Need advice on building new PC

[spankyjo]

I am thinking of building a new PC the first of the year and would like some feedback from you all about what Mobo are the best to use, processor, RAM, Etc. I would like an on-board audio, Ethernet and lots of usb ports. A board that can handle allot of speed and where to get these items, hi speed ribbon, the works.
I know everyone has their own preferences but I would like some feedback, and don't necessarily need a powerful or expensive machine, just one that is faster than the snail I have now.
:) :D :t

[Magua]

You won't get a whole lot of good advice untill you let us know what your looking for. We really need to know what kind of budget you have, what pieces (if any) you have around to reuse, what you intend to use it for, and the specs of the snail of a computer you have now.

[rangeral]

Newegg.com is a good place to shop from plus its close to you, motherboards come with ribbons, deciding what cpu you want to go with such as either amd or intel you have to decide on how much your willing to spend both have good stuff.

AMD you'd want an nforce2 mobo at the least, intel you could save on a mobo with an 865 chipset and still have speed to burn or if your pocket can do it then an 875 chipset is good for the long haul.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Abit NFS-7 v2.0 (motherboard)
AMD Barton XP2500+ (CPU)
2x256mb/2x512mb Crucial PC3200 (RAM)
Ati Raeon 9600 Pro 128mb (vid card)

--Jakk:t

[killer_teddy]

Originally posted by Bigjakkstaffa
Abit NFS-7 v2.0 (motherboard)
AMD Barton XP2500+ (CPU)
2x256mb/2x512mb Crucial PC3200 (RAM)
Ati Raeon 9600 Pro 128mb (vid card)
This seems to be pretty much the 'good deal' of the moment, powerful enough for whatever you might want it to do, clockable and within most peoples price bracket.

[Magua]

I would go 2x512 or 1x512, personally I wouldnt buy any 256 sticks. Also if you could afford to go for the 9800pro 128mb.

[killer_teddy]

Originally posted by spankyjo
and don't necessarily need a powerful or expensive machine, just one that is faster than the snail I have now.
:) :D :t
I'm not so sure it would be worth going R9800 pro 'cos that costs and R9600 pro would be more than enough. I guess it does depend on your budget and what your gunna use it for.
Agree on the not buying sticks of 256mb though.

[spankyjo]

OK, thanks. I can tell you that I have several things I would like to reuse. Floppy drive and CD ROM Drive. A new GeForce 4 Mx 440 video card, I am using a Gigabyte GA 7VAX Mobo with a WD 40Gig HD. I would like to get a larger hard drive and do like WD. Would like to stick with that brand. However, this board requires DDR memory only. It is an OK board. Not a real snail actually, but the chip is smaller than I would like (VIA VT8377 Opollo KT400) and the Power Supply needs to be larger. Its only 350w. My speakers are shot, the plug into the Mobo crackels and pops in the right speaker or cuts out completely. It already has High speed cable, but can that be used on a newer board? I am just a volley of questions and answers. I do not want to spend what it would take to just go out and buy one. But, I built this one and it has been a better computer than the GW I had. Home made is the best as far as I am concerned, any day. Thanks. If you have any more feedback. Would appreciate it. I am going to keep all your suggestions for this spring. :D :t

[spankyjo]

Killer_teddy. Looks like we were posting at the same time. I agree on the memory. I do not buy anything less than 512 and really don't like that but my budget is sometimes rather tight. I hope to be getting 1G pr stick for the newer one. This old Mobo can handle 3G but I only have 768 right now and don't see the need to buy more DDR if I am going to rebuild. :)

[dajogejr]

Just what exactly are you looking to replace, and looking to reuse?

[Magua]

I'm not so sure it would be worth going R9800 pro 'cos that costs and R9600 pro would be more than enough. I guess it does depend on your budget and what your gunna use it for.

True, but he still hasen't told us a budget and what he intends to use it for. Without that any recomendations are really worthless.

[dajogejr]

When you say the chip is to smalll, then mention the mobo chipset, me confused!!!:rolleyes:

Are you saying the processor is to small...or you 'd opt for a board with a better chipset?

