Custom computer...what to buy?

[Shortass.]

I'm a pretty serious gamer with a very low budget. It's been hell trying to find a good computer for a low price. I'm going to buy components for a computer and assemble it with a friends help or I'm going to buy a barebones computer and then get the rest of the parts.

The problem is, I know next to nothing about motherboards, and I know little about Athlon processors (or processors in general, clock speeds, etc). I know a small amount about video cards (confused about the whole N30, N35 thing), but for the rest I'm fine.

What I'm asking is, what is a good motherboard that can hold a lot of DDR RAM (2gigs) and can use Athlon chips in the higher ends, without costing over the top. Also, where can I find good information about the hardware aspects of video cards or motherboards that explains it to newbies like myself. I bought a Sony VAIO computer a year and a half ago and have since then tries to learn how not to get ripped off. Thanks in advance, I'm asking a lot.

[jAkUp]

go with an nforce2 board... soundstorm is a great onboard sound card, so you save about $100 on an audigy 2. no motherboard can hold 2 gigs of memory to my knowledge... unless its dual channel ddr. that would mean it has to have 4 memory slots. unless you use this system as a server i dont recommend that much memory... its a complete waste of money. 1 gig should be max. you need no more than that, 99% of the time you dont even need more that 512mb. the system never utiliyzes that much system memory.

as for video card... if your on a budget, but want the best, i still recommend the ati 9700 pro... great card, about on level with the nv30 (geforcefx ultra) and better in some cases. you can pick one up for under $300.

also, dont get confused by codenames. these are the names nvidia or ati gives the video card before they think up an official name:
nv30= geforcefx ultra
nv35= next nvidia graphics card. supposly releasing this summer.

[Shortass.]

Okay, thanks for the info. Say I wanted the nForce2 motherboard, an Athlon 3000+ Barton, 512 DDR400, NV30 (would I want the 5200 or 5800?), a 350 watt power supply, a 52x24x52 CD-RW and a 16x DVD ROM, and an 80gb 7200 rpm harddrive, about what would that cost? It's a lot, but I don't intend on buying another computer for a while (or at least a whole one). Also, what kind of cooling would I need (how many fans, mounted where?)

[jAkUp]

if your gonna get an nvidia card... dont get the 5200, your better off the with 5800.
i would guess that system would cost somewhere around the region of $1,200... when your finished... that includes operating system, case, fans... cables... etc. the system in my sig cost me around 1,300... but i spent a little more on case cooling, modding, and things like that. depending on where you shop, and the brand you buy for memory... hard drive... etc.

but the powersupply, get at least a 400watt... your geforcefx ultra is one power hungry biatch:) make sure its an enermax or antec brand too.

lets see...
nforce2= maybe around $120

the athlon 3000= very expensive... around $400. i suggest skimping a little on this since for gaming, your always benefit from a faster vcard not cpu. i have a 2.4ghz, and am able to run every single game at 1600x1200 all options maxed with 2xaa.

512DDR= depends on memory, but you can always find 1 for under $100

hard drive= about another $100

geforcefx ultra= around $450

52x24x52 cdwriter= about $50

350-400watt psu= probably around $80

DVD= $40

windowsxp pro= free since your gonna "borrow" from a friend;)

that all comes out to $1,220. like i said. by skimping on a few things, buying things on sale, etc. you can save much more.

[Shortass.]

Against many peoples opinions, I shop on ebay for parts on computers. Its cheaper and safe, if you look at the details. Say I skimped on parts (2400+ or 2.4ghz p4) and maybe cut some other corners, would it be possible to get it at under $900? Or should I wait until i get the money and make everything name brand parts and hope it lasts longer or more efficiently?

[jAkUp]

by skimping on the processor, and cut some corners, there is no doubt in my mind you could get it under $900. also on ebay you can get parts dirt cheap.

[Shortass.]

Thanks for the input. I'll be looking around for good deals. I'm planning on purchasing a computer around mid-July, as my first serious investment will be a Bass stack amp (I'm in a band). Unless, of course, a deal comes up which is impossible to resist.

Also, I'm selling my 1.5ghz P4 Sony VAIO computer in the for sale forum, in case anyone is interested :D.

[FastM]

I say you get an nForce2 with some Kingston HyperX PC3200 or PC3500 and a good CPU HSF. That with a 2100+ cpu easily overclocked to 166Mhz FSB (2700+) with no voltage change and a GF4 TI4200 and you got yourself a real gaming machine for very little money.

Dont waist your money on the latest and greatest CPU / VideoCard cause their prices move around Way to quickly. You should never spend over 150$ on a CPU and around 250 for a Vidcard (thats USD) if your on a budget. Instead invest more in a Good Case and Monitor that will easily last you through your next upgrade.

[Kain]

Just to make it a bit easier for you, fill out the following:

Processor:
Motherboard:
RAM:
Hard drive:
CD/DVD-ROM:
CD-ReWriter:
Graphics card:
Sound card:
Monitor:
Speakers:
Keyboard:
Mouse:
Power supply:
Case:

[Smokey]

Originally posted by FastM
I say you get an nForce2 with some Kingston HyperX PC3200 or PC3500 and a good CPU HSF. That with a 2100+ cpu easily overclocked to 166Mhz FSB (2700+) with no voltage change and a GF4 TI4200 and you got yourself a real gaming machine for very little money.

Dont waist your money on the latest and greatest CPU / VideoCard cause their prices move around Way to quickly. You should never spend over 150$ on a CPU and around 250 for a Vidcard (thats USD) if your on a budget. Instead invest more in a Good Case and Monitor that will easily last you through your next upgrade.

If I was going to reccomend a cheap AMD cpu, it would be the Barton 2500+ or the Barton 2800+.

