My new computer ..

[thirtythree]

I think I am going to buy the parts for my new computer tonight or tomorrow. Just wondering if there is anything I should change. For now I will use onboard audio and video. I can always upgrade later. I already have speakers. The total comes to $410. This is a decent price correct?

AMD Athlon XP 1700+ Retail
ASUS A7N266-VM
256MB DDR PC2100
Maxtor 40GB 7200RPM Quiet
Evercase + 300W
Sony 16x DVD-ROM
Keyboard and Mouse
Sony Floppy Drive

 

[foofoo]

good computer for a great price.
looks good.
you might consider adding one of those cheap cdrw drices from the hot deals forum.
i think that there is a officemax cendyne 48x16x48 going for $20 now.
good luck

 

[thirtythree]

Thanks for the quick reply.

Will thermal paste or extra case fans be required?

 

[foofoo]

hi,
the retail version of the cpu comes with a hs with the thermal pad. if you arent going to overclock than this is sufficient and you dont need thermal paste. ditto for the extra case fans. imho, those things will help keep things a bit cooler but one case fan and the thermal pad on the hs is just fine if you arent overclocking.
enjoy the new pc.

 

[thirtythree]

Thanks again. I am not planning on overclocking.

 

[thirtythree]

One more question .. what video card is the integrated video on the A7N266-VM comparable to?

 

[Zugzwang152]

Originally posted by: Deslocke
Thanks for the quick reply.

Will thermal paste or extra case fans be required?

thermal paste is ALWAYS required. Never install a heatsink to a CPU without it or a pad or some other goop, preferably arctic silver.

 

[thirtythree]

I think he said the retail hs has a thermal pad.

 

[Mavrick007]

Originally posted by: Deslocke
One more question .. what video card is the integrated video on the A7N266-VM comparable to?

The video card that is integrated with the Nforce 1 mobo is the Geforce 2 MX (not sure if it's MX200, MX400 or straight MX) operating at 6x AGP, which is what was said when it first came out, but all I see is a listing for 4x AGP. It has a 4x AGP port on the mobo to add a separate video card in the future. The video will be faster than a normal MX card, but probably more dependent on how much ram you put onboard. I would say it's close to a GF2 GTS 32meg.

Retail cpus come with a heat sink and fan and that has a thermal patch on it which you can use as long as you don't overclock, but if you do decide to overclock, it's best to scrape the patch off with a credit card, and put some thermal paste on since the pad gunk is hard to remove after it has melted onto the cpu.

 

[TheCorm]

When building systems for clients I don't install any 80mm fans for XP1700+ systems.....then I install 1 exhaust fan for 1800+ to 2000+ ones and 1 exhaust and 1 intake for 2100+ machines or higher.

But you could always fling one in at the back if you want to make it a bit cooler...but at deafult speeds, the retail fan and retail square of supplied thermal paste should be fine.

I would say it's close to a GF2 GTS 32meg

Really?? Does it run at 175mhz for the GPU.....I guess it must be that bit faster because it's using DDR System Memory running at least at 266mhz Effective.

Corm