My first ever computer build!

[Aisengard]

Okay, so this here's the layout for the PC that I'm bringing with me to college come September. Everything's been ordered, and prices include all shipping (I live in NY so there is no tax). This is a pretty much complete computer system, printer, mouse, speakers, everything.

Monitor:Mitsubishi Diamond Pro DP930 [Refurb] ($228.53, from www.nm-select.com)
Surge Protector/Power Strip:Belkin Maximum Series 9 sockets ($25.99) plus a 10-ft USB cable ($3.79) ($31.76, from Newegg)
Mouse:: Logitech MX 510 Blue ($30.99, from Chiefvalue)
Video Card: eVGA Geforce 6800 GT PCI-E ($359.99, from ZipZoomfly)
Speakers: Logitech x-230 2.1 [OEM] ($39.99, from Amazon.com)

RAM: 2x TwinMos 512 MB DDR PC-3200 Speed Premiums ($109.70, from Newegg)
CD/DVD-Burner: DVD+/-RW 16x NEC ND-3520A Black ($48.99, from Newegg)
Printer: Canon Pixma ip3000 ($64.50 - $20 MIR = $44.50, from Newegg)
Add $15.60 for shipping for previous 3 items.

Case: Antec P160 ($121.96, from TechOnWeb)
PSU: Antec Truepower 2.0 550W ($100.62, from eWiz.com)
Hard Drives: WD740 Raptor 74 GB SATA ($165.00, from Ebay) and Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 250 GB SATA-II ($130.00, from ZipZoomfly)
Motherboard: DFI LANParty UT nF4 Ultra-D ($139.00, from ZipZoomfly)
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice LBBLE 0516EPGW ($199.00, from MonarchComputer)

Floppy Drive:Samsung Black ($6.00, from BestByteinc.com)
Heatsink: Thermalright XP-90, no fan ($38.00, from BestByteinc.com)
Cooling Compound: Arctic Silver 5 3.5g syringe ($5.99, from Bestbyteinc.com)
Heatsink Fan: Panaflo 92mm fan, High RPM ($7.50, from BestByteinc.com)
Extra Case Fan (for P160): Vantec Thermoflow 120x25mm 2 Ball Bearing Variable RPM ($13.00, from BestByteinc.com)
Add $9.40 for shipping for the previous 5 items.

Total Cost: $1864.51

Am I missing anything? I already have some weird light-up keyboard from the Discover store.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Nice! But you need a fan for that heatsink.

 

[CheesePoofs]

Looks like everything to me. The Ultra-d can be a pain to get going, but once its going its rock solid (I'm using one). Just make sure as soon as you get it running stabely you flash to the newest official bios (3/10). I'd do that before you install XP.

and of course ...... HAVE FUN

 

[wisdomtooth]

Aisengard:

Are you going to be living in a college dorm?

If you are, I would strongly suggest you get an LCD. Desk space are usually at a premium in a dorm room, and back when I was in college I was using 15" CRTs, and even those take up too much room!

I would also suggest you get a laser printer instead of an inkjet. You wouldn't believe how many times the laser printer save me with its sheer speed when printing out papers at the very last minute.

Just some advice from someone who has been there done that and got the T-shirt (and the diploma, heh heh)..

HTH!

 

[Aisengard]

No, see I already got the monitor. And I'm damn impressed by it too. Things WILL move out of the way to make room for it, mark my words.

 

[shoRunner]

Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
Aisengard:

Are you going to be living in a college dorm?

If you are, I would strongly suggest you get an LCD. Desk space are usually at a premium in a dorm room, and back when I was in college I was using 15" CRTs, and even those take up too much room!

I would also suggest you get a laser printer instead of an inkjet. You wouldn't believe how many times the laser printer save me with its sheer speed when printing out papers at the very last minute.

Just some advice from someone who has been there done that and got the T-shirt (and the diploma, heh heh)..