[spankyjo]

Me confused too :D
I meant that I would like a larger processor. Yep, thats it, I think. :confused:
The processor in it is an AMD Athlon-PECN 1333MNz (5x266) does that help? :) Thanks

[dajogejr]

Ok...let me make it easy.
Buy the most you can afford from here:

Gigabyte CPU Chart (http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Motherboard/Support/CPUSupportList/CPUSupportList_GA-7VAX.htm)

[spankyjo]

I like the Gigabyte board and thought about getting a newer one. I have had good luck with this one and its a big one as well. Has on-board everything!!! But, I did get it used and would like to invest in a new one. So, in most everyones opinion. I assume that Gigabyte Motherboards are OK? I will keep looking at other options thought. I have plenty of time to shop around. I have heard, thought Pentium is a good brand, you pay for the name and there are others out there just as good for less cost. Thanks again.

[Bigjakkstaffa]

Originally posted by spankyjo
. I assume that Gigabyte Motherboards are OK?

IMO No, much better can be had for the same amount of cash and the build quality of gigabyte boaards has been called into question several times before

--Jakk:t

[dajogejr]

Seconded.

I like Asus.

But...I"ve heard great things about Abit and MSI...

Now, question is, does this board already do what you want it to do? Since, the price is right...you already have it...what will buying a new board accomplish?

[killer_teddy]

Nah I'd never buy a Gigabyte. way too risky, I've had so many go bad before. But that one is one of the better Gigabyte boards so if it works, Upgrade everything else around it and save some $$$

[spankyjo]

That could be the answer for sure. I do have one question. If a board goes bad, what happens? I have never had that happen myself. Right now this PC is hanging for long periods of time on certain tasks. Or, conpletely shuts down the program I am on then I get the "MS report window". Usless piece of **** in my opinion. But, would a board going bad cause that? I don't have oodles of memory, but enough that the simple things I use them for and it should not shut down. My second thought its, I need more case fans. I have two, but the case still puts out quite a bit of heat. It sits near my feet and really keeps them warm. Board or fans? What do you think, or neither? :confused: :D

[Magua]

Case fans won't reduce the amount of heat coming out of your computer, all they do is move the heat out of the case into the room, so cooler ambient air can take its place. Two case fans should be ok, what temperatuer is your CPU at, and what is your MB temp?

[killer_teddy]

Boards go bad in loads of different ways but that doesn't sound like it. It sounds more like windoze needs a good sort out.

When you say 2 case fans are you including the one on the CPU and the one in the PSU if not then 2 is usually good enough. What temps do you get?

So what is it you are upgrading exactly? I'm still slightly confused:confused:

[spankyjo]

Just preparing to build a different PC in the spring and getting advise on Mobo and other hardware. What to keep and what to discard. So far I have gotten allot of help and advise. This Mobo is not real old but I was just wondering if its better to just go with a new board since they do make better and better Mobo's every day.
OK Wondoze probably does need a good house cleaning. I hate to think of a format and reload. I have allot on here and even thought I have DSL, Out here, the DSL is more like 56K. Highly overrated or over named. :D I guess I will just sit on this awhile, the rebuild I mean, and put up with this unit untill I can rebuild. Why do the format thing if I am going to just build a better PC soon anyway. :t :)

[dajogejr]

there are some great tools out there to houseclean, in the mean time.

Make sure your Anti Virus software is up to date, and your HD scanned at regular intervals.

Two great Spyware and Adware removers.
Spybot and Adaware 6.
Google search on 'em both, download 'em, update 'em, and run em. I'm sure you'll find all kinds of junk.

Third, a good disk defrag utility is nice.

W2K and XP have a defragmenter built in, but...third party defraggers do a bit better job, IMO.

I use perfect disk, other like Notron Speed disk or Diskeeper.

Just some direction for some windoz cleaning.

I would personally stay away from registry cleaners. Sure, they're good...in the right hands. Can be catastrophic in the wrong hands...

good luck. New boards and CPUs come out all the time, and then drop in price.l Keep reading these boards to see what's hot and not...and when you're ready to build, you'll be able to make an informed and educated decision.:D

[killer_teddy]

Also to help with the windoz cleaning give this article a read.

http://www.sysopt.com/articles/PCHousekeeping/index.html
:t

[spankyjo]

Housecleaning!??! :eek: OH NO!!! Since our move from Ks. to AZ I think the dust has bogged up my brain. I haven't run the scan disk OR done a defrag since we have been here. I can't believe I forgot to do that!!!!!
I don't have it do it automatically because I like to keep an eye on it when it does its tasks. Another problem for another forum. OK, got allot of info to work on and think about to make the decision on what I want to use for my new PC. Now I am getting antsy. Might not be able to wait until spring. :D Thank you allllll :t