1st Time Self Built PC (Guide Suggestions)

[Terrapin]

Greetings:

I plan to take the advice of many on this board, and build my own computer with the parts I hope to receive next week. While I have installed components before, I have never built a PC from scratch.

This Link appears to be an awesome guide for building your own computer. I was wondering if any of you knew of any others you might recommend.

Also quick newbie question. I notice at first boot up you need to place in a system disc. I assume, since I have not used Windows XP Pro previously, and currently use Win98, that I can use the WinXP-Pro CD itself as the bootup disc. Am I wrong? If so, what do I use as a boot up disc?

The following are the components I am planning on using:

Asus P4T533-C
Intel CPU 2.2 533fsb
512 Kingston 1066 Rdram
WD SE 120mg 8mb Cache
Visiontek Geoforce 4 Ti 4600
Plextor dvd/cd 20-10-40-12
Plextor 40/12/40 EIDE Int: CDRW
Creative Labs Plat. Audigy Plat.
Lian Li Full Alum
Antec 380W Power Supply TRUE380
Teac 1.44
Windows XP Prof

PS: Is 380w enough power for this rig?


Thank you in advance.

Terrapin

 

[Pederv]

OEM opperating system software cd's are bootable, so you don't need a floppy. Some retail opperating system cd's are bootable, it wouldn't surprise me if retail XP was bootable.

The most important peice of advice I think a newbie needs is do everything you can to get rid of static electricity. If you don't trust yourself to keep touching the case before handling your components then get a wrist strap. Try and avoid touching the IC's or other components on the boards. It's better to be overly cautious and end up with a working system than to take the basic steps and have to RMA a motherboard because "the video doesn't come up".

 

[Terrapin]

The Wrist Strap is a great idea, and will take that advice. Thanks!

Anyone know of any other guides on line worth checking out, other then the one I linked; or any advice in general.

Thanks again,

Terrapin

 

[Brian48]

Well, if you're still looking for more links, you can check out the URLs in the Beginners Section of this site: http://users.rcn.com/chinmonster/links.

For the more advanced stuff, check out the other sections.

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Lose the P4. The Tbreds will be out on monday, anyway.

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Originally posted by: Pederv
OEM opperating system software cd's are bootable, so you don't need a floppy. Some retail opperating system cd's are bootable, it wouldn't surprise me if retail XP was bootable.

The most important peice of advice I think a newbie needs is do everything you can to get rid of static electricity. If you don't trust yourself to keep touching the case before handling your components then get a wrist strap. Try and avoid touching the IC's or other components on the boards. It's better to be overly cautious and end up with a working system than to take the basic steps and have to RMA a motherboard because "the video doesn't come up".

I've never had a problem with static. I never use a wriststrap. I just touch an unpainted part of my case.

 

[billyjak]

looks like a great setup, you shouldn't have to many problems.
Take your time and double check alll connections before you fire it up.
I walk away for about 10 minutes then come back and check everything again, you'll be suprised what this does.
You may have missed something but a fresh look into things will clear the air.
The first time is a bit of a challange, after that, your hooked.

 

[Terrapin]

Thanks all.

I think it's the little things I read, like finding certain conductive items to use between the CPU and Fan, etc., some of what to me is a bit esoteric stuff that turns me off to dealing with it.

That said; you have all increased my level of confidence greatly. The components I've choosen are awesome, and I'm sure it will work out fine if I just take my time, read the manuals, and take the wise advise of not just checking everything, but taking a nice break and checking again

Jmmsbnd007: I've not doubt your well intended on telling me to not get a P4, but that's not gonna happen. There are clearly some that prefer one type of manufacturer to another for varying reasons, and sometimes simply based on its product at the time. I want a P4 for many reasons. Is is the best bang for the buck; I have no idea and honestly don't even care. It is what I want and somehow have a hard time believing my system will somehow suffer. I think an Asus P4T533T-C board, coupled with a P4-2.4B and 1066 dram, WD JB series HD and Geo4 Ti-4600 will somehow, someway, do the trick just fine

Thanks again guys. Should be interesting, but I've no doubt when I flick that on switch, if things actually work, there will be a certain satisfaction that money can't buy. ;P

Of course if things don't work, I'll be whining my head off, but let's cross that bridge if we get to it. Hummm.. perhaps I should order a bottle of wine with the parts, just in case.

Terrapin

 

[busmaster11]

Originally posted by: Terrapin
on using:

Asus P4T533-C
Intel CPU 2.2 533fsb
512 Kingston 1066 Rdram

Good god...

*sigh*

Look...
Asus A7N266-C save 55
Athlon XP 1.9 save 112
2 sticks of 256 megs PC2100 DDR save atleast 100$

take the 2-300 bucks and go buy yourself a DVD burner.

