Help me build a new rig!!!

[Pix3lDezigner]

Ok guys, I am going to be building a new rig for my uncle FINALLY! I've been telling him forever to upgrade as he has like a Pentium 3 or something. LOL! Anyways, I would like some input on components.

He will not be doing any gaming on it, so I think we will keep his current Nvidia FX 5200. He wants the machine for him and his daughters. He will be using Photoshop (basic photo editing, nothing crazy), the internet, and music mostly, along with Microsoft Office and the like. I asked if he wanted a 64 bit CPU, and he said yes. He just wants something above average or good, so he doesn't have to upgrade for a few more years. Here are the components I will need as he also has a new LCD monitor:

1. CPU (He wants a A64)
2. Socket 939 Motherboard w/onboard sound
3. 1 gb of PC3200 RAM
4. Case
5. 100-200 GB hard drive

With the best value in mind, what would you suggest? I was thinking a 3000 or 3200+ A64 would be plenty good? If so, which core should I be looking at? Which chipset and motherboard should I get at a good price? Something stable, no overclocking. I was thinking maybe 1 gb of Value Select would be good enough, or do you recommend something else? Any advice would be great! Thanx in advance!

 

[CraKaJaX]

How much does he plan on spending? Going without upgrades for a few years means spend more in the beginning

 

[love2skate824]

dell

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

Well for the 5 components we need, I don't see it being much over $500 for everything. He just wants solid parts that won't have to be upgraded for a few years. But keep in mind, he will do ZERO gaming, light photoshop, internet and music. So he doesn't need something crazy. Let's say a budget of $500-600, what would you suggest for those 5 parts? Also, Dell isn't really an option as he wants me to build it custom for him. Thanx!

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

Any help? Thanx!

 

[Spikesoldier]

Originally posted by: love2skate824
dell

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

What doesn't his current system handle well enough that he needs to upgrade?

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

He has like a Pentium 2 or 3 (VERY SLOW AT EVERYTHING) and not even 256 mb (224 mb to be exact) of slow ram. Under system in control panel, it just says x86 processor. Just starting up and running Windows takes forever let alone doing anything else. Any advice on the components that I would get?

 

[eXx08]

1.) AMD 3200+
2.) MSI K8N-Neo4
3.) Corsair ValueSelct 1GB
4.) Antec P-180
5.) Seagate 7200.9 200GB HDD

 

[love2skate824]

500-600 hundred, ehh?

asrock dualsata2 mobo-$60
-very cheap skt 939 mobo that will support your uncles fx agp gfx card, great mobo otherwise, made by asus
3000 venice-$150
-cheapest skt 939 proc, oem ones can be had even cheap (ewiz)
1gb corsair valueselect-$90
-great pc3200 memory, great value
antec sonata case w/ smartpower psu-$100
-enough style, decent psu
250gb sata hdd-$110
-would recommend maxtor, western digital, hitachi, or seagate. perferablly 16mb cache to speed things up.

thats $510 right there.

if you want to spend an additional $70 or so you could grab him a 3500 venice and maybe some additional hdd space

that, or dell.

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

Originally posted by: thekillerjks
1.) AMD 3200+
2.) MSI K8N-Neo4
3.) Corsair ValueSelct 1GB
4.) Antec P-180
5.) Seagate 7200.9 200GB HDD

Thank you for the advice. Should I go for the Venice or Winchester core? Thank you!

 

[love2skate824]

yeah killerjks beat me on that one..
but you still need a psu

btw go venice core.
and that msi board wont support an agp card9the fx card your uncle has)
asrock dualsata2 will

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

I personally have that ASRock with my 4400+ X2, so maybe I will go with that since I'm already familiar with it. Thank you for the advice guys!

 

[leigh6]

Processor-AMD 3200 Venice (If you go through Froogle to Ewiz you might get it a little cheaper) $7.00 cheaper through froogle. $135.00 shipped
http://www.ewiz.com/detail.php?name=A64-3200BP
Hard Drive-Seagate 200gig pata
Wait for Outpost.com to have the Seagate 200g pata drive for $68.00 shipped after rebate
Case-Antec Sonata (add coupon code "freeship50" for free shipping. (This code is available and published on Anandtech) $99.99 shipped
http://clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1307024
Memory-Corsair Value Select-$88.00 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440
Motherboard- Sorry cant help you here.

You are at around $390.00 without mobo and HSF

Sorry to thread crap on others suggestion but the p-180 with a power supply will set you back $200.00. With a budget of $500-600 it makes no sense.

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

Thank you Leigh. I think I will go with the ASRock Dual SATA motherboard. How would THIS hard drive be for him? Also, how about a cheaper case? How would THIS one be? Thanx!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Maybe have him pick out the case?

Out of all the parts it doesn't really matter too much, so have him get one he likes?

(different story if you're using a PSU from it)

 

[Hacp]

HP

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Maybe have him pick out the case?

Out of all the parts it doesn't really matter too much, so have him get one he likes?

(different story if you're using a PSU from it)

Yeah I was thinking of using the PSU that comes with the case, would that Rosewill be adequate? There will be no overclocking or big power users in the system other than the A64 3000+ or 3200+.

 

[Hacp]

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopp...s/hp_pavilion&storeName=computer_store

Upgrade to 160 GB HD and 6 in one card Reader. Buy an Aftermarket DVD burner, an aftermarket graphics card( or keep the 5200 if its PCI) , and 1GB of ram. Should fit the 500 bill. Maybe purchase an extra year of warrenty. NEVER build for a family member. NEVER!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Pix3lDezigner

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Maybe have him pick out the case?

Out of all the parts it doesn't really matter too much, so have him get one he likes?

(different story if you're using a PSU from it)

Yeah I was thinking of using the PSU that comes with the case, would that Rosewill be adequate? There will be no overclocking or big power users in the system other than the A64 3000+ or 3200+.

I'm not going to say yes for sure because I don't know what's going to happen.

I'd recommend a dell also.

 

[leigh6]

NO on the Rosewill case. 17a on the 12v line simply is not enough. You dont need a super power supply but I would suggest a quality one.

On the Hard Drive I just dont know enough about SATA to help you. I have used 5 of the Seagate 200 and 160g pata drives and they are great and quiet.

If you buy a case and power supply seperately you will end up spending $100 plus because of shipping charges. Assuming you are going to spend around $50.00 including shipping for a decent power supply it leaves you $35.00 for a case figuring $15.00 shipping. So there really is nothing in that range that can compare to the Sonata.

There might be other quality Case with Power Supplies. Look around. I do not think you can get away with less than $75.00 shipped for one. So the Sonata might be the best price/performance one for you. Only negative on the case is that it is piano black, beautiful but does show up fingerprints so lots of cleaning. BUT IT SHINES!!!

I will look around to see if there are some good deals on quality cases.

 

[Pix3lDezigner]

Thank you Leigh. So the Antec Sonata comes with an adequate PSU? I hate to sound dumb, but what is pata? If you would be so kind to provide a newegg link to a nice priced one that would be great. I think 160 gb would be more than enough for him. Thank you!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

SonataII is a good choice.

pata = parallel ATA = harddrives that aren't sata at newegg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148025 example of a nice one or you can get the .9 version vs .7 in pata if you want.

sata and pata should both work fine for you though.