• 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 new PC for Uncle

J

Joe89

Member
Budget is 1200.
Already got case/psu, 1100 to go.

I've been out of the tech scene for past 6 months so Im' a bit lost as to top value right now

What is the best value mobo/ram/proc/vid card setup? Lets say, for 900 dollars.

I'm going to get an aftermarket HS that is good cooling and quiet, so I will also be overclocking it within reason, nothing too extreme but enough to notice a difference.

Thanks for advice. btw i shop newegg so if you find something you can just link to there thanks again
 
Oh yes I also think I may do a raid on this computer but I'm not positive so make sure that the motherboard supports that thnks
 
Processor- AMD 64 3000+ Venice
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?src=eb&name=A64-3000BP
Mobo-DFI NF4-D Lan Party Series
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...oduct_Code=110799&Category_Code=AMD939
Ram-OCZ Value VX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820227213
Video card-Chaintech 6600GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814145098

Do your uncle a favor and spend the rest on a nice monitor and bluetooth keyboard/mouse. It doesn't look like he'll need pimped out specs, just pimped out looks. A good monitor should cost around 400 dollars, and a bluetooth keyboard/mouse should cost around 120.

Btw, check this PATA HD out. Its ATA-100, but that doesn't matter at all.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...uId=4599777&type=product&ref=10&loc=01
If you can, get two of these running in raid-0
 
I know it isn't hardware, but when building systems for relatives, security is up there on my list 😉 Budget in a Netgear RP614 or Linksys BEFSR41 if he doesn't have a router yet, and consider Kaspersky Antivirus Personal 5, that's what I got for my little sister and my mom. 24 virus-definition updates per day, and top-notch detection on worms, trojans and script viruses. :thumbsup: If you get Kaspersky, turn on the Extended Database option in the Threats & Exclusions section.

If you get an RP614 you can also look at my configuration suggestions for that model to make it extra-tight.
 
I want this computer to last him a good while, and I don't know what he will be getting in terms of broadband yet...
Yes, I budgeted for a nice monitor, speakers, and keyboard/mouse. I got $850 left over for proc/ram/vid/mem
 
I would think the system I listed, overclocked to around 2.4-2.5 GHZ, will last him a long while(3-4 years?). Maybe its best to save him the money and upgrade the components when they are cheap in the future.
 
3000+ Venice $117 if you look around (eWiz I beleive?)
XP90 + Panaflo L1A $50
EPoX 9NPA+Ultra $106. 2nd best overclocker.
Corsair VS 2x512 $80
X800XL $250
200GB: $90
BenQ Burner $45
floppy $5

$743

You've got about $350 to spend.

$200 on a 19" CRT
$50 on a decent keyboard and mouse
$50 on Audigy2 value
$50 on Logitech X5300 (not sure if this is the right model name)

See if you can stretch the budget a bit for software as MechBGon recommended. If not, then downgrade to a 17" monitor (Save $80) and get some software.

-The Pentium Guy
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
Btw, check this PATA HD out. Its ATA-100, but that doesn't matter at all.
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp...uId=4599777&type=product&ref=10&loc=01
If you can, get two of these running in raid-0
Click to expand...
Raid 0 offers no real-world performance benefits.

If you haven't gotten the hint by now, we'll spell it out for you: there is no place, and no need for a RAID-0 array on a desktop computer. The real world performance increases are negligible at best and the reduction in reliability, thanks to a halving of the mean time between failure, makes RAID-0 far from worth it on the desktop.

Bottom line: RAID-0 arrays will win you just about any benchmark, but they'll deliver virtually nothing more than that for real world desktop performance. That's just the cold hard truth.
Click to expand...

-The Pentium Guy
 
I would Def go with the DFI and Value VX. 2-2-2-5 timings and an increase of FSB will ammount to performance increases over regular ram. It might be *only 3-5%, but thats amost a speed upgrade in terms of the processor. Your only spending 30 dollars more, and It would be hard to find somewhere better to put that 30 dollars for a 3-5% increase in alot of aps, even non gaming ones. For a budget setup, the DFI and expensive ram is not economical, but when you start shelling out more money, and the performance increases start to be more expensive, tight timings and an increased FSB is a good way to increase overall performance.

Ow ya, the 800XL is a nice choice, but isn't a very good Ocer. 6800GT will oc better, but thats like 70 dollars more, so the 800XL is the way to go.
 
