Building a new PC :)

[Bob The Great]

I'm currently working on 10 hour days at a Rasberry farm to make enough money to build a new PC. I need your help though. I'm wondering what parts to get for my (about) $800 budget. I can strip parts from my other PC to get the new one working, but I would like to aviod that as much as possible.

My old PC is

BCM/GVC GT693VA
P-3EB 600Mhz
1x128MBs pc-100, 1x64MBs pc-100 (both oc'ed to 13Mhz)
1x650mb Seagate HD, 1x8GB Seagate DMA66
Creative Labs GeForce DDR 32MB
40x cd, 52x cd, 12x DVD (wich I'm putting in the new system)
56k diamond modem (wich I'm putting in the new PC)
Altec Lansing sound system (Usuing in new PC)


For my new PC I have these parts picked out (but the list can change if you have better prices, or bad info on the piece.
ASUS A7PRO $129 (I'm getting this from a certain store as a thank you for doing so much for me)
AMD Duron 800Mhz (I'll get from pricewatch)
17" moniter $140 (about)

Tell me what I should get. I'm wanting as nice a system as I can get! For the HD I only need something like a 15-20GB. I'll probably stick the GeForce in the new PC, and buy my old one some cheapo card. I want a nice looking case if possible.

If you need more info just post! Thanks!

[Dudster]

I would definately pay the bit extra to get an Athlon instead of a Duron. I would get a new 20GB ATA100 7200rpm hard drive (personally I would go for the IBM 60GXP).

[This message has been edited by Dudster (edited 07-14-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

Why would you go for the Athlon over the Duron? From what I've heard the Duron is just a teeny bit slower, but allot cheaper!

Also i'm earning about $250 a week (I've earned about $300 so far). $800 is about the minimium.

Here is a more in depth view of what I was thinking of.

ASUS A7PRO $129
AMD Duron 800Mhz $40
256Mbs PC-133 $25
Unkown Vid card aprox $150 (I'm thinking of either a Radeon, GeForce2, What do you think I should get?)
Case w/300w power supply $60 (please give me suggestions on good looking case)
Guillemot Muse $29
Altec Lansing subwoofer system (from old PC)
17" moniter $140
20GB ATA/100 7200RPM $80
12x DVD Drive (from old PC)
56k Diamond modem (from old PC)
3.5" $10
keyboard and mouse $40

Total $750

What do you think of it? With that config my old PC will still work fine. I'm also going to get a LAN soon.

[smokin1]

I just have a hard time getting my mind around an $800 upgrade based on a $59 chip..what do you do with your system?

[Dudster]

Bob... My understanding is that there is more than a teeny bit of difference between an Athlon and a Duron (especially in games). I also thought that there wasn't a lot of difference in price. The Duron is a decent chip but I would personally get an Athlon every time.

That memory looks awfully cheap. Is it generic or branded? I personally get branded every time (Micron for me www.crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com) ). You are more likely to have problems with generic (especially with a high performance AGP card) though it can work fine.

The vid card is a difficult one. If you could get a GeForce 2 GTS for that money, I'd say get that. If you could only get a GeForce 2 MX, you may well be better off with a Radeon.

Personally, I would pick raspberries for a few more weeks and get an Athlon and a GeForce 3 http://www.sysopt.com/forum/biggrin.gif http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Rhino302]

Pricewatch has 1 ghz Athlons with a 266 fsb for $81. If you worked 4 hours of overtime you'll have it. The Duron won't be much faster than your 600 mhz P3. The Duron runs a 200 mhz bus, whereas the Athlon 266.

[Bob The Great]

Ok. If I get the Athlon I'll need a new mobo. What sorta mobo should I get. The A7PRO is 200Mhz bus. I need to keep in my budget though. I would work at the rasberry fields more, but the season should end at the end of this month!

From what you said about the vid cards. I might go with the same as my other system (Creative Labs Annihilator PRO GeForce DDR). It's about $80 at a local store or a GeForce2 MX400 64MB $85. Which would you get? I'm leaning twoards the MX.

Also I'll get the memory at that store. A little more expensive, but I know it's quality ram (plus it comes with a lifetime warranty)!

[wildbuffalo]

For a 266fsb athlon you need KT133A chipset. Personally I have had very good experience with EPOX, I would suggest EPOX 8KTA3. You can get it from Newegg for $101 shipped.

