I need help building a new machine.

[DockDuck]

Ok, here is the deal. I have been out of the hardware circle for about a year and a half and dont have alot of time to read many articles etc. I am however going to be buying a new machine shortly. So here is the scenario:

Budget = $900
note: I dont need a monitor.

My main concern is picking out:

Video Card (I need the best bang for the buck): willing to spend 150-250
Motherboard : willing to spend 100-150
CPU : willing to spend 150-250
RAM: 50-100 (id like atleast 512mb)

So If I max this out, I will have spent 650 off the bat leaving me with only 250 for:

Case:
Floppy:
DVD-ROM:
Mouse:
Keyboard:
Network Card: (maybe on mb would be nice)
HSU:
Sound Card:
Hard Drive:


So as you can see, if I go higher end on the main engine of the comp im going to have problems making a nice machine due to budget problems. So I am asking you forum ninjas if you can possibly give me some suggestions on what setups you have. I would like to get the best bang for my buck out of this deal so if any of you can lend some suggestions or possible ideas I would much appreciate it. Thank you.

 

[x3m]

Buy a nForce2 motherboard and you'll have both network card and really kick-ass sound (if you buy one with SoundStorm) integrated.

I would go for:

Abit Nf7-S
AMD XP2500+
2x256Mb (due to dual-channel) DDR PC3200

A Intel-setup could look like this:
Abit IS7
Pentium IV 2.4Ghz 800mhz bus speed
Expensive Corsair Twinx 512Mb mems

I think the Intel-setup will be more expensive, but also probably faster. NW and sound integrated on both motherboards.

Graphic card and hdd:
Radeon 9600
120Gb Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 if you want it quiet, a WD 120Gb 8mb cache if you want it fast.

Floppy: The cheapest
DVD-Rom: I don't know, don't think it's so much difference between different brands

Case: Choose one you like
Same with mouse and keyboard, pick something that you think feels good.

What is HSU?

 

[Viper96720]

Abit IS7 $109
2.4/800 P4 retail with hs $177
9600Pro video card $165
2x256mb corsair pc3200 $126
120GB/8MB cache Hitachi drive $111
Antec SLK3700AMB w/h 350w PS $64.99
Lite-on DVD $31
Floppy $7
total $790.99 from newegg prices. Should have enough leftover for shipping and whatever keyboard and mouse you want.

 

[sniperruff]

ii would go with these:
$100 nforce2 board, supports 400mhz BUS
$50 athlon 1700 OEM
$30 nice HSF and some thermal paste
$150 ATI 9600PRO
$80 2 sticks of any major brand PC2700 ram, 256mb
$90 a chieftec or antec case with PSU
$120 WD1200JB soecial ed
total: $620 so far

$10 floppy
$30 lite-on DVD or pioneer
$20 logitech/MS optical (im a logitech fan)
$30 logitech/MS multimedia KB
$10 ethernet card
$30 creative labs LIVE 5.1
that makes total: $750

the reason i go with a lowly athlon 1700 is b/c it's cheap and gives a mild overclock at least with a decent heatsink. with a nforce2 mobo that supports 400mhz BUS you can junk the 1700 a year or two later and get a top notch barton cheap.

the ATI 9600PRO is a decent card for gamers, or spend about $80 more for a 9700PRO

i recommend the WD1200JB. its cheap, large and quiet and fast

may shave off the sound/or even the graphics card for a better CPU, such as an athlon 2500 barton.

actually im planning to upgrade to something like this when i have the chance to sell my stuff too

good luck hope this helps

 

[JZilla]

I would take this:

CPU: AMD AthlonXP 2500 "Barton" $100. A better hsu would be the Thermalright SLK800U or 900U coupled with a quiet 80mm or 92mm fan.
Mobo: Epox 8RDA+ $84. Has onboard NIC and the famous NForce2 sound.
Video card: Radeon 9600 Pro $160 OR a Radeon 9700 NonPro OEM for $199 at mwave.com. Details in the hotdeals forum.

Case: Antec Sonata. I bought one a few weeks ago, and it is really quiet. For $65 you can get the Antec SLK3700 which is almost the same.
HD: I prefer Maxtor or Seagate, but that's just me.

Don't you need a cdrw. Both LG and Samsung makes some nice combo (dvd/cdrw) drives.

 

[Bonesdad]

Spend less ($80-90) on motherboard and less (100-120) on CPU and use the extra $$$ on a better video card.

 

[Corporate Thug]

2500+ for cpu
Nf7-s for mobo
9700 NP for video
512 pc3200 of XMS for ram

 

[DockDuck]

Awesome, keep the suggestions coming please =).

HSU = Heat Sink Unit.

Just a question, why is everyone so into the Raedon series of vid cards? Im actually much more in support of Nvidia GeForce cards. I currently have a GF3.

Also to add, Id probably like to stick with AMD as far as processors go. I am assuming NForce is some sort of new MB chipset that is kick ass, but im not positive on that. Are there any other major chipsets out there I may want to consider?