The tragic thing is that few of us have the energy to repeatedly try to presuade you that this is in fact a superior system...

 

[Chaotic42]

Well, I don't know what kind of monitor you are getting, but here's what I'd do:

Drop the P4 system
Get an Athlon XP based system
Get a Geforce 4 Ti 4400

Drop the savings into improving your monitor selection. You'll save a good $200-300 by going Athlon, and you can add that to the money which you have set aside for the monitor.

 

[elekid]

2 Things to tell here, Intel doesnt make a 2.2 with 533 Mhz, its a 2.26B that is 533.

Also, the best pc building guide ever with pics can be found here!

http://arstechnica.com/guide/building/

 

[Scipionix]

Obviously Terrapin wants the fastest out-of-the-box PC there is and he has plenty of cabbage to twist

To be honest, my shelled friend, your rig is the fastest you can get right now without getting multiple processors or fast SCSI drives. Yes you could save a few hundred here and there as we've all pointed out, but if that's not a big deal, go for it. As for the P4/Athlon debate, it will never end, and I think that for most people who have experience building their own computers it is ultimately a matter of personal taste. If you have the cash, then yes, I think it will do just fine.

I don't think there's much you could build today with one CPU and one drive that would be too much for a brand name 350W power supply. Quality is more important than watt rating.

 

[The Sauce]

Quote

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by: Terrapin
on using:

Asus P4T533-C
Intel CPU 2.2 533fsb
512 Kingston 1066 Rdram
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Good god...

*sigh*

Look...
Asus A7N266-C save 55
Athlon XP 1.9 save 112
2 sticks of 256 megs PC2100 DDR save atleast 100$

take the 2-300 bucks and go buy yourself a DVD burner.

Yah and ditch the 4600, get a Gainward 4200 or 4400 which will overclock easily and give you equal performance - save another $150.

 

[Frankie]

Speaking as someone who has just built a computer for the first time a couple of weeks ago, I wouldn't take the chance of Overclocking myself, since I have no idea what I would be doing and most likely would end up screwing something up. It's not really that hard to build one, especially when you have good manuals that explain what needs to be plugged into where. As far as the P4/Athlon debate, I have a Athlon XP1800 and I have found it so far to be very reliable. I'm sure the P4 with the RDRam is faster in some areas, but I've always hade Intel and I've heard that the AthlonXP is a very good chip so I decided to try it. I might go back to Intel in a couple of years or so when it's time to upgrade again. I'm hoping my AthlonXP 1800 will be sufficent for AT LEAST 2 years. The way technology is going though it could be outdated by next week. LOL Also, once you get it put together and it boots up it's a VERY good feeling.

 

[Terrapin]

Gentleman:

The Intel 2.2 was a typo. The CPU I plan to use is the P4-2.4B.

Note: This isn't the fastest out of the box. If I was totally insane, I'd spend another $200 and get the P4-2.5, but I'm not.

I already have a quality monitor: Sony Multiscan 500PS 21"

Originally when I was designing this system, I planned to use a scsi hard drive, which when you look at the increased cost for that plus the controller is rediculous. My past 4 systems have all been scsi, but with the results I'm seeing in benchmarks, and from these boards, it appears the WD JB Series HD will do just fine, so it's not like I'm just throwing money out the window. I'm trying to be reasonable.

I'm not certain how long each of your systems last before you need to upgrade, but I can tell you that when I build a new system it seems to fly for a solid 2-3 years before I need to upgrade anything. In the end, I'm not convinced many of us spend less money, just perhaps some of us spend more up front. In the mean time, I get to enjoy a faster system now.

Re: Overclocking: Clearly many of you are not only comfortable overclocking, but feel that those that don't are wasting money; for if they overclocked, they could get away with buying less expensive components and overclocking to equal the more expensive components. Not everyone is comfortable with overclocking. I am one of those folks. While its clear overclocking can be easily done and the companies that produce chips are conservative, overclocking is not as benign as some would believe. It's a comfort level issue and there is not absolute "right", or "Wrong" where overclocking is concerned.

Re: Intel vs AMD: The biggest reason for purchasing AMD that I have seen over the past few years is "bang for the buck", and it being easier to overclock (see above Re: Overclocking). I use many applications for work, and also play many games as a hobby. It is usually the AMD users that have the most problems with games then Intel users. Intel has always been a more stable and cooler processor. With the new P4's, even the overclocking reasons for going AMD went out the window. Again, it's a comfort zone thing. I'm more comfortable with Intels chips then AMD's. Again, there is no absolute "right" or "wrong" where this choice is concerned, yet some would have you believe otherwise.

Anyway, thanks for your advice, support and feedback. I find this board to be a fantastic resource.

