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Building my first custom built computer

R

reddem0n

Member
I wanted a good gaming rig and at the same time one that would be able to handle the developer's side to me as well since I design and do webwork for a living. My budget is under $1000 right now and here is basically what I'm looking at...

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail
Model #: VS1GBKIT400
$81.00

ASUS A8V DELUXE Socket 939 VIA K8T800 Pro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: A8V DELUXE
$122.00

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ ClawHammer/Hammer 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3500ASBOX - Retail
Model #: ADA3500ASBOX
$267.00

CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value SB0400 8 (7.1) Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - OEM
Model #: 30SB040000000
$49.00


Update SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800PRO 128M Radeon 9800PRO 128MB DDR AGP 4X/8X Video Card - OEM
Model #: 100556
$147.00

SONY DW-D22A Beige IDE DVD Burner - OEM
Model #: DW-D22A
$55.99


total $721.00


Anyone think that is good enough? I dont know what else I should get but I was thinking instead of just a dvd burner I should get a cd-rw/dvd-rw combo....and the products dont nesscarily need to be OEM. Could someone find me a better deal or setup a combo better then that?
 
Not familiar with that motherboard but get a NForce4 Ultra based motherboard from DFI, Asus, MSI or Gigabyte. It should run you roughly $150 for the motherboard. You don't want the older "Clawhammer" core CPU's. What you'll want is an Athlon 64 that is either the "Winchester" or "Venice" core. These should cost the same price but will run at a lower temperature than the older "Clawhammer" cores. You'll need a PCI-Express based video card with this motherboard. The recommended best bang for the buck is the Radeon X800XL cards. They run about $300. Runner up would be an nVidia 6600 which should run in the $200 range. Finally, I"m unfamiliar with the the DVD burner but I use an NEC 3520A and it works very well. It's in the same price range of that Sony burner.
 
Unless you want to overclock ALOT, Id go with the ASUS A8N-SLI(deluxe), or the ASUS A8N-E. They use the NForce4 Ultra/SLI chipset, which is a little better than the VIA chipset. These boards are also PCI-Express, which means you'll still be able to upgrade the video card in a few years time.

As "akugami" said, try get a Venice core CPU. Otherwise, a Winchester is almost as good.

The GeForce 6600GT is the best value card out there at the moment (peforms around the same level as the 9800PRO) But if you want really good gaming, a Radeon X800 is probably best value. The GeForce 6800GT is also good, especially if you intend to use SLI, but opinions are still split on this, and you'll need an SLI MoBo.

The Pioneer DVR-109 is the DVD burner I went with. FAST, and still affordable.

Also, what HDD are you going to use. The Western Digital 200GB/250GB SATA drives are good value, but some people would prefer to pay a little more for a Seagate. But Ive never had a Western Digital fail, so Im happy with them.

RoD
 
I agree with the guys above, that you should get a PCI-e based MB and VC. I would go witht an NF4 ultra board, but the ASUS A8N is a very good board also.
No reason to get a Clawhammer CPU. The Venice core's are out, so go with that.
If you're not real picky about sound, you won't need a soundcard as the onboard sound with most of the latest MB's is pretty good.
 
Another vote for a nForce4 board Ultra or SLI + GF6600GT (or x800xl for a little extra $)+ A64 Venice core.
 
This is my opinion:
An SLI Motherboard is a waste of money if you are not buying 2 video cards. Dont pay for what you dont plan on using. If you really plan on a cutting edge system, and money is no option, and you plan on buying 2 high-end or 2 mid-range video cards, that work with an SLI Motherboard in pairs, it might be worth it if that is what you want to do.

If you dont plan on using an SLI setup with 2 video cards why spend the extra cash?

Is there a reason that makes the SLI option more attractive?
 
Originally posted by: akugami
Not familiar with that motherboard but get a NForce4 Ultra based motherboard from DFI, Asus, MSI or Gigabyte. It should run you roughly $150 for the motherboard. You don't want the older "Clawhammer" core CPU's. What you'll want is an Athlon 64 that is either the "Winchester" or "Venice" core. These should cost the same price but will run at a lower temperature than the older "Clawhammer" cores. You'll need a PCI-Express based video card with this motherboard. The recommended best bang for the buck is the Radeon X800XL cards. They run about $300. Runner up would be an nVidia 6600 which should run in the $200 range. Finally, I"m unfamiliar with the the DVD burner but I use an NEC 3520A and it works very well. It's in the same price range of that Sony burner.
Click to expand...


Goofy....
 
Originally posted by: dhoytw
Originally posted by: akugami
Not familiar with that motherboard but get a NForce4 Ultra based motherboard from DFI, Asus, MSI or Gigabyte. It should run you roughly $150 for the motherboard. You don't want the older "Clawhammer" core CPU's. What you'll want is an Athlon 64 that is either the "Winchester" or "Venice" core. These should cost the same price but will run at a lower temperature than the older "Clawhammer" cores. You'll need a PCI-Express based video card with this motherboard. The recommended best bang for the buck is the Radeon X800XL cards. They run about $300. Runner up would be an nVidia 6600 which should run in the $200 range. Finally, I"m unfamiliar with the the DVD burner but I use an NEC 3520A and it works very well. It's in the same price range of that Sony burner.
Click to expand...


Goofy....
Click to expand...

Huh? Makes perfect sense to me.
 
I'm not really looking to buy two video cards, nor a sli motherboard. Basically so far from what I'm reading I'll go with AMD64 3500+ with the Venice Core , could you guys recommend me one from NewEgg? Also instead of the SLI I figured I should go with PCI Express, but the only problem with that is that I would need to spend another 300+ bucks on a video card that supports that type....I just want something that performs the same level or better and around the same price as a radeon 9800 pro. As for the sound, I already have an audigy 2zs on the current computer I'm on right now, so onboard sound isn't a problem, I will just replace the onboard sound on the new computer with the audigy2zs that is in my current computer.
 
im about to build a 3500 clawhammer based system and im using the ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra.
fwiw, also building around an x800xl
 
you can save some $$ if you just use the onboard sound. I have an Asus A8N SLI Deluxe and the onboard sound has given me no problems, and sounds great.
 
the DFI NF4 Ultra board is under $130. Get that and then pick up a GF6600GT or X800XL. Drop down to a 3200+ Venice and you are good to go my friend!
 
ThermalTake Soprano VB1000SNS 91
Xclio 450W Active PFC 60
Soltek SL-K890Pro-939 Socket 939 111
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 190
1GB (2x512MB) G.Skill PC3200 2-3-3-6 102
Rosewill Radeon X800 XL PCIe x16 275
Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS 71
Lite-On 16x DVD+/-RW DL 61
Western Digital 250GB SATA 129

$1090 - All newegg prices shipped. (Don't forget you need a hard drive on the config you posted).
 
I already have an audigy 2zs on this computer, so I'm going to be moving this sound card to my new one and using the onboard on my old pc.
 
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