Building a PC

Ok so recently Ive been reading on sites and building a PC doesnt LOOK all that hard to do. So I went around newegg picking out stuff I planned on buying. I was going to post my list, as suggested in another thread of mine, to see if there were any suggestions or improvments I could make. Please keep in mind I am a bit on a budget and the only way I am paying for these things is on my $6.50/hr job where I only work a maximum of 30 hours a week. So money is sort of an obstacle here, but heres what I picked out? I don't think I have to say this from reading around the forums, everyone seems nice/sophisticated/mature, but helpful suggestions/comments only?

Case
Motherboard
Processor
RAM
Graphics Card
Harddrive
Replacement PSU(newegg reviews of case didnt sound like people liked the PSU included

Here are just some things that dont directly affect performance, I tried to go a little cheap due to saving money, things like CD Rom, Burner etc

DVD/CD Rom
DVD/CD Burner

My question about those two things. Can the second one, the combo drive, just read like a regular CD Rom? Becasue the title of it says CD rom, so I dont want to be spending 20 extra dollars on a seperate DVD/CD Rom drive if this can perform the same function.

Also, The case reviews say it is very cool, and most people sound like they are not running with water cooling, and its still cool. So it does not sound like I would need to buy one, but if reccamended, or later found out I was running too hot I think I would go in the direction of:

Water Cooling

More things unrelated to performance

Mouse(already purchased
Keyboard
Speakers
Monitor
Gaming Headset

I plan to run Windows XP on this, and do things like playing Counter Strike 1.6, Using photoshop, Using Cinema 4d, Sony Vegas 6.0 for Video editing, surfing the net, using aim, watching anime. I was wondering if this was a decent budget setup and could get done what I am looking for. My biggest concerns are Counter Strike and video editing.

If you have a problem following this, sorry I tried to make it as clear as I could. If any links are broken, notify, I have everything saved in my bookmarks.

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Building a PC

by cmatheny Jun 29, 2006 12:42PM PDT

I would use a newer CPU an Athlon FX instead of the old Athlon 64.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562
and I only use Western Digital hard drives.

You only need a DVD-burner and I would choose a Lite-On.

No water-cooling.

I don't think that you need a replacement PSU with this computer.

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the beginning...................

by logger99 Jun 30, 2006 8:04AM PDT

First, what's your total budget amount for this system? And, is that counting "full retail" or "after" rebates?......... this is the way to approach the build........state the amount of money available, what the primary uses of the system are and the rough draft system you have in mind..................then lets get our heads together and work wonders........................

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Budget and stuff

by Punxthps Jun 30, 2006 8:42AM PDT

My maximum would probably be around 1700-2000.

As stated in my frist post the uses of the computer will be:

Counter Strike 1.6
Adobe Photoshop
Sony Vegas 6.0
Internet
Chatting

So it has to be capable of running counter strike with a high fps. I was looking for like 100 fps with settings max or as close to, only fps droppage in some smokes. Like I'm not looking for 100 fps constant in alot of smokes but like minimal droppage possible. And yeah, so mainly, gaming, photoshop, and video editing.

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My understanding

by marinetbryant Jul 1, 2006 1:33AM PDT

from reading posts on CPUs is gamers like AMD and video editors like Intel. For your budget you should be able to build one heck of a machine!

Tom

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Well

by Punxthps Jul 1, 2006 3:52AM PDT

For the record, I'd be doing much more gaming then actual video editing.

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Video Card

by Punxthps Jul 2, 2006 3:16PM PDT

Well I jus t found out the video card was deactivated on newegg, so now I have to find something else. I really wnated that one too because of who suggested it to me, he knows alot and have seen it perform and seemed like a good buy.

After looking around on newegg, I have come across 2 cards I would think about purchasing. One has no reviews and the other only has 1. So by the looks of the specs and stuff which one would you recamend, or if neither could you point me in the direction of another that you woudl?

Here are the 2 cards

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195019
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814195016

Do you think the extra money would be worth it to go for the second card? Is there a different card you would suggest buying withint the same price range(around 200-300) that would perform better? Thoughts please.

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Case

by engelasche Jul 11, 2006 5:29PM PDT

If you like to save a bit more money then try and look for a cheaper case. It doesn't help the overall performance of the computer?

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YOU CAN BUILD TWO

by Scrotes4Life Jul 3, 2006 6:00AM PDT

NEWEGG - NEWEGG - NEWEGG.............. do those folks give these forums some kind of kick-back?
Go to Tiger Direct. You can get an excellent P4 HT - Motherboard bundle for $500. You can get an excellent graphix card for $100. You can get 2 Gigs of HP Memory for under $200. If you want, you can get killer cases (with 500 w power supplies) for under $100. You can get all the residuals for under $200.
If you're living lean (and obviously you are) then you need that other grand to survive.
You can exactly what you are looking for for $1000. and be happy. When you need "How To" stuff: CNET is right here.
Carry on and good luck.

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Hm another

by Punxthps Jul 3, 2006 12:09PM PDT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150140

My friend talks highly of this. Yes/no? Any better than the 2 posted above this in my other post.

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Building on a bugdet???

by nathanpsz2 Jul 4, 2006 9:15PM PDT

You've picked a $300 CPU and $200 RAM; that's not what I'd call budget. If you're going to spend that much on a CPU, get the socket AM2 Athlon X2 3800+. If you don't want to spend that much, get the single-core Athlon 64 3500+ for socket AM2.

Socket AM2 uses DDR2 RAM; DDR2 667 and 800 will work fine.

For the video card, I recommend the nVidia 7600GT, which is an amazing card for $135.