Respectfully,

Terrapin

 

[The Sauce]

This is the age-old argument here, but I have been building for > 10 years, have overclocked everything, and never had a single component failure. The worst that has ever happened was a little instability for which I just dialed down the overclock. I guess I do think that it's foolish not to overclock. Had I not done so I would easily have paid several thousand dollars more all together over the years and I am none the worse for it. Its just another one of those things in life where if you are afraid to do it you think that its horrible but as soon as you try it you realize that its actually quite nice and safe...maybe like riding a big roller-coaster.

 

[The Sauce]

NEF...almost gold

 

[The Sauce]

Aah

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

Originally posted by: Terrapin
Thanks all.

I think it's the little things I read, like finding certain conductive items to use between the CPU and Fan, etc., some of what to me is a bit esoteric stuff that turns me off to dealing with it.

That said; you have all increased my level of confidence greatly. The components I've choosen are awesome, and I'm sure it will work out fine if I just take my time, read the manuals, and take the wise advise of not just checking everything, but taking a nice break and checking again

Jmmsbnd007: I've not doubt your well intended on telling me to not get a P4, but that's not gonna happen. There are clearly some that prefer one type of manufacturer to another for varying reasons, and sometimes simply based on its product at the time. I want a P4 for many reasons. Is is the best bang for the buck; I have no idea and honestly don't even care. It is what I want and somehow have a hard time believing my system will somehow suffer. I think an Asus P4T533T-C board, coupled with a P4-2.4B and 1066 dram, WD JB series HD and Geo4 Ti-4600 will somehow, someway, do the trick just fine

Thanks again guys. Should be interesting, but I've no doubt when I flick that on switch, if things actually work, there will be a certain satisfaction that money can't buy. ;P

Of course if things don't work, I'll be whining my head off, but let's cross that bridge if we get to it. Hummm.. perhaps I should order a bottle of wine with the parts, just in case.

Terrapin

Alright, but a side effect of the tbreds coming out is that the AXP's might have a pretty big price drop...

 

[busmaster11]

Originally posted by: Terrapin
Re: Intel vs AMD: The biggest reason for purchasing AMD that I have seen over the past few years is "bang for the buck", and it being easier to overclock (see above Re: Overclocking). I use many applications for work, and also play many games as a hobby. It is usually the AMD users that have the most problems with games then Intel users. Intel has always been a more stable and cooler processor. With the new P4's, even the overclocking reasons for going AMD went out the window. Again, it's a comfort zone thing. I'm more comfortable with Intels chips then AMD's. Again, there is no absolute "right" or "wrong" where this choice is concerned, yet some would have you believe otherwise.

No. Bang for the buck is one thing, but being able to buy two XP setups that are arguably superior, at the cost of one P4 mobo/cpu/ram, goes way past bang for the buck.

Plus, I'd never pay a penny to those lying bastards at Rambus. (Yes I know I pay ddr/sdram royalties to them)

I challenge you to find one (1) application that works under the P4 platform that won't work under a modern AMD platform, or one (1) hardware related issue that is not resolved by switching out a VIA POS chipset...

 

[SS4Goku]

when u first start up, u will go into bios, so i dont think u need to put the disc in...am i right?

 

[SS4Goku]

double post

 

[Terrapin]

No. Bang for the buck is one thing, but being able to buy two XP setups that are arguably superior, at the cost of one P4 mobo/cpu/ram, goes way past bang for the buck.

I would welcome hearing the system configuration that is arguably as fast as what I have outlined, at half the cost.

Do tell.

Terrapin

 

[miniMUNCH]

Hey Terrapin,

I too am getting ready to do a new system...and I'm leaning towards an P4 system running PC1066...but I think I'll buy a 1.6A and burn the system in at 400MHz front side bus for a few days then kick up to 533MHz giving me a 2.1GHz system which will do for me...apparently, 2.1G's is a pretty weak overclock on a 1.6A so there should be no issues.

 

[busmaster11]

Originally posted by: Terrapin

No. Bang for the buck is one thing, but being able to buy two XP setups that are arguably superior, at the cost of one P4 mobo/cpu/ram, goes way past bang for the buck.

I would welcome hearing the system configuration that is arguably as fast as what I have outlined, at half the cost.

Do tell.

Terrapin

From pricewatch: No shipping considered for both

Asus P4T533-C ~160
Intel CPU 2.4b ~383
512 Kingston 1066 Rdram no list, but the lowest price for a stick of PC800 is 179, s
Total price for mobo/cpu/PC800 RDRAM - 720

Look...
Asus A7N266-C ~94
Athlon XP 2100+ ~177
2 sticks of 256 megs PC2100 DDR (performs better than one stick 512) ~64
Total price - 335

Cost - less than half - for that I'm sure you can forgive the slight performance difference. And thats if you buy PC800 RDRAM which you won't.