This is my first time putting a computer together. I came to anantech to get some advice on the parts that I will be using for my computer, and possibly help when it comes to putting my machine together. I intend to use my machine for general programming/compiling/running of code, listening to music, movies, and, of course, playing all those great PC games. So, without further ado, my initial idea for a build:
Processor:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735"> AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Dual Core
Processor</a>
$160
Question: Is this really the best processor out there on the market for the buck? I heard about Intel and their dual conroes, but I really want to optimize getting the most bang for my buck here, especially since prices on a bunch of AMD chips fell recently.
Mobo:
ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
$97
Ram:
Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) (one day sale)
2x80.99 = $162
Video card:
ASUS EN7600GS SILENT/HTD/512M Geforce 7600GS 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$143
PS:
SeaSonic S12-380 ATX12V 380W Power Supply 100 - 240V UL, CE, DEMCO, NEMCO, SEMCO, FIMCO, CB, FCC, CCC
$73
Question: One of my friends lives and swears by pcpowercooling.com. Anyone ever have any experience with that company and their brand of PS'?
hard drives:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3160811AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$68
HITACHI Ultrastar 10K300 HUS103073FL3600 (08K2480) 74GB 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache SCSI Ultra320 68pin Hard Drive
$170
Question: I feel like it may not be necessary to have 2 hard drives. I was only entertaining this idea so I could keep the OS, important files and stuff on the SCSI, and big media on the other. If I just stick with one, however, would SCSI be overkill? I've heard that hard drives can really be a big bottleneck for a computer. Also, where would I be able to find out if the particular model I'm looking at is compatible with my mobo? For the life of me, I can't seem to find this information on Asus' website.
cd/dvd drive:
Pioneer Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 5X DVD-RAM DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With 5X DVD-RAM Read - OEM
$34
case:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN1 Black / Silver Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$70 after rebate
So, overall, I'd be spending close to 1k here, although things like the second hard drive could cut down my costs a bit. Is there anywhere that I could presumably get a different item, for a lower cost, without sacrificing too much performance (like the video card, etc)? Also, I have no experience picking out LCD screens or speakers... can anyone recommend some to me? Finally, I was wondering... if I don't plan to overclock this system, would I even need to bother to pick up fans/ a cooling solution?
-Thanks again.
Processor:
<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103735"> AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Windsor 2000MHz HT 2 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM2 Dual Core
Processor</a>
$160
Question: Is this really the best processor out there on the market for the buck? I heard about Intel and their dual conroes, but I really want to optimize getting the most bang for my buck here, especially since prices on a bunch of AMD chips fell recently.
Mobo:
ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
$97
Ram:
Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) (one day sale)
2x80.99 = $162
Video card:
ASUS EN7600GS SILENT/HTD/512M Geforce 7600GS 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$143
PS:
SeaSonic S12-380 ATX12V 380W Power Supply 100 - 240V UL, CE, DEMCO, NEMCO, SEMCO, FIMCO, CB, FCC, CCC
$73
Question: One of my friends lives and swears by pcpowercooling.com. Anyone ever have any experience with that company and their brand of PS'?
hard drives:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3160811AS 160GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
$68
HITACHI Ultrastar 10K300 HUS103073FL3600 (08K2480) 74GB 10,000 RPM 8MB Cache SCSI Ultra320 68pin Hard Drive
$170
Question: I feel like it may not be necessary to have 2 hard drives. I was only entertaining this idea so I could keep the OS, important files and stuff on the SCSI, and big media on the other. If I just stick with one, however, would SCSI be overkill? I've heard that hard drives can really be a big bottleneck for a computer. Also, where would I be able to find out if the particular model I'm looking at is compatible with my mobo? For the life of me, I can't seem to find this information on Asus' website.
cd/dvd drive:
Pioneer Beige 16X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 16X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 5X DVD-RAM DVD-ROM 40X CD-R 32X CD-RW 40X CD-ROM 2M Cache ATAPI 16X DVD±R DVD Burner With 5X DVD-RAM Read - OEM
$34
case:
COOLER MASTER Centurion 534 RC-534-SKN1 Black / Silver Aluminum & Mesh bezel / SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
$70 after rebate
So, overall, I'd be spending close to 1k here, although things like the second hard drive could cut down my costs a bit. Is there anywhere that I could presumably get a different item, for a lower cost, without sacrificing too much performance (like the video card, etc)? Also, I have no experience picking out LCD screens or speakers... can anyone recommend some to me? Finally, I was wondering... if I don't plan to overclock this system, would I even need to bother to pick up fans/ a cooling solution?
-Thanks again.
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