building a new comp, couple of questions and looking for suggestions

[Falon]

Hi all, I am gonna be building my first comp in a couple weeks (soon as i buy the parts), I am looking for help / sugestions on what to get for certain parts though... Also looking to spend about 1500$ or so, and if it matters I don't plan on ocing at all, although I will buy something that is oced if you guys are confident in the product being reliable... looking to build a comp that will last me 3 years before I gotta upgrade/buy new again. Also if it matters this is for gaming.

Ok here's what I am looking for:

wanna get either p4 2.4 or p4 2.53 (want the 500mhz bus)
I have no idea what mbo to get for either of these to cpu's, I do know that I want firewire, usb2 on them, also good onboard sound is a plus, oh also want ddr333 capable
(would get amd but makes no sense to me to get a high end amd that cost more then p4 2.4/2.53 but is lower then there speeds plus the bus is only 333 right? )

512 - 1gig ddr 333 memory havent decided how much to get yet or what brand

geforce 4ti 4200-4600 with 128 meg

19inch monitor for around 200$

cdrw
dvdrom ( i have seen cdrw/dvdrom combos for like 150$ are these any good?)

hard drive looking to get least 60 gig, 7200 rpm want it as fast as possible so most likely 8mb cache

psu/case want at least 350 was hoping for 400, for a case i been looking at custom cases with windows

56k modem (one i got now is external and i can only connect at 26.4, i don't know if its the modem or what but wanna try a new one)

cheap soundcard for under 50$ if mbo one isn't good (not sblive heard to many problems on them)
decent speakers for under 100$

floppy drive

keyboard/optical mouse

surge protector/ups

and anything i am forgetting that is important

basically just looking for suggestions/recommendations on what specific product to get for these parts

I also have a couple of other questions.
-was wondering if it will hurt anything or generally a bad idea to connect the surge protector/ups that has all my computer plugs plug into it, into an extension cord?
-when i build the computer will i need to mess with the bios, thought i read somewhere i gotta set my bus speeds, and also my memmory speeds?

 

[Falon]

anyone?

 

[imported_Mike]

gf 4 ti4200, no need to get the 128 mb of these, unless its cheaper. nvidia boasts in 64 mb version has a faster clock rate than the 128 mb. dont go for the combo cdrw/dvd: if you want to copy a cd, you will have to rip it to your hard drive first, then burn/its more practical to get two drives/ and you can get a fast cdrw drive and a good dvd rom drive for less than $150. i would get an 80 gig 8 mb cache, and 350 w is fine for you ps, 400 will be overdone for this system.

 

[JSSheridan]

Considering the features you want, I'd suggest the Asus P4PE motherboard. It has USB 2.0, DDR333 support, firewire, sound, and other extras. For your processor, the 2.26, 2.4B, 2.53, 2.66, 2.8, and 3.06GHz models come with the 533MHz FSB you mentioned. If you're not going to overclock, get the best you can afford. I'd pick out the processor last to ensure you get all the other items you want with your new system. Get memory from Corsair, Samsung, Mushkin, or Crucial. For a gaming system, I don't think you would need 1GB of memory, but some other task would benifit from extra memory.

Looking at the video card choices you have, I think a TI4600 would work well. I recommend that you consider the ATI 9500 Pro also, as it's performance and price are also excellent. Both cards have their pros and cons though, but I would go with an ATI 9500 Pro. For you hard drive, Western Digital Special Edition drives might be what you're looking for with their 8MB cache. I think those are a good buy for you. Lite On makes good optical drives, their fastest models being CDRW 52x24x52 and DVD 16x speeds. Antec makes good cases and power supplies, but you should also consider Enermax power supplies. Chinming/Chieftec makes nice cases also.

Looking at the available sound cards, the Guillemot Hercules Fortissimo III 7.1 priced around $50 looked to be a good buy for an solid card. You should find a nice set of speakers for $100; some brands to look at are Logitech, Altec Lansing, Creative, Monsoon, Cyber Acuoustics and Labtec. I used to use a model by Zoom, but I haven't needed a new one in a while. All floppy drives are roughly equal. I wouldn't spring for a natural keyboard, just get a standard layout. I'm also having a small problem with my Microsoft mouse where the pointer will jump to the bottom right corner of the screen on occasion, so you might want to try a Logitech, their products are solid. Belkin makes good surge protectors and UPS's. Finally, Philips, Sony, NEC/Mitsubishi, and Samsung monitors are good quality. Good luck putting this together, and welcome to the forums. Peace.

 

[Alptraum]

If you are going P4 I would definetly go with either RDRAM or a Granite Bay board. In your couple weeks timeframe NewEgg should have the ASUS one in stock (they are saying the 5th of Feb). All these prices are from NewEgg and what I would most likely do were I in your situation.

Case - Antec Plus660AMG = $98
Motherboard - ASUS P4G8X Deluxe = $229
CPU - P4 2.53 = $230
RAM - two sticks of 256meg Kingston PC2100 DDR. = $100
Video - ATI Radeon 9500Pro = $197
Hard Drive - WD 120gig SE drive = $147
Floppy drive - Sony = $8
CDRW - Lite On 52x24x52 = $59.99
DVD - Lite On 16x = $40.99
Kyeboard - MS natural elite = $17
Mouse - MS Intellimouse Explorer 3.0a = $29

Total = $1314.98 + shipping

That leaves about $185 for speakers/modem/soundcard. I favor Klipsch speakers myself. I haven't bougt a modem in forever but if I was getting a new one I would get another USR. I have had great luck with many of them over the years. I haven't used either that ANtec case or the 9500 Pro. But I do have the bigger versions of both (1080AMG and 9700 Pro) and like them. I usually buy Yamahe CDRs also but I hear from tons of people that they really like Lite On and since you are on a budget they fit it well.