Thanks again for all your help so far.

 

[deepspace]

I just posted this in another thread. It's a little more than you want to spend though.

p4 2.4c oc @ atleast 3ghz- 170
abit ic7 motherboard best board for oc this chip- 140
radeon 9800 pro - 300
120 gb western digital hard 8mb chache hard drive- 100
cdrw/dvd rom-50
512mb corsair pc3200 xms- 120
nic 10/100-20
lian li case with fans-150
450 w power supply-75
keyboard optical mouse-40

misc other stuff and shipping - total = $1220

 

[JZilla]

Because the Radeons are better? I really don't know, I only have GF4 MX420. But I will be upgrading that this summer when I buy a lcd, and I am absolutely sure it will be a Radeon, either 9600 or 9700 NonPro.

The NForce2 is THE amd chipset to use. You get 1/2 onboard NIC. AND you get onboard sound that equals an Audigy. All for a really reasonable price. It's made by NVidia btw. You could get something like a VIA KT400, but I don't see the point really.

 

[newuser]

this is what I just built last week, it works well. (could be cheaper if you get a different case/psu combo)

*************
SVC and www.bestbyte.net
CPU COOLING
SK-7 + variable YS tech case fan + ASIII $34 total

CASE COOLING
(3) NMB 80mm Case Fan, Med RPM, 3pin $2x3 $6 (replacing noisy included case fans)

(3) 3pin-4pin Adapert w/seperate RPM cable $1.50x$3 $4.50 (hooking up to psu rather than mobo)

OTHER
(1) Green 18in Dual IDE ATA/133/100/66/33 Round sheilded cable $3

Shipping $5+ $7 = $12

*************

FREE STUFF (old rig)
wireless mouse, speakers, monitor, printers etc..
I/O magic 48x16x48 CDRW (EXTERNAL)
phone modem

******************
NEWEGG

CHIEFTEC Server Chasis (Aluminum Workstation Tower with Plastic Front Cover) SILVER COLOR w/ Side acrylic window and a Case Fan on Side Window **Now with 2 x Front USB2.0 and 1 x Firewire IEEE1394 ports** Model AX-01SLD Retail Weights Only 18LBs! $70

LITE-ON XJ-HD166S/XJ-HD165H 16X DVD ROM Drive -OEM $33 (BACKORDERED, hopefully some will be available tommorow so I can order)

SAMSUNG 1.44MB BLACK FLOPPY DRIVE Model# SFD321B/LBL - OEM, DRIVE ONLY $8

WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY $83


?On Sale! Epox Motherboard for AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron Processors, Model# EP-8RDA+ $85

?Hot! ENERMAX EG365P-VE(FM). 350W Power supply for AMD K7 & Pentium4 $47
*decided to stick with the seperate ps, I need something reliable, some of the foxconn's specs don't look too great

AMD ATHLON XP 2600

2xCORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 512MB 64MX64 PC-3200C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader OEM
>>>Specifications:
>>>Speed 400 MHz
>>>Organization 64M x 64
>>>CAS Latency 2-3-3-6-T1
>>>Memory type DDR
>>>Part number: CMX512-3200C2PT $95x2= $190

GAINWARD/CARD EXPERT geForce 4 8x AGP Ti 4200, 3.6ns, 128 MB DDR $124 (out of stock on Leadtec version, oh well)

Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 1 - OEM Full Version $93

Shipping $35

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: DockDuck
Awesome, keep the suggestions coming please =).

HSU = Heat Sink Unit.

Just a question, why is everyone so into the Raedon series of vid cards? Im actually much more in support of Nvidia GeForce cards. I currently have a GF3.

Also to add, Id probably like to stick with AMD as far as processors go. I am assuming NForce is some sort of new MB chipset that is kick ass, but im not positive on that. Are there any other major chipsets out there I may want to consider?

Thanks again for all your help so far.

we call HSU HSF, since you MUST have a fan on it... and the fan is the noise source...

we like ATI cuz nvidia is a slew of disappointment so far. too expensive and it seems that ATI has the best hardwares now. i have a GF3 too. consider saving it for the moment or get a cheap GF4 Ti series for around $100

nforce 1 is pretty crappy and its only worth considering if u use integrated graphics. the nforce2 provides separate graphics and DUAL CHANNEL DDR, not to mention that it is the ONLY chip that truly supports the last of athlons K7, the athlon 3200+ or so with a 400mhz FSB.

you only need to consider the nforce2 with ur going with a K7 chip (current athlon chip, not hammer)

the other mobo shipset is the KT series made by VIA (nforce is made by nvidia). KT400A or whatever it is does not support the new CPU with stability at this moment. its a shame, since the KT266A and the KT333, especially the KT333, was one of the best chipset for the athlons. they are outdated now so do not consider them at all

which brings another suggestion: maybe you want to wait a year or so when they launch the new AMD CPU so the athlon's price will plummet? (that is why i suggest the $44 athlon 1700)

hope it helps