I'd get a different PSU; one made by a good brand like Antec. The TruePowerII TPII550 watt is a good PSU for about $80.

Athlon 64s run cool, so you don't need water cooling.

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Half Right

by tobee Jul 5, 2006 1:40AM PDT

I build computers for a living and have done pretty much everything out there. But I am willing to learn more and more. Nathan thinks you should go with a dual core and I agree. But to give you a another choice, wait until Intel's new Core Dual 2 dual core(Conroe)comes out in a week. It has been announced again for July 14,2006.All test and eary reviews suggest better performance and lower cost,though AMD is also cutting prices. Then you can decide which dual core you want to go with and with that budget, you will get a better machine than a budget computer.

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MY APOLOGIES

by Scrotes4Life Jul 5, 2006 2:40PM PDT

I went to Tiger Direct to order a Video Card - the same afternoon that I told you to go there to look at P4 - 6
series motherboard bundles - only to discover that they were no longer available. HMMMMMMMMMM....... don't know why. One day earlier, I had looked at one foe myself.
Obviously a hot item - they know it - so they make more off of those doing everything seperate.
They do have some excellent prices on 8s and 9s - still worth looking into.
Some of these guys make cracks about building on a budget........ Look, I'm poor. I know all about cost-effective. BUT ......... I can build $1000. rigs that will run circles around some of these $3000. pieces of junk. I do it. There are $100. Graphix cards out there that can perform just as well as some of these $400. cards.
Don't rush - read reviews - you can find answers all over the internet.
Good luck - carry on!

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Gaming on a budget

by WhyFi Jul 5, 2006 8:34PM PDT

''There are $100. Graphix cards out there that can perform just as well as some of these $400. cards.''
I'm always interested in saving a little dough - link(s) to benchmarks, please!

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Umm no...

by Calgaryruss Jul 7, 2006 2:28AM PDT

There is no $100 video card that will outperform a $400 video card. Never was and never will be. What did you do? Run MS Paint and it seemed faster on the cheaper card? Run EverQuest 2 or Call of Duty 2 and then see...DDR3, 512-bit, pipelines, etc...the higher end cards are priced more expensive for a reason...

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There is no such thing...

by nathanpsz2 Jul 7, 2006 2:36AM PDT

...as a 512-bit memory bus. It might be coming with the next-gen DX10 cards, but it's not here yet.

And I agree; with graphics cards, you get what you pay for. But once you get to cards over $300, you're just spending more money with diminishing returns. In other words: With cards like the X1800XT and 7900GT under $250, it doesn't make sense to spend another $200+ to get a card that offers only a moderate performance improvement.

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Remember...

by Calgaryruss Jul 7, 2006 2:33AM PDT

You said you were on a budget. I understand this because I build PC's for customers who are on a budget. From building countless computers, the best bang for the buck would be an AMD 64 processor. Doesn't matter which one, just any. The 3000+ will do just fine and it's under $100 nowadays. A 6800GT Nvidia video card will run any game today smoothly. And don't bother with watercooling unless you have money to burn. Sounds like you have a rich-man's vision on a poor-man's budget. If that's the case, you will never get around to building that PC. If you build it correctly and maintain your computer, the cheaper, but non-obsolete hardware will work great for the next couple of years. I've used an AMD XP 2800+ for 4 years and it still runs any game and boots up in less than 10 seconds.

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RE:

by nathanpsz2 Jul 7, 2006 2:43AM PDT

I've used an AMD XP 2800+ for 4 years and it still runs any game and boots up in less than 10 seconds.

10 seconds? I'd like to see that. What video card are you using, and what resolution do you play at

A 6800GT Nvidia video card will run any game today smoothly.

Not Oblivion. nVidia doesn't make 6800GTs anymore, and the stores are running out of supply. Because of that, they're very overpriced for what they are: A 2 year old video card. On newegg, a PCIe 6800GT is $260, which is more than an X1800XT or 7900GT. Both of those cards will pwn the 6800GT for less $$$.

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pfft

by Punxthps Jul 11, 2006 2:44PM PDT

do any vid cards run oblivion good? That game has such amazing graphics. But yeah. Ive pretty much finalized my list I think, and just saving up the money.

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Yeeeah, ok

by Calgaryruss Sep 16, 2006 2:30AM PDT

LOL X1800XT will NEVER out perform the 6800GT...Do you even know how to benchmark properly? Or are you using do-it-yourself software like 3DMark?? I bet your PC is full of startup items that you couldn't begin to look for...Trust me, dude, I've been working on PC's before you were born...LMAO geesh

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No, the x1800 is better....

by lil ramZ Sep 16, 2006 8:58AM PDT

6800's are out of date, they are barely half as good in fps as the x1800 for example.

An x1800 will have more pixel pipelines and pixel shaders than a 6800gt. TRUST US... We know what's good and what's not.

Get either an Nvidia 7900 256mb. (better)
or
ATi X1800

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Still wrong

by Calgaryruss Sep 17, 2006 3:29AM PDT

Ok, as older as the 6800GT's are, they still hold up to the ATI "almighty" x1800XT. They are not "barely half as good". Yes, the X1800XT is better, but not by far. Only because it's newer. Look at the specs of both. Pixel pipelines are the same...only difference is vertex shader.

X1800XT 16/16/8
6800GT 16/16/6

So, I guess, the "TRUST" is in the trash. LOL. Anyways, this goes back to the original replies of the guy stating that a $100 video card will almost perform the same as a $300-400 video card. Absolutely not true, unless you're playing 16-bit games of the sort. Consider the 6800GT's the same as the old Ti500's.

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