HELP me plan a new system!!! :)

[extra]

Alright, here's what I don't need: floppy, case, network cards, modem, sound, etc.

Here's what I had in mind...
New video card, mobo, cpu, ram, and i was thinking about going all scsi...

I will probably go amd, and i was thinking about the Abit KT7 motherboard, is this a good choice? I will be overclocking, what do you think is the best cpu as far as balance between price/overclocked potential/etc?

As far as video, well, i'm stumped. Linux support is a big plus but i guess it's not required. I play a LOT or UT, it's my favorite game. I ONLY play first person shooters, mostly UT and a little Quake2/Quake3. Price needs to be less than $300!

Ram, i'm just thinking i should go for 256mb of PC133

Storage, that is the question...i was thinking about going all SCSI. SCSI CD-Writer, maybe DVD, and definately hard disks (1 or 2 10k-rpm ones, depending on price) i'm kinda clueless to scsi though, and to what controller i should buy, etc.....however, do you think I would be better served by getting the KT7-RAID and going IDE raid?

 

[extra]

ONE MORE THING...got any suggestions for reputable online stores where i could buy everything i need?

 

[Stealth1024]

Computers4Sure has the best selection I've been able to find anywhere.

 

[extra]

thx..

 

[fitzhue]

You could get a cheap geforce 2 GTS 64 mb ddr mem for about $300
Depending on how much you have to spend, you could get a 1ghz t-bird for $260 and o/c or get a 900 and o/c. Again also depending on money you could get a nice plextor scsi burner and a pioneer dvd-rom. Can't go wrong with a couple of 18 gig quantum 10k II's. I could narrow it down more if you had a price range.

 

[Rudee]

Benchmarks have shown that memory beyond 128mb is seldom utilized, thus 128mb of quality SDRAM is sufficient.

 

[Jumpem]

For stores try mwave.com!

 

[LXi]

If UT is your favorite game, I would say that Voodoo5 5500 will probably be your best choice. As for motherboard, I'd recommend the MSI K7T Pro2 with a Tbird 700 or 800 and overclock that sucker to 1000+. Or if you want to go the safe route, get a Tbird 950 or 1000 since they're so cheap. The RAM, there is an excellent deal out there now with the Kingmax PC150 CAS2 128MB for just $125, you can buy two sticks of that and you're set. I think you're better off with IDE, SCSI will be hard to set up and it's probably not going to help you much in games.

 

[Bignate603]

i get great speed off my 32 meg geforce 2 in UT. Unfortunately i suck at first person shooters, lol. I've just started on them cause i couldn't play anything more than tribes on my old machine. Fine game but it got old. I think you would be better served by a geforce 2. Better price for better power.

 

[Stealth1024]

iBuyer.net is great for finding vendors who cell certain products. 90% of every product I was searching for, however, Computers4Sure sold. I can save a ton on shipping by purchasing from one company. The only thing they don't sell that really ticks me off, is the Pioneer 16X DVD Slot Load drive, and ASUS GeForce graphics cards.

 

[ltk007]

Mwave for everything, best store on the net! I wouldn't get SCSI, it becomes a hassle and can get very expensive. I'd get a KT7-Raid and 2 IBM 75gxps and raid em. Its extremely fast and much cheaper than SCSI. For ram, any of the big names (Mushkin, Crucial, Corsair) are good. For video, I'd get a Creative Labs GTS, they are cheap and fast. Processor speed depends on your budget, a Tbird 1ghz is really cheap as is probably best price/perfomance wise (plus you get in the ghz club ). For CD writer, definitely plextor 12/10/32. Cheap and fast as hell.

 

[eyor]

Now is a good time for buying SDRAM. If you will be overclocking much you may want to get the TinyBGA stuff for $105 at mwave.com. they are a reputable retailer, and that RAM is guaranteed at 150mhz cas2. Best RAM available. Also, I got a KT7 for $130 or something, posted a thread about it in hot deals forum. A Duron 800 is a good choice methinks, as they are also discounted now with the gigahert+ cpus out now. You can pick up a taisol coolor for $8.

 

[extra]

thanks a ton for the help, guys!

 

[Howard]

I agree with LXi, but I'm not sure that the Pro2 has multiplier control. Anyways, it's not released yet.

 

[LXi]

K7T Pro2 has mutliplier adjustment.