have to build a non-gaming machine.......need help

[Nikster]

My gf needs on for school, so it will be basic computing stuff, music, DVD, internet and maybe games

This is what I have to put in

* 128MB Kingston pc100 value ram
* 10GB 7200 rpm
* Voodoo2 8mb
* 17" Monitor
* Kbd/mouse

This is what I need

* Case
* Power Supply
* Mobo+CPU
* Video
* Network
* Sound
* DVD
* Floppy
* Speakers

This will be my first experience with building something from scratch!

I dont like Celerons for some reason. AMD could be a value choice, but I'm not sure about myself not screwing up

Don't want an 810 coz I want good 2D performance and decent mpeg2 decoding

Where should I buy these components from? Plus where could I buy stuff like screws, wires etc.

What do you think will the overall cost be?

The reason I want to build is because I dont feel like paying Dell money for putting in software and stupid stuff that I dont want! Plus it would be a good experience !



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All suggestions welcome!

Thanks a lot!

 

[PowerJoe]

Leave the Voodoo2 out of it. Will get you nothing.

-PJ

 

[Yerdy]

I didn't think anybody made a 10 GB 7200 HD. Who made your HD? Are you sure it's 7200 rpm?

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

ok a non gaming machine is just like a gaming machine without a powerful cpu and video card.

i think it is funny you have to put in a voodoo2 into a non gaming machine

well on a 17" monitor i doubt you will see any difference in 2d performace in almost any chipset.

but as you aren't going with a celeron you won't be using any 8** chipset anyway.

obviously you are left with a duron based system. MSI have very stable motherboards.

basically go for an ATX case
AMD approved power supply
Msi k7t pro and duron 600 or 700Mhz
Matrox g400 16mb
basic network card
sb live value
any floppy will be fine

dvd and speakers you will have to ask someone else sorry

there are a few guys on this board that sell hardware for a living, maybe you should ask them to see what deal you can get.

 

[Dulanic]

If its just for that basic stuff here is was I recommend

MSI K7T Pro2 or Pro2A (120)
AMD Duron 600 or 700 (50)
ATI 32MB SDR Raedon (125)
Maxtor 7200 20-30GBGB (This is if she has broadband... if she does youll want the bigger HD... girls go nuts with napster Ive noticed) (130)
LinkSys or Neatgear NIC (15)
SB Live Value (40)
ATX Case with AMD certified 300W PS (45-60)

Prices arent exact but approximate from off the top of my head

 

[Dulanic]

And as I just read the previous person a Matrox G400 would do also.... it depends if she plays any games really.

 

[jsbush]

Dulanic: He's already got 128megs of ram why would he need another? ]

Edit: And a harddrive. The rest is good and he should go for it, what about a V3 they are drit cheep and give good performence.

 

[Cosmic_Horror]

Dulanic

do you think there would be much difference in 2d preformace between the readon and a g400? or any modern card for that matter?
if she is running a 17" i doubt it would be in a higher res that 1240 x 1024?

 

[Dulanic]

Because I didnt read it right

 

[jsbush]

Ah I see. So for around 350 she'll have a desent system.

 

[Dulanic]

Like I said it depends what shes going to do.... but the G400 has excellent image quality.... But so does the Raedon.... if she plays no games go with the G400.... if she plays occasionally go for the Raedon. But yes anything over 1152x864 gets blurry with my GeForce DDR and Sony E200 (17&quot

 

[Gunbuster]

Get a Intel 815 D815DEEA with built on sound, video, networking.
Very solid board

 

[Nikster]

this is funny, I have a TNT2 ultra and I am runninf 1600X1200@85 on a 19" Trinitron ! Its rock solid
I think she will be on 1280X1024@85

This is what I got from atacom.com

MATROX MILLENNIUM G400 16MB SGRAM SINGLE HEAD (OEM) VIDA_MATR_E0_00 $94.95
MICROSTAR K7T PRO-2A SOCKET A -4X AGP W/AUDIO ATA 100 @200FSB ATX MBP2_MICS_7T_P2 $129.95
AMD DURON-K7 ATHLON 600MHZ SOCKET A RETAIL (3 YEAR WARRANTY) CPUX_AK7X_60_DR $79.95
SPARKLE FSP300-60GP 300W NLX/ATX POWER SUPPLY -AMD K7 APPROVED POWS_SPAR_30_00 $59.95
SONY 3.5 inch 1.44 MB FDD (WHITE) FLOP_SONY_W0_30 $18.50
TOSHIBA SD-M1402 12X DVD DVDX_TOSH_14_02 $119.95
POWER CORD CABLE FOR PC UL/CSA 6FT CABC_GENE_C0_60 $3.95
ACER ALN-325 10/100MB PCI NETWORK INTERFACE CARD NETI_ACER_A3_20 $19.95
Subtotal $531.10 + $36 SHIPPING

Comments welcome!

I really dont konw much, therefore please be picky about stuff!

 

[Howard]

Atacom has a REAL crappy Reseller Rating. Check my sig.

 

[erub]

the FDD is overpriced. Most powersupply's come with a powercord. case? you can probably get a better deal on the NIC at compusa (just get any PCI one) I wouldn't say any of those are that great of prices either...cpu, video card, and dvd drive look expensive to me.

 

[cavingjan]

Check MWave.com. They should have everything you want at a lower price than what you have listed.

 

[Nikster]

Thanks! cheing the site now

Would a Celeron be better over Duron? I mean money/bang ratio?

Agreed this machine is for my girlfriend who doesnt care if it takes up 30secs to boot or 3 mins!
but I want to make sure that I did the best I could for the money she spent!

 

[AmdEmAll]

Yerdy: I have a Maxtor 10.2gb 7200rpm drive...

 

[Ausm]

Yerdy there is alot of 7200 10 gig drives out there...

I agree go with Mwave.com for a vendor

Ausm

 

[tonyou]

I know this goes against what most people will recommend here, but I think you should go with a integrated motherboard like the ones from Amptron and PC Chips. A Celeron/PIII compatible ALi TNT2 video integrated motherboard with sound, modem, and network built-in can save you and your gf a lot of money and time shopping. By the time you really need to upgrade, there will be newer motherboard anyways.

Tony

 

[Rifter]

Yerdy I also have a 10GB 7200rpm drive, its a IBM, there are alot of 7200rpm 10GB drives out there.