HTH!

i'd say thats a pretty good printer. 6 black for $20 bucks is a nice thing for the college student

 

[RollWave]

I second the Laser Printer....I just got a Samsung and I dont know how I lived without it. No excuse to not print off notes and what not!

 

[wisdomtooth]

Originally posted by: Aisengard
No, see I already got the monitor. And I'm damn impressed by it too. Things WILL move out of the way to make room for it, mark my words.

I'm sure you'll make adjustments/changes after your first semester. :laugh:

 

[NiKeFiDO]

laser printer = over rated by you guys

sorry

 

[fierydemise]

I have a ink jet that can do a good 20-30 pages per minute, a good ink jet is cheaper and can be just as good

 

[Melchior]

Damn, that is way too much for a desktop. My XPS2 cost that much, and does 5400 3dmarks05.

 

[Aisengard]

But did your XPS2 come with the best 19" CRT Monitor in existence?

 

[Regs]

Very good choices. Corsair PC3200 2.5 CAS 1T is a little cheaper than TwimMos right now but that's nit picking.

 

[Aisengard]

I picked the TwinMos because they're BH-5 or something like that, and was recommended that RAM on DFI-Street.

 

[Amplifier]

Don't forget headphones! Don't go cheap on them.

 

[hippotautamus]

It isnt the best CRT in existence. My 67 lb Samsung Syncmaster 900NF is THE shit, and I will honestly smash it with full state honours when I finally get tired of lugging it's heavy (loveable, high resolution and refresh rate) ass around to LAN parties, or it has enough scratches on it's screen that I can no longer see my crosshair. Whichever comes first.

The rest of the parts are a good choice, though, aside from the Raptor. I maintain that they're a bit of a waste of money for anyone but graphics developers.

 

[stimpy1]

I'd get a Mitsumi floppy/card reader from Monarch instead of a plain old floppy.
Mine works great.

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...oduct_Code=170109&Category_Code=Floppy

 

[Nick5324]

Do you have anything to make it hard for someone to steal? I like having nice stuff just like anyone else, but i don't bring my best stuff to the dorm, just not worth the risk. Nice rig though, have fun with it.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Nick5324
Do you have anything to make it hard for someone to steal? I like having nice stuff just like anyone else, but i don't bring my best stuff to the dorm, just not worth the risk. Nice rig though, have fun with it.

What you need is a decoy. Get some old AMD K6-400 and put it in one of those cheap pimpy LED/neon/UV-reactive cases, and put your good rig in a ho-hum Antec SLK3000-B. Which one are the crooks gonna take? Huh??

Anyway, the other thing you might want is to either get the DVD burner with the bundled OEM software for a few dollars more, or maybe the BenQ that comes with Nero 6 OEM, if you want DVD-burning capability.

Looks like a beauty, enjoy it

 

[w00t]

you should of got mx-518 got it today! wow its rules speacially with my new icemat 2nd edition in black

 

[Insomniak]

Should be a zippy system. Nice.

 

[Maluno]

Originally posted by: w00t
you should of got mx-518 got it today! wow its rules speacially with my new icemat 2nd edition in black

For the price, I think that the 510 is a better decision. I have one and I really cant imagine seeing a difference between the two. I can hardly tell that this 510 is more sensitive/accurate than my cheapo generic optical I had before it.

 

[imported_bum]

Can someone verify that those are the right TwinMOS chips for overclocking? Those will do fine, but it'd be a shame not to get the best overclockers (in the value department) when using a venice.

I personally would not buy Raptors for my system either, but hey...

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Headphones!! If you love music, be sure to get them. Don't piss off your roommates.

My laptop alone doesn't allow for room on my desk.. =/ So much for studying =P. I do most of it in the library anyways because my room is the party room.

BTW, where are you headed to?

 

[RussianSensation]

I would have saved $$$ by getting $250 X800XL, the case and PSU. Otherwise, great build. Good luck overclocking.