Building/Buying a new system: Advice needed

[Junin]

I'm about ready to move onto a new system, and I have a few likely directions I might like to go.
Please let me know what you think.

1.) Buying a Dell - 2.0ghz with c1 stepping. (That 3.2ghz OC looks gooood)
for 650+tax, and I would have to buy a new video card and 256 megs more ram. Comes
with some extras that I dont necessarily need, such as a monitor and keyboard/mouse/dialupmodem.

2.) Building an AMD 2100XP from scratch. This will be my first time to build a computer on my own.
My friend recommended this in passing, and I'm looking into it.

3.) Building an Intel (2.0ghz or 2.53ghz). Same as above, except recommended by someone else.

If there is any setup you like, I'm open for suggestions.

** Looking to spend around $1,000. No more than 1200 for sure.
A few concerns:

I am coming from a dual P3 933mhz, 512ram, GeForce2(I know, I know). I'm concerned about going back to a single processor. I really enjoy dual processors, but they are not necessarily a requirement. I also am not a rich man.

As I said above, I'm not an experienced PC builder. I've been inside my computer many a time, adding this or that. I really am not financially stable enough to be able to stand to lose money on parts that I've inadvertently broken, or what have you. I'm not unwilling to try, but I'm a bit apprehensive.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Super6]

Build a system from scratch. It's easier than you think and you'll get all the help you need from these forums. You'll also save a few bucks and with the right components you can stay current longer. You do need to know how to use a #2 Philips head

I would go with AMD and one of the new Nvidia2 motherboards with the onboard sound.

Good luck,
Super6

 

[CrazySaint]

Remember that you can't OC a Dell. If you want to take advantage of that C1 stepping, you have to pull the CPU out of the Dell and stick in a different (and most likely home-built) box. So all three options involve building a computer yourself and/or getting a friend to do it. You say that you're already familiar with getting inside your case and installing/removing components. This means that you've already done most of the work of building your own computer, just not all at the same time. The odds of you breaking anything are quite slim, but if you're still concerned about it (and have an old computer laying around collecting dust), then you might consider doing a "trial run" by completely disassembling the old computer and rebuilding it from the "ground up". If anything, this will likely be more difficult than building a new computer due to the advancement of various hardware standards, so if you rebuild the old computer and it still works then you've got nothing to worry about. Either way, just take your time and read ALL the installation manuals. Anyway, you said you really like duallies, so here's option #3:

Motherboard: Dual processor Socket A board (I don't know enough about duallie boards to recommend a specific model, but expect to spend ~$200) - ~$200
CPU(s): 2xAthlon MP 1800+ RETAIL - $285 @ googlegear
HSF: Athlon MP stock fan
RAM: 2x256MB PC2100 ECC Registered - $200
Case: ANTEC SOHO File ServerTower ATX Case Model SX1040BII with 400 Watt Smart Power Power Supply Black - ~$100 @ newegg
Graphics: gF4 Ti4200 128MB - ~$150 (or wait a few weeks and get a Radeon 9500 Pro which *may* be faster than the Ti4200 upon product launch)
HDD: Western Digital Caviar "Second Edition" 8MB cache 80GB - $115 @ newegg
CD-RW: Lite-on 48x12x48x - ~$60
------------------------------------------------
Total: ~$1110

You said you didn't need monitor/keyboard/mouse etc so I didn't include them. I realize that this is pushing your budget a bit, but its a heck of a system, and it's a duallie (not to mention it will kick ass at the DC project of your choosing (HINT: Join TeAm AnandTech if you haven't ready! ))

 

[Siddhartha]

I am reluctant to recommend to someone that they build their own computer. It is not hard to do but you get a warranty and tech support with a Dell. And a well fitted Dell fits most consumers' needs nicely at a very good price. If you are an enthusiast or a hobbyist, which describes most people on this forum, by all means build your own system.

Concerning the AMD vs Intel question, you will get a powerful and stable system with either cpu.

BTW, what appls will you be running?

 

[Junin]

Thanks for the advice, CrazySaint.

And actually, your recommendations are exactly the computer that my friend built for himself a while back,
minus the video card.

Dr. Smooth: I'm a gamer, and thats about it. Any of my other side hobbies/classwork like java can be done
on about any machine, so I don't consider it a factor.

As for Ti4200, I really had my eyes on a Radeon9700 pro. Honestly, I don't know how I could fit that in with
my budget and not skimp on another parts. I don't really follow the market; any idea if the 9700 price is
expected to drop before or slightly after Christmas? Which reminds me, I hadn't planned on building this
computer immediately, but with the price/disappointment of the 3.06HT, I may no longer wait.

Also, I'd really like to get a good sound card this time around (Audigy or Audigy2). I'm not an audiophile, but
my SB PCI just doesn't cut it in games. EAX support would be nice.

Please excuse my long-windedness. Thanks for the help!

 

[PlatinumGold]

if you have the dually setup and it can handle agp 4x or so, keep it. just buy yourself a new video card. upping the cpu won't help you much.

of course that's just my opinion.

 

[Markfw]

Crazy Saint, I agree, except I love my Radeon 8500 128 meg card. The 2d is much better. I just started working on a video for my sons school (taping the play, and making a movie of it), and a dually board would have been nice. I noticed the 2d difference in this video also, and WC3 plays great so the games capability is fine. I think my next setup will be a dually.

