Building new pc.

[K3Fallout]

Hey guys, I'm new here as you may have noticed. I'm looking to upgrade my computer but where I am now it pretty much looks like I'm building a new computer anyways. I'll start off with what I currently have. I have:
-Asus P4S533
-Geforce 4 TI 4200
-Intel Pentium 4 2.4ghz socket 478
-Corsair ValueSelect 1gb ram

What I really want is a gaming pc, but nothing very demanding. Maybe the most demanding games I'll play is WoW and CS:S. I don't plan on ocing at all..since I'm not that computer savvy. Well, my original plan was to go PCI-E and 939 so I had made a list of what I thought would be good. I just planned on buying a new mobo,psu,cpu,and video card and reuse the stuff that I have. The only part I've accomplished is the video card and bought a BFG 7600gt. I was going to buy the Asus a8n premium and a 3800+ but after doing some more research I found out that 939 was pretty much a dead platform and there's AM2 and core2duo(I haven't been updated on these things in awhile. I still thought 939 was in and so was a x850xt before starting research). So after founding that out it made me doubt if I should go 939. I'm not considering core2duo due to budget so that leaves am2. I know they are essentially the same except the ddr2 and whatnot.

Basically for my situation I don't know where to go from where I am now. If I go AM2 I'm spending more money for ram, and I'm going to waste an ATA100 120gb from a Black Friday. When adding up the 939 stuff my total came to about 440$. I'd say my budget is around there. I also have other various conflicts I want to address but this is my main one. I'd appreciate a reply.

 

[kedlav]

asus m2npv $83
4200+ $169
Corsair ValueSelect DDR2-533 2x512MB $75 -or- 2x1GB $150
evga 7600gt $110

Not exactly high end, but decent gaming and some decent upgradeability. If you want to do it in two batches, you've got int. gfx that can probably run WoW for a pinch until you can go a bit higher end

 

[Jeff H]

K3Fallout, first off, welcome to the forums. You "could" get a lot of ideas/opinions as to what to build. Even though I'm using a Socket 939 board, I think you're wise to avoid it. FYI I've been running an EPoX 9NPA+Ultra board for 18 months now. This was my fist AMD build, and I couldn't be happier w/ it.

That said, IMO the only way to go today is Conroe. I hope the video card you purchased is PCIEx x16, and not AGP. If so, here's a quick list of what you might consider.

Mobo - Biostar TForce965PT - $105
CPU - Intel E6300 Conroe - $187
Memory - Corsair DDR2 533 1GB (2x512MB) - $75

For $367 you'll get yourself a pretty good Core2Duo system. IMO if you're going Vista (and that's a whole other subject) then go w/ 2GB of system RAM. Add an HD, optical drive, and case/PS and you're good to go. My last suggestion is don't skimp on the power supply. Go 450 watt+, and stay w/ a brand name - Antec, Enermax, OCZ, Fortron, Seasonic.

Jeff

 

[K3Fallout]

Hey guys, yes the video card I bought is indeed PCI-E x16. I don't plan to go vista until they work out all the bugs and get everything working so it won't be for another 6 or so months. The power supply I'm going for is a Corsair 520w. I'll definitely consider the parts you listed Jeff, but is there other option for a mobo? I don't really like skimping on a mobo and I'd be willing to pay maybe 20-30 bucks more to get a better one if it makes any difference. I've also been somewhat an Asus fan. If possible, I'd like to see a part list for AM2 if you don't mind. I just found out they are doing price cuts today so I'm interested in seeing that. If not I'll do my own research again. Thanks again.

 

[Jeff H]

K3Fallout, I'm not going to be a good source for AM2 suggestions, as I haven't kept up w/ that. IMO it's hard to justify AM2, when for very little more you'll get more machine w/ Conroe. Both platforms take DDR2, so there isn't any savings in memory.

Here's a suggestion, just for kicks. It centers on an EPoX 9NPA+Ultra nForce4 Ultra chipset board (for $78). That along w/ this Athlon64 4000+ cpu ($80), and OCZ PC3200 1GB RAM kit ($96) will get you the basics for $254. Again, it's hard to recommend this very strongly, what w/ Conroe pricing and resulting performance. But, it's certainly an option, that along w/ the 7600GT you purchased, will get you running most of the games out there today (maybe not w/ all the eye candy though).

See this Anandtech review for info and test results on the 9NPA+Ultra board.

Jeff

 

[K3Fallout]

I see. I've seen you not as the only one that has said that about AM2 so I'll take your word for it. Yet I think at this point I want to forget about 939 since there's nothing to upgrade anymore, and for couple bucks more I can get a better system. So I guess that just really leaves core2. I guess I should start looking for a good mobo and hope for some sort of price cut the cpu. Thats the other thing I forgot to mention, I want some eye candy while gaming. Never had I had anything like AA or AF or anything like that, so it will be something I'll enjoy. Also, is there anyway to use my 120gb ata100 hard drive I got from a black friday? Mobos nowadays seem to only use one ide connector which is going to the cd drive and I don't want to waste this brand new hard drive.

