First Time Builder: Need Some Advice

[ToxicShokk]

I've been out of the loop for awhile so I did my thing and researched for the majority of my time yesterday. For sure, I want an AMD based system. My aim is to spend roughly $1000 but I can go up to $1200 if needed. Mostly, I'm a gamer, but I'll do a little photo editing and the usual music and internet stuff.

I want this PC to last for a good amount of time but also be very upgradable. I haven't been much of an overclocker but I'm willing to do it to make the PC last. This overwhelming SLI format or whatever is coming out so I thought that I would keep that idea open for future upgrades... unless my idea for parts won't allow this.

I've compiled my parts totally from newegg for now: My PC thus far

Case: CHENMING CMUI-601AEB-AW Black Aluminum Server Computer Case - Retail $71.50
Power Supply: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-450 ATX12V 450W Power Supply - Retail $77.00
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice Integrated into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX - Retail $146.00

Motherboard: CHAINTECH VNF4/Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $88.00
Videocard: MSI RX800XL-VT2D256E Radeon X800XL 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $292.00
Monitor: SAMSUNG 793DF-Ivory 17" CRT Monitor D-Sub - Retail $124.00
RAM: mushkin Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model 991145 - Retail $76.99

Harddrive: Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L200M0 200GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM $100.00
DVD/CD Combo Burner: NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A - OEM $40.00
Speakers: Logitech X-230 32 Watts 2.1 Speaker - Retail $34.99

TOTAL: $1050.48

Would this PC fit my needs?

 

[Bucks]

Switch the mobo to this if you want SLi in the future: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152

and as of now you can't put ATI cards in SLI, only Nvidia so I would recommend going with a 6800GT and perhaps getting another later for the SLI.

 

[SrGuapo]

Are you planning on OCing? If so, you may want to look into the DFI Ultra-D. It will offere quite a few more features and should allow a better OC. Of course, it is a bit harder to set up and tweak, so the chaintech may be better if you want something that just works. Everything else looks great. Excellent CPU, video, RAM choices. That will be one kick@ss system!

Originally posted by: Bucks
Switch the mobo to this if you want SLi in the future: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152

and as of now you can't put ATI cards in SLI, only Nvidia so I would recommend going with a 6800GT and perhaps getting another later for the SLI.

SLI is a huge waste of money in this case. That board really doesn'yt support SLI, but there is a way to modify it into working like an SLI board. I don't know exactly the process, but it has been revised to be more difficult to mod. Besides, the x800xl is a great card (almost as fast as a 6800gt for a lot less). By the time he really will need to double up with SLI, He could just upgrade to a next gen card...

Unless he really wants to play over 1600x1200 with 8x AA, there is no reason to go SLI (even then, a 7800 would be better).

 

[fishstickz]

Originally posted by: ToxicShokk

I want this PC to last for a good amount of time but also be very upgradable.

This is always something of a pipe dream. But the system you have may work for this, because the future is in 64-bit technology, and that's where you are going. Good show on that part.

SLI needs nVidia cards, and you chose an ATI based. Their "crossfire" technology is not at the maturity of nVidia's SLI yet either. If you want to do that, that motherboard nor that card supports it. You don't really need it either- I think most games get by fine without it.

Note: I have that MSI card and I love it, its great, but I'm also not interested in doing SLI or whatnot- obviously since I chose an ATI card.

Everything else looks good. You should look at LCD monitors with DVI inputs, because that's what that card was built for (it will work fine with CRT however) - and it looks a lot sharper. You also forgot a keyboard and mouse.

 

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: Bucks
Switch the mobo to this if you want SLi in the future: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136152

and as of now you can't put ATI cards in SLI, only Nvidia so I would recommend going with a 6800GT and perhaps getting another later for the SLI.

While I +1 the idea of getting SLI for the future, there is NO point to getting a 6800GT now, and buying one later to SLI. You'll still be behind the power curve quite a bit.

His X800XL should hold him for gaming depending on what settings he desires. Then when you can no longer get acceptable FPS out of your card at settings you like... upgrade the card.

 

[ToxicShokk]

Thanks guys. That clears things up quite a bit. I didn't know SLI was an nVidia only tech.

I'd like to have the option of overclocking in the future but I've never tested the water in that area before. Also, reading the customer reviews of the DFI LANPARTY on newegg and being a first time builder myself, I have to admit that I'm a little intimitated. Many users say that this board is not for newbies or first timers and this of course would be my first build.

Is the Chaintech still a decent board or should I go for the DFI? Also, since I'm relying on onboard sound for now, is the AC97 Codec on the Chaintech good because I've heard that RealTec onboard audio is very good and that's what the DFI has.

---
Just took a look at a couple of other boards: The MSI K8N Neo4-F ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail and the EPoX EP-9NPAJ ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail look to be pretty good. What are your opinions on them?

 

[ToxicShokk]

I'm thinking about settling on the MSI K8N neo4-F.

Also, will the cooling for the system be sufficient or should I buy any additional fans?

Edit: What would I need in order to gain wireless internet? (hardware wise)

 

[theMan]

dont worry, go to dfi street and ask them if you have any issues, or ask us. i think getting the dfi lanparty would be a good learning experience. also, get a thermalright xp-90 cooler.

oh, and also, dont forget the floppy drive. its saved my aS$ plenty of times.

