Need help with building a computer

[pip_75]

I want to make my own custom computer and was wondering if this was a good setup

CPU-AMD Athlon 64 4200+

Motherboard-ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI

Memory-Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory

Graphics-ASUS EN7800GTX/2DHTV/256 Geforce 7800GTX 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 VIVO PCI Express x16 Video Card

Already own Sound Card-Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamers edition

Power supply Thermaltake Silent Pure Power W0049 RUD ATX12V/ EPS12V 680W

hard drives-

For OS and small programs etc.
Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150

For Games, video, etc
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache Serial ATA150

optical drive-Plextor PX-716SA

Case- ASPIRE X-CRUISE-BK/420 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Operating system-windows XP proffesional

any suggestions or comments are welcome

for the CPU should I go for the 3800+ X2 instead and wait until the new processors come out to upgrade?

 

[pickxx]

a couple things...
you dont need a 680W power supply....thats hugley overkill...a nice fortron source or enermax 450-500W will be more then enough.


1. Why have you chosen a SLI board?
2. WHy generic RAM?
3. want to OC?
4. why not put your games on the raptor...if you are going to blow money on something like that you might as well lower yoru load times by 5-10secnds.
5. are you getting the Asus video card because you are getting an asus board?
6. if you are going to OC get the 3800+ if you're not...get the 4200+ dont worry about upgrading your cpu with new generation ones because they will be hella exspensive and they wont give you much of a boost.


this system will dominate gmes for 2years and will run the best games out for 4-5(though toward the end you will have to lower settings obviuosly)

 

[pip_75]

I chose an sli motherboard because I was thinking about adding another video card later

Which of the two power supplies that you mentioned is the best?

what ram should I use than if not generic?

I would run out of room on the raptor I need more than 74 GB for games and I don't want to have my os and files on the same hard drive and 5-10 seconds isn't a big deal for me

I havn't totally decided I either want to go with Asus or eVGA

I don't really want to overclock so I think I will go with the 4200

I will use newegg for buying the stuff unless I can find a sweet deal somewhere else and I live in the US.

 

[pickxx]

Personally i would advise against a SLI sitation....if you have a 7800GTX and a 420X X2, you are good to go for a long long time. Once games come out that require you to get a 2nd card....there will be cards out that are twice as fast for the same price. So you will want the better single card.


whichever is the cheapest....
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103457
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104934

The top one is 76, 480W and great for you
the bottom is 91, 500W and has sleeved cables so they dont dangle everywhere.
you choose....both would be great for you.



You could put 3-4 games on a raptor easy while haveing your OS and still a lot of room to spare....ech game is 3-4Gb for modern games. Just a thought.


I would find the cheapes GTX i could find that was a retail box and buy it...brand doesn't matter so much in this case. There are a couple standout brands but only because of warranties (BFG and XFX lifetime warranties) and slight OC's as options that come from the factory with OC's on the cards and are garenteed to run at the higher speeds.
but any bran GTX will be great for you.....personally i love BFG, but they ahev a slgih price hike because they have a lifetime warrany (your life, not the life of the product being built) and it also has a slight OC on it as well....but your call



your set, any questions or anythign let me know.

 

[pip_75]

If I dont get an sli board then what one should I get?

What would be some good ram? and 1 or 2 GB?

I would have at least 5 games if not more on the hard drive

I think I will go with this power supply then

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V

 

[pickxx]

If you arn't going to OC...a Chaintech VNF4 board will be great

if you do OC you will want the EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra Socket 939, or the DFI Ultra-D....i prefer the DFI but the EpoX is a little simpler to use.

Good ram to get....if you get the DFI board get this if you get the Epox board get this

And just 1GB...thats all you need right now.

You could put 10 games on the raptor....if they are all 5Gb a piece (which are all HUGE games) thats only 50GB and with Windows on there you will have filled no more then 58GB.....So there ya go...a lot of games can go on there before yuo fill it.

And great power choice.

 

[Rugger]

That Chaintech is easily good enough for a 15% OC.

Another great PSU option in that price range is the Enermax 535W Whisper II model EG565P

 

[pip_75]

Here is the updated list of components



Processor

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200BVBOX - Retail

$400.00

Motherboard

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard – Retail

$163.00

Ram

Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model KVR400X64C3AK2/1G - Retail

$79.55

Power Supply

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V - Retail
Model #: AX500-A

91.00

Video Card

eVGA 256-P2-N528-AX Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
$479.00





Case

ASPIRE X-CRUISE -BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail

$69.00

Hard Drives

Western Digital Raptor WD360GD 36.7GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

$104.50

Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

$128.50


Optical Drive

PLEXTOR Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 4X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 8M Cache SATA DVD Burner – Retail

$119.99

Operating System

Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 - OEM

$146.95


Total= $1781.49

Another question I have is will the case be big enough to fit everything and will it have enough fans to keep it cool enough?

 

[pickxx]

your case will hold everything and should be cool enough...it comes with 3 80mm fans....so you should be cool enough.

