Building a computer, need help

H

HackofDestruct

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jul 25, 2002
Messages
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A good friend of mine asked me tonight to build him a computer for $700. I was wondering if some people could give me a few ideas for systems, he wants to build it with me so he can learn. He says he's going to mainly use it for gaming. Thanks in advance!
 
Listen, to build a computer, you need:

1. power supply
2. case
3. motherboard
4. cpu
5. heatsink
6. video card
7. memory
8. DVD burner
9. hard drive
10. speakers
11. keyboard
12. mouse

Optional stuff? Well, maybe add floppy drive and an extra IDE cable in case you want to put a lot of space between DVD and HD. (I did that because it looks better for my case.)

You already have the IDE cables you need to build your machine. And the case comes with all the screws you need. So, you order those 12 items and you’re done. You install the power supply in the case. Touch the metal parts of your case with both hands to ground yourself. Then take out the motherboard from its plastic wrap and put it back inside the box on the floor or desk (wherever you want). Then place the CPU, heatsink and RAM. Watch the videos you find on the Internet if you don’t know how to do it. (I think I used “how to build computer” in Google and got lots of hits.) (And dont’ forget the videos on the AMD web site that show you how to install a CPU and heatsink. There are 5 videos you can download.)
Then place the in and out shield for the motherboard on the case. Take the motherboard with CPU/heatsink and RAM on it and put it inside the case (as long as you have 9 standoffs there, if some are missing, put them in). Now, tighten 9 screws (not too tight) on the motherboard. Place the DVD burner in one of the drive bays. Place the hard drive in one of the drive bays. Screw them in. Take the IDE cables and hook up both to the motherboard. Next, connect the power connectors to both drives. Close case, turn on and set your BIOS settings. Install OS. Update drivers. Duh, you’re done.

If you don’t know what to order, here’s a simple system that won’t cost too much yet will still knock your socks off:

HERE’S ARE ALL ITEMS YOU NEED (HEATSINK INCLUDED WITH CPU)
Enermax case (this one rocks, I have one) $69 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811124072
Enermax noisetaker 420 watt power supply $77 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103459
Abit KV8 Pro motherboard $76 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127178
AMD Sempron 3100+ processor $108 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104214
(you may need a $6 BIOS chip from Abit to recognize the chip, no big deal)
Sapphire 9800 Pro video card $126.50 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102362
NEC ND3520 DVD burner $44 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152040
Western Digital Caviar 160 GB hard drive $80 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144203
Corsair 1GB 400 MHz RAM $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145505
Altec Lansing speakers $12 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16836113159
Logitech keyboard $19 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823126135
Logitech mouse $11.50 US
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104165

There you have it. It’s a total of $703 US for top notch performance. :)

THERE ARE SOME ONE DAY SALES THERE SO IT MIGHT BE BETTER TO ACT NOW.
IF YOU BUILD THE SYSTEM PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT THE RESULTS. :)

There you go. And when the 7800s become available in AGP (likely to happen) and Sempron 3700+ becomes available for socket 754, you’ll have the 420 watts you’ll need to ROCK!!! And this system is compatible with Win98SE. Optional, you can always get the Enermax 485 watt noisetaker or the 6600 GT.
 
You can see here how the Sempron 3100+ compares in terms of performance. Then look at the price. ;) Then imagine replacing it with Sempron 3700+ once it comes out in the next year. :cool: :cool:

3452.png


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Thanks for the system suggestion, i already knew all the stuff above the list, but thanks for posting it anyways, it may help some other people out. Seems like a good system, i'll look at it closer tonight. Thanks a bunch!
 
BTW, more system ideas are helpful if you have them, i'm just looking for one that would be perfect for what he's going to be doing.
 
This would be a better setup then what forumposter32 suggested.

Antec SLK3800B w/ 400w PSU - $98
Chaintech VNF4 Ultra - $92
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ - $122
PQI 1Gb(512MBx2) - $66
Hitachi Deskstar 7K80 80GB - $57
Leadtek 6600GT - $151

If it is over budget with the rest of the supplies you can get a cheaper Antec case.
 
THIS IS THE CANADIAN VERSION OF WHAT I POSTED ABOVE. :)

NEC ND3520 DVD burner $59 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006320&cid=CR.184

Sempron 3100+ $140 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=005482&cid=CPU.183

Asus K8V-X $97 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=005374&cid=MB.259

Sapphire 9800 Pro $164 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=005628&cid=999.821

Enermax noisetaker 485 watt $88 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=005807&cid=PS.808

Altec Lansing speakers $18 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=002990&cid=SP

Logitech keyboard $15 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=005637&cid=PE.703

Logitech mouse $11 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=002287&cid=PE.124

Antec case $108 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=003769&cid=CS.664

Western Digital 160 GB HD $102 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=000145&cid=HD.443

Kingston 512 MB 400 MHz RAM $60 CDN
http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=003614&cid=RAM.178


That's $862 Canadian which includes free shipping inside Canada. So, $991 CDN with 15% tax.
That system would again be Win98SE compatible.
 
HackofDestruct said:
i've never really built a 64 machine, how does it handle gaming and such?
Click to expand...

Dude, I just built a machine with an Asus A7V600-X motherboard, Duron 1.8 GHz and Ti4200 (all brand new at tigerdirect.ca and very cheap). This system plays UT2004 at 30 to 70 frames per second. The first 3 settings in video are all on high. The next 3 are on normal. I played demos of Doom3, Far Cry etc. no problem. Heheheh.

I have to say though that I would not recommend the PNY Ti4200 currently on the tigerdirect web site. Someone posted a thread about the horror stories with PNY Ti4200 etc.
 
HackofDestruct said:
i've never really built a 64 machine, how does it handle gaming and such?
Click to expand...

Much better then a Sempron. A 6600GT also performs a lot better then a 9800 Pro.
 
I think im going to go with a 64 bit system. Is there anything i should know about building it thats different from a regular system?
 
HackofDestruct said:
I think im going to go with a 64 bit system. Is there anything i should know about building it thats different from a regular system?
Click to expand...

No.
 
AMD and Intel recently announced they are coming out with Semprons and Celerons in 64 bit. Like now...so, maybe check monarchcomputers to see if they have them. They're often among the first ones to get new chips.\EDIT: Just checked. Guess they don't have them available yet.
 
KoolDrew said:
Much better then a Sempron. A 6600GT also performs a lot better then a 9800 Pro.
Click to expand...

Going from Sempron 3100+ to Athlon 64 2800+ and 9800 Pro to 6600 GT might be better performancewise but he has a $700 budget. If he has $50 to $75 more (or whatever it is exactly), yes he would have a better machine.

Strangely enough, I just built a new machine for the first time and only installed a Duron 1.8 GHz and Ti4200. BUT, I NEARLY CR***P MY PANTS WHEN I SAW I INSTALLED THE HEATSINK AT AN ANGLE!!! I had done that with an Athlon 64, I would have been hospitalized with post dramatic stress disorder. Sheesh, I'm glad my Duron 1.8 GHz is only $50 CDN (after rebate). The performance is OK and now I know how to build a computer. By the time I decide to build a dual core, I won't have to pay a billion dollars for it. :)
 
Do you have to use windows 64 bit os? i havent really heard a definite answer on this, and i heard that its had a lot of problems with compatability on games and other software.
 
no, you can use normal windows on a 64 bit system..

hmm, that's something you all forgot, windows. Your friend had better be able to get a copy, because Windows XP is $200 for a fresh install. If he has a ME, 2000, or 98 second edition sick around he can instal that then pay for a $100 upgrade version.

If that's impossible (I doubt you'd be able to make a good $700 system if you had to buy a $100 or $200 windows OS as well), then try to find a way to pirate it.

-------

lets look at this 64 system:
Antec SLK3800B w/ 400w PSU - $98
Chaintech VNF4 Ultra - $92
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ - $122
PQI 1Gb(512MBx2) - $66
Hitachi Deskstar 7K80 80GB - $57
Leadtek 6600GT - $151

And the 12 things:
1. power supply
2. case
3. motherboard
4. cpu
5. heatsink
6. video card
7. memory
8. DVD burner
9. hard drive
10. speakers
11. keyboard
12. mouse

now, my version:

1. included in case
2. Antec SLK3800B w/ 400w PSU $98 good budget choice
3. MSI K8N Neo4-F $84 chaintech? no way!
4. Athlon 64 3000+ Venice $146
5. included in processor
6. eVGA 6600GT $144 after $15 mail in rebate, also eVGA is more reputable than Leadtek
7. Corsair ValueSelect $80 More reputable company than PQI
8. NEC Black DVD burner $42 - 3 button Rosewill wheel optical black mouse combo free
9. Hitachi Deskstar 7K80 80GB $60 good choice - but the price is up $3
10. Logitech Black 2.0 $7 Your first choice speakers were out of stock
11. Logitech Black Keyboard 967502-0403 $7 - 3 button Logitech wheel optical black mouse combo $1
12. included in a free combo with DVD burner (or alternately keyboard for $1 more)

total: $668
that leaves some room for shipping and paying the extra $15 for video card (before getting back in mail-in rebate). What do you think? Gives you the newest CPU type AND a good video card.

edit: I just realized something. We all forgot a monitor. Does your friend have a monitor he can use? Cause it will really cut into the budget.

edit2: Ok, I came up with an alternative budget that includes a monitor. It will only run up to 1024x768, but with your cpu and gpu, that's good, you should be able to turn your graphics settings up decently high at that resolution.
so. we are replacing the:
3. MSI K8N Neo4-F $84
4. Athlon 64 3000+ Venice $146
6. eVGA 6600GT $144

with

3. MSI K8T Neo-V $62
4. Sempron 3100+ $108
6. Sapphire 9800 Pro $127
13. Viewsonic 15" CRT $89

The price goes up $12 overall. It was either that or get a 6600 or 6200. That means the total is now $680. Unfortunately close to your budget. With shipping it will probably go over slightly.

Obviously it is VERY advantagous that you find a monitor to use, not buy.
 
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