Hardware tips for new computer.

[mickeg]

Hi

Really need a computer so i was thinking of building one.
Mainly going to use it for work, word, excel etc. internet, basic music/movie stuff and some gaming(not much).
Chould really use some input form you guys if have a minute. What you recommend and so on.
So just feel free to comment.
I have a monitor, mouse/keybord and a ATX chase that i plan to use with a new power supply to support the motherbord. Don't wont onbord VGA. Sound and nic on motherbord so i dont have to buy.

As cheap as possible but if you gain alot by adding an extra 20$ or so on some things then im all ears.
Got about 600$ to spend but aim cheap.
The hardware below is about what i had in mind, but recommend other hardware if you like.

Intel or AMD?
IDE HD or SATA HD?
Graphic card that is not complite crap but cheap?

-CPU

AMD Athlon 64 2800+ Socket 754, 512 KB, OEM
AMD Sempron 3100+ Socket 754, 256 KB BOXED
AMD Sempron 2400+ Socket A, 256 KB OEM
AMD Sempron 2500+ Socket A, 256 KB BOXED

Intel Celeron D 320 2.4 Ghz Boxed PC533 Socket PGA478, 256KB
Intel Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz Boxed PC533 Socket PGA478, 1MB
Intel Pentium 4 520 2.8 Ghz Boxed PC800 Socket LGA775, 1MB

-MOBO

-Socket 754
EPoX EP-8KDA3J Socket 754 nForce3 250GB,SATA,GbLAN,ATX,sound
Abit KV8Pro V1.1 Socket 754 K8T800PRO, SATA, GbLAN, ATX, Raid
-Socket A
EPoX EP-8K9A7i Socket A KT400A, ATA/133, AC97, ATX, USB2.0, LAN
Abit KD7A Socket A (DDR) KT400A, ATA/133, ATX, USB2.0, LAN
Asus A7V600-X Socket A DDR KT600, SATA, ATX, LAN, Raid, sound
-Socket 478
Asus P4V8X-X S478/800mhz VIA P4X533, ATA/SATA, ATX, DDR,sound,LAN
MSI PT8 NEO-V S478/800 VIA PT800,SATA,ATX,DDR,sound,LAN
Asus P4S800 S478/800mhz SIS648FX, ATA/133, ATX, DDR, 8X AGP,sound
Abit VT7 S478/800mhz VIA PT880, SATA, ATX, DualDDR, LAN,Raid

-HD

-IDE
Hitachi 7K250 120Gb UDMA-100 8Mb Cache 7200RPM
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 120Gb 8Mb 7200rpm UDMA-133 Silent!
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A - 120GB 7200rpm 8Mb cache!
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160023A - 160GB 7200rpm 8Mb cache!
-SATA
Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 120GB 8MB cache 7200rpm SATA
Hitachi 7K250 160GB Serial ATA 8Mb Cache 7200RPM

-GPU

Asus 7000SE ATI Radeon 7000 64MB TV-out
Asus Radeon 9200SE 128MB AGP 8X VGA/DVI
AGP Asus V9400-X/TD/64M Nvidia MX4000 64Mb VGA/DVI/TV-ut
Asus V9520-X/TD/128M NVIDIA FX5200 AGP 128MB 64bitar DDR VGA DVI TV-ut

-DVD

NEC ND3500 16X DVD±R/RW Dual Layer bulk
LiteOn 12X DVD±R/RW Dual Layer Retail with sofware

 

[xsilver]

Sempron 3100+
EPoX EP-8KDA3J Moderkort för Socket 754 nForce3 250GB,
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A - 120GB 7200rpm 8Mb cache!
Radeon 9600 pro
NEC ND3500 16X DVD±R/RW Dual Layer bulk

if your budget stretches that far -- there are plenty of other threads regarding suggestions for systems
try not to skimp on this cpu /mobo

 

[Gnoad]

cpu- sempron 3100
mobo- chaintech VNF3-250
hard drive- hitachi 80gb sata
gpu- cheapest fx5200
dvd- nec 16x dual layer
ram- 512mb corsair value select pc 3200

thats a nice speedy setup. Not much for games, but you'll be browsing and typing just as fast as the rest of us. Also very overclockable for some extra speed, if your into that.

 

[davidjaii]

i've got my a64 3000+ msi k8tneo board at fry's for $230... not much of a board but fits my budget... fry's do have good mobo/cpu combos if your in a budget.

80gig wd - $35 after rebate also

 

[mickeg]

Thanks a lot guys =)

So AMD better then Intel?
Socket 754 the way to go then?
Socket A dieing and a waste of money, makeing it outdated pretty much the moment you buy it?
754 much better and not that much more expensive for what you get?

-AMD Sempron 3100+ Socket 754, 256 KB BOXED
-AMD Athlon 64 2800+ boxad Socket 754 Newcastle

Pretty much the same price but Sempron a better choice? Athlon 64 got 512KB L2 cache but less Mhz.

SATA or IDE does it really matter, is the SATA interface fast enough yet to make a difference?

 

[xsilver]

Actually socket A isn't too bad to go if you're not planning to upgrade without ditching the whole kit
AMD is just so much better value right now -- the sempron 3100+ and amd 64 2800+ are virtually identical -- they are same mhz
only difference is cache and 64 bit ability, which the 2800 has for a few dollars more, neither contributes much to performance right now (winxp 64bit still in beta)
sempron may be more overclockable though

SATA and IDE differences are still mainly cosmetic, but may be worth it again if you can afford it (the difference being only a few dollars)

 

[mickeg]

Ok thanks
I'll with the sempron 3100+

And a again, thanks a lot guys.