Let's play can you spot the noob

[roberthoudin]

On Friday a friend of mine will be coming over to help build my new computer. It will be used for web browsing, DVD watching and some fairly basic games.

I've managed to come up with the following system, and am looking for any last-minute recommendations (especially for a case and PSU).

I need two separate hard drives.

My friend recommended OCZ ram but Umart (www.umart.com.au) are not currently stocking 4GB 1066 OCZ so am I right to to assume that G-Skill is fairly comparable (even though a bit more expensive)?

My budget is around the $1200 mark.

Umart is a lot closer, so I'll probably end up heading there on thursday night.

MSY UMART
CPU INTEL CORE2 DUO E8400 $189.00 $189.00
MOBO GIGABYTE EP45-DS3L $133.00 $133.00
RAM G-SKILL 4GB DDR2 1066 $155.00 $155.00
GPU GIGABYTE 8800GT $198.00 $199.00
HDD 2 X WD 250GB $114.00 $124.00
DVD 20x SATA SAMSUNG $25.00 $25.00
CASE ?
SCREEN 22” 2MS SAMSUNG $272.00 $279.00
PSU ?

TOTAL $1,086.00 $1,104.00

One last question, does anyone know which card I can buy (preferably available from Umart) to add 2 or more analogue video inputs to this system?

Thanks

 

[roberthoudin]

hmmm on second thoughts I'll prob stick with 2GB of RAM to cut back on costs, since I'll be using a 32 bit OS anyway. Definitely want to get the most bang for my buck, as they say

 

[outlw6669]

No, keep 4Gb of RAM but change it to DDR2 800 4-4-4-x.
Unless you are planning on overclocking past 450Mhz FSB (stock for your CPU is 333Mhz), there will be no difference in access time going from CL4 DDR2 800 to CL5 DDR2 1066. Brands like Corsair, Mushkin, OCZ, G-Skill, Patriot and Crucial make high quality sticks.

Any ATX case will do for you. I have heard many good things about the Antec 300 and 900 series cases. Just make sure not to use any included PSU. 99% of PSU's that are included with a case are pure junk and are to be avoided at all costs. You will want a quality unit of at least 500W from someone like Corsair, PCP&C, Enermax, Sliverstone and the Antec Earthwatts line to name a few.

The 8800GT is an excellent budget GPU but if you can afford it, look into a 4850 or 9800GTX. Either will give you a good performance boost. My personal preference would be for the 4850 as it walks over the 9800GTX but I am not sure about availability in Australia.

 

[nussrods]

Go with 4 gigs of ram, just use DDR2, 800 as it is sinfully cheap, use the money you save to get a really good psu, and a better video card. PC power and cooling PSU's get excellent reviews, and for 200 bucks, check out one of the new 4850 video cards.

 

[Nik_I]

yeah, get cheaper ram, and possibly DDR2 800Mhz instead. the performance difference is almost non-existent, and if anything just overclock it to 1066Mhz.

 

[Proximon]

You do not need 1066 RAM. Save some money there, you need it. Unless you plan on pushing the CPU OC past the 400 FSB mark.

You cannot get a case and PSU for $100. About $200US will do it, and some of your prices look similar to ours.

Antec 900 is a good, inexpensive case that is fairly common.

It's really hard to tell you which PSU you should buy when you are going to a local store. They are all different.
Here's a decent Antec PSU, since Antec is everywhere:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371010

Also don't forget a CPU cooler and thermal paste.

 

[plodgeface]

dont go with the 8800gt unless you absolutely have too. get an ATI radeon HD4850 or HD4870. similar price and much better 'bang for buck', and better performance

 

[Proximon]

Ain't it grand when we all agree?

 

[mford66215]

Ditto the above. We've GOT to STOP agreeing like this. People just won't understand if we don't bicker more!

 

[roberthoudin]

i'm probably not going to overclock at all, since I don't know how to *shame*, will I still need a CPU cooler and thermal paste, and if so what can you recommend?

I'm sold on the gigabyte ATI radeon HD4850. To be honest pretty much the only game I play is Age of Empires III, so I trust that video card will be sufficient?

thank you all for your advice on the RAM... could somebody please suggest which RAM I should buy (there are so many to choose from lol), from www.umart.com.au (under 'memory' in frame on left side of page). sorry, but I just have no idea how to distinguish between all the different types of 4GB DDR2 800 :S

thanks

 

[hairycat101]

I found the newb... He's in my mirror...

 

[roberthoudin]

There really should be a website that basically automates the process of designing a new system... based on current prices, in-house expert reviews and benchmarking... where users select from a range of requisites ie:

Common usage:
Internet
Office
Multimedia
Low-level games
Mid-level games
Crysis

Preferences:
Colour
Size of monitor
Budget

etc etc

It would make the process so much easier for noobs and save the general public a lot of money (i can't believe people still buy computers at retail outlets).

Does anybody know of any websites or computer parts stores that do something like this?

 

[JohnnyMash]

Boxed E8400 comes with fan/heatsink and has pre-applied thermal paste, although its not high quality. That won't concern you if you don't OC, and nor will the DDR-1066, and you may just want to save a few bucks and get the cheapest 800 stuff there.

I got a MSY $69 (on sale now) Cooler Master Elite 331 with 420W power supply and quite pleased with it.

 

[roberthoudin]

I probably will OC at some point in the future... when I figure out how to.

I'm looking at the Antec 300 case... I like the look of it and seems to have good reviews.

