New comp for little bro, thoughts?

[Tremulant]

Alright, here goes... I'm trying to keep this under $600 w/ monitor/kb/mouse.

Here's what I'm thinking of so far..

Processor: Athlon XP 2500+ (Barton) - $87
Memory: 512 Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 (CL2.5) - $83
Motherboard: ABIT "AN7" - $92
HDD: WD 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model 6Y080P0 - $70 + $3 shipping
Case/PSU: ANTEC SLK3700AMB with 350W Power Supply - $69.99
Monitor: SAMSUNG 793DF-Silver/Black 17" DynaFlat CRT Monitor - $159.99 - $20 MIR ($169.59 - $20 after 6% sales tax)
Videocard: GeForce4 MX420 64MB (re-using from my old pc) - $0
Optical Drive: No-name 52x24x52 CDRW (also re-using, will get DVD if I can fit it in) - $0

Total: $547.58

The KB & mouse I can go pick up at a store, I'll let him choose. Oh, and I have an old set of speakers that he can use (he doesn't need anything mind-blowing, he's 7.)

Reason for the 2500 is well, I don't plan on getting him another PC anytime soon, so that'll have to last for the next year or three. So basically, I just want something that will last for the next few years and give me some option of upgrading, if I ever need to. He'll be playing BFV, UT2K4 and AOM (he taught himself howto play AOM in like 30 min..). And I can always upgrade the video card if I need to.

Thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

Thanks.

EDIT: Changed mobo to AN7, Case to SLK3700AMB, HDD to WD, Memory to 1x512. Shaved $10 off.

 

[n0cmonkey]

Looks like a nice system. Forget an OS though?

 

[someone16]

You can save a bit more going Shuttle AN35N ultra. I doubt you'll need the features of NF7-S.

 

[Frew]

I hope he isn't planning to play games.

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Looks like a nice system. Forget an OS though?

Got an OS already.

Originally posted by: someone16
You can save a bit more going Shuttle AN35N ultra. I doubt you'll need the features of NF7-S.

I thought about it, but I like the Abit.

 

[dennisjai215]

is he browsing thru your pr0n?

 

[dennisjai215]

also a abit nf7 (REGULAR ONES) is sturdy and cheap and better than the shuttle one

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: LeadFrog
I hope he isn't planning to play games.

Eh, it should be fine for the games he'll be playing, except maybe BFV. It should handle UT2k4 and AOM fine, although at low settings. My other bro has a p4 2.53 Ghz (533FSB, no HT.. Dell), and the geforce4mx was originally in that and ffxi ran nicer on that than on the radeon 9600xt I stuck in there, but then again, that pc only had 256MB of ram at that time (bumped that up to 768, made a WORLD of difference in BFV).

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: dennisjai215
is he browsing thru your pr0n?

rofl, nope. He's just been bugging me for a comp for the past 6 months, so I thought I'd build it already.

 

[mechBgon]

Shuttle MN31N gets my vote. Full MCP-T southbridge with everything except an S/PDIF, and it has an onboard GF4MX (dual-head, yet). Not the perfect tool for wild overclocking, however. I would get the SLK3700AMB if it were me, the power supply is a better one by far (two ball-bearing fans, not a single sleeve-bearing one, and it's a 350W unit). Or check out the new SLK1650 and SLK1650B, with the same PSU but not quite as nice on the drive cages.

I also suggest WinXP Pro or Win2000 Pro, so you can set him up as a Restricted User and keep the little monster from installing his very own pr0n-popup-generator, spyware, remote-access Trojan, etc, by accidentally clicking Yes on the wrong popup or downloading and installing the wrong thing. Use a strong Administrator password, use password logon (not automatic logon), and use Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer to look for less-obvious weaknesses that Windows Update may not be looking for, and enable Automatic Updates like this so it keeps itself updated. More resources here: resources

 

[Sonic587]

Drop the 2X 256MB and just get 1 512MB stick. If he ever needs a gig of RAM, you'll be prepared.

Also, drop that Maxtor drive and pickup a cheaper WD 8MB 80gig. 3 year warranty=More protection from failure.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=22-144-122&DEPA=0

 

[Tremulant]

mech: I was going to put WinXP Pro on and give him about 0 rights.

Sonic: I chose the 2x256 for the dual channel, does it give a worthwhile performance boost? I was also looking at the WD, but I've heard of some problems with them (problems with the maxtor too, for that matter).

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Tremulant
mech: I was going to put WinXP Pro on and give him about 0 rights.

Sonic: I chose the 2x256 for the dual channel, does it give a worthwhile performance boost? I was also looking at the WD, but I've heard of some problems with them (problems with the maxtor too, for that matter).

On the MN31N, the dual-channel would boost the performance of the onboard video in gaming. You could start with two 256's and still plunk in a 512 for 1GB total, too.

On a board with an add-in video card, the benefits of dual-channel are nearly zero, because even one DDR controller is enough to cover the AthlonXP's appetite well. No harm in it, of course, but no huge benefits either... a few percent.

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: Tremulant
mech: I was going to put WinXP Pro on and give him about 0 rights.

Sonic: I chose the 2x256 for the dual channel, does it give a worthwhile performance boost? I was also looking at the WD, but I've heard of some problems with them (problems with the maxtor too, for that matter).

On the MN31N, the dual-channel would boost the performance of the onboard video in gaming. You could start with two 256's and still plunk in a 512 for 1GB total, too.

On a board with an add-in video card, the benefits of dual-channel are nearly zero, because even one DDR controller is enough to cover the AthlonXP's appetite well. No harm in it, of course, but no huge benefits either... a few percent.

Ah. I also read that the Pentiums benefit more from dual channel than AMD processors do (especially noted with the new A64s). I'll go with the single 512 for now and an AN7, I think. I'm still debating over the mobo. I did