• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Building a gaming/school comp for my step-brother

D

DyslexicHobo

Senior member
My parents are buying my step-brother a computer for Christmas, the budget is $650. I have most of the parts picked out, but I have just a few questions. He'll be using it mostly for web browsing and playing games, and of course Microsoft Word and Excel. He won't be playing any top-notch games like Doom 3 or Half-life 2. He's also very concerned with the way it looks, hence the $100 case.

If someone could just verify that my CPU, motherboard, and RAM will be good together I'd really appreciate it.

AMD Athlon XP 2500+ ($85) - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-506&depa=1

ASRock SiS741GX ($42) -
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=13-157-022&depa=1

Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM 8MB Buffer ($60) - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=22-144-122&depa=1

Corsair 512MB DDR333 PC2700 ($72) - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-145-407&depa=1

Lite-On 52X32X52X16 Combo Drive ($42) - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=27-106-937&depa=1

ATI AIW Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB 256-bit ($235) - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-102-297&depa=1

Aspire X-Navigator with 450W PSU ($95) - http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-144-084&depa=1

Onboard AC97 Audio

Do you think I should just get him 2x 256 RAM sticks? Or should I just get him the 1x 512 so he can upgrade later? Do you guys think the video card is overkill? Should I spend the money elsewhere, or pocket it (hehe)? Also, can someone reccomend me a 10-30$ heatsink that will be good for this rig? He wno't be doing any overclocking unless I do it for him, which I probably won't.
 
Motherboard $52

you are going to need a heatsink with that CPU. Text

RAM bump that pc-2700 up to pc-3200, and save some money while your at it 😛 you can easily set that 2500 to 200FSB with the motherboard i picked out for you and have an Xp 3200 for free! 🙂

$235 for a 9800pro? man, you are overpaying, and i dont think he needs an all-in-wonder card.
6600GT for $216 will stomp that 9800pro (just wait for it to come in stock or search around a little.)


i HIGHLY recommend you get the motherboard i picked out. the nforce2 ultra 400 is THE BEST chipset for the athlon XP. as far as the case goes, i think its nasty, but if your brother likes it then i say go for it! :beer:
 
This motherboard is also good for $57; it's often recommended as a budget overclocker here for Socket A. If you can splurge on the heatsink, I like my Zalman CNPS 3100 Plus, but there's probably a better price somewhere else. A Speeze will do fine if that's out of your budget. Speaking of which; if overclocking, you may want a mobile AXPM 2400, as it has an unlocked multiplier. The 6600 GT will be a better videocard choice, and if you have a CompUSA nearby you can see if they still have any $200 6800s, but if it really isn't anything heavy, look for a used 9700 Pro or even 9500 Pro.
 
Thanks for the input. I will definitely get that mobo, looks a lot better than the one I picked.

And the RAM, I've never heard of Buffalo, but I guess it'll do alright for 60 bucks! :-D
And actually, I was going to get him a 6600GT, but I couldn't find one. He really wants it before Christmas, so I'll probably just end up getting him the 9800 Pro.
 
But a mobile 2500+. I think they're also $85 and a much better chip. I recommend this cpu cooler.

Get pc3200 ram. There's no good reason to buy pc2700 anymore since it only costs like a buck less usually, if that.

Why does he need an AIW? Get a regular 9800pro, or go with nicks suggestion and get the 6600gt (much more horses, about the same money as the 9800pro). ATI is not offering anything competitive in that price range from what I've seen. And buy a cheap pci tv card if you he needs that stuff.

That biostar board has good overclocking options, but lacks 4 bolt mounting holes which may or may not be a concern for you. The shuttle AN35N-ultra is in the same price range, and for $10 more you can get the abit nf7 v2.0. Regardless, get a board that uses the nforce2 chipset. You don't want to skimp on the motherboard, and they're cheap enough now that you shouldn't have too.
 
ts3433: i was going to suggest that mobo also, but since this guy was on a budget, i figured he could save an extra $5 by going for the biostar 😛. either board is fantastic, just check out the reviews.


6600GT it says it will be released on 12-21-04 in the red text. i would go for that. :thumbsup:


also, check out Mechbon's guide for building a PC.
 
Please for the sake of things don't use SiS they just plain suck.. go with a VIA chipset if going with AMD.
 
So right now I have...

GeForce 6600GT
512 DDR400 PC3200 Buffalo RAM
Biostar NForce 2 400 Ultra mobo
80GB WD 7200RPM 8MB Buff HD
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ (or maybe the mobile 2400, not sure yet)
Zalman CNPS3100
Lite-On Combo Drive
X-Navigator case

I can get WinXP and MS Office, so is there anything else that I need to worry about?

By the way, thanks for all the help!
 
Originally posted by: DyslexicHobo
So right now I have...

GeForce 6600GT
512 DDR400 PC3200 Buffalo RAM
Biostar NForce 2 400 Ultra mobo
80GB WD 7200RPM 8MB Buff HD
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ (or maybe the mobile 2400, not sure yet)
Zalman CNPS3100
Lite-On Combo Drive
X-Navigator case

I can get WinXP and MS Office, so is there anything else that I need to worry about?