They also have 1GHZ 266FSB athlons for $93 shipped.

For a case, I use Enlight 7237 and find it nice and spacious. Good air circulation and easy to work with. Newegg has it with 300 watts PS for $65 shipped.

Even check out their video card selection. Only downside to purchasing from Newegg is that they add shipping sequentially to every item in the shopping cart. Even then, I think the total you pay still come out cheaper than most other places and its a very good company with high marks at resellerratings.

Wild

www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com)

[This message has been edited by wildbuffalo (edited 07-15-2001).]

[Dudster]

The newer Athlons have a 266MHz FSB but you can get an Athlon with 200MHz FSB at speeds up to 1.3GHz. My 800MHz Athlon\Thunderbird has a 200MHz FSB. The Duron is basically an Athlon but with less cache memory. I'm almost certain that that mobo will support the Athlon.

With that choice of vid cards, I would also go with the MX400 but I reckon you might get better performance with an ATI Radeon, I'm not sure though (I don't know any prices for the Radeon but I've heard they're pretty cheap).

Excellent choice on the memory sir http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif I would get the "CL2" memory. It'll cost a little bit more but it's recommended plus it's a tiny bit faster to.

Shame the work's drying up http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Edit: I've just had a look at that mobo here www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7pro/index.html (http://www.asus.com.tw/products/motherboard/socketa/a7pro/index.html) . It looks to be a budget version of mine (the A7V). The only difference I can see is that the A7Pro doesn't have a built-in ATA100 controller. For me, the biggest advantage of having this built-in controller is that you can have 8 IDE drives instead of 4. Therefore I have 2 hard drives and my CD-ROM drive all connected to the mobo with their own IDE cables. All drives can be active at the same time unlike drives sharing an IDE cable so my swapfile is now on my secondary hard drive.

This board supports 200MHz FSB Athlons\Thunderbirds up to 1GHz. If you wanted to get an Athlon faster than 1GHz, you should probably look elsewhere.

[This message has been edited by Dudster (edited 07-15-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

thanks for the heads up on the board Dudster. I must have had it's specs confused with another boards.

Wildbuffalo, nice board! I'm in love! It sounds great! Plus I can take $30 off my total! I'm thinking of going with a 800Mhz Duron and Oc'ing it to at least 900Mhz, if possible 1Ghz. Would that work nicely? I'm really on a budget, so the Duron would really help!

As for the case. I need something that will fit my mobo (the EPOX 8KTA3). But I want it as small as possible. I would like something black, and silver, or just one of those colors.

[Bob The Great]

So here is what I'm thinking of getting now. I'm still saying Duron for now. But please give me input on what you think. With the money I'm saving with the EPOX I should be able to afford a 1Gz Athlon. But I would like some money left over.

EPOX 8KTA3 $100
AMD Duron 800Mhz $40
256Mbs PC-133 $40
GeForce2 MX400 64MB $80
Case w/300w power supply $60 (please give me suggestions on good looking case)
Altec Lansing subwoofer system (from old PC)
17" moniter $140
20GB ATA/100 7200RPM $80
12x DVD Drive (from old PC)
56k Diamond modem (from old PC)
3.5" $10
keyboard and mouse $40

Total $590



[This message has been edited by Bob The Great (edited 07-15-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

6 days till I get my first pay check (it should be about $400). I need some input.

1.Does any one have links to were to find Athlon VS Duron articles?

2.Are there any Geforce2 MX400 64MB's to stay away from? What are some of the nicer ones?

3.I'm thinking of getting a Hansan Explorer-III. It's smallish and very quite (which I'm really into)! Do you guys know of any smallish, good looking, and quite cases? Being quite is really inportant to me. I'm looking to spend as much under $100 for the case as possible (hopefully $60).

Thanks! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[joerg]

Personally i would go with 256megs of ddr and get a ddr mobo you can getthe ram at www.crucial.com (http://www.crucial.com) i got 256megs of ddr CL 2.5 for $49. The ddr mobo shouldnt be much more and for the monitor check you local office depot i got my 17" .25 for $99. For the case i would also choose the Enlight listed above and if you have to, paint it. Also there should be a price drop on the athlon and duron chips today or tomorrow so you can probably get a athon 1ghz and overclock it to 1.2 easy. And for the mobo i would sugest the EPOX EP-8K7A its just 20 dollars more at www.newegg.com. (http://www.newegg.com.) and with the vid card for speed get the mx for quality get the radeon.