Corsair Value Ram 2x512 $85 (or double that for photoshop depending on what he uses it for)
Athlon 64 Venice 3000+ $150
MSI Neo4-F $85 Enough to drive that venice to 2.6-2.75 easily with proper cooler
GIGABYTE GV-NX66T128VP Geforce 6600GT 128MB 128-bit GDDR3 Turbo Cache PCI-Ex16 (passive cooling!)
http://www.amdzone.com/modules.php?op=m...index&req=viewarticle&artid=114&page=1
$180
I like the Zalman 7700cu for CPU fan but some like the TT XP-90 with 120mm fan. $50 for zalman.

$550 and smoking fast.

Now you got room for sweet mouse, keyboard, sound card, let me know. If noise is of no concern then you can drop the 6600GT I chose for a cheaper one or as Hacp says, a 800XT is also pretty sweet choice and available in passive as well. What case and PSU? What about optical drives and floppy, hard drives, etc.?

As far as Hacp is concerned, he doesn't quiet understand dividers perhaps. It's not going to help to go faster on ram for processor clocks in almost any situation it's a waste of money anyway. And about the $115 VX TCCD ram, I'd like to see that.
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
I would Def go with the DFI and Value VX. 2-2-2-5 timings and an increase of FSB will ammount to performance increases over regular ram. It might be *only 3-5%, but thats amost a speed upgrade in terms of the processor. Your only spending 30 dollars more, and It would be hard to find somewhere better to put that 30 dollars for a 3-5% increase in alot of aps, even non gaming ones. For a budget setup, the DFI and expensive ram is not economical, but when you start shelling out more money, and the performance increases start to be more expensive, tight timings and an increased FSB is a good way to increase overall performance.
Click to expand...

What is value 2-2-2-5 ram? And how much is it?
 
Well I want this to be upgradeable, able to play top games for 3 years and applications for 6-7.

I want a SLI board and then in the future we can add another of the same vidcard to double gamin prowress.

I'd go with taht top DFI lanboy but I heard its loud and I want the system to be fairly quiet.
Whats a good SLI solution and an accompanying vidcard that is around $300?

Also, in regards to the 3500+ ..

What will be faster, a 3200+ overclocked to maximum level with stability, or a 3500+ overclcoked to maximum level with stability? Like, I know a P4 2.4c is able to overclock to same mhz as 2.6 or even more.. Do they have similiar limits?
 
when people bought sli setups, the 7800gtx came in and gave everyone a very good reason not to go sli. (e.g., 2x6800ultras=$1000<1x7800gtx=$600), those were the avg prices when the 7800gtx first came out. im pretty sure this example is overused by now.
 
3200 and even the 3000 will both oc to roughly around the same levels. the 3200 has lower multipliers, but i still say go with the 3000. you shouldnt be worried about stability if you get the parts others are posting here.
 
Joe, are you ignoring me just to torment me? What is wrong with what I showed you? I can't help you when you disagree and don't explain yourself. You think your not going to change your mobo in 6-7 years? Joe, be realistic, if you cannot afford to replace your set up every 3 years you should have a cheaper set up not a more expensive one.

3500 Winchester? I thought I said venice? 3500 is no better with these multies.

How is your epox better than the Neo4-F? I'm open and curious.

Who is commanding this wish list? I want to speak to the newb that put that wish list against what I advised? Vantec PSU? WHY? 3500? WHY? LOW LATENCY RAM? can you please explain that? Please, how is that going to help you, how?
 
How is your epox better than the Neo4-F? I'm open and curious.

Who is commanding this wish list? I want to speak to the newb that put that wish list against what I advised? Vantec PSU? WHY? 3500? WHY? LOW LATENCY RAM? can you please explain that? Please, how is that going to help you, how?
Click to expand...
The epox certainly DOES overclock better, and it's NF4 Ultra as opposed to NF4 vanilla.

Yeah I don't get why you chose the Vantec PSU. You could get an Antec SPII 400W for the same price. 3000 Venice might be a better route partly because you can overclock the 3000+ and make it into a 3500+ for free.

Low latency ram doesn't do jack sh1t on AMD 64.
Proof?
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=28&threadid=1475190&enterthread=y

Edit: ok that is actually $150 or so over, maybe just 100. need to cut costs somehow.
Click to expand...
Get rid of LL, and get a 3000+ 😉.

Also a Venice is better than a Winchester.

Now instead of that Thermaltake, can I suggest the Zalman? It'll be quieter.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118118
And it's got an LED light. This is for the same price as the Thermaltake.

Dunno man, these are just suggestions.

Lemme know what you think,
-The Pentium Guy
 
That epox does look sweet, but is it worth 25% more you think? Maybe, I like the ultra but I have never owned an epox. =) The OC shouldn't matter as long as it clocks 310HTT cause it's not like he's going to hit 2.8GHz on air with a 3000+, don't you think PG?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top