By the way, thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...

looks pretty good. i would think about a seagate hard drive as they come with a 5 year warranty. also, i would drop that CPU to the mobile 2400 and i wouldnt spend so much on a heatsink. the $10 one that i pointed out earlier will EASILY get you to 2.2 Ghz, which is equivalent to a 3200XP.

**EDIT**

i found a 6600GT in stock
Text
 
Originally posted by: Wellcky
Please for the sake of things don't use SiS they just plain suck.. go with a VIA chipset if going with AMD.
Click to expand...

VIA? 😕 why dont you suggest the nforce2 ultra?
 
Originally posted by: DyslexicHobo
So right now I have...

GeForce 6600GT
512 DDR400 PC3200 Buffalo RAM
Biostar NForce 2 400 Ultra mobo
80GB WD 7200RPM 8MB Buff HD
AMD Athlon XP 2500+ (or maybe the mobile 2400, not sure yet)
Zalman CNPS3100
Lite-On Combo Drive
X-Navigator case

I can get WinXP and MS Office, so is there anything else that I need to worry about?

By the way, thanks for all the help!
Click to expand...

That all looks good, but if you don't want to have to buy MS Office, maybe try the free OpenOffice.org suite if you have access to a broadband connection and there's nothing not in OO but in MS that he needs. The money saved could very well put you in A64 territory, or maybe double your RAM, which is good for gaming smoothness.
 
Originally posted by: nick1985
also, check out Mechbon's guide for building a PC.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the guide, looks great. I already built 1 PC on my own, hopefully I won't run into any problems on this one.



I think I'll order this thing as soon as my parents get home. 🙂
 
Well I went a little over budget so I went down to a 40GB 2MB Buffer Samsung.

I doubt he'll EVER use even close to 40 gigs. Does anyone have a reason not to use the Samsung drive? I doubt noise will be an issue either.
 
Originally posted by: ts3433
That all looks good, but if you don't want to have to buy MS Office, maybe try the free OpenOffice.org suite if you have access to a broadband connection and there's nothing not in OO but in MS that he needs. The money saved could very well put you in A64 territory, or maybe double your RAM, which is good for gaming smoothness.
Click to expand...

I already have MS Office and WinXP bought, so that's out of the question.
 
Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: Wellcky
Please for the sake of things don't use SiS they just plain suck.. go with a VIA chipset if going with AMD.
Click to expand...

VIA? 😕 why dont you suggest the nforce2 ultra?
Click to expand...

nForce 2 chipsets are the best for Socket A. Via chipsets weren't all that great, but they were refined by a lot of board designs. The SiS chipsets were decent chipsets, but were put into lousy boards. 🙁
 
Well I've actually already gone over my limit and I'm trying to tone it down wherever I can.

I need to keep it under $650 with taxes and S&H. I live in NJ so I'm taxed for buying at NewEgg.
 
xtra $30 will give you a comp 2x as fast and that works .. 9800 is slow. Via chipet is suck. 2500 will no OC like mobile 2600... But hey it's you alls $....
 
If he doesn't play really graphic demanding games.. then get a lower videocard and get more ram or something.. Just my opionion
 
AN35 Ultra- $58
Sempron 2400+(retail w/ HS/F)- $64
Buffalo 512MB PC3200- $64
Rosewill 52x32x52x16- $35
Samsung 80GB HD- $62
Albatron 6800LE- $246

$529 Shipped although without sales tax, not sure how much that would be for you. Is your brother particularly fond of that case, or does he simply want a case that will grab people's attention?

Edit- I know you said he isn't playing games like D3 and HL2, but the R9800Pro already is having trouble with some of today's games and I assume this isn't going to be a comp he tosses out in a year?
 
Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
AN35 Ultra- $58
Sempron 2400+(retail w/ HS/F)- $64
Buffalo 512MB PC3200- $64
Rosewill 52x32x52x16- $35
Samsung 80GB HD- $62
Albatron 6800LE- $246

$529 Shipped although without sales tax, not sure how much that would be for you. Is your brother particularly fond of that case, or does he simply want a case that will grab people's attention?

Edit- I know you said he isn't playing games like D3 and HL2, but the R9800Pro already is having trouble with some of today's games and I assume this isn't going to be a comp he tosses out in a year?
Click to expand...

I see what you're saying..but you wouldnt have to throw out the comp, just replace the card (add another 512, up the cpu).
 
Thanks for the input guys, but I think I already have my system ready to go. I'm not ordering it until after Jan 1 though, because I won't be home to get the packages. I hope prices don't go up too much while I'm on vacation!

System now:

AMD Athlon Mobile 2400
512MB Buffalo PC3200
GeForce 6600GT
Biostar NForce 2 Ultra
Rosewill combo drive
40 or 80 GB HD, they're so darn close in price. It's like a $10 difference for 2x the size.
Speeze CPU heatsink
Phantom case (I finally got him out of buying the X-navigator, this case looks MUCH better, imo)

Total came out to around $650, and he agreed to let me put in a couple things for myself since I spent all this time picking out the parts and I'm going to put it together, too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top