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First PC build

J

Joseph

n00b
Joined
Jul 25, 2004
Messages
5
Hi, this is my first time building a PC and I need advice/help on whether if the hardware is ok, compatible with one another, or if i should change something. I'm on a budget of around 600 dollars, ONLY for the computer though. I've only been on newegg and tigerdirect because its the cheapest i could find. Chose mostly tigerdirect because of the rebates that made it cheaper.

Case: Powmax Model "CPDIA-3" Mid Tower ATX case, 450 PSU Link
Motherboard: Chaintech VNF3-250 Socket 754
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Link for mobo and cpu

I've read about the motherboard, and it doesn't have a chipset fan, so I thought maybe this would work: chipset fan
And also a heatsink and cooler for the a64: Arctic Cooling

Hard drive: WD1200JB Western Digital 120GB Link
Disk Drive: Toshiba Link
Memory: Viking 512MB PC2700 DDR 333 MHz Link

Now that would be around $512 total after i calculated shipping and taking off rebates and still need a good video card and I dont know if I could get a good one. Also, i would probably get some more fans. So, any problems with these hardware so far, and advice on a graphics card? Thanks a lot.
 
L0s7 4 Lyf3 said:
GET A DIFFERENT PSU! Powmax's ARE SHIT!
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agreed, try sparkle, forton, enermax, or antec. i've heard stories of powmax's exploding, plus they are loud as hell! i don't really know why hell would be loud though :confused:
see if u can get some pc3200 at a gig, you will defiantely see the performance if your gaming, and one other thing i don't know how compatible toshiba drives are you should be fine though.
 
Qwertyman said:
agreed, try sparkle, forton, enermax, or antec. i've heard stories of powmax's exploding, plus they are loud as hell! i don't really know why hell would be loud though :confused:
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I found out about the powmax exploding thing first hand about a week ago :(.... Fried my mobo :mad:
 
Yeah... Powmax is crap. I just upgraded to a Thermaltake. Luckily I got around to it before it exploded.
 
Joseph said:
I chose mostly tigerdirect because of the rebates that made it cheaper.
Click to expand...

Buyer beware - read up on TD, and in particular about their customer service and rebates. Lots of people around here will not buy from them, and for a few bucks I would go NewEgg, as everyone and their momma around here knows that the Egg rocks. So, just a friendly warning, you should read up on TD before making your decision.

Joseph said:
So, any problems with these hardware so far, and advice on a graphics card? Thanks a lot.
Click to expand...

Great CPU + mobo choice - it's the one I would make if I weren't holding out for dual -PCI-E motherboards to do SLI with NVidia's next generation of cards. As far as graphics cards go, the 6800GT would be my first choice. It has 16 pipelines, overclocks to Ultra speeds almost without fail, and is fairly cheap. My second choice would be an X800 Pro. If you go with the X800 Pro, try try try to get a VIVO version, as all of these cards have been capable of having 16 pipelines using a mod. Either of these cards would compliment your system nicely. Good luck with your build - let us know how it goes.

-SEAL
 
I still have some questions. I was looking through some enermax cases w/ PSU's and it looks like most or all of them have a Powerup PSU. Is this thing good or bad?

Also, looking at this case: enermax case
There's an option for a front fan, but it looks like it is blocked off by the metal thing. How do you install fans in the front?
 
that powersupply is garbage, my antec 350W had better #'s, youll need faster ram, at least pc3200

why dont you get all your equipment from newegg, they have better quality parts and have free shipping on most of it.
 
powerup sounds cheezy, get a sparkle or something else. for putting in the fan u have to remove the front bezel which is held in by clips/screws. not to hard to do, i don't use front fans because their blocked by my hard drive anyway.
 
If you are a gamer it does not make since to buy a good mobo and processor then bottleneck yourself with cheap ram and video card. I would try to push my buget a little and get 2 X Kingston 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail for $82 each. Also get a 9800 PRO for around $150.
 
Yeah powmaxs are shit look for something like Raidmax quality.
I have gone through getto PSUs like there candy.
 
have to follow along with warning against crappy PSU's

I just built two systems for a friend and was having major problems
just getting the OS installed, video issues, all kinds of stuff.
I was about to RMA the MOBO and the HD, and decided to drop in a known good PSU.

Problems disappeared immediately. And learn from my lesson, NEVER buy a bundled PSU no matter how good the deal is (unless you planning on using it as a bookend.)
:D
-Jeff
 
SEALTeamSix said:
Buyer beware - read up on TD, and in particular about their customer service and rebates. Lots of people around here will not buy from them, and for a few bucks I would go NewEgg, as everyone and their momma around here knows that the Egg rocks. So, just a friendly warning, you should read up on TD before making your decision.
Click to expand...
exactly what i was gonna say... i buy from newegg, about 95% of the time

and powmax... i dont know... dont go with the "psu that came with the case"... i remember something flecom said about exploding caps in his generic psu, ask him sometime or he'll hopefully drop by... but spend that money on a better looking case.. and second, if you just want a cheap (in price) powersupply, wait for an xhour sale if you can.. its every sunday at 9 for an hour and it puts one product at an extremely low price... i bought 3 raidmax 420w psu a while ago for only $7.50 each compared to its normal price of $27.99
 
For what it's worth, I haven't had a PowMax go bad on me yet :fingers crossed: Just remember, in most cases, you get what you pay for.

I second the vote for better RAM. I'd get a gig of the PC3200 (DDR400) Value RAM mentioned in the [H]otDeals section - it's cheap, and will be better to overclock than the DDR333 you have listed.

edit: An even better deal on RAM - linky linky :)

-SEAL
 
wayne said:
and powmax... i dont know...

i bought 3 raidmax 420w psu a while ago for only $7.50 each compared to its normal price of $27.99
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That raidmax is as bad as the powmax. If it was made in the past 2-3 years the raidmax is guaranteed to be crap. With psu's you seriously get what you pay for.
 
SJetski71 said:
That raidmax is as bad as the powmax. If it was made in the past 2-3 years the raidmax is guaranteed to be crap. With psu's you seriously get what you pay for.
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well, it was only $7.50 because i bought it during XHOUR

wonders if you know what xhour sales are... if you dont, then your missing out on a lot... if you do, then you probably know what you're talking about, lol
 
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