First time building computer - verify if parts are correct

[maxmaxmir]

Hi All,

This is the first time I am building a computer, and after reading a lot of stuff, I have picked the following (I would like to install Windows XP Home and Mandrake Linux 9.2 OS on it - dual boot). Please let me know if you see any inconsistencies, or if anything is missing. Any suggestions are welcome.

Thanks
Max

Motherboard ($89)
Asus nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "A7N8X" -RETAIL(New Version, now support AMD Barton 400MHz)
Supported CPU: Socket A AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron(up to Barton 3200+) Processors
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400 + MCP
FSB: 400/333/266/200MHz
RAM: 3x DIMM for DDR400/333/266/200(Non-ECC) Max 3GB
IDE: 2x UltraDMA 66/100/133 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP PRO/8X, 5x PCI
Ports: 2xPS2,1xCOM,1xLPT,6xUSB2.0(Rear 4),Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC650 6CH w/ built in HP amplifier
Onboard LAN: Realtek 8201BL 10/100Mbps
Form Factor: ATX

Processor ($57)
AMD Athlon XP 1900+, 266 MHz FSB, 256K Cache Processor - OEM
Model: AMD Athlon XP 1900+
Core: Palomino
Operating Frequency: 1.6GHz
FSB: 266MHz
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/256K
Voltage: 1.75V
Process: 0.18Micron
Socket: Socket A
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+

Heat sink and fan?

Memory (2 x $68)

Kingmax 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-2700 - OEM
Specification
Manufacturer: Kingmax
Speed: DDR333(PC2700)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2.5
Support Voltage: 2.3V-2.7V
Bandwidth: 2.7GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64 ?Bit

Case ($35)
ENlight Model# EN-PA310104 ATX Mid-Tower Case w/ 300Watt Power Supply-Retail.
Case Type: Mid-Tower
Color: Blue/Beige
Material: 0.8 mm thick SECC rustproof & galvanized JIS steel
Drive Bays: 5.25'' x3, 3.5''(External) x1 3.5''(Internal) x4
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Ports: USB 2.0 x2
Power Supply: 300W
Cooling System: Rear Case fan x1
Motherboard Compatibility: full ATX 12''x9.6''
Dimensions: 7.5''Wx17''Hx18.7''D

Video card ($56)
Asus RADEON 9200SE Video Card, 128M DDR, 64-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "9200SE/TD" -RETAIL
Chipset/Core Speed: Radeon 9200SE/200MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/333MHz
BUS: AGP 1X/2X/4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video Out)+DVI connector
Support 3D API: DirectX®8.1, OpenGL®1.3
Cable/Accessories: 1 Cable, Driver CD, Manual
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@75Hz

FDD ($15)

Hard Disk Drive ($70)
Seagate 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST380011A, OEM
Specifications:
Capacity: 80GB
Average Seek Time: 8.5 ms
Buffer: 2MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: IDE Ultra ATA100
Features: 350 Gs non-op shock, 3D Defense System

CD RW ($44)
ASUS 52x32x52 IDE Internal CD-RW Drive, Model CRW-5232AS, Retail
Write Speed: 52X CD-R,32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 52X CD-ROM
Interface: ATAPI / E-IDE
Buffer: 2MB
OS Support: Windows XP/2000/Me/98SE
Features: FlextraLink and FlextraSpeed technologies
Remark: Retail box (comes with Software and cables, see pic)

 

[Zelmo3]

Any reason you're not getting a slightly faster CPU? On the AnandTech price guides, the XP2000+ costs $1 less than the 1900+, and the 2200+ is on $7 more. From there they start jumping up by $10.
Is Kingmax a recommended name in memory? I've heard from Anand and several forum users that bad memory can cause lots of BSOD-type problems, and I've been the victim of sub-par memory at least once. Brands I've seen recommended on this site include Crucial, Micron, Mushkin, and OCZ.
Also, why not get a mobo with SATA support and avoid those wide ribbon cables? That will improve your airflow. Of course, I guess you can get round IDE cables now, so that may not be a concern (though round IDE cables would have to be purchased separately).
Side note: for another $15 apiece you could get 400MHz RAM instead of the 333MHz RAM and never need to upgrade the memory while you have that mobo. Running it with a lower frequency CPU will just improve the memory latency.

 

[Budmantom]

How do you intend to use the computer?

 

[onelin]

Two notes, I'm not in the know on athlon HSFs right now, but definitely find a 3rd-party HSF...the retail one gets quite noisy, I've had a couple.

Other note is the last Asus CDROM I had was really crappy and croaked, if you're not attached to the idea of that one, there are plenty of different brands of burners in that pricerange.

 

[Jmmsbnd007]

HSF: SLK800U with a Smart Case Fan II.

 

[Ionizer86]

Hi, welcome to AT

Here's what I recommend to maximize your performance for the money and to make sure stuff works well:
since you have money to get two pieces of ram, it'd be better to get one stick instead and use the money where you'll get more performance.

I'd say bump up your processor to an AMD Athlon XP 2500+ or 2600+ (overclocking the 2500+ may be easier, but the 2600+ is cheap too).

Switch your ram to some PC3200 ram, such as the Buffalo ram, which is both relatively cheap and works pretty well.

For heatsink and fan, make sure you get something quiet if you want quietness. The fans are rated on decibels.

That video card is an SE. SE's are going to be mad slow: they only have half the bandwidth of normal cards. Instead, you could cheap out and get an MX440-8x at retail stores for $30 or pay more to get a used Ti4200 at the for sale forum here. Otherwise, your best bet for around that cost is a 128MB Radeon 9100.

