Another Computer Build thread

[McRhea]

So I remember looking at this Firingsquad.com computer guide a few months ago, and decided that now is a good time for me to completely rebuild my system for around $1K.

Since the article is a few months old, I was wondering about the practicality of following the guide.

Here's what I've got lined up in my newegg.com shopping cart so far:

CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail - $201

Graphics - BFG Tech BFGR78256GTCOD2 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card bundled with Call of Duty 2 - Retail - $359

Motherboard - MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - OEM - $119

RAM - CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWINX1024-3200C2PT - Retail - $99

Hard Drive - Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L300S0 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM - $121

PSU - Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply - Retail - $40

Case - COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail - $50

Still need a DVD of some sort, the Firingsquad guide lists a DVD drive... the NEC ND-3520A. Any comments on that?

Anyway, assuming you're not interested in getting the latest, coolest computer gear, and that you're trying to stay right around $1,000 - $1,200 for all the main computer parts (no monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard, etc), does this seems like a decent machine?

 

[mwmorph]

3500+ is a bad idea. drop down to a +3200 and save $40 or shell out $10 more for double the chache with a 3700+ san diego(there is a $2 lower price on chiefvalue but i have trouble getting a link to there.)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDe...sp?ProductCode=80719-5&affiliate=yahoo

try not to buy oem motherboards otherwsie yyou'll need to buy all the wires you will need which can cost quite a bit if you but it individually, alos the manual is realyl nice to have when buying a motherboard.
this is a hgood choice
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131524

as is this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123251

both are good ocers but if yuo need firewire and even better ocs, get this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123246

NEC3550a is a good choice

bad psu choice it;s rated fro 430 watts but ionly has 18a on +12v which means it's a very weak psu.
This psu is actually stronger despite the lower ratinfg. 34a on 12v fsp group is a great brand also.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104901

ram wise this is a better choice. with amd64s quantity ttrumps latency
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231039

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

get more ram.

 

[McRhea]

Thanks Mwmorph.

So the 3700+ nick name is San Diego as opposed to the 3500+'s Venice or ClawHammer?

As for the motherboards, I'd like a board with an extra PCI-E slot so that I can later stick in another graphics card to boost performance. ***EDIT*** Nevermind, did a quick search and found the answer to my question. Now I just need a decent motherboard with two PCI-E x16 slots.

Thanks for the rest of the info, I'll keep that in mind.

 

[Cabages]

Im running an Asus A8N SLI board without any problems.

It retails at the egg for around $120, and has two x16 PCI-E slots.

 

[TecHNooB]

CPU: Opteron 146 - $180
MOBO: DFI Ultra-D - $130
RAM: Keep Current - $100
VIDCARD: eVGA 7800GT - $300
HD: Keep current - $120
PSU: Get a 500W for around $50-60
CASE: Keep current - $50
CD/DVD: NEC Something - $40

Total: $980

If you upgrade to a $450 GTX, your new total will be $1130.

If you upgrade to 2x1GB G.Skill DIMMS, your new total will be $1080.

 

[imported_fatal]

I would get an ASUS MB and 2 gig of ram

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: McRhea
Thanks Mwmorph.

So the 3700+ nick name is San Diego as opposed to the 3500+'s Venice or ClawHammer?

As for the motherboards, I'd like a board with an extra PCI-E slot so that I can later stick in another graphics card to boost performance. ***EDIT*** Nevermind, did a quick search and found the answer to my question. Now I just need a decent motherboard with two PCI-E x16 slots.

Thanks for the rest of the info, I'll keep that in mind.

well the Clawhammer are older cores. Venices added SSE3 instruction ast as well as a better memory controller. The Sandiego is a derivitation of the Venice. It has all the benefits of the Venice but with 2x the cache.

 

[daweinah]

Originally posted by: McRhea
Thanks Mwmorph.

So the 3700+ nick name is San Diego as opposed to the 3500+'s Venice or ClawHammer?.

The 3700+ and the 3500+ are the same, except the 3700 has a 1mb cache instead of 512. San Diego is the name for the 1mb cache version of the 3500+

Here is a good power supply option.

 

[McRhea]

Thanks for the great information, now I'll just have to redo my list and see what you guys think.