 

[KoolDrew]

You could get a cheapoer case. I like the Cooler master Centurion 5 for $50. I would get a Fortron 500w Blue Storm from ewiz for $70. You can get a X800XL for $250 from Monarch. You could get a refurb 19" CRT.

 

[shoRunner]

i'd go with the xclio 450w for $52 insteaded of the antec its cheaper and easily just as good.

x800xl for cheaper $250

Link for xclio 450w $52

Review1

Review2

 

[Spike]

Originally posted by: shoRunner
i'd go with the xclio 450w for $52 insteaded of the antec its cheaper and easily just as good.

links? I would like to see how it is just as good, if it is I will definitly check one out.

-spike

 

[ToxicShokk]

Alright, I'm always for learning more so I'm going to get the DFI and the slightly cheaper case, psu, vidcard, and refurb monitor.

Thanks a bunch all.

 

[Topweasel]

I wouldn't suggest a cheaper case. Infact i would probably reccomend a more expensive one. Its the one most annoying thing to change once your machine is built and will probably stick with you the longest. I have already posted on acouple of threads My recommendation of the P180 (hate to sound like a Antec Rep) it is probalby one of the most well thought out coolest (temp wise but looks good to) silent cases. The P160 is another good case it is a slitent (somewhat) desogned all aluminum so really light case that is feature rich and again well designed. Their are other good cases form coolermaster, thermaltake, and enermax that i would also reccomend i just really like these 2 Antec cases. Again skimp on other stuff but the case is what will make it your pride and joy or could make it the machine you hate and will make you never want to build another computer again.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Weaselboy
I wouldn't suggest a cheaper case. Infact i would probably reccomend a more expensive one. Its the one most annoying thing to change once your machine is built and will probably stick with you the longest. I have already posted on acouple of threads My recommendation of the P180 (hate to sound like a Antec Rep) it is probalby one of the most well thought out coolest (temp wise but looks good to) silent cases. The P160 is another good case it is a slitent (somewhat) desogned all aluminum so really light case that is feature rich and again well designed. Their are other good cases form coolermaster, thermaltake, and enermax that i would also reccomend i just really like these 2 Antec cases. Again skimp on other stuff but the case is what will make it your pride and joy or could make it the machine you hate and will make you never want to build another computer again.

I agree the P180 is a veryt nice case and it is recommended to get a quality case, but there are quality cases fopr cheap. Look at the Cooler Master Centurion 5. It is only $50, but it is very nice.

 

[Topweasel]

Originally posted by: KoolDrew

Originally posted by: Weaselboy
I wouldn't suggest a cheaper case. Infact i would probably reccomend a more expensive one. Its the one most annoying thing to change once your machine is built and will probably stick with you the longest. I have already posted on acouple of threads My recommendation of the P180 (hate to sound like a Antec Rep) it is probalby one of the most well thought out coolest (temp wise but looks good to) silent cases. The P160 is another good case it is a slitent (somewhat) desogned all aluminum so really light case that is feature rich and again well designed. Their are other good cases form coolermaster, thermaltake, and enermax that i would also reccomend i just really like these 2 Antec cases. Again skimp on other stuff but the case is what will make it your pride and joy or could make it the machine you hate and will make you never want to build another computer again.

I agree the P180 is a veryt nice case and it is recommended to get a quality case, but there are quality cases fopr cheap. Look at the Cooler Master Centurion 5. It is only $50, but it is very nice.

Agreed Like i stated before Coolermasters are also ones that i reccomend, i just added preference (personally) for the 2 Antecs. I just wanted to make sure buy cheap he didn't hurt quality because even the case he picked i would have to question (i have real Antec version of it so i am not against it) While a decent design (good for its time) there are so many better cases that are only a little bit more or in the case of a coolermaster cheaper. But the lower and lower you go from that price the harder it is to seperate the turds from the pearls. Even then a Quality case just mean a well built (no power button issues or small psu area) but not nessisarily a good case. Air flow, installation room, exess area for hiding extra cables (which can hinder air flow if not tucked away), PS location to CPU can all make a big difference in a case choice and should be looked at very closely.

 

[KoolDrew]

I was just commenting on the part where you said you recommend getting a more expensive case.

 

[ToxicShokk]

Yeah, sorry. I meant to clarify that the cheaper parts that I plan to buy are all mentioned in this thread. That includes the Cooler Master Centurion 5.

 

[Topweasel]

Okay good, I just had horrible nightmares of my first PC build. Case sucked horribly and overheated all the time duing the summer. The only good thing about the case while it weighed like 40 Pounds it was easy to carry because it was short. It also took a fall down a flight of stairs and smacked full speed into a wall and while the plastic peices fell of everything inside made it out fine.

 

[coomar]

i have a dfi board, its great, this is 2 dollars cheaper than your PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

read the memory guide on dfi-street and have a CD with memtest on it, before you install the OS make sure the memory passes memtest, when i got the board, the bios it came with didn't have memtest and I can't seem to get an option to boot from floppy for some reason

 

[coomar]

you can also ask on xtremesystems about the mushkin value ram + DFI nf4 combination, i know they have 1 or 2 mushkin reps on that board

 

[KoolDrew]

i have a dfi board, its great, this is 2 dollars cheaper than your PSU

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

The Fortron 500w Blue Storm is a much better PSU.