I think Newegg has FDDs that go down to $6 or $8.

The hard disk: you can get one with 8MB cache for $50 at stores like Compusa once in a while.

The burner: for that money, you can either almost get a DVD burner (there's a thread on Phatwallet for getting a $45 DVD burner) or you can cheap out and get a cd burner locally for less than half the cost.

Case: I looked at it at Newegg, and they don't have a specific picture of the power supply. It may be better to get a case with a better power supply or to plan about $35 to get a good one that will work well.

 

[nick1985]

get a better video card. that wont do you much good if you plan on gaming

 

[Skyline622]

I'd personally try the Soltek Sl-frn2-rl motherboard.

Its about the same price as the Asus, but with a few more features.

 

[Ionizer86]

Or the Abit NF7-S. For just a bit more money, it has some awesome sound and some firewire.

 

[someone16]

I would switch the Asus mobo and the video card for the Shuttle MN31N. You'd save more money with integrated video. The 9200SE is worse than the integrated video. Plus you get MCP-T with that mobo.

 

[maxmaxmir]

Thanks Zelmo. Your help is appreciated.

Any reason you're not getting a slightly faster CPU? On the AnandTech price guides, the XP2000+ costs $1 less than the 1900+, and the 2200+ is on $7 more. From there they start jumping up by $10.

Advice taken - will buy a AMD Athlon XP 2500+ "Barton", 333 FSB, 512K Cache Processor - Retail - Cost $90

Is Kingmax a recommended name in memory? I've heard from Anand and several forum users that bad memory can cause lots of BSOD-type problems, and I've been the victim of sub-par memory at least once. Brands I've seen recommended on this site include Crucial, Micron, Mushkin, and OCZ.

Advice taken - will go for Kingston, which is an ASUS recommended brand.

Also, why not get a mobo with SATA support and avoid those wide ribbon cables? That will improve your airflow. Of course, I guess you can get round IDE cables now, so that may not be a concern (though round IDE cables would have to be purchased separately).

ASUS A7V8X seems to have SATA support - or so claims the manual.

Side note: for another $15 apiece you could get 400MHz RAM instead of the 333MHz RAM and never need to upgrade the memory while you have that mobo. Running it with a lower frequency CPU will just improve the memory latency.

I wasn't planning on overclocking my processor, which is 333 MHz, so won't getting a 400 MHz ram be a waste? Also, the mobo allows only one 400 MHz stick (the other two slots will take a max of 333 MHz)

 

[maxmaxmir]

Budmantom -

I intend to use this computer mostly as a developer machine - build J2EE apps and run them. So I'll be running scaled down versions of servers - like J2EE RI App Server, MySQL server etc.

 

[Budmantom]

Originally posted by: maxmaxmir
Budmantom -

I intend to use this computer mostly as a developer machine - build J2EE apps and run them. So I'll be running scaled down versions of servers - like J2EE RI App Server, MySQL server etc.

I am not familier with J2EE apps but most systems benefit from a hard drive with an 8mb cache instead of 2.

 

[maxmaxmir]

Thanks Ionizer - your advice is appreciated

I'd say bump up your processor to an AMD Athlon XP 2500+ or 2600+ (overclocking the 2500+ may be easier, but the 2600+ is cheap too).

Advice taken - will go for AMD Athlon XP 2500+

Switch your ram to some PC3200 ram, such as the Buffalo ram, which is both relatively cheap and works pretty well.

I was wondering if using PC 3200 would give me a lot of benefit, since I wasn't planning on overclocking the processor, and my processor pumps at 333 MHz

For heatsink and fan, make sure you get something quiet if you want quietness. The fans are rated on decibels.

Someone suggested I get the retail kit instead of OEM, which includes heatsink and fan along with the processor

That video card is an SE. SE's are going to be mad slow: they only have half the bandwidth of normal cards. Instead, you could cheap out and get an MX440-8x at retail stores for $30 or pay more to get a used Ti4200 at the for sale forum here. Otherwise, your best bet for around that cost is a 128MB Radeon 9100.

I am not planning to use the computer for any graphics intensive stuff - like gaming or video editing - just require good 2 D graphics - so I'll take your advice and cheap out with XFX GeForce4 MX440-8X Video Card, 64MB DDR, TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "PVT18KQT" -RETAIL for $48

I think Newegg has FDDs that go down to $6 or $8.

Yep - I'll get a cheap on there, since I won't be using it much

The hard disk: you can get one with 8MB cache for $50 at stores like Compusa once in a while.

Most of the ones listed on new egg are pretty expensive, but will try the retial stores before buying it from new egg

The burner: for that money, you can either almost get a DVD burner (there's a thread on Phatwallet for getting a $45 DVD burner) or you can cheap out and get a cd burner locally for less than half the cost.

Will try locally for a cheap CD burner, else will buy a CD burner, with DVD read combo drive on new egg

Case: I looked at it at Newegg, and they don't have a specific picture of the power supply. It may be better to get a case with a better power supply or to plan about $35 to get a good one that will work well.

What case do you recommend?

 

[maxmaxmir]

Originally posted by: someone16
I would switch the Asus mobo and the video card for the Shuttle MN31N. You'd save more money with integrated video. The 9200SE is worse than the integrated video. Plus you get MCP-T with that mobo.

yeah - I am getting another Video card - an MX400-8x card, with 64 MB memory.

 

[Sureshot324]

You could look into getting an Antec case. It will cost a bit more, but considering you get a high quality power supply bundled I think they are a good deal.

Lite-on make very good and inexpensive cd-rw drives.