Building a PC for the 1st Time... Recommendation + Review Needed Plz

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Marktoloba

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Jan 9, 2005
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mechBgon

mechBgon

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Oct 31, 1999
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Welcome to the Forums :) You might want to let us know how much money you have left to work with, and what uses you'll use it for.

For the mobo/CPU/RAM, how about an Asus K8N standard, an Athlon64 3200+ and a pair of 512MB Corsair XMS 3200C2 modules, does that fit your budget? That would eliminate the need for an Ethernet card, and it has basic onboard audio if you want to try that out before spending more on an add-in sound card.

You might consider this Enermax power supply instead.
 
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imported_Thrust

Junior Member
Aug 11, 2004
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These days, the audio and Ethernet can be found in high quality ON the Motherboard. With MoBo prices ~$100, it pays to have it all included.

When I have built my PCs, I start at the processor and "work out" from that....

Processor ---> pick Mobo ---> pick RAM ---> pick PSU and Video Card...

Once you get a specific parts list, post that here and you will get a TON of opinions.

-T
 
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Marktoloba

Senior member
Jan 9, 2005
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Well, i dont really have a specific budget to work with... I'd like to use this for gaming to the fullest. I also keep alot of movies and music. I might think about get the 6800 now that I read that post... it makes sense.

I'm not really sure about what the best mobo's/CPU are but I'd like it to as fast as possible without killing the budget.

I'd like to have the PCI-Express card slots so I can use the new SLI technology. I believe I would need to get the Nforce4 to do this but I'm not sure.

I'd like a AMD Athlon 64 3400+ and whatever mobo has the pci-x slots and runs well with this. And I'd like 1gb ram but I'm not sure what brand etc to get. Any info is would be appreciated :)

I will also consider that enermax psu, If its better and only $10 more, then why not

Would i Need This Motherboard for the PCI-Express? Motherboard

Hit me back plz
 
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Marktoloba

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Jan 9, 2005
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Also, if I was to get this all at once, is there some store that offers bulks discounts or anything?
 
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ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
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Originally posted by: Marktoloba
yes but can i use the SLI technology without the specific SLI Mobo?
Click to expand...

No. You can't use it on just a regular PCIe motherboard, either. You have to have two graphics card slots for two graphics cards (expensive, unless you go with two 6600GTs, sort of defeating the purpose of SLI if you can afford a 6800GT of either kind anyway.). I might recommend waiting a while for PCIe to mature and just go AGP now, since you can get that cheaper, the 3400+ will last you a while, and PCIe will eventually trickle down to the 754-pin socket (it's going to be the home of the new Semprons).

I think Mech's recommendation for the motherboard above is good (though you can probably do better with the DFI Lanparty or Chaintech VNF3-250, depending on your needs). I must disagree with the RAM recommendation, though. You really don't need anything more than 2x512MB value PC3200 from Corsair/Mushkin--low latencies are a bit overrated.

For your PSU, by the way: I'd rather have a Seasonic, Fortron, or Antec (TruePower or NeoPower series). They're of higher quality than TT. A ~400W will be fine; wattages, since the spec is so abused, don't mean much. Pay attention to amperages, rail stability, how clean the power is, etc.
 
JBDan

JBDan

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 2004
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Originally posted by: Marktoloba
I've never done this before... But this is what I have so far...
Case (No PSU)
PSU
Motherboard?
AMD Athlon 64 3400+
Ram?
Geforce 6600GT
Sound Card
Phillips Monitor or Samsung Monitor
Seagate 200GB SATA HD
Keyboard
Mouse
Logitech Speaker System
Floppy Drive
Ethernet Card

Note* Already have a Plextor DVD Burner

Please if you could check out my system so far, rate it... provide recommendations, and helped me with my missing parts... I'd be very grateful...

Thanks
Click to expand...

How bout the 939 3000+ for $155 OEM with either the EPOX ($99) or Asus a8v ($129). Mushkin and Kingston have value RAM @ $ 140 for a gig (Zebo's post @ CPU/PROCESSORS forum is quite revealing on spending big $ on RAM). Maybe a 6800gt ($380 eVga) to throw in as well if the funds are there.
 
