337 box: Read this comic. Yes, I know it's Megatokyo, STFU n00b.

:lol

I actually have a friend that is about that bad.. his grandmother wanted a computer.. I helped him build it.. Im not sure his mother needed a water cooled tower that monitors the internal temperature of the machine, but she got it.

 

[Salamandar]

If I have the money to build a new PC these days here is what I'll buy:

- Abit AV8 Motherboard $119 @ zipzoomfly with free 2nd day shipping
- AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor Socket 939 "90 nanometer" $320.00 @ zipzoomfly with free 2nd day shipping
- Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2PT 1GB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Memory $195.00 @ zipzoomfly with free 2nd day shipping
- Nvidia Based 6800GT VGA card $399- $430
- ENERMAX Noisetaker Series 420W Power Supply $66 @ newegg

Good luck

 

[Lhadatt]

:lol

I actually have a friend that is about that bad.. his grandmother wanted a computer.. I helped him build it.. Im not sure his mother needed a water cooled tower that monitors the internal temperature of the machine, but she got it.

:lol

That's a little overkill for a grandmother.

OK, here's a high-level Athlon XP build.

Lian-Li aluminum case - PC-V1000: $198.
2 - NEC 16X Dual-layer DVD+-RW drives (for direct copying ): $129.98 ($64.99 ea)
Thermaltake Silent Boost CPU heatsink/fan: $29.99
Mitsumi floppy drive: $7.50
2- Western Digital 160GB SATA HDDs: $192.00 ($96 ea)
Geil Ultra X 1GB (512MB x 2) Dual Channel RAM: $268.00
Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe motherboard (nForce2): $89.00
Aspire 450W power supply: $50.00
Athlon XP 3200+ Barton 400MHz FSB OEM: $188.00
Creative SB Audigy2 ZS Platinum (with some expansion port thingy and a remote!): 168.50
ATI Radeon X800 PRO 256MB: $409.00
Microsoft Internet Keyboard: $13.00
Logitech Blue Performance Optical Mouse MX510: $36.00

Grand total: $1778.97

I wouldn't go with a 64-bit chip just yet -- I don't feel that the software is there to support it. However, here's an alternate version with an Athlon 64 and PCI-Express.

Same parts as above, except:

Thermaltake Silent Boost for Athlon 64: $29.00
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe motherboard (nForce4): $269.00
Athlon 64 3500+ OEM Socket 939: $268.00
ATI X800 PRO 256MB PCI-Express x16: $699.50

Grand total: $2401.47

 

[Shogmaster]

I wouldn't go with a 64-bit chip just yet -- I don't feel that the software is there to support it. However, here's an alternate version with an Athlon 64 and PCI-Express.

Spending nearly $2000 on a Athy XP set is FUCKING IDIOTIC! WTF, dude?!?!

And unless you plan to put together another rig next year when Longhorn ships, not getting A64 right now is downright stupid.

 

[NohWun]

If I have the money to build a new PC these days here is what I'll buy:

- Abit AV8 Motherboard $119 @ zipzoomfly with free 2nd day shipping
- AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor Socket 939 "90 nanometer" $320.00 @ zipzoomfly with free 2nd day shipping
- Corsair TWINX1024-3200C2PT 1GB DDR400 XMS3200 Dual-Channel Memory $195.00 @ zipzoomfly with free 2nd day shipping
- Nvidia Based 6800GT VGA card $399- $430
- ENERMAX Noisetaker Series 420W Power Supply $66 @ newegg

Good luck

I'll second these choices of components.
However, you can make it easy on yourself and just get it all at Newegg.

 

[StoOgE]

Im actually looking at the Asus P5GD2 Premium board for my fathers PC (since it has a wireless hub, sound card, etc built in he would have less stuff to deal with)..

right now Im looking at..

Asus P5GD2 - $260
P4 3.2 GHz 800mhz - $230
Corsair 1024 MB DDR2 (2x512) - 209
Asprire 450 Watt power supply -50
Asus Nvidia 6800 PCI x16 256 MB -400

hooray, found the graphics card.