Junin: Also, even though that is over your budget, if you could get the MP2000's they are not a lot more, and sometimes a process can only run on one cpu, and then you would notice the difference. Wouldn;t want you to be disappointed for $50 or so (I think that is all it would cost??)

 

[Junin]

PlatinumGold: My system is pretty dated. Dual p3 933mhz with 512 sdram.
At this point in the game, I think I may as well get a new processor even if it isn't the main culprit.
Later on down the line I'll need a new processor anyway.

Markfw900: I'm definitely open to any suggestions like yours. My main concern is getting the most
performance for my money. If spending an extra 50bucks will be better in the long run, then that's
certainly something I should look into.

Thanks for the help!

P.S. -- It's probably stated somewhere else here, but among the GF4 cards, does it really matter
which I get from a price/performance standpoint? Also, is the Radeon 9700 something I should look into?

 

[xSauronx]

i just built a box for under 750 bucks
(under your budget, but im happy with it)
17" monitor
40gb 7200rpm HD
512 pc2100 ram
athlon xp 1600+ AGOIA - stock 1.4ghz i run mine stable at 1.743ghz (10.5x166) which windows sees as a 1.75ghz 2100+
epox 8k5a2+ w/ 6ch snd/lan/raid/usb 2
Radeon 8500LE 64mb
52x cd rom
win xp

already had a mouse (logitech optical) and KB (MS natural)

with another 300 bucks i MAY have gotten(by priority) the 19" crt, a gf4200 128mb,a quality case, CDRW drive, a better sound card/speakers or a DVD/cd combo drive
happy with the processor tho

upgradability too, at least enough for what i may want
i could add a faster processor if i like, more ram, multiple hard drives, better video, sound etc.

to me building a computer is fun, its not difficult, especially with help from the forum goers here, and if you buy quality parts then service/warranties shouldnt be that big of a deal. read up on building a pc from scratch (any decent hardware site has likely got a good article on this) to make sure you cover everything as youre building

and apply the thermal paste properly to your cpu/HS, i dont feel like i did, and very soon will be re-doing this to make sure i wont have any heat problems in the future

 

[PlatinumGold]

My system is pretty dated. Dual p3 933mhz with 512 sdram.
At this point in the game, I think I may as well get a new processor even if it isn't the main culprit.
Later on down the line I'll need a new processor anyway.

well, it's ur money, but if i had that system, i would at least wait till the opteron came out before i made an upgrade.

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

My system is pretty dated. Dual p3 933mhz with 512 sdram.
At this point in the game, I think I may as well get a new processor even if it isn't the main culprit.
Later on down the line I'll need a new processor anyway.

well, it's ur money, but if i had that system, i would at least wait till the opteron came out before i made an upgrade.

Now that I think about it, that's pretty good advice. Expecially since he's thinking of waiting, anyway.

Also, as stated before, whether you upgrade now or later, you should give some serious thought to joining a DC project (assuming you haven't already). Even your current system should do quite well at most DC projects. I'm a member of TeAm Anandtech (I run Distributed Folding) and we could always use new members to help us move up in the stats. For more information about TeAm AnandTech and the various DC projects that are available, be sure to visit the Distributed Computing forum

 

[Junin]

I think you've got me convinced. I'll just buy myself a new video card for Christmas and wait.
I think I just got excited at the prospect of a new computer. Later on down the line, I will have
more money to spend and something clearly much superior to my current setup will be worth getting.

I'm looking into the DC project as we speak =)

 

[capodeloscapos]

Stick with Nº 2, it´s easier than you think, just be sure to put the CPU fan correctly and everything should be fine.
I also recommend you wait and then buy an ATI 9500 Pro, because it is DirectX9 full compilant. The NForce 2 should save you the Sound Card and Lan.
Anyway a good Kt400 is fine too.

 

[DarkLance]

If you are concerned about building, you shouldn't really OC... But either way, you can get a kick arse system from some of the smaller companies (www.ibuypower.com) and beat the heck outta it! Plus they don't try and seel you as much crap.

 

[ahartman]

Bought a week ago from Newegg (the Maxtor HD is going in the TiVo, so put the comp at about $1250):

CD MS|WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION SR1% 1 $93.00
CPU P4/2.53GHz 533M 478PIN/512K RET 1 $245.00
DDRAM 512MB|64X64 PC-2100C2.5 CRU% 1 $156.00
HD 80GB|MAXTOR 6Y080L0 72R ATA133 1 $109.00
HD 80GB|WD 7200RPM 8MB WD800JB% 1 $116.00
FD 1.44MB SONY MPF920-Z OEM 1 $8.00
KB MS|NATURAL KEYBOARD ELITE PS2 1 $17.00
ATI|RADEON 9700 PRO 128MB TV/DVI 8X 1 $316.00
MB i845E|6P1A3D GA-8IEXP ATX RTL 1 $129.00
CASE ANTEC|Sever Tower PLUS1080AMG 1 $128.00

Subtotal $1,317.00
Tax $.00
Shipping and Handling charge 47.76
Total $1,364.76

I reused my monitor, mouse, and CD Burner.

You can build quite a good rig for $1200 if you don't have to buy a monitor. Figure it's about a grand if you drop down to a Ti4600, no OS, and a (very) slightly slower proc.