I would personally get this.....http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227211 it has better timings....i know its another 80bucks but with better timings you will notice a nice little increase in yoru gaming and general computing. its just a personal choice....value ram isn't bad at all, but this is just how i am.



There you go, order, assemble and game....you are set

 

[pip_75]

If I decided not to get the sli motherboard what would a good one be?

 

[pickxx]

If you arn't going to OC...a Chaintech VNF4 board will be great

if you do OC you will want the EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra Socket 939, or the DFI Ultra-D....i prefer the DFI but the EpoX is a little simpler to use.

 

[pip_75]

okay I think I got it figured out now all I have to do is get enough money to buy everything

thanks for all of your help

I think I will use the DFI motherboard

 

[pickxx]

If you find some spare money laying aroud...hook a brother up with some of that, i need an upgrade ofmy own.

 

[pip_75]

Here is what I have decided to get for a computer

Processor

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200BVBOX - Retail

$400.00

Motherboard

ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard – Retail

$169.99
Ram

OCZ Gold Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model OCZ4001024ELDCGE-K - Retail

$141.54

Power Supply
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail
$91.00


Video Card
eVGA 256-P2-N528-AX Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail

$ 463.99

Case
Thermaltake XASER, Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum/Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

$159.98



Hard Drives
Western Digital Raptor WD360GD 36.7GB 10,000 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

$ 107.99

Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM

$ 131.99

Optical Drive (DVD burner)
PLEXTOR Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 6X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 4X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 24X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 8M Cache SATA DVD Burner – Retail

$ 122.99

Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 2 - OEM

$ 147.94


Total= $ 1937.41

Will I need to get sata cables for the hard drives because they are OEM?

Do I need to get anything else for building the computer? Like antistatic wrist strap etc.

 

[RichPLS]

Cables should be included with your retail mobo, check site and see what is included with board.
Everything looks sweet from my side.

 

[Rob423]

the a8n premium comes loaded with stuff.

Asus always does a fairly well job of giving you a nice amount of goodies.

 

[Crashman]

I got my Chaintech to go over 300MHz HT base clock!

It's a pain in the ass though.

 

[pip_75]

I got everything I wanted ordered and should be arriving soon

I have one question about how to set up the hard drives. I have a 250 GB P-ATA hard drive and a 300 GB SATA hard drive

which one should I put the os on and how should I format it

 

[Crashman]

It's really hard to say. SATA drives aren't any faster, due to drive mechanics, so you'd be best to check reviews and see the particular performance numbers of your particular drive models and sizes. Oh yes, two drives, same model, different size can have a noticeable performance difference!

I'd probably make the C: drive partition 40GB.

 

[pip_75]

My Graphics card won't arrive until monday at the earliest and I will get open everything else tommorow (Saturday). I have an old Geforce MX 4400 PCI 64MB PCI video card

Could I use that video card until the one I ordered arrives?

 

[Crashman]

You should be able to. By the way, your graphics card might come with a certificate for a free EVGA motherboard. Send it to me, along with a photocopy of your receipt

 

[linux_0]

Great choice of motherboard, CPU, VGA and optical drive!!!!!!!

I would not recommend Kingston value-RAM though.

I would suggest going with Corsair XMS if you can afford it or if you need something inexpensive Corsair Value-Select or Crucial. OCZ is great too.

The ASUS board will come with at least 2 PATA IDE cables and at least 2 SATA cables and SATA PWR cables.

Dump windows go with Linux and BSD ;-)

Ok I'm kidding.... try dual-booting go with Linux and XP for games!!!!

 

[pip_75]

I have everything up and running now I think and here is my system

Case-Thermaltake XASER, Armor Series VA8000BWS

PSU-FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V - Retail
Model #: AX500-A

Motherboard-ASUS A8N-SLI Premium

CPU-AMD 4200+ X2 Dual core

Ram-OCZ Gold Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit
Model #: OCZ4001024ELDCGE-K

Video Card-eVGA 256-P2-N527-AX Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3

Sound Card-Sound Blaster Audigy 4 with wireless remote

Hard Drives-Maxtor 6L25ORO 250GB ATA

Maxtor 6L300S 300GB SATA 150 Hard drive

External Hard drive-Maxtor One Touch USB 120GB

Monitor-Mag 17" CRT

DVD burner-Plextor PS-716A not sata version

DVD Drive-older lite on dvd-rom drive from my old computer

OS-Windows XP Pro


I want to get a newer bigger monitor and a tv tuner card with the red/white/yellow inputs on it

what monitor size/brand/type should I get?

What tv tuner card should I get?

What is a good mouse to get?

 

[linux_0]

I would say look for a low latency 17" or 19" 1280x1024 LCD.

Logitech optical mice are quite nice.

Semper Fi carry on

 

[linux_0]

For a TV tuner the Hauppauge WinTV-PVR-xxx series is pretty good and works in windows and Linux

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&Category=0&minPrice=&maxPrice=&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

Good Luck!