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Building a computer system for friend, need advice

S

skywalker66

Banned
Hey, I am trying to build thebest computer I can for my friend, and we are trying to keep the cost around $500.

So far I'm thinking that the best route to go would be this:

1. Athlon XP 2600+ (333 bus)

2. Chaintech 7NIL1 motherboard (N-force 2 chipset, 400 mhz fsb. Its pretty cheap on pricewatch right now. Is this board reliable/stable? He wont need to overclock. And will he need Crucial memory or anything gay like that for this board?
I'll also take advice on considering different boards perhaps a different chipset, if you guys think that would be wiser

3. 512 MB of generic pc3200 ddr ram

4. Some PowerMagic ATX case, w/ a 500 watt psu, cheapest 500 watt case on pricewatch, the ad on pricewatch says this:
"11 drivebays Computer Case w/ 500W Power Supply. for Intel & AMD"
link to case: Text

Will this case suffice? Will the psu be reliable enough?



---Those are the main concerns.. and.. Also:

5. I think he's getting a 100 gb IDE Hard drive,

6. He's getting a Norcent 52x24x52 burner or something like that

7. I could use some input on a good video card to get that would be under $100

8. I know this is silly, but any ideas for a reasonable and cheap heatsink/fan?


Thanks for all the help guys! 🙂
 
1. *shrug* okay

2. Will he need Crucial memory or anything gay like that? RAM is so cheap nowadays, might as well get a name brand. Generic RAM probably won't last more than a year or two.

3. see 2

4. Like I said with the RAM, I'd say go for a good name brand. I don't think he'd need 500 watts for a PSU, and plus, generic PSU's say 500 watts, but aren't very reliable. I'm using a 420 watt Enermax and couldn't be happier.

5-7, uh huh.

8. Stock heatsink should do fine. If not, go for a cheaper Coolermaster
 
You know, I was planning to do something different once in a while, so how about tech rap.

mech-B-gon gonna bust a rhyme
you need help, now it's help time! 😎
make it an Antec, don't wanna be fran-tic
getta PowerMagic, your problems will be gi-gan-tic :evil:
*poof* from the system, what's that smell? :Q
cheap one's dead, now kiss an' tell

you play you lose when you go cheap pow-ah
can't use a foun-dation of sand to build a tow-ah
quality first is the name o' the game
cheapie-cheapie units may bring you shame
fry your pal's mobo an' his CPU
everything else within is nuked too, now what you do, foo'? 😉

take the advice, it's free but not cheap
quality first, you sow and you reap

😉



(edited for style, I'm new to this rap thing 😛)

 
I didn't know crucial ram was bootleg. It uses Micron , Samsung, or Infineon chips. Thought those chips are legit. BTW Phat rap Mech B
 
Originally posted by: mechBgon
You know, I was planning to do something different once in a while, so how about tech rap.

mech-B-gon gonna bust a rhyme
you need help, now it's help time! 😎
make it an Antec, don't wanna be fran-tic
getta PowerMagic, your problems will be gi-gan-tic :evil:
*poof* from the system, what's that smell? :Q
cheap one's dead, now kiss an' tell

you play you lose when you go cheap pow-ah
can't use a foun-dation of sand to build a tow-ah
quality first is the name o' the game
cheapie-cheapie units may bring you shame
fry your pal's mobo an' his CPU
everything else within is nuked too, now what you do, foo'? 😉

take the advice, it's free but not cheap
quality first, you sow and you reap

😉



(edited for style, I'm new to this rap thing 😛)
Click to expand...

:beer: :beer: :beer: Cheers!
 
PSU - Antec anything dump that PowerMagic.

Video card, Radeon 9100 128 meg at $76

HSF, I like the Vantec C7040 at about $25
 
You know, I was planning to do something different once in a while, so how about tech rap.

mech-B-gon gonna bust a rhyme
you need help, now it's help time!
make it an Antec, don't wanna be fran-tic
getta PowerMagic, your problems will be gi-gan-tic
*poof* from the system, what's that smell?
cheap one's dead, now kiss an' tell

you play you lose when you go cheap pow-ah
can't use a foun-dation of sand to build a tow-ah
quality first is the name o' the game
cheapie-cheapie units may bring you shame
fry your pal's mobo an' his CPU
everything else within is nuked too, now what you do, foo'?

take the advice, it's free but not cheap
quality first, you sow and you reap
Click to expand...

Nice job/rap ..your handle mechBgon could also be interpreted/read as 1 Rapper 😉
Text
Click to expand...
 
Originally posted by: mechBgon
You know, I was planning to do something different once in a while, so how about tech rap.

mech-B-gon gonna bust a rhyme
you need help, now it's help time! 😎
make it an Antec, don't wanna be fran-tic
getta PowerMagic, your problems will be gi-gan-tic :evil:
*poof* from the system, what's that smell? :Q
cheap one's dead, now kiss an' tell

you play you lose when you go cheap pow-ah
can't use a foun-dation of sand to build a tow-ah
quality first is the name o' the game
cheapie-cheapie units may bring you shame
fry your pal's mobo an' his CPU
everything else within is nuked too, now what you do, foo'? 😉

take the advice, it's free but not cheap
quality first, you sow and you reap

😉



(edited for style, I'm new to this rap thing 😛)
Click to expand...

em's got some competition
 
I recommend the XP 1700+ T-Bred AorB and the Asus A7N266-VM AA. It's an excellent board and is rock stable. On-board GeForce 2 MX graphics, SoundStorm sound and nForce LAN. Truly this is the budget board from God. I built a computer for my friend with this board and he's really happy. The 1700+ is extremely O/C'able with just air.
 
you can get a radeon 9200 128 for under 100

As much as I hate to say it, you could even get an FX 5200 for under 100 ...
 
Do this:

Board - Epox 8RDA+ -$84
CPU - Barton XP2500 - $96
HSF - THermalright SK7 - $20
Video card - Abit Siluro TI4200 64mb $84

there you go.


btw, I hope he is paying you, whenever I build comps for friends they keep bugging me for more help🙁. THats why I don't anymore.
 
Bad Idea #1: Generic Ram
Bad Idea #2: Generic Case with Generic Power Supply

8RDA+ = $84
XP2500 = $90
256MB HyperX = $40
Antec 2600 w/300 watt PS = $70
Abit Siluro ti4200 = $89
Thermalright slk800u = $35
YS Tech adjustable = $10

Thats the bare minimum....around $418. Personally, I'd spend the extra $80 on more RAM, and the Antec 3700 instead of the 2600. I've built a couple systems almost identical to that recently, and they are screamers. Amazing speed considering for $500, Dell will send you a Celeron with integrated graphics, and it will almost buy you an Alien/poserware keyboard and mouse 😀

Please note that you haven't told us what the heck he's going to use the computer for. That makes a big difference when choosing parts.
 
Originally posted by: mechBgon
You know, I was planning to do something different once in a while, so how about tech rap.

mech-B-gon gonna bust a rhyme
you need help, now it's help time! 😎
make it an Antec, don't wanna be fran-tic
getta PowerMagic, your problems will be gi-gan-tic :evil:
*poof* from the system, what's that smell? :Q
cheap one's dead, now kiss an' tell

you play you lose when you go cheap pow-ah
can't use a foun-dation of sand to build a tow-ah
quality first is the name o' the game
cheapie-cheapie units may bring you shame
fry your pal's mobo an' his CPU
everything else within is nuked too, now what you do, foo'? 😉

take the advice, it's free but not cheap
quality first, you sow and you reap

😉



(edited for style, I'm new to this rap thing 😛)
Click to expand...


L7 Weenieeeeeee.
 
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