Computer Spec Advice

[AVow]

I am currently planing on building a new computer next month for personal use. It would mainly be used for your normal stuff such as Office but would mainly be used for gaming. I was wondering if I could get some advice on the current specs that I am thinking of using and wondering if any of you tech experts out there could throw some advice at me for things I should change or would be a real boost to my experence (keeping budget in mind).

All of these funds are in Canadain dollars
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 2200+ Thoroughbred (Retail Box) ($130)
Motherboard: Asus A7V8X w/LAN, Audio, USB2.0 ($145)
Ram: Micron Original 512MB PC2100 CAS2.5 DDR ($110)
Case: Antec LanBoy w/SmartBlue 350W, Carrying Strap ($150)
Case fan: Elite Crystal clear LED(Blue) ($13)
Floppy: Mitsumi 1.44MB Floppy Drive ($25)
Hard drive: Maxtor 40GB 7200rpm ATA133 Fluid Dynamic Bearing ($100)
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon 9500 128MB w/ TVO, DVI, AGP8X (oem) ($260)
Keyboard: Logitech Deluxe Access 104 Keyboard PS/2 Retail ($30)
Mouse: Logitech Wheel Mouse Optical ($30)
Os: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition oem ($175)
CD-RW: LiteOn 52x24x52x CD-RW (oem) w/Nero ($75)
Est. Total with GST: $1329.46

I don't have any real plans to get deep into overclocking, and I wouldn't be considered a hardcore gamer although this computer would be used alot for lan parties and so forth. Price is a big factor with me but I also want to keep this computer in such a state that it would be upgradable over the long time.

Thanks so much for your time.

 

[JZilla]

Originally posted by: AVow
It would mainly be used for your normal stuff such as Office but would mainly be used for gaming. q]

HUH...


Get better ram, preferrably PC3200 but at least PC2700.
When getting the Asus, try and get on of the newer models that support PC3200. I think it is called v. 2.0.
I would prefer the Sonata (just ordered one) over the lanboy, but that's just mho.

 

[Budmantom]

I would go with a 2400 or a 2500 but not the 2200.

Go with ddr 2700 not 2100 (JZilla).

Go with a 9700np instead of the 9500.



That is all.

 

[reicherb]

looks pretty good to me. Maybe Kingston or some other big name for the RAM.

 

[AVow]

thanks a ton for your help guys

 

[ccgr]

Barton 2500 are good overclockers! and cheap too!

 

[Corporate Thug]

ummm, you can get a 80GB western digital SE for less than the 40GB (newegg)

 

[AVow]

Originally posted by: JZilla
Get better ram, preferrably PC3200 but at least PC2700.
When getting the Asus, try and get on of the newer models that support PC3200. I think it is called v. 2.0.
I would prefer the Sonata (just ordered one) over the lanboy, but that's just mho.

I will look for those newer asus boards you were tlaking about.
the thing i dont know about the sonata is that it is black and most parts these days are still that cream color so the drives would look so out of place considering there is no benzil or whatever you call it covering the case.

 

[JZilla]

Originally posted by: AVow

Originally posted by: JZilla
Get better ram, preferrably PC3200 but at least PC2700.
When getting the Asus, try and get on of the newer models that support PC3200. I think it is called v. 2.0.
I would prefer the Sonata (just ordered one) over the lanboy, but that's just mho.

I will look for those newer asus boards you were tlaking about.
the thing i dont know about the sonata is that it is black and most parts these days are still that cream color so the drives would look so out of place considering there is no benzil or whatever you call it covering the case.

There is a door covering the drives, reset and on/off buttons on the Sonata, but do go for the lanboy if you want. I am myself on my holy quest for silence.

The ASUS boards are indeed called v. 2.0 and they support 400fsb and pc3200. Although if you can get a really cheap "older model" Asus A7NX (corrrect ?, with soundstorm), it might be better if you don't plan on upgrading for a while.

 

[Cerb]

Looks good, but get better RAM...Kingston HyperX or Corsair XMS PC2700 at least.

 

[viper118]

i would definently say to get a bigger hard drive.. i don't know about you, but i find that 40gb is just too little nowadays... you can find the maxtor 80gb w/ 8mb cache for $149 at costco... really good deal on it right now...

btw shady, this user isn't in the US, so he can't get the good deal on newegg right now.. over in canada, it'll probably be around $200 or so for the wd800jb...