The New Building A Compter Thread

SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
edited July 2004 in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">Look inside for specs...</div> I'm in the design and theory stage of building a computer for my family (which my computer will pwn anyways, but that's ok) or more specificly my younger brother. So without further ado, I present you the specs

Maximum Ceiling: aprox 1000$ Canadian (I live in canada)

Power Supply:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=1997' target='_blank'>Tisonic Mega Power EPS 460W power supply ATX EPS 12V with dual fan</a>
$69.00

Case:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=1708' target='_blank'>ACT S5013 Tower w/generic 350w PS, front USB ports Beige</a>
$25.00

Mobo:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=1956' target='_blank'>Asus A7V880 KT880 with Audio/Gigabit Lan/SATA/400FSB/Dual Channel DDR400/USB2.0 retail</a>
$119.00

CPU:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=681' target='_blank'>AMD Athlon XP3000+ (2.17GHz) Barton 333FSB Retail</a>
$219.00

RAM:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=106' target='_blank'>Samsung DDR400(PC3200) 512MB RAM</a>
$106.50

Vid Card:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=778' target='_blank'>ATI Sapphire Radeon 9600 256MB DDR w/DVI, TV out OEM</a>
$135.95

Hard Drive:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=697' target='_blank'>Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 9 120G 8M 7200RPM ATA133 (3yrs)</a> HARD DRIVE IS OPTIONAL
$119.95

Other stuffs:
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=1640' target='_blank'>LG 16x DVD/52x32x52x CDRW drive w/CDRW software OEM</a>
$63.95
<a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=434' target='_blank'>Thermaltake VOLCANO 7+ A1254 heatsink and fan copper base</a>
$39.00

Aproxamate cost: 1040$ Canadian (with HD and after 14% tax)
Infoes: Anitec is my local computer shop, who also quite convieniantly has the best prices on nearly everything I have listed here I can find anywhere in my area. Shipping stuff in, expecially inexpensive stuff from the states, always costs me exorbidant shipping costs that I don't really want to pay, so most of the international sales online are not a better option then the stock at my local shop. The harddrive is optional because we already have an 80gig drive laying around, but a 120 would be nice in this machine, just not nessicary. For referance, most likely the hardest thing this computer will ever have to run will be HL2, and even then I'm not hoping for full settings, so I don't need an exoprbidantly uber vid card or any other such stuff, just a good relible running machine that can handle a bit of multitasking and a bit of rough treatment...

Another question is what kind of cables and chords will I have to buy to get this stuff (or other stuff if I change my mind) up and running?

That being said, thoughts, changes, opinions? any knowticable conflicts or bad values? What is my best option?

[edit] forgot vid card price
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Comments

  • DragonMechDragonMech Join Date: 2003-09-19 Member: 21023Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
    If you can snag an ATI 9800 pro, you'd be better off.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Dragon_Mech+Jul 23 2004, 09:23 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dragon_Mech @ Jul 23 2004, 09:23 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> If you can snag an ATI 9800 pro, you'd be better off. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Its a difference of twice the price on a computer that will never have to run that kind of accelerated 3D media. I just bought a 9800 pro for my PC and its a great card, but I really don't think its nessicary when my family is gonna go "Ooooo, that webpage loaded really fast, this is a nice computer..."
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  • TequilaTequila Join Date: 2003-08-13 Member: 19660Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Dragon_Mech+Jul 24 2004, 03:23 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Dragon_Mech @ Jul 24 2004, 03:23 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> If you can snag an ATI 9800 pro, you'd be better off. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Yeah, a 9800 Pro 128mb is only $30 more (or less) than that 9600 Pro.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    Your thinking American $, the best price I can find on a 9800 pro locally is <a href='http://www.anitec.ca/?mode=product_detail&pid=1445' target='_blank'> $233.95</a>.
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  • BeastBeast Armonkyi Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15731Members, Constellation
    Buy a Coolermaster Aero 7 and ditch that heastsink you have.
    Seriously. I had the volcano 7+. All it really doesis make a stupid amount of noise.
    <a href='http://www.haxgames.com/thenoise.wav' target='_blank'>Don't believe me?</a>
    ^ recorded outside my room with a laptop mic.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-Beast+Jul 23 2004, 09:48 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Beast @ Jul 23 2004, 09:48 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Buy a Coolermaster Aero 7 and ditch that heastsink you have.
    Seriously. I had the volcano 7+. All it really doesis make a stupid amount of noise.
    <a href='http://www.haxgames.com/thenoise.wav' target='_blank'>Don't believe me?</a>
    ^ recorded outside my room with a laptop mic. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I've heard rave reveiws of that syncs cooling abilities, and I could care less how loud the CPU fan is. You should hear my PC's CPU fan on a hot day, it sounds like a boat motor...
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  • Dorian_GrayDorian_Gray Join Date: 2004-02-15 Member: 26581Members, Constellation
    14% tax? Geez... I love Alberta and our nice 0% PST. However, I would suggest upping the RAM. The difference between 512 and 1024MB is quite noticable, especially when running memory hog programs. I can run 3DS Max 6, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and VC++ all at the same time without any noticable slowdown (unless max is rendering), whereas with my old comp running max and photoshop at the same time would start to use the pagefile. The processor is good, not great, but good. Pretty much the only way to make it better would be to get a Athalon64, which would take your budget and shatter it. For the vid card, I suggest a 9600XT simply because the XT is a bit better than the pro (for the 9600) and it comes with HL2 (or it used to... they may have stopped that since its been going on for about a year now).