[This message has been edited by joerg (edited 07-16-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

In allot of tests the DDR systems are either just as fast, or a teeny bit faster. I'll think about the DDR though. I'd been going to go with it till I read a bunch of stuff about it being not all it's cracked up to be.

For the moniter. I've seen them for that cheap too. But I wanted to make sure I had plently of for my project.

I'll look into the case. But is it loud? I'm looking for a case that has noise dappining.

I'll check prices on the chips. I would love an Athlon! The only reason for not getting it is the price. Also what would be a good fan for it? I heard the Orb fans are nice!

As for the vid card. I'm going with NVidia. What MX400 64Mb are the best though?

Thanks!

[joerg]

For the DDR it will soon be the standard so it should be easier to upgrade in the furure if you have it. And as of today the athlon 1ghz are at $80 on www.pricewatch.com. (http://www.pricewatch.com.) for the graphics card Go with the Elsa mx400 64meg tv-out at www.newegg.com (http://www.newegg.com) it is $95.

[bhess]

good case get it.
forget the video card stick with the gforce that you have.
check out the abit kt7e about $100 shipped. Overclocks to well over 133.
I say put the money from not getting a vid card and spend it on a 1.2 t-bird. $98 per PW. Factory unlocked so no messing with that. Should OC to 1.4 or more. With all the extra mhz the performance will probably be the same. Then next year upgrade the vid card.

Hurry to bestbuy and get this hard drive $80 for WD 7200 30 gb ata-100. Free shipping too.
http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11026975&m=488&cat=511&scat=512

[bhess]

I would also spend a little more and get a 19" monitor. A monitor you will have around for a loooong time. Buy it now and save later. Look around for a good deal. Should get one for around $250.

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.asp?Sku=789437%2D4
20" for $250

http://www.teamexcess.com/

this one may have a rebate to drop it to

$250 http://www.bestbuy.com/detail.asp?e=11008825&m=1581&cat=1588&scat=1582

[This message has been edited by bhess (edited 07-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by bhess (edited 07-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by bhess (edited 07-17-2001).]

[This message has been edited by SysOpt (edited 07-17-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

Ok. I'll go with the DDR memory and the EPOX EP-8K7A. That sounds like a good deal.
I really liked the EPOX's features! I'm going to try to get the Athlon. But it really depends on how much I get.

I'll try to get the HD. It's a great deal!

I heard of 19" moniter at a local store for really cheap! Like $150 or so. I'm going to have to find it! If not though I'm going with the 17". They're really cheap if you look around. I really just don't have the money to go bigger then that http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif If you want to donate one though... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Also. I'm going with the ELSA GeForce2MX400. I'm going to find some reviews about it, but I really love ELSA. So I'm pretty sure I'll get it! I need another vid card. Because I'm going to start letting a friend borrow my PC at LAN parties!

Thanks allot for the help! Any more suggestions about stuff would be really epreciated!

[joerg]

I found a 19" on price watch for $168. And the video card is great. Oh and when do you plan on buying it if you wait awhile the 1.5ghz athlons should be out and it will push the rest of the prices down.

[This message has been edited by joerg (edited 07-18-2001).]

[grindspoon]

personally for the video card i would get one with the new kyro2 chipset..although i havnt tested one my self i heard they where just as good(if not better) as the geforce cards but cheaper...here is a link to one..you may be able to find it cheaper some where else though..i was just trying to get an idea on the prices...
http://shop.guillemot.com/cgi-bin/hercules.filereader?3b0b9f1d161b191827430ac7675006 4d+EN/products/4766041

if that link doesnt work just go to http://shop.guillemot.com/ and search for the 3D Prophet™ 4500 64 MB.

[Bob The Great]

The Kyro2 sounds like a neat card! It has a bunch of awesome ideas! I only hope NVidia, and ATI really pick up on it with their next set of cards! But I don't like allot about the card. I need good DVD playback, and 2D is also kinda inportant (I do allot of art). So I think I'll go with the GeForce2mx. But thanks for telling me about the card! I'd only heard a small bit about it, and reaserching this card let me learn allot about it!

I'll look into the moniter. It will probably be one of the last things I get.