 

[Jeff H]

See the Biostar 965 note on this page. If you need another IDE connecter, consider a PCI IDE controller board, such as this Promise controller.

Jeff

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: K3Fallout
So I guess that just really leaves core2. I guess I should start looking for a good mobo and hope for some sort of price cut the cpu. Thats the other thing I forgot to mention, I want some eye candy while gaming. Never had I had anything like AA or AF or anything like that, so it will be something I'll enjoy. Also, is there anyway to use my 120gb ata100 hard drive I got from a black friday? Mobos nowadays seem to only use one ide connector which is going to the cd drive and I don't want to waste this brand new hard drive.

One IDE connector = 2 IDE devices (e.g. cd drive + hard disk).

Also, overclocking is ridiculously easy and risk-free with the Core 2 Duos, so you don't have to be computer savvy to do it. The Biostar TForce965PT that Jeff H mentioned is a very good board for that.

If you're dead-set against overclocking, you can get a good Core 2 Duo board for $50-$85, like the GA-945P-S3. Also, the 945P boards have 2 IDE connectors = 4 IDE devices.

 

[Jeff H]

K3Fallout, magreen's suggestion re 945P boards is a good one. But, I'm not sure (and will be happy to be corrected) all 945P boards have two IDE connectors. Take a look at the GA-945P-S3. I only see one IDE connector there.

If you look at the Asus P5LD2 board, it has two IDE connectors. So, if you can live w/ the selection of 945P boards w/ two IDE connectors, that would be a good alternative, if limited o/c'ing isn't a show stopper.

Jeff

 

[K3Fallout]

Hey guys, I think all I really need is just one ide connector. As long as i can support the cd drive and not waste the 120gb then I'm good to go. I've been thinking of the Asus P5B Deluxe but seems like too much overkill. I'm considering the Gigabyte DS3 along with some others but I forgot. Let me rephrase about the ocing. I won't dead on NOT oc but the most i will probably do is increase a few increments here and there and that's it. Other than that I'm not going to do stuff I don't know how to do and hardcore overclocking. Also, is the 680i like the latest and greatest? I was reading all this stuff about 680i vs 945 and 965 and I just got confused.

 

[magreen]

what happened to your budget?

 

[K3Fallout]

Haha. Well, if I can get a killer system then I'll have to space out buying each part for a very,very,very, VERY long time. Probably buy one part each month. Anyhow, heres what I came up with.

Intel E6300
Asus P5B Deluxe or Intel Bad Axe 2
Then the corsair valueselect if possible with any of those boards. If not then I'll consider something better.

 

[s44]

IMO you should stick to your budget and go AM2.

 

[AlgaeEater]

Originally posted by: K3Fallout
Haha. Well, if I can get a killer system then I'll have to space out buying each part for a very,very,very, VERY long time. Probably buy one part each month. Anyhow, heres what I came up with.

Intel E6300
Asus P5B Deluxe or Intel Bad Axe 2
Then the corsair valueselect if possible with any of those boards. If not then I'll consider something better.

If you're buying all your stuff from Newegg, they do have "Bill me Later" option that basically lets you pay your entire bill interest free for 90 days. It's not an overly long extension, but 90 days is better than all up front of course, and if you think you can honestly pay it all off in 90 days, you can get your system a lot sooner together than part by part. But of course, that's a lot safer to buy it part by part financially speaking, so please make sure you can in the first place!

Newegg also has a 6 month thingy, but they make you sign up for their card.

In any case, yeah I can't recommend anything but a 6300 right now either. It's an odd time to upgrade your computer... or any computer really since Vista just came out and we are in the midst of all these new technologies being released and soon to be released. It's really up in the air at the moment.

 

[K3Fallout]

Well actually my plan was to buy from Zipzoomfly and do a lot of price matching so I can take advantage of their free shipping as well. Yeah I do agree about right now being an odd time to upgrade.. but the same was said when I wanted to upgrade while 939 was the best thing out there and the x850xt was to die for. I'm going to start calculating prices and what not today and see how it goes..

 

[AlgaeEater]

Price match first before you buy, make sure of it. State "I'm willing to buy if it is price matched as advertised..."

And yeah, it's always a crap-shoot with upgrades, but this time is espeically signficant due to Vista just being released and what not. Also the jump from DX9 to DX10 is a huge leap, and thus a lot of things are up in the air right now. I'm also planning on upgrading, but I realize that in less than a year, all the prices out right now will be cut in half, if not more once Vista and DX10 being to mature. I'm really on the fence with things right now.

 

[K3Fallout]

Yep.. Well now that you mention the whole bill me later and what not it's making me think of getting everything all at once soon, or go with the one part a month deal. If I go with that, I'm just going to most likely buy the cpu in april when the price cut drops in. All I really want right now is a great gaming pc that is extremely stable. My 478 p4 has been obsolete for god knows how long.

 

[WoodButcher]

Every time I read about someone wanting to upgrade or build a system with AMD I can only ask why? Untill AMD comes out with something new conroe is the bang for the buck system, If you must go amd wait for the new toys to come out and their top line stuff now goes cheap.