Im gonna get one new HD, install my Dad's old one so he will have all his files, and re-use all of his media drives... dont need an audio card or any networking stuff since the mobo comes with them built in... figure another 200 to polish the thing off (new speakers, case, etc.)


grand total: ~1400 before shipping or tax... prolly around 1600 after.. and that should be more power than my father will need... ever. For my own system I will likely do a similar setup, but opt for the newer version of the mobo, plus get top of the line media components and a second new HD.. prolly up the final cost to around 2 grand.

Edit: I might get an AMD solution for myself, but my father is demanding Intel... I've no idea why but he's paying for it.

 

[Lhadatt]

Spending nearly $2000 on a Athy XP set is FUCKING IDIOTIC! WTF, dude?!?!

:lol

Seriously, get a grip. No need to soil yourself.

Notice that I did give what I would pick for an A64 solution as well.

And unless you plan to put together another rig next year when Longhorn ships, not getting A64 right now is downright stupid.

I honestly haven't given the issue a thought. I'm happy with my AXP 2500 and Powerbook setups, I don't plan on upgrading now or anytime during the next year. That's just me though, I tend to keep a generation or two behind on PC hardware.

Stooge: BTW, all of those prices I listed were from Newegg. Use them if you're not already.

 

[StoOgE]

yeah, I started out using Tiger Direct because thats who I used to use.. I quickly discovered New Egg is cheaper and has a better selection.. plus when I went to checkout shipping was only 40 bucks and for whatever reason no sales tax came up (I allways add everything I want to a shopping cart and go as far as putting my CC number in to get the price).. so I dont know if they allready include it or are having a sale or what.

does anyone care to comment on those components I was looking at for my dad? It looks like a pretty killer setup to me (I could get a faster processor, but the price difference to upgrade becomes much higher after 3.2 ghz, and that should be plenty fast for what my dad does).... do you think this setup could run lonhorn when it comes out? could it run HL2 or Doom 3 full effects with a decent frame rate?

Asus P5GD2 - $260
P4 3.2 GHz 800mhz - $230
Corsair 1024 MB DDR2 (2x512) - 209
Asprire 450 Watt power supply -50
20 to 24 pin power supply converter -15
Asus Nvidia 6800 PCI x16 256 MB -400

 

[BigGreenMat]

If anyone knows a good guide let me know I need one as I am putting this rig together this weekend

A64 3200+ Winchester Retail $208
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe Retail $227 (if I could have waited like a day I could have gotten it for $199!! crap)
Mushkin Black L2.2 Cas 2-2-2-5 PC3200 $225
Samsung Floppy OEM $10
NEC 3500A DVD Writer OEM $69
Maxtor 300GB 16MB SATAII NCQ drive OEM $205
Antec SuperLanBoy case $50
Antec NEOPower 480W modular PS Retail $109
Soundblaster Audigy ZS 2 Platinum $115
Xterasys 802.11G wireless PCI card $29
Logitech Z-5500 speakers $290
BFG 6800GT OC PCI-E Retail $400

All of this for ~1950 Which is a little over the budget I had set for myself, but oh well I went $150 over.

 

[Bigfoot]

I'd recommend getting the 6600GT instead of the 6800GT. It is a much better when you consider price/performace (the 6600 GT is half the price). ATI is good too if you're mainly playing Half-Life 2 and you want something that runs cooler and quieter.

For CPU, any AMD 64 with the 939 socket is good, and go with PCIe over AGP for the motherboard.

Other than that, I don't have much to offer. These are just things I've learned the last week as I'm planning on building a new PC myself.

 

[gohepcat]

I wouldn't go with a 64-bit chip just yet -- I don't feel that the software is there to support it.

?

Although there is not a Windows Xp that supports 64bit. It doesn't really matter when the Athlon64 is the best 32 bit chip on the market by a long shot.