Here is a list of what I'm going to get. I'll probably be getting the case, mobo, CPU, and memory the 24th! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

EPOX EP-8K7A $120
AMD ThunderBird 1Ghz 266FSB $80
256Mbs DDR $45
NVidia GeForce2 MX400 64MB $80
Unkown case (probably from local shop)$60
Altec Lansing subwoofer system (from old PC)
17" moniter $114
20GB ATA/100 7200RPM $80
12x DVD Drive (from old PC)
56k Diamond modem (from old PC)
3.5" (old drive)
keyboard $20

Total $614


[This message has been edited by Bob The Great (edited 07-21-2001).]

[Bob The Great]

At work I was thinking of my new PC new PC, and it dawned on me that the GeForce2mx might not be what I should get. It uses Sdram memory, while my PC is usuing DDR. I know that more memory is better then faster in most cases. But is this true here? I can pick up a GeForce DDR for about $80 (if the store still has them). I know it's faster then the MX, but I was thinking in the long term the extra 32MBs are going to win out. Will the Sdram in the video card act as a 3D bottleneck?

Also if all goes well I'm buying all but the vid card this tuesday! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif So responces would be apricaited!

[Bob The Great]

Ok. Fixed my problem with the video card. I'll go with the Radeon LE. http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.html?i=1473

So my system is now...

EPOX EP-8K7A $120
AMD ThunderBird 1Ghz 266FSB $80
256Mbs DDR $45
ATI Radeon LE $76 (with s&h)
Unkown case (probably from local shop)$60
Altec Lansing subwoofer system (from old PC)
17" moniter $114
20GB ATA/100 7200RPM $80
12x DVD Drive (from old PC)
56k Diamond modem (from old PC)
3.5" (old drive)
Black Micron keyboard $20

Total $614

[paul233]

I dont think you will see much difference between the original duron (which will o/c to 1 gig when unlocked) and the athlon. A bigger better monitor on the other hand will make a HUGE difference. Also, did you see this link in steals and deals? http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum10/HTML/001700.html

[This message has been edited by paul233 (edited 07-23-2001).]

[wildbuffalo]

I agree with Paul 233 on duron/athlon difference. Thought it depends on what you will be using this computer for. In graphic use and certain games that extra cache on athlons will make a difference, but if you are able to overclock that duron using the fsb it will cut down that difference. Look here: http://www.sysopt.com/forum/Forum3/HTML/011955.html
Good case with nice air circulation and a reliable power supply is essential for stable system with all the powere hungry components that you will have. Unfortunately, even though case and a power supply are one of the cheapest components (and essential and last longer than most other components) most everyone tends to skim on them. It will be worth your while to invest in a nice case with a reliable ps now, which will last a long time.

Just my 2 cents

Wild

[Bob The Great]

I'll be usuing it for games mostly. I'll take it and my old PC to LAN parties. If I could go with the Duron that would be cool. But from what people have been telling me the 266FSB is the way to go.

Also can I get away with a 250watt PS? I haven't really been able to find a good case.

[Dudster]

You might get away with using a 250W PS but I wouldn't recommend it. I would get 300W minimum (and a good one at that).

P.S. your machine's looking pretty tasty now Bob http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[sdp872]

my duron700@970 comes only a few points behind the athlon 1gig and just a hair under the p3 1gig in sandra2001 benchmarks. nothing wrong with durons imo http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif i'm well happy with mine.

i'm not 100% on this but i think theres a comparative article on tomshardware somewhere.

[Bob The Great]

I've been talking to some local computer geeks. They were saying that the 700Mhz duron can pretty easily go to 1Ghz with el-cheapo fan! Out of something like 672 systems running the 700Mhz Duron 996Mhz was the avarage. I think I'll probably go with that CPU, and some good thermal paste, and a nice fan!

I've decided on the case. It's a 250watt (AMD approved, and A guy I know has a 1.2Ghz T-Bird in it with no probs). It's a really nice case! It has awesome cooling, and a really nice design!

[MrBaseball]

Hey Bob, I have a 250watt ps on my athlon 1ghz, a couple fans, a zip drive, and a burner... system runs like a charm. 250 would be plenty http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[mkehinde2]

http://www.sysopt.com/reviews/k7vza/index.html

[Bob The Great]

I just orderd 256Mbs PC-2100 Kingston AMD aprroved DDR memory $52, the EPOX mobo for $120, and a Radeon LE DDR $71 all from newegg.com! They should be here pretty soon http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

I also got my 700Mhz Duron that should be here sometime next week http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif