Building a sub $1500 computer for a friend..

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Hyper_Psycho

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Mar 26, 2002
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I'm building a computer for a friend. His budget is $1500. This is what I have from newegg. Let me know if there should be changed. I am on his computer right now and in a limited time frame so I cannot compare and see.

He will use the computer for gaming and internet, and perhaps word processing so graphics, and speed is of importance.

I was gonna get the better lian li case, but it makes the price 1600. Anyway, here is what I have so far:

ABIT AN8 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $125.00
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $106.00
Swiftech MCX64-V 80mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan - Retail $49.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST380817AS 80GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $65.50
CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINXP1024-3200XL - Retail $259.00
Antec TRUE430 ATX 430W Power Supply - Retail $75.00
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3800BPBOX - Retail $372.00
SAPPHIRE 100592SR-BL Radeon X800XT 256MB GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail $399.00


Subtotal: $1,451.49
Shipping: $39.45
===================
Total: $1,490.94
 
Adheres to the newer specification, and I believe it has higher or more stable amps where they count.

Also, stay away from the AN8. For an alternative, consider the K8N Neo4 or DFI Ultra-D.
 
mavalpha said:
Adheres to the newer specification, and I believe it has higher or more stable amps where they count.
Click to expand...
That's exactly it.

As for avoiding the AN8, I don't see what can be so bad if the intended user isn't going to overclock. The DFI nF4 boards are more finicky in comparison and there is word that the MSI nF4 boards need a -5V lead (which the new ATX12V v2.0 PSUs don't offer) to be able to utilize the onboard sound. As for another alternative, consider the Asus A8N-E.
 
Get the Epox NF4 Ultra mobo. Get some Corsair or Crucial value RAM. A Fortron Blue Storm 500w may be worth looking at too considering how cheap it is. Also why not go the 3700 SD?
 
Ok I updated some things.
The computer will not be overclocked but we are looking at getting best out of the gaming experience. Also he is not an audiophile so crappy speakers are a must in order to save $$.


EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $109.00
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $106.00
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3520A BK - OEM $46.00
Swiftech MCX64-V 80mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan - Retail $49.99
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST380817AS 80GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $65.50
Logitech 967502-0403 Black PS/2 Wired Standard Value Keyboard - OEM $5.00
CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX1024-3200XL - Retail $188.00
Microsoft U81-00009 Black USB Optical Mouse - Retail $12.00
Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550 EPS12V ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail $110.00
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3800BPBOX - Retail $372.00
ATI 100-435500 Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - OEM $295.00
DCT Factory OG1050B 600 Watts 2.1 Speaker - Retail $8.25 :D

Subtotal: $1,366.74
Shipping: $57.68
Total: $1,424.42

The remainder of the money will be spent on a used CRT monitor.


So my questions are:

Will this setup work?
Should heating be an issue?
Is there a cheaper motherboard that offers PCIX16 support, SATA150 and other stuff to make the coponents run?
 
That Epox has a wierd-ish layout, I don't like it very much. Only thing going for it is that it is cheap.

The Asus A8N-E and the Abit AN8 Ultra both have much better layouts, and are better all-around boards. You don't have to get a TruePower II 550W either, the TruePower II 480W Blue will be nice if you want a slightly showier PSU. Save yourself some money there.
 
Swap that hard drive for a Samsung

Edit: and DEFINITELY get the San Diego 3700+. Venice 3800+ is a BAD buy. SD is faster and cheaper.
 
_Korruption_ said:
That Epox has a wierd-ish layout, I don't like it very much. Only thing going for it is that it is cheap.

The Asus A8N-E and the Abit AN8 Ultra both have much better layouts, and are better all-around boards. You don't have to get a TruePower II 550W either, the TruePower II 480W Blue will be nice if you want a slightly showier PSU. Save yourself some money there.
Click to expand...


by layout do you mean where the jumpers are and where the connections are ?

also i cant find the ture power II 480 on newegg
whats i the price idfference here ?
 
The 24-pin ATX main is on the wrong side of the motherboard, meaning you need to snake the bulky cable around the CPU to near the middle of the motherboard. The green PCB isn't going to be very pretty in the windowed case either. :p

Antec TruePower II 480W Blue (save $20)
 
dandragonrage said:
I run 2 Samsungs. They're quieter than Seagate, man. And get this PSU.
Click to expand...

so that power supply seems to be good

however im iffy about the hard drive
since the similar model is 5 dolars and 50 cents cheaper

i would rather go with seagate
 
_Korruption_ said:
The 24-pin ATX main is on the wrong side of the motherboard, meaning you need to snake the bulky cable around the CPU to near the middle of the motherboard. The green PCB isn't going to be very pretty in the windowed case either. :p

Antec TruePower II 480W Blue (save $20)
Click to expand...

ooh this powersuply was iffy since it was under truepowerII in one whole string
but ok

will the truepower 2 psu's power cable to the mobo be long enough ?
 
dandragonrage said:
Why? You can find plenty of Samsung recommendations here, especially if quiet is important to you. Samsung has to price cheaply or they will not get many buyers, because most people either: 1) don't know what's good and buy what's cheap, or 2) don't know that they're good

Edit: http://www.silentpcreview.com/article29-page2.html
Click to expand...

5 year waranty vs 3 year waranty
case settled
not worth the $5.50 difference
 
Definitely get cheaper RAM. All you are doing is wasting your money with that XMS RAM. There will be no performance benefit at all. Get COrsair Value Selet or some Crucial value RAM.
 
KoolDrew said:
Definitely get cheaper RAM. All you are doing is wasting your money with that XMS RAM. There will be no performance benefit at all. Get COrsair Value Selet or some Crucial value RAM.
Click to expand...

ok I upgraded
wel downgraded to

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail

and saved 108 bucks .. yey ... more money for a monitor.

anyway,
i thought that the XMS had better timings and such for faster acces action or something
 
I would absoloutely NOT get an EPoX motherboard. ASUS is, in my mind, the ONLY way to go for a non/light-overclockers board. Agree on the 3700+, the ValueRAM, the Seagate Drive, and the 480W Truepower2. Disagree on the Samsung Drive, the Fortron PSU, and of coure the EPoX motherboard.
 
sac_tagg said:
I would absoloutely NOT get an EPoX motherboard. ASUS is, in my mind, the ONLY way to go for a non/light-overclockers board. Agree on the 3700+, the ValueRAM, the Seagate Drive, and the 480W Truepower2. Disagree on the Samsung Drive, the Fortron PSU, and of coure the EPoX motherboard.
Click to expand...

why not
i had never had problems with epox (and abit)
had problems with asus, dfi, msi, and soyo
 
i thought that the XMS had better timings and such for faster acces action or something
Click to expand...

They do have better timings, but here will be no difference in performance.
 
KoolDrew said:
They do have better timings, but here will be no difference in performance.
Click to expand...

so do these XMS overclock better ?
what is the point of paying 100 bucks extra ?
 
They have tighter timings, and will give an increase technically. However it's rather negligable for the price jump, unless your going all out on your system.
 
Hyper_Psycho said:
true power II
gocha

whats so good about it
Click to expand...

Sorry had to run last night wasn't ignoring the question but everyone seems to have cleaned up my mess well.
:p
 
Hyper_Psycho said:
so do these XMS overclock better ?
what is the point of paying 100 bucks extra ?
Click to expand...

I believe the XMS is TCCD, so yes they would overclock better.
 
Hyper_Psycho said:
ok I upgraded
wel downgraded to

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail

and saved 108 bucks .. yey ... more money for a monitor.

anyway,
i thought that the XMS had better timings and such for faster acces action or something
Click to expand...
two things:

first, i've seen a lot of people have issues with corsair VS. mainly in that it won't boot properly without increasing ram voltage. something trivial, but it bothers me. at the same price point, consider either twinmosSP ddr400 or Crucial Value ram

second, timings don't really mean much for an a64. you'll see a 5% benefit at the VERY MOST. definitly not worth 2x the price for low latency ram.
also, twinmosSP can do 2-2-2 timings with some voltage, and the crucial value can probably do 2.5-2-2 at stock, maybe 2-2-2 if you get lucky :D (just somehting to keep in mind)
 
if you are not overclocking, why are you getting a different heatsink for CPU. stcok AMD is pretty good.
 
(cf)Eclipse said:
two things:

first, i've seen a lot of people have issues with corsair VS. mainly in that it won't boot properly without increasing ram voltage. something trivial, but it bothers me. at the same price point, consider either twinmosSP ddr400 or Crucial Value ram

second, timings don't really mean much for an a64. you'll see a 5% benefit at the VERY MOST. definitly not worth 2x the price for low latency ram.
also, twinmosSP can do 2-2-2 timings with some voltage, and the crucial value can probably do 2.5-2-2 at stock, maybe 2-2-2 if you get lucky :D (just somehting to keep in mind)
Click to expand...


thanks on the reply
the computer wont be overclocked
so i just need memory that works
i might go with crucial since i always had no problems with them
crosair i liked since they too never gave me issues

hell only value ram gave me issues
 
MrSlacker said:
if you are not overclocking, why are you getting a different heatsink for CPU. stcok AMD is pretty good.
Click to expand...

isnt the one im getting quiet
and atleat 10c colder than the stock ?

i mean
this is going to be a game machine and i dont want to make it noisy and too hot for it will be in the living room
 
Hyper_Psycho said:
more info please
Click to expand...
PCI-Express (AKA: PCIE, PCIe, PCI-E) is replacing AGP. PCIe has more bandwidth that new cards will need. While there was once a big premium for PCIe, the cost is roughly the same as AGP nowadays.
 
I wonder why you're building a computer for your friend while you don't know much about computer technology and terminology?

I don't mean to go against you but that sounds trivial to me.

-J.
 
Hyper_Psycho said:
isnt the one im getting quiet
and atleat 10c colder than the stock ?

i mean
this is going to be a game machine and i dont want to make it noisy and too hot for it will be in the living room
Click to expand...
who ever said its 10c colder then stock? i have stock heatsink and i Fold@Home, my CPU is always around 40c-50c.
 
GeForceX said:
I wonder why you're building a computer for your friend while you don't know much about computer technology and terminology?

I don't mean to go against you but that sounds trivial to me.

-J.
Click to expand...

take a look at my sig
figure the year XP2200+ was considered "new"
look at the calander
carry the one

it has been that long since I done computer building
I really havent kept up with the technology since I have other stuff to worry about
like getting my BBA
 
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