[HELP] Building comp need expert advice!

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kevin85193

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 14, 2003
Messages
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Hello, i am pretty newbie and havn't been keeping up to date with the best hardware etc. Basically im trying to build a machine that will last me through the 4 years at my university. Im trying to keep it under $1000-1100. I just received a SAMSUNG SyncMaster 915N LCD monitor. And i have a keyboard/mouse.
A list of something i was putting together was.

Cooler Master Wave Master Black MID-TOWER CASE, Model "TAC-T01-EK" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=11-119-030&DEPA=1

Thermaltake Silent PurePower, 420W ATX power supply.UL, CSA, TUV, CE Approved
http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-153-006&depa=1

BFG"nForce 4 Ultra" NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-189-001&depa=1

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103536

CoolerMaster Hyper 48 (KHC-L91-U1) CPU Cooler - Pentium 4 and AMD K8
http://www.frozencpu.com/cpu-cma-06.html

Questions are...
What ram?
Verifying all this can be put together (Compatible)?
I like to play games and like to stick to Nvidia cards (personal pref)
I was looking at this card
XFX Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150078
But then i saw my monitor doesn't have the right type of connector to fit the card?
However i do want a card that can preform just as well thats VGA supported?
What heatsink!?

Any suggestions/critiques please feel free.

Thank you, once again i am pretty newbie so i don't know how solid my list of parts are?
 
alternatively, just buy a notebook, they are pretty cheap these days, esp. if u go Dell route ;)
 
thank you for the link, im looking into that! however a notebook isn't really a option for me.
What RAM do you reccomend? I saw earliar someone posted 2-2-2-5timing? Im sure it would be fast enough to last me a while heh. Thanks.

[edit]
im looking at that case seems to be selling for more $$$ maybe im looking in the wrong places i tried Newegg and it doesn't seem to be on there.
 
TCCD ram is good, browse memory forum, they have links/reviews etc. 2225 is nice to have but difference with slightly slower memory is neglible really...
 
ahh! okay, so i really know little about memory i tried looking into the memory forum but is to advanced for me lol. I don't mean to exploit your guys knowledge/kindness but is there anyway someone can link me to solid memory that works with that board?

As for the Power Supply - what about
COOLMAX CX-400B ATX 400W Power Supply 100~132VAC or 200~264VAC UL, CSA, TUV, CE - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817159023

or

Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-400 ATX12V 400W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103935

thanks again.
 
Maybe, i didn't really plan on it. To be honest i have always been satisfied for my work - the default settings. That is also due to i really have no idea how to over-clock, so i havn't really looked into it ;p

Ram ive looked at this.
Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141423

Seems like a solid deal, this can fit right with my mobo? And work well with the graphics card?
ALso- I would try and setup a water-cooling system however i can't seem to find something because i don't know what to look for a clean simple kit for newbies. SO i was just gonna look for a good heatsink?
Thanks!
 
Venice overclocks really nicely provided the system its in is stable. Also with the way A64 architecture is set up you don't need highly overclockable memory either, and Kingston is generally pretty solid stuff if not at the top of the list for OCing. Might want to go with the Venice 3200 instead...doesn't cost much more and easier to overclock if you do that eventually. Smidge faster for now but not so much you'd be crazy to get the 3000.

Also there's no reason not to go with an nF3 AGP motherboard instead if you already have a good video card for it, and I believe Epox had some good (and cheaper) motherboards for both chipsets.

Venice can typically hit 2.7GHz on air cooling and doesn't improve much until you put a phase change pump on it. So I'd say forget messing with the WC and maybe just get a Thermalright XP-90 or something.
 
I would just get a retail CPU instead of an OEM one and a $50 heatsink... Retail hsf is more than enough, can even overclock very decently with it. You'll save about 45$ right there, not to mention you get a 3yr warranty as well.

I'd look at the sticky in the Power Supply forum for PSU suggestions.

Oh, and as stated above, the XFX card does come with 2 DVI -> VGA adapters.
 
