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General discussion

Build Help

Jun 16, 2005 12:40PM PDT

Alright first question:
This is my first build is it too much system to learn on? Should I start off with less of a system? Or should I go for it?

Second I would like to check if anyone sees anything that may not be compatable...

How can I spend a little more money to improve this and the other way around how can I save a little money without losing too much?

Suggestions greatly appreciated


CPU: Pentium 840 EE 3.2 1015
MB: Asus P5WD2 Premium 955x 220
RAM: Geil PC 4300 533 2x1GB 4-4-4-12 245
HD: Seagate barracuda sata 250gb 7200\ 130
GPU: MSI radeon x800xl 280
Sound: Audigy 2 zs gamer 110
DVDRW: NEC double layer 50
DVD/CDRW: Sony combo drive 37
Floppy: sony 14
Speakers: logitech z5300e 130
Case/PSU: logisys phantom/480w 60
$2300


Can anybody recomend a good pvr/tv tuner card, and what is recomended for a display, I would like somthing widescreen!!

Discussion is locked

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RE:
Jun 16, 2005 1:16PM PDT

That is one overly expensive piece of hardware...
I'm sure there are ppl like me on these forums for a reason, to help ppl like you to buy the best stuff for the money. And with $2300, you can buy a super gaming machine. Me, i would be happy with $1200, for a very very good computer. So heres the deal, why don't i help you whittle down to around $1500, or less. Also, i wouldn't be going for the intel ee, i would rather get the top-of-the-line X2. Wait, i'll go on to my other computer, so i can compile a list of parts for your...

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re
Jun 16, 2005 1:21PM PDT

gaming is not the main agenda of this pc and I can get the EE now but not the X2, but go on I am listening.

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RE:
Jun 16, 2005 1:59PM PDT

The X2 is also avilable. Go to tigerdirect.com. The PD EE, would be best for video encoding/editing, but unless you're doing that as a career and working on films like star wars, actually star wars used AMD, you don't need it, AMD is faster at everything else. As for the lack of DDR2, AMD doesn't need it, as their integrated memory controller still beats intel with DDR2, and amd is expected to skip DDR2 altogether and start with DDR3! Here list of parts with prices, most from newegg, except for the processor.

Case: ASPIRE X-Dreamer II ATXB4KLW-AL Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 350W Power Supply-56 (Subject to your choice)
Motherboard: ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard-169
Processor: AMD 64 3000+ Socket 939 512KB L2 Cache Venice Core-147
Ram: CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX1024-3200C2PRO-130
Hard Drive: Maxtor 250GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model 7Y250M0, OEM Drive Only + Thermaltake SATA Cable-142
DVD Burner: 2x PLEXTOR Beige SATA DVD Burner Model PX-716SA/SW -250
or 1x Plextor DVD+_RW
and 1 SONY Beige IDE Combo Drive Model CRX320A/U-183
Graphics Card: ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon X600Pro 100-714131 All-In-Wonder Radeon X600Pro 256MB 128-bit DDR VIVO PCI-Express x16 Video Card-189 (Only tv tuner card avilable for pci-express, decent performance)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP Home w/SP2(Wait until Longhorn comes out next year!!!)-89
Floppy/Media Card Reader: Mitsumi USB2.0 Digital Card Reader/Writer W/FD INTERNAL, Model FA404A/404M-24
Additional Case Fans: 2x Antec LED80XFAN 80mm Blue LED Light Cooling Fan-16
(Depends on case choice)
Case Lights: LOGISYS Computer CLK12BL 30CM COLD CATHODE Light-5
(Depends on case choice)
Speaker System: Logitech X-530-55
Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer Edition-99
PSU: Enermax EG565P 535 Watt Power Supply (SLI-Ready)-121
LCD Monitor: SyncMaster 730b 17-inch LCD Monitor, Black Pretty good monitor (Subject to your choice)-280
Wireless Kybrd/Mouse: Logitech X700 Wireless Type Standard Keyboard and Mouse-63

Total-1835 or 1768

Wait under prices drop on the top-of the line X2, so just get the 3000+, which is similar to a 3000+. If you want better performance, get the 3700+ San Diego core, which comes with 1MB L2 Cache. Unless you really want to stick with the X800XL, you won't need a seperate pvr/tv tuner.

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Intel
Jun 16, 2005 2:47PM PDT

If you want intel, get a different motherboard and ram. I would get the ASUS P5WD2 Premium/ WiFi-TV Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 955X ATX Intel Motherboard-272 and wait for the dual-cores to lower in price. Maybe the 955X chipset would allow you to be able to use the 65nm presler??? So wait. In the meantime use a 3.0 Ghz P4 630 or 530 if you plan on upgrading in the next year. As for the ram, OCZ Gold Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4300) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Gold Mirrored Copper Heatspreader Model OCZ25331024ELDCGE-K-131.
Total 1989 or 1922.

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RE: Intel EE
Jun 16, 2005 2:49PM PDT

2917 or 2850 depending on the opt drives.

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Costs
Jun 16, 2005 2:58PM PDT

are high for the Intel EE. I've basically included the os, monitor, a really expensive psu, which sums up to about 400. So the computer would actually be cost 2450, if you go for the combo drive as you originally wanted instead of double dvd burners. It includes everything, computer,kybrd/mouse, and monitor. The only changes performance-wise was the ram, and gfx card. So if you want to change it back, there would be perhaps a 200 increase to the price. I really don't suggest getting the EE, it's very expensive and what's the use of buying the latest technology, it'll only be the best for a couple of months and then drop in price by hundreds of dollars, if you want cutting edge, you'll have to invest thousands of dollars each year. Maybe the Intel Pentium D without hyperthreading running at 3.2 GHz or even 3.0 GHz would be a better choice. Oh ya, you can cut some of the stuff on the list if you don't want it. The parts may seem cheap, but it adds up.
Roger

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Costs
Jun 17, 2005 2:52AM PDT

"I really don't suggest getting the EE, it's very expensive "
This a true statment. Coupled with the fact that an AMD64 FX cost less and will out perform the Intel. Yes at this moment it time there are a lot of changes going on. New processors 64bit/dual cores, never has there been so many to choose from.
You said you wanted good monitor, so invest you money on a good monitor, will last through many PCs.
For the amount $$$$$ your talking about you could have 2 realy fast PCs.
Just in case you have never built a PC here is a link that will help. Have fun, John
http://www.build-your-own-computer-tips.com/index.html

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o snap guys, the new antec p180
Jun 17, 2005 1:54AM PDT