When people are only just moving into building pcs, and still dont know that much, I would never suggest overclocking ;)

I would suggest saving up a bit, unless you can confirm really good prices o eBay. A good 19" monitor can set you back $200-400, same as the videocard, Im guessing 512mb of good PC3200/PC3500 will cost $100-180. Motherboard, I would stick with any of the big names, just check there features and if you need them. Case, look around, find one that you like, and that has at least a 350watt power supply. Mouse Keyboard, anything from Microsoft/Logitech is the way to go, I have an Intellimouse Explorer, and have ordered a Logitech Elite keyboard, shouldnt be more than $50-60 for the both.

Some things to think about.

Dont buy cheap ram, if you are unsure, post details of the ram your thinking about getting first ;)

heat sink and fan, GET THE COOLER MASTER XDREAM, I put in bold to make it clear to get this one :p people will tell you to get others, but this is by far the best bang for buck, its cheap and is a great performer.

When putting a pc together, be 100% sure you know what your doing, or things can and will go wrong, get someone to help you if your not 100% sure.

Other than that, have fun, I always love building new pcs :D

[Shortass.]

I already have a 15" LCD monitor, so that takes care of a lot of the worry or money. Where can I get a good harddrive with an 8mb buffer? (and what excatly does it do?) Also, how do you guage clock speed? I know a P4 3.06ghz processor's clock speed is 3.06ghz, but how do you guage an Athlon processor, and how does that compare to Pentiums? I know a 2400+ equals roughly to 2.1ghz (or so I've heard), but would that outpreform a P42.1ghz?

I'm going to look around and fill out the form Kain sent with information you guys have given me, and then I'll post it and see if it's a good idea and maybe you guys could see about what the cost might be. Also, suggestions are nice to upgrade or change components I've added, since I'm fairly new to computer hardware aspects.

I just did some research on the Barton 2800, and now I'm even more confused. The clock speed was only at 2.08Ghz, and my computer now clocks at 1.5ghz (P4). How much of an upgrade is this? The front bus is only 333mhz, and the P4 is at 533. Do these numbers convet differently for different processors, or is the P4 chip actually a lot better then the Athlons? Ahhh

[jAkUp]

an amd 2400 performs on level with the pentium 2.4ghz... amd processors are more efficient clock per clock, so they even up.

for a good hard drive, i recommend either a western digital 7200rpm, or a maxtor 7200rpm... both with an 8mb frame buffer. the 8mb frame buffer allows the hard drive to read ahead 8mb, since memory is faster than hard drive, it grabs the data from the memory it kept when it read ahead.

also, the pentium 4's arent a whole lot different from amds' in terms of speed. dont look at the fsb numbers. both chips are designed differently, so the both perform about the same, just have different ways of performing how they do.

[Shortass.]

Processor: ATHLON XP 2500 Barton http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=&submit=Go&description=barton+athlon+2500
Motherboard: Abit NF7-S Nforce2 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2723482131&category=42010
RAM: Kingston Hyper 512 MB PC3500 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2723037345&category=14918
Hard drive: WD 80gb 8mb buffer http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3412336732&category=19570
CD/DVD-ROM: DVD-120 ATAPI DVD/CD-ROM Drive http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3413263517&category=3754
CD-ReWriter: CDRW LITEON 52X http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3412216888&category=11159
Graphics card: GeForce4 Ti4200 8x AGP 128
Sound card: No idea, suggestions?
Monitor: Already have 15" LCD
Speakers: Suggestions?
Keyboard: Suggestions?
Mouse: Suggestions?
Power supply: 400watt, brand?
Case: Suggestions?

This is a rough idea of what i want and some links to them that i think is a good price. Comments on any component suggested or where i could get a better price.

[jAkUp]

heres what i recommend

powersupply= enermax 400watts or more...
soundcard= well, your mobo has onboard sound, so you dont really need it.
speakers= it really depends how many pieces you want, and if you want a subwoofer... etc.
keyboard= logitech elite keyboard usb
mouse= logitech mx500 or 700
case= i dunno... depends what you want it to look like... if you want a modded one or not... the standard chessy case is fine if you want.

and i recommend www.newegg.com for all purchases... they have great prices, and their shipping is great

btw, dont forget a heatsink, thermal compound, and 2 ata133 cables! and a few fans too;) oh yea, maybe windows xp pro

[Shortass.]

Enermax power supplies are really expensice (over 80 bucks). Is it really nesessary to have all of the components that the EG465P-VE (FC) has?

[Smokey]

Originally posted by Shortass.
Enermax power supplies are really expensice (over 80 bucks). Is it really nesessary to have all of the components that the EG465P-VE (FC) has?

Branded named power supplies are going to cost a bit, best thing to do is use the one that comes with the case, if it doesnt come with one, buy a cheapish one 350watt+. Now saying that, you will be taking a chance, meaning that if the output isnt enough, you could get problems with pc rebooting. I dont think a cheap power supply can damage anything, just make your pc unstable at worst, in which case if that happens then you you can buy a different one. I myself have always use the power supply thats come with my cases, and I have never had a single power supply problem, but they do happen, so be aware ;)


As to your listing of stuff, it all looks great, and jAKUp's reccomenations for keyboard mouse seem spot on
;)

[Shortass.]

Going through the parts I said and the Logitech mouse and keyboard, using ebay and rough estimation, it all came out to $892. Now, all I have to do is sell the computer I have now and I can then have this beast :D. Of course, the cost could be give or take $100 cause I'm using Ebay and may find better deals, and I may choose different components when I start to buy. Thanks for the help guys.

Ill keep you posted once I get the required funds and I start to purchase the parts.