 

[Falon]

thanks for the replies, one question i am wondering is i read something about needing to sync your memory , bus, cpu, gfx card so they run better or something... anyone know anything about this ? also what is that were some people are setting things with there ram were they got numbers like 2,2,2,6 etc...

as for the ati 9500, i really don't know if i wanna go this way, used to nvidia plus companies seem to favor them more, with games coming out for features just for the nvidia, as well one game i wanna play only runs on nvidia i heard (ffxi). if i did go the ati root i would probably just go all out with it which is the 9700 pro right?

question on directx 9, if i install it and use somethign that doesn't support directx9 like ti4200 am i gonna have problems or conflicts, or will ti4200 run with directx9 but just wont get the new features from 8-9?

lite on cdrw and dvd sounding good, i also heard asus makes good cdrw and toshiba makes a good dvd rom

how is the onboard sound on the new motherboards like the ASUS P4PE,SINXP1394,8INXP?

if you guys think the onboard sound isn't good ill most likely get the fortismo 7.1. odds are to me the onboard sound will be good, i am currently using sonic diamond impact and have been using it for 3 years, has very bad sound in game cinemas...

i am currently using a logitech mouse and like it a lot, but i think i will probably get ms optical and ms internet keyboard or multimedia keyboard maybe, reason for this is i plan on running xp pro and heard that ms products run better on its own o/s which makes sense

oh as for xp pro, anyone know a good cheap deal for this anywhere? i can get the upgrade version for 99$ through school but not sure what i need for the upgrade version, i mean if i gotta put something like win 98 on my new comp just to install xp pro upgrade edition then forget the upgrad edition

as for monitor right now i am leaning towards The Samsung 955DF

btw anyone have answer to my original questions?
-was wondering if it will hurt anything or generally a bad idea to connect the surge protector/ups that has all my computer plugs plug into it, into an extension cord?
-when i build the computer will i need to mess with the bios, thought i read somewhere i gotta set my bus speeds, and also my memmory speeds?

oh also anyone got any suggestions for a modem? right now i am using creative blaster external and can only connect at 26.4-28.8 i dunno if its the modem, phone line, or isp or a combination of them but i wanna try something new, and is internal better?

 

[Ilmater]

My usual memory post (for the umpteen millionth time):

Unless you work with graphics/movies a lot or do CAD work (or 3DSMax), then you only need 512MB of RAM, and shouldn't need more for a LONG time. Any games that need it will get it from video cards that are continuing to increase their memory sizes.

 

[Alptraum]

btw anyone have answer to my original questions?
-was wondering if it will hurt anything or generally a bad idea to connect the surge protector/ups that has all my computer plugs plug into it, into an extension cord?
-when i build the computer will i need to mess with the bios, thought i read somewhere i gotta set my bus speeds, and also my memmory speeds?

oh also anyone got any suggestions for a modem? right now i am using creative blaster external and can only connect at 26.4-28.8 i dunno if its the modem, phone line, or isp or a combination of them but i wanna try something new, and is internal better?

The extension cord will be fine.

You will need to check the bios to make sure things are set up right, in other words check that it sets the CPU at the right speed, detecting drives and so on. Its easy.

As far as modems go, I favor USRs. I have used tons of them over the years and been pleased with all of them. I have had a few Motorolas also and they worked well also. As far as internal vs. external you can go either way. Usually if you need a top of the line modem (USR courier series for instance) they come in external. But it doesn't matter that much since you most likely will not need any of hte extra features they have. It may not be your modem though. One place I lived at a few years ago had very crappy/noisy phone lines and I was never able to connect at more then 28k or so. And that was with a USR courier. But if you think it may be your ISP you can check with them to make sure you are dialing in to a 56k line. If its your phone line itself you are pretty much screwed. Though a nice modem can counter line noise to an extant.

 

[Falon]

ok well i am thinking about ocing now, so was wondering if anyone had any good links to guides for ocing the p4 2.53, and ocing vidcard and memory? also what good ti4200 are good for overclocking, and what memory is good for it? also what are save numbers to overclock them at i don't wanna risk having anything go, i need this stuff to last =0

also for some unanswered questions still:

-how is the onboard sound on the new motherboards like the ASUS P4PE,SINXP1394,8INXP?

-i am currently using a logitech mouse and like it a lot, but i think i will probably get ms optical and ms internet keyboard or multimedia keyboard maybe, reason for this is i plan on running xp pro and heard that ms products run better on its own o/s which makes sense
-
oh as for xp pro, anyone know a good cheap deal for this anywhere? i can get the upgrade version for 99$ through school but not sure what i need for the upgrade version, i mean if i gotta put something like win 98 on my new comp just to install xp pro upgrade edition then forget the upgrad edition

 

[KidChaos]

oh as for xp pro, anyone know a good cheap deal for this anywhere?

Cheapest I can find it at is newEgg:

Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack 1 - OEM Full Version $143

Maybe someone else can find it for a cheaper price.

 

[Sappster]

For memory go with Mushkin.com. They have the best support I have ever seen. And they have good memory too. A little more expensive but they use real people to hand test their memory sticks. As for the case go with Antec. I have the Antec 1080AMG and it is a SWEET @$$ case!! Good luck with the computer. Peace!