A few new build questions

[Iain1974]

Hello everyone. First post here. I searched the forum looking for answers to these questions about a new build and did find some clues but thought I'd ask them here for clarity (for me)


I'm starting a new build for christmas for my boy (13) with a budget of about $600 (monitor / HDD / optical from old one)
I appreciate that intel are producing the better chips these days but at my price point I don't think theres much of a difference and I've never had a problem with AMD products. He's likely to work on assignments (10%) and play games (40%) surf the web (50%).


I'm considering the following main components;

x2 6000 ($160) - presumably to drop in price as soon as Phenom hits
X1950Pro ($130)
2x1Gb Crucial Ballistix Tracer PC6400 ($55)
cheapish mobo - but not super cheap ($60-70)
Case - mid tower cheapish ($50?)
PSU - 400w? $50?

My questions are;

1) Assuming I use an old 160Gb HDD, how big of a power supply am I likely to require. I'm leaning towards a Thermaltake 430 or 500W model or maybe Antec 380W.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005

2) I'm concerned by the heat a little. Would I be better off with the slightly slower X2 5600+ - I'm a little confused but got the impression that the memory I bought will work better with the 5600. How can this be when the clock speed is 200MHz weaker?

3) Windows. I don't see a big enough advantage in Vista at this time so I'm thinking XP will do. If I buy XP Pro can I install it (legally) on other computers in my home? Is there really no point in 64 bit versions?
I'm actually a Linux user so I don't know a whole lot about MS products. The last one I owned was Win98.

4) Is 2 GB enough should we decide to switch to Vista at a later date?


The last PC I built was an XP2100 so I am a bit out of touch with current hardware.

I appreciate any replies

 

[itotallybelieveyou]

WHAT your location says so I'm assuming you are spending american money where would find 2GB of any PC6400 for 55 bucks? But anyways
1. THE PSU I really wouldn't consider anything lower then 500W for those parts.

2. The heat will be fine. 200MHZ wont matter alot but keep the 6000. I have no idea where you heard the ram is better with a weaker cpu

3. Vista sucks with only 2gb of ram the eye candy isn'y worth the trouble keep with xp for now. No one cd-key IDed copy per computer. 64 Bit wont be nesscary especially for your purposes.

4. Yes it's enough but apps for games to go smoothly get a bit more.

 

[aadamszc]

1. The size of your hard drive will probably not significantly change the amount of wattage you need. Here are some links that may help you:
- Tiered Power Lists
- Power Supply Calculator

It is generally advised to pick a unit From Tier 3 or higher(1 or 2). I think I would go with a 430 at a minimum.

2. I haven't heard anything bad about the x2 6000 and heating. I would imagine that if you don't OC it, then the stock cooling will be fine. What gave you the impression that the memory would work better with a 5600?

3. I don't think that it will let you. I mean, I cannot really offer any hard evidence, but I would think that M$ would safeguard against that without buying extra licenses. I think when you connect to the internet, it check to see if that same product is installed anywhere else. Really can't say though.

Basically, 64 bit versions run 64 bit applications applications. From what I hear, if you plan on using 4gb of memory in the future, you will need a 64bit version to properly use all of it.

4. Yeah, that will be fine. It's not like memory prices are slated to go up in the recent future/are hard to install.

Hope I helped,
-Adam

 

[g-paw]

For $600 including a monitor it will be really tough to put it together for $600 unless you go with onboard video, and I know everyone will go crazy at the thought. On the other hand you can always add a video card later. You want a video card, your really looking at $700 plus with a monitor. I just got one of my grandkids the following, which would leave you about $180 or so a 19" monitor, something like a Samsung, a decent one. Personally, I would not skimp on the monitor given he'll use through several builds. Same with the case, will be good for several builds.

Case http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811208006
Mobo http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813128056
CPU http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103749
DVD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151153
XP http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16832116056
SATA Power Splitter http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16812119010
Monitor http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16824001088

Cost without shipping $615.

You'll need the SATA Power Splitter because the PSU doesn't have any SATA connectors. The case has a cool factor, at least for a 16 year old. PSU isn't great but it works with the build and can always be upgraded later. Would recommend XP OEM, too many issues with Vista right now. You can only legally use the OS on one machine. We put it together this weekend and I let her build it including the OS, drivers, etc. The only help I gave her was on an audio driver problem. Of course was there if she needed me and watched her do it. So I'd suggest you let him build it assuming he'll listen to you and be careful, which has never been a problem with any of the grandkids that built a machine, every now and then they will listen to you Somethings to consider

 

[Iain1974]

Thankyou for the responses gentlemen.

I think I mis-stated my objective with the original post.

I will build the new PC using whatever's usable from old parts, namely a DVD-drive, hard drive and monitor.

The $600 (ish) was for new bits.

This is what I've purchase already;

Thermaltake 500W PurePower - $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153052

Crucial Ballistix Tracer 2x1GB - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148076

Teenagers PC Case - $50
http://3btech.net/blandsibtstg1.html

ASUS M2V Motherboard - $73
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131024

That leaves the OS, CPU and Video card.

The OS will almost certainly be Vita Premium 64-bit OEM ($104 from NewEgg)
Keyboard/mouse - whatever is Logitech's cheapest wireless offering, likely LX300 for about $20.

This leaves about $300 for a video card and cpu (aftermarket HSF?)

I am undecided between the 5000+ black edition ($129 no HSF) and the 6000+ ($159 with HSF)
Video card - I was thinking X1950Pro for ~$110-130.

Questions;

1) With this board in the mid-tower case, what would be a good choice for an after market HSF? Some of them look colossal.

2) I've no problems with a mild overclock - I gather this is what the Black Edition 5000+ excels at. Am I likely to get to 3GHz without playing with the voltage on this board?

3) For a video card, I understand that GDDR3 is the best type of memory (in this price bracket), but does 256/515MB make a significant difference? He's likely to be impressed with AeroGlass on Vista. I've no idea what games he's likely to want to play this afternoon, let alone in 2 yrs time.

4) Since I'm not planning to build him another one anytime soon, do you think the DX 10.1 capacity of the HD3850 (~$180) would be justifiable in this system. If so, it'll scale back the CPU budget somewhat.

$600 was never a hard limit, but a optimistic aim. I realise piddly thinks like UPS/extra fans/KB/mouse/ethernet cable are always going to add a bit.

For your amusement, this is the graphics card I'm currently using in my work-at-home PC
http://store.simplybargains.com/pinsisagp3ds.html

 

[g-paw]

I think you'd be better off with a board like this with an nVidia chipset that is better than via
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130071

From what I read you can use the HSF that comes with the Black Edition of the X2 5000+ even overclocking and the warranty on the retail CPU is better than the OEM, which I think is only one year.

 

[Iain1974]

I saw that one too. I didn't see much of a difference between the two boards quite honestly but went with the ASUS one because of their name.

I didn't think the Black Edition came with a HSF. I've only ever seen it without one at any rate.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...2-5000B&SRCCODE=GOOGLEBASE&CMP=OTC-GOOGLEBASE

$99 from TigerDirect with 3yrs warrenty.