New PC

[Wolfy]

okay okay so I know there is a ton of these sorta posts but my mate is building a new pc as he has finally decided a sub 500mhz is no longer suitable for him. he has roughly $1700 and he will be getting everything cpu/mobo/ram/case/psu (if not supplied) sound/gfx and new HDD.

I havent really paid too much attention to the latest cpus and mobos out and about so Id appreciate what yur choices would be for cpu/mobo and ram. Either AMD or Intel can be a choice thats not an issue. but take into account that out of the budget will be money for case, 9800pro and audigy2. by the by there is no need to go out and get exact prices... just tell me what you would get..

cheers,

Wolfy

"Its only when you look at ants closely with a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames"

 

[HardWareBoss]

What is the main use of puter? Gaming? Photo?

 

[malignant]

Well lets see. I was doing some shopping on newegg and came up with a list. Its 1725 without shipping though.

$44 - POWMAX BIO Black/Silver Mid tower Case, Model "CP510-2" -RETAIL

$149 - MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard

$193 - SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9800 PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out

$58 - Antec P4 ATX12V 400 Watt Power Supply With 2 Fans, Model "SL400"

$650 - AMD Socket 939 Athlon 64 3800+, 2.4 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor

$395 - OCZ EL Dual Channel Series Gold Edition 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-4400

$125 - Western Digital 200GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD2000JD, OEM

$111 - Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL

Total - $1725 not including tax or shipping.

For something a little cheaper everything above except change mobo and cpu to

$295 - AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor - Retail

$126 - MSI nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Athlon 64 Socket 754 CPU, Model "K8N Neo Platinum" (MS-7030) -RETAIL

Total - $1347 without tax or shipping.

Since thats under budget you can probably get a better video card if you can find them. I suggest either an ATI x800 XT PE (rare right now, got mine at $485; expect to pay $550+) or a GeForce 6800 GT or ultra ($429/$583)

There ya go, one kick ass gaming rig. Plus it should do some word processing nicely.

 

[Wolfy]

gaming

"Its only when you look at ants closely with a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames"

 

[malignant]

The only problem is socket 754 is being phased out i think but this should still last quite a while.

 

[Cybercraig]

IXNAY on the PC4400 ram. You'll never use it to it's full potential. Get Crucial Ballistix directly from Crucial and save some dough.

Abit IS7 - 2.8C @ 3.4ghz - Mushkin PC4000 (2 X 512) - Sapphire 9800Pro - TT 420 watt Pure Power
Samsung 120gb ATA-100 - Maxtor 40gb ATA - 100
Sony DRU-510A - Yellowtail Merlot

 

[addiarmadar]

Well if on budget then stick with the 9800pro AGP card, Those can be very pricy when you get the big ones. After you do the rest and have more money to play with, then up the graphics card. May get lucky with upgrade to x800.

Mobile Barton 2500+ @ 2420mhz 11x220 1.7v
Asus A7N8X Dlx 440 FSB
1gb Geil GD pc3500 Dual Channel (2-3-3-6)
Segata 80gb SATA 8.5ms seek
ATI Radeon 9800 Pro to XT(463/795)

 

[Wolfy]

one way of bringing the price down is for him to get a slow a64 then when he has the cash again to just drop in a fast one (altho he has a sub500mhz machine as it is so anything will be fast to him) just that socket is being phased out init? so is it best to hang around or just go for it...

"Its only when you look at ants closely with a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames"

 

[pickxx]

Get this...
A64 3200+ $215.00
MSI Nforce3-250 K8N Neo Platinum, $128.00
1Gig of Corsair value 2.5Cas RAM. $154.00 (for both 512 dimms)
200GB WD $125.00
6800Ultra ~$570
NEC 8X Dual Layer, optical drive $69.00

TOTAL: 1261.

Now all you have to do is choose a nice looking case, a brand name power supply (check the power supppy forum FAQ for recommendations). I wont use your whole budget. If you are a gamer using an A64 3200+ with a 6800Ultra with 1Gig RAM....you will fly. You could get a better PCU but unless you are using a CAD program it wouldn't be worth it. With this setup you can run ALL games for about 2-3years easily at great res. For 500 more the setup wont last any longer...so why spend what you dont have to?

It's true i am saying a socket 754....but in 3-4 yrs when its time to upgrade you will need a whole new computer anyway. There will be so many changes you will want, that you will want a new Mobo, New RAM, new PCU, New Vid card, New HD, new everything....so why spend more when you will want to upgrade it all at the same time anyway?

with the extra $400-$500 you will have....buy games, new speakers, beer, pizza, or if you dont know what to do with the extra....write a check and send it to me.

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<font color=blue> I am on an express train to hell. I hope I'm in the front row, the ride is ALWAYS better in the front. </font color=blue>

 

[HardWareBoss]

Gaming go with AMD.

 

[endyen]

A lot of little bugs on the Msi board, get the Asus K8N-E Deluxe

 

[BeyRevRa]

Your right, the MSI board is the highest revered board in the 754 market right now because its so ridden with bugs. Most people can't even turn the thing on at all.

AMD 64 3400+
MSI K8N Neo Platinum
1 GB Kingston HyperX PC3200
ATI AIW 9600XT
WD Raptor 74GB

 

[Crashman]

Anything that says PowMax on it is poorly made, and the Fortron Source/Sparkle Power FSP-350 power supplies are better than the SL400 (but hey, I'd go with an FSP-400).

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Wolfy]

cheers for the replies.... just needed a good idea of what to get my mate

"Its only when you look at ants closely with a magnifying glass on a sunny day that you realise how often they burst into flames"