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Marktoloba

Senior member
Jan 9, 2005
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Also can you clearify this for me... Im confused about the CPU's

Whats the difference between one like AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 512k L2 Cache and one like Mobile AMD Athlon 64 3400+ 2.2 GHz

whats the diff between the cache and GHz

sorry for being computer illiterate a little :p
 
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ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
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Don't consider the A64 mobiles, since Winchesters would overclock better. The Clawhammer-core 3400+ is 2.2GHz with 1MB cache. The newer Newcastle is faster.
 
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Marktoloba

Senior member
Jan 9, 2005
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I know what I got on my Dell is 1.8Ghz (being sold)
I wanted to upgrade to at least like 2.4 Ghz or higher.

Which AMD processor would do this?

As for the motherboard... I'm still confused on this SLI thing... For it to work i need the SLI mobo or it wont work? I wanted to get a 6800 and save the other slot for the future...

Ram... I wanted a gig of RAM and you said they got value packs... could you show me a link to this?

Thanks again for all the help... All this building is new to me
 
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ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
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Is that 2.4GHz in Intel terms? A 1.8GHz Athlon 64 will beat a 3.0GHz Pentium 4 in virtually everything. A 3400+ (2.4GHz) beats almost every P4 currently in existence (falling slightly short only of some EE's). Architectural differences account for these differences and explain why clockspeed itself matters little.

Yeah, for SLI you need an SLI mobo. Since a 6800 will last quite a while, I'd just buy a non-SLI board now (if you go the PCIe route) and upgrade to a better single card when it becomes necessary (by the time this happens, a single card of that generation will probably outdo two cards from this generation in SLI).

Value RAM means the non-low latency/flashy stuff, something like this.
 
JBDan

JBDan

Platinum Member
Dec 7, 2004
2,333
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Originally posted by: Marktoloba
I know what I got on my Dell is 1.8Ghz
I wanted to upgrade to at least like 2.4 Ghz or higher.

Which AMD processor would do this?

As for the motherboard... I'm still confused on this SLI thing... For it to work i need the SLI mobo or it wont work? I wanted to get a 6800 and save the other slot for the future...

Ram... I wanted a gig of RAM and you said they got value packs... could you show me a link to this?

Thanks again for all the help... All this building is new to me
Click to expand...

AMD is NOT about GHz. Very diff from intels ratings. The cpu I mentioned above will do 2.4 easy.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-141-423&amp;depa=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=20-146-299&amp;depa=1
 
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Paktu

Senior member
Oct 31, 2004
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Personally I would recommend the Antec Sonata

Since it includes a 380-watt PSU you would end up saving a little over $50 including shipping.

BTW, the PSU is an Antec Truepower series, considered to be one of the better/more reliable ones available.
 
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Marktoloba

Senior member
Jan 9, 2005
450
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Yes i was thinking about Intel's... Thanks for clearing that up...

Which sLI board should i get and which aMD 3400+

Plz supply links if possible

Thanks again
 
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ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
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You can't get an SLI board for a 3400+. It's Socket 754, and currently the only SLI board available anywhere to purchase (Asus A8N-SLI) is Socket 939. Get a Winchester 3000+ or 3200+ and do the easy overclock to 2.2GHz (3500+ speed). High overclocks can be had with these 90nm chips often without a bump in CPU voltage (VCore). They usually top out around 2.7GHz on air, and this is above even FX-55 stock speed (I'd estimate--just pulling numbers out of my ass--that a 4.3GHz Pentium 4 would be needed to match that).

For a single card, the True380 will be fine, but for SLIed 6800s (if you go this horribly expensive route), you'd need something better. Such a setup necessitates about 30A on the +12V rail, and around 30-35A each on the 3.3V and 5V.
 
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Marktoloba

Senior member
Jan 9, 2005
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There is my lack of knowledge again...

So I can see exactly what you are talking about, could u show me a link the the mobo with PCI-E and the processor the can go with it (Closest to 3400 the better)

I guess SLI isnt necassary but i still wanna use the PCI-E slots
 
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ts3433

Platinum Member
Jun 29, 2004
2,731
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Chaintech VNF4/Ultra
Winchester 3200+ (As I think I said earlier, these overclock very easily with the stock heatsink, often at stock voltage, to about 2.4GHz. Even if you're completely opposed to overclocking for some reason, performance is still very close. Remember that you'll also see some gain on a S939 processor over an identically clocked S754 because of dual-channel RAM on S939; this is why the 3500+ is rated close to the 3400+ even though it's only 2.2GHz and the latter is 2.4 or 2.2/1MB.)
 
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