Need help building a basic system...

[Motero]

I've been out of the groove for a few months now...and was just asked to build a pc for my brother using some existing parts from his old one (monitor, cd burner, floppy, 20 gb hd).

He would like a dvd rom, video card, sound card, 2 ghz processor (intel or amd) w/ mobo, at least 256 mb ram, case w/ ps, hard drive, win xp pro, and modem. I want to stay away from the integrated mobos as far as just using video, modem, and sound. His price cap was undecided but I imagine no more than $600-$700.

Can you help me out with a good rock solid system? I've only ever built rock solid amd systems, but being out of it for so long, I don't know what is good stuff anymore.

Thanks for any help!

 

[timu]

get a athlon 2100+ xp with a good motherboard (within your budget may be msi kt4 ultra a good idea). 256mb pc2700 ddr ram (go for a good brand like crucial). geforce 4 ti 4200 video card is a good value for money............the rest you know i think...........good luck with your new system.

 

[Zugzwang152]

lite-on dvd drive, skimp on the sound card (only need a low-end SB live prolly) and sink the rest into a vid card. newegg has radeon 9700s for 250...

 

[Motero]

Thanks for the replies. The last few systems I built were Epox 8k7a with crucial 256mb 2100 ddr...I don't think that will take the processor I'm looking for anymore. I was looking for probably the 2400+ processor. Any other good boards anyone knows of? Otherwise I'd probably go with that stuff that worked well with me in the past. Also, would the enlight 7237 case with 340 ps be ok or do I need a bigger ps? What about Asus A7m266? Is it any good? It appears to accept the 2400+.

Edit: What are some decent sound cards I could get? I am very hesitant to get any sound blaster sound cards or diamond stuff. I don't want to go all out with a santa cruz or anything that high end.

 

[Motero]

Is there any special kind of video card I need to install to get the dvd rom to work? any particular cables or anything? I don't need like vivo or anything like that, right?

 

[Casper5748]

There isn't any special video card to get a DVD rom to work. You should get a decent one though. Look at the Albatron MX440SE . They are cheaper than the Gainwards but they seem to be very good.

 

[DaveSimmons]

For XP Pro 512 MB RAM is a good idea, even if it means moving down one speed level for the CPU.

 

[Motero]

Here's what I put together so far. Please leave your feedback...I hit about $715 so far, but he just told me it was ok to go a little higher... Most prices are from newegg, memory is from crucial, and so far the video card is from techsavings.com.

AMD XP 2400 ? $197
Epox 8K9A ? $87
Crucial 256 MB DDR 2700 ? $64.99
ATI Radeon 7000 64 MB video - $65
Creative Modem Blaster v.92 - $21
Liteon 16x ? $42
Win XP Pro ? $147
60 gb Seagate Barracuda - $90

Need some hints on sound and a case with good ps.

 

[thraxes]

All is Ok but for the Graphics card, go down a speed level or two on the CPU and get a Radeon 8500 or 9500 / Nvidia GF4-Ti4200 or better.
That fast CPU will give you no benefit with a very poor graphics card slowing it down, gotta balance that out a little. Otherwise you are all set.

 

[Motero]

You mean something like this?
card

I looked at the full blown 8500s and they are too expensive...

Edit: Gainward GF4 Ti 4200 64MB - $113 doesn't look too bad.

 

[thraxes]

Yeah, you got the idea, get a cheaper/slower CPU in the 2000 - 2100 range and greatly offset thatwith a much more potent AGP card, that GF4 TI4200 will do nicely.

 

[Motero]

Alright...so if I make some changes like 2400 to 2200.
60 gb hd to 40 gb hd.
and win xp pro found a better price...
I'll have more money for the video card...

I just really need to know sound card and case with ps.

Anyone else have any ideas?

 

[timu]

check the sound cards of creative according to your budget. you should consider a better video card for sure than ati7000.

 

[dthyer]

The value point right now is with the 2100+.
I would take the savings and get a 512MB stick of ram.
A great value video card right now is the Radeon 8500LE 64 MB by Sapphire. It is around $76.

I think the ram will make a bigger diffence with XP than a faster processor. Also, to save money on the sound card you might want to go with a cheap nForce2 board if you can find one. I know that you didn't want integrated sound, however, the MCP-T is going to blow away most cheap sound cards. And it has DD 5.1 encoding on the fly if he can take advantage of the S/PDIF out.

 

[wyvrn]

If it's a home computer, why not save some bucks and get XP Home. Why would you need the Pro version?

 

[Motero]

That's what he said he wanted...he said no Home version. I don't know why...

 

[Motero]

How is this for a sound card? Did Via and SB ever get their issues straightened out?

Creative Sound Blaster Live 5.1 PCI Sound Card
with Dolby Digital CD Driver (OEM Bulk Pack)
Digital Input/Digital Output - $30

 

[DT4K]

Originally posted by: Motero
How is this for a sound card? Did Via and SB ever get their issues straightened out?

Creative Sound Blaster Live 5.1 PCI Sound Card
with Dolby Digital CD Driver (OEM Bulk Pack)
Digital Input/Digital Output - $30

I thought mine sounded pretty good, although I've had some glitches with mine in games. Could be the game's fault though.

With Win XP, I highly recommend 512MB DDR.
Does he play any games?
If not, a cheaper video card is fine. If he does, definitely get a Ti 4200.

I wouldn't get the Epox 8K9A.
Instead, save the money on the sound card and get the Asus A7N8X. It is an NForce 2 mobo so it will perform better than the KT400 boards and it has onboard 6-channel audio which will be just as good if not better than that SB Live card.

 

[Motero]

I've been thinking about the extra memory. After I figure the case and ps out, I'll recheck the budget to see if I can get more. Any ideas anyone on the case and ps?