    As for cables, your motherboard will come with IDE and SATA cables (since it has both), and your harddrive will come with whichever it supports. The CDRW should also come with an IDE cable, so you shouldn't need to buy any unless you want the fancy round ones instead of the yukky ribbon ones.

    If you're not overclocking your CPU, the stock heatsink/fan will likely be sufficient. Mine's oc'd slightly to 3.4GHz (ATM) and it still uses the stock intel heatsink and has no problems keeping the temp below 40 degrees celsius without making any noise whatsoever. Breathing drowns out the fans, they're so quiet.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    What processor are you running dorian? My P4 stock fan wakes the dead on a hot day...
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  • Dorian_GrayDorian_Gray Join Date: 2004-02-15 Member: 26581Members, Constellation
    edited July 2004
    Running a P4 3.2 GHz (edit: at 3.4GHz) with an Antec Sonata silent case. The case fan is the entire width of the case almost, and runs slowly, but since its massive, pushes a lot of air. The CPU fan is running at about 3000RPM, and is about twice as loud as the one on a 2.4GHz processor, but still very quiet. I built a similar system for my parents, using the 2.4GHz and a vid card with no fan (old GeForce440MX I had lying around) and it is SILENT. You have to put your ear up to it to hear it.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    edited July 2004
    I have my my case open with an office fan blowing into it, my CPU fan runs anywhere between 3000 and 4500 RPM (its on variable becasue I don't particularly like my P4 running hotter than 40 degrees) and the thing is friggin loud, you can hear it down the hallway as you get close to my room (but the open case probably isn't helping anything there)

    [edit] Oh and I was gonna ask specificly if anyone has a bit of a preformance review on the mobo. All I really know about motherboards is I like it when they have the name 'Asus' on them <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    Ok, getting closer to the actual purchase date, and I have a few more related questions, so I figured I'd bump this thread rather than posting a new one.

    1. What is the difference between a 450W powersourse and a 350W powersourse? I could save money going for a lower wattage, so I would like to do that if there is no forseeable consequences...

    2. How is the Mobo I've chosen? like I said before, I know diddly about mobo's, so any info at all would be much appreciated.

    Thanx <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • VenmochVenmoch Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1093Members
    WOO!

    I have that Video Card, its fantastic, although BF:V holds a sissy fit whenever something happens but it works fine for everything else <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    edited July 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin-Venmoch+Jul 25 2004, 04:15 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Venmoch @ Jul 25 2004, 04:15 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> WOO!

    I have that Video Card, its fantastic, although BF:V holds a sissy fit whenever something happens but it works fine for everything else <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Don't worry, I can assure you with reasonable positivity that BF:V will never be played on this computer. Mostly it will be counterstrike, CS:S if it ever comes out, The Sims, and probably a good lot of starcraft.

    [edit] BTW, answering my questions is good, as much as I like to bury them with off topic jibber jabber <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->

    And where the heck is Talesin? he could probably put this whole thing in prespective in 2 seconds flat.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    *Bump*

    Hopefully more computer people on right now...

    To quote myself for a recap of my most recent questions...<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->1. What is the difference between a 450W powersourse and a 350W powersourse? I could save money going for a lower wattage, so I would like to do that if there is no forseeable consequences...

    2. How is the Mobo I've chosen? like I said before, I know diddly about mobo's, so any info at all would be much appreciated.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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  • DrfuzzyDrfuzzy FEW... MORE.... INCHES... Join Date: 2003-09-21 Member: 21094Members
    I got one word for getting a good radeon 9800 for you: www.newegg.com <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo-->
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-DR_FUZZY+Jul 27 2004, 01:53 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DR_FUZZY @ Jul 27 2004, 01:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I got one word for getting a good radeon 9800 for you: www.newegg.com <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif' /><!--endemo--> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Tell me, why do I need a radeon 9800 in a computer that will never come close to using it's graphical capabilities? I'm not building the luxury nerd model here, my family would be incapable for apreciating the differance for the extra 70-100 dollars a 9800 costs. If you can honestly give me a good reason why I should build this PC (a non gaming PC) with a 9800 pro, then I will honestly reconsider...
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  • CForresterCForrester P0rk(h0p Join Date: 2002-10-05 Member: 1439Members, Constellation
    Get the 350W power supply. If you haven't got enough power (If you can boot up and play a video game for about an hour with all the components installed, you should be fine.) then return it and get the 450W.
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  • SwiftspearSwiftspear Custim tital Join Date: 2003-10-29 Member: 22097Members
    <!--QuoteBegin-CForrester+Jul 27 2004, 10:06 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (CForrester @ Jul 27 2004, 10:06 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Get the 350W power supply. If you haven't got enough power (If you can boot up and play a video game for about an hour with all the components installed, you should be fine.) then return it and get the 450W. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Am I correct in assuming that more power wattage means that you can put more power succkingage upgrades into the machina?
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  • EvenFlowEvenFlow Join Date: 2002-12-18 Member: 11046Members
    The 350W power supply will be more than enough for your current setup and a few extra's later on. There's a calculator <a href='http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/' target='_blank'>here</a> that will give you a rough idea.
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