 

[outlw6669]

Wow, your choices/prices kinda suck in AUS.

With the choices I can see on your site, I would probably have to take a Zalmin 9700 for the cooler.

For the RAM...
Your best deal looks to be either This set or This set.

 

[night_wolf_in]

if i was you. i would change the gpu to 4850ATI. unless if you in real tight, then go ahead with 8800GT.

btw, ur choices aint noobish.

 

[geofelt]

I agree with the previous posters on DDR2-800 RAM. You will notice NO difference in performance. Get a 4gb kit in a 2x2gb configuration. To insure compatibility, go to the ram vendor's web site, and access their ram selection configurator. Corsair, Kingston, Patriot, and OCZ have them. Others may have one also. Enter your MOBO, and get a list of compatible parts.

A quality PSU can save you lots of headaches. About the only bundled psu that comes in a case that I would trust is Antec. Any mid-size case will work, get what appeals to you. If you get a case without a psu, look at Corsair, Seasonic, PC P&C as quality tier-2 units on this list: http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/storage/storage_2305.html A 400w unit should be fine. If you like quiet in your case, look at the Antec Solo. The same case also comes in white(great looking) and a good 500w psu.

As stated, your retail cpu will come with a decent cooler. Under load, the fan will spin up to keep the cpu temperatures down, making some noise. A oem cooler with a slow 120mm fan will do a better job keeping things quiet.

---good luck---

 

[roberthoudin]

Thanks

So I've got:

CPU INTEL CORE2 DUO E8400 $189.00
MOBO GIGABYTE EP45-DS3L $133.00
RAM 4GB OCZ DDR2 800MHZ $135.00
GPU GIGABYTE ATI HD4850 $229.00
HDD 2 X WD 250GB $124.00
DVD 20x SATA SAMSUNG $25.00
CASE ANTEC 300 $80.00
SCREEN 22” 2MS SAMSUNG $279.00
PSU ANTEC EARTHWATTS 650W $128.00
TOTAL $1,322.00

I'm over budget (although I can afford this system as is, if need be), is there anything here that is obvious overkill? I want this system to be usable for the next couple of years but again, I will be using it mainly for web browsing, DVD watching, Office programs and online Age of Empires III on Windows XP or Ubuntu.

I already have a keyboard and mouse, is there anything else I am forgetting to buy?

Thanks

 

[Shadow703793]

^Consider swaping out the Antec PSU with a PC Power & Cooling 610 or a Corsair 550.

Every thing else looks good. Do you plan to OC? If so get a XIGMATEK S1283 (+ bolt in kit) providing it fits your case.

 

[bf2gameplaya]

I would ditch the on-board NIC and get an Intel Pro 1000MT or something similar. Be 100% sure you are getting a *Genuine* Intel NIC as well, every channel is flooded with counterfeits, even NewEgg. About $40.

You make no allowances for audio. If you are using XP (which you should be+dual boot with Ubuntu) you should get an X-fi and decent speakers. Card about $80, Speakers up to $300 for decent 5.1 + sub.

Lastly, get a Samsung 24" WS monitor if you insist on LCD. The native resolution of 1920x1200 will fit nicely with the 4850. No cost difference.

 

[San Pedro]

The RAM still seems on the expensive side. You can save some money if you go with a Cooler Master case, I really like mine. . . You should get one 640gb WD hard drive instead of the two 250s.

 

[modtech]

I read reviews of P45 boards that all seem to conclude that it kind of sucks. Have you considered x38 instead?

 

[rockyjohn]

I recommend trading the Antec case and 650w PSU (total $208 above) to the Antec Sonata III case with Antec Earthwatts 500w PSU. The 500w PSU provides more than enough power for your system, the case is quieter, the case is more study (a rough measure - it is 20 lbs. compared to 16 pounds for the 300), has an eSATA port on the front, has two 3.5" bays on the front that the 300 does not have, and you save $100 - 50% less than the other.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024

 

[eric54]

Anone else horrified he's spending 124.00 on two 250 gb hdd's? I recommend two 500gb for the same price or AT LEAST two 320gb for the same price. Gosh I can buy a 500gb hdd new for 69.99 so i would assume you could get at least a 320gb for about that. Even if you dont "need" the space its always better to overbuy hdd space as the last thing you want to do is be forced to delete precious "videos" obtained late at night.

You can get by just fine on any of the Antec combo's that include a power supply, for the sake of simplicity get a combo that has a 500w earthwat psu. Honestly, the case just isnt worth it in my opinion, and the 900 is crap compared to even the cheapest antec case (i have the 900, its loud, dusty, cramped, and heavy). Go with what rockyjohn says, the Sonata III is an excellent case for the money and it is quiet as a mouse (built two computers with that case).

Ram "brands" dont mean much at all. They all come from a select few manufacturers so just get the cheapest/best spec'ed units you can find. What matters after price is warrenty and ease of RMA, since ram has the best chance of being faulty.

ANTEC SONATA III + bundled 500w PSU is epic win! ++++++9000 Votes

 

[Shadow703793]

I read reviews of P45 boards that all seem to conclude that it kind of sucks. Have you considered x38 instead?

Mind linking? In some cases the P45s OC much better than the X38. But the only reason to not run P45 is because of CrossFire. X48/X38 supports 2 x16 lanes while P45 is limited to 2 x8 lanes.
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Products/Motherboard/Products_ComparisonSheet.aspx?ProductID=2842,2760,2763