That works too, especially if you're not going to OC for now. I've seen instances where the CPU got rather warmer than I'd like on the stock cooler, but at stock speeds there's no reason not to. If you get retail you can always use the stock cooler and change later if you have reason to.

Read over the article on the BFG motherboard, and I don't see anything that makes it stand out other than the label it's under. Epox is solid AND overclockable for $80ish, if you're going to spend as much as the BFG costs I don't see any reason to pick it over the established MSI and DFI boards.
 
Whatever you do don't buy a TT PSU!!! They are garbage!

That particular coolermaster case only has one 80mm exhaust fan. If you want a serious case I'd go with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811152021

Don't bother with a 6600 when you can get a MUCH faster card for a few bucks more. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122193 Dont worry about VGA/DVI, most cards come with one of each, if it's only got dual DVI there will likely be an adapter in the box.

I'd personally get this motherboard because a friend of mine has it or one almost identical and its fantastic. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128283

As for RAM just get whatever is cheap but good like Kingston, OCZ, or something like that. Just make sure you get at least 1GB of it, and make sure you get all the same exact kind to avoid compatibility issues. That board uses PC3200(DDR 400) memory.
 
Okay, thank you so much. So it looks like its going to be.


BFG"nForce 4 Ultra" NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/OldVersion/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-189-001&depa=1

Leadtek A400 TDH Geforce 6800 128MB 256-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814122193

And that card is faster then the 6600 PCI-Express one i posted?

FSP Group 500W Prescott 24/20/6pin 12CM ATX Power Supply (Retail)
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?p=PS-FS500A&c=pw

Kingston ValueRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820141423


AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Winchester Integrated into Chip FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/FeedBack/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16819103501


Case well if i can find a place that sells that Antec P180 at a reasonable price i will take that one!


Looks like the final list? Thanks for all your help / any comments etc are welcome.. My question still stands verifying that the card i have posted here is faster or will run faster then the PCI-Express one i posted earliar?

Thanks for all the help.
 
I have not heard much about that BFG mobo. I would get the Epox NF4 Ultra mobo.

Also since the an NF4 mobo uses PCI-E you need a PCI-E video card not AGP. At that price you could get a 6600GT or for $250 a X800XL.
 
Hey kooldrew originally i posted a
XFX Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI-Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150078

So i figured that was the right card to go with the nf4 mobo, i got lost when i was told to get a 'faster' card Leadtek A400 TDH Geforce 6800 128MB 256-bit DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail - which is AGP.

The BFG mobo looked pretty good on the review this site has on it, said it was on par with the MSI/ASUS boards.

So if i look into this Epoch Nf4 board what is the Nvidia card i should get that is going to be badass enough to last me some time. I thought the PCI-E*16 which is what the 6600GT is would be better but no im confused?
 
If you are on a tight budget a 6600GT will be fine, but don't get XFX as their support sucks. Get Leadtek or something else.
 
The XP-90 is a very nice heatsink and it would work great, but it is overkill since you said you will not be overclocking.
 
i really don't plan on going the SLI router *owning 2 video cards*.. I would rather own one solid one that is very 'nice'.

I play Hl/Hl2/ut2k4 so im stuck between a

eVGA 256-A8-N345-AX Geforce 6800Ultra 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130196

SAPPHIRE 100113SR Radeon X850XT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 AGP 4X/8X Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102526

the PCI-E version of that card is another $100 more, and like i said i don't plan on owning two cards... so im left to beleive AGP is fine and the $100 comes from the potential of having two cards and thus is more exspensive? Otherwise they seem to have the same specifications.

+ if i don't go for the PCI-E card i can save $$ for a agp mobo and yea, the PCI-E isn't any faster just has the potential to be with two cards?
 
PCI-E performs the same as AGP, just no SLI for you. It has potentially more bandwidth but it's completely unnecessary, kinda like when they introduced AGP 8X.

Also my understanding is that 6800Ultra is functionally equal to 6800GT and that you'd be just as well served getting one of those at a nice cost savings.
 
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