computer building questions

[Miguelinho]

I am going to be building a pc soon for the first time, so far the only pieces of hardware that I have are an NVIDIA Geforce4 ti 4200 64MB, and two IDE hard drives. I have some questions for ya.

1. At the moment I am looking into the Pentium 4 2.4B processor. How do I know which motherboards it will work with? This processor is a socket 478, do I only have to find a motherboard that is also 478 and know that they will be compatable? I've seen some motherboards list info like, Northwood ready, do I have to make sure that if the chip is Northwood, that the mobo also has to be Northwood ready, because some don't say that they are ready for any type of processor. I am not dead set an that chip or if I will be going with AMD processor.

2. I would like to use a mini tower case, does that mean that I have to purchase a micro ATX board, or will a regular ATX board fit in a mini tower case?

Please help out a newbie

 

[nick1985]

whats your budget, and what will you use this PC for

 

[Sonic587]

First off, what are your planned specs/budget for this new comp? Also, what do you plan to use this PC for?

1) A P4 2.4B is pretty outdated. You may be able to find a better solution depending on your budget.

2) You mean a mini-tower such as this? If so, it should be standard ATX compatible. If you're not sure about a certain case, email the vendor you are buying from for more information.

 

[Miguelinho]

This PC will be used for internet browsing, games, and video editing.

Budget wise, the maximum price for each item

Processor 150
Motherboard 110
RAM 140
Case 100
PS 60

there is more but that should give you an idea.

Also, that tower is this size I have in mind.

 

[justly]

If you are willing to settle for a "Pentium 4 2.4B processor" and have over $500 to spend on just a processor, Motherboard, RAM, Case and PS you might want to forget building it yourself and just get a prebuilt. With that budget you should be able to get an equally powered processor in a complete system (case, ps, ram, motheboard + harddrive, optical drives and operating system).

 

[imported_NoGodForMe]

The computer system you want to build is old school, but can actually run fast if you put a faster CPU in it. The system in my sig is based on a Northwood CPU running at 3.4.
The two MBs you would consider are the Asus P4P800 and the Abit IC7 Max3 (I have this one).
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-131-492&depa=0
I don't see the IC7 Max3 at Newegg, but this one will work.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=13-127-152&depa=0

On the CPU, yes, it needs to say Northwood. Here is the one you want.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-116-157&depa=0
This one is only $60 more, a 3.0c, put this in your machine, and it will fly.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=19-116-163&depa=0

On the memory, you can go with PC3200 Value Select from Corsair.

 

[nick1985]

i would suggest an athlon64 rig.

 

[ciwell]

Originally posted by: nick1985
i would suggest an athlon64 rig.

 

[Terumo]

Most Intel m/bs built after 2003 are Northwood ready (your processor is the same one in my rig, which I build in 2003 new). My board is a Asus P4T533, though (32bit 1066mhz RDRAM) so doubt that version you'd want.

Case size depends. Mini towers should support a regular size ATX board. A media center case requires a micro-ATX factor -- just not enough room otherwise.

If you're thinking of OCing, P4 2.4c is the processor to go for, OCs well (to around 3.0ghz with good memory).

 

[Miguelinho]

If you are willing to settle for a "Pentium 4 2.4B processor" and have over $500 to spend on just a processor, Motherboard, RAM, Case and PS you might want to forget building it yourself and just get a prebuilt. With that budget you should be able to get an equally powered processor in a complete system (case, ps, ram, motheboard + harddrive, optical drives and operating system).

I will look into this. If I can find a prebuilt with the same specs and equal cost, than I will definately consider it.

I don't mind that it is an old skool setup. Right now I am using a PIII 800 and am happy with the performance. The only reason I want to upgrade is because the Nvidia videocard I just bought requires a minimum of 300w power supply, my computer only has a 200w. Recently I just found out that I cannot upgrade to a 300w because my MOBO won't except anything higher than 200w.

 

[Matthias99]

Recently I just found out that I cannot upgrade to a 300w because my MOBO won't except anything higher than 200w.

Um, who told you that, exactly?

Unless it's using an AT powersupply (unlikely), or it has a custom PSU size/hookup (like some OEMs such as Dell use), you can put in any ATX PSU and it will work fine.

 

[scruffles]

y don't you try something like this Shuttle pc.

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=56-101-416&depa=0

It has the mobo, base, psu all in one. and has built in wireless lan. all for $200. That leaves you $300 for either a really good P4, or a decent p4 and another Graphics card.

 

[scruffles]

oops forgot ram. I don't think you can get anything better than a gig mushkin or corsair for about $150.

by the way those shuttle's are extreamly good at cooling with their new ICE heatpipe technology. I'm running a P4 3.2 prescott at 3.606ghz right now.

 

[Miguelinho]

Unless it's using an AT powersupply (unlikely), or it has a custom PSU size/hookup (like some OEMs such as Dell use), you can put in any ATX PSU and it will work fine.

Not true, I found out the hard way. Purchased a nice HEC 380w power supply to upgrade my working 200w ps and the computer would not turn on. I took my computer into the shop I purchased the power supply from and the tech checked my HEC power supply to make sure it was good, after it checked out fine, he connected up my system and it didn't turn on. Then he pulled an Antec power supply he had lying around, that also didn't work. Called up Dell tech support that night and the answer it does not work is because it cannot except higher than 200w. Believe me, if this was possible I wouldn't be bothering looking into building up a computer but instead getting my gaming on with my new Nvidia Geforce 4.

Scruffles, Those shuttle computers are cool but I've already worked myself up to a mid tower with a plexi glass window. Something like this case, maybe put a couple lights in there and make it look cool.

I'm starting to rethink my chip from the comments here, mabye I will look into a Pentium 3.0 ghz.

Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Miguelinho
Called up Dell tech support that night and the answer it does not work is because it cannot except higher than 200w. Believe me, if this was possible I wouldn't be bothering looking into building up a computer but instead getting my gaming on with my new Nvidia Geforce 4.

This is because Dell uses custom PSU pinouts, not because there is some magical restriction on their motherboards that prevents them from using >200W PSUs (ie, the tech was BSing you). The computer has no way of knowing what is feeding it power.

However, the effect is much the same -- you cannot upgrade to a standard ATX PSU. You would, at the very least, have to mod a PSU by moving the wires in the ATX connector around.

 

[Miguelinho]

This is because Dell uses custom PSU pinouts, not because there is some magical restriction on their motherboards that prevents them from using >200W PSUs (ie, the tech was BSing you). The computer has no way of knowing what is feeding it power.

However, the effect is much the same -- you cannot upgrade to a standard ATX PSU. You would, at the very least, have to mod a PSU by moving the wires in the ATX connector around.

So thats what it is, custom pinouts. I never was satisfied with that answer about not being able to run a higher wattage power supply.

I don't want to get involved with changing wires around but would consider upgrading to a Dell 300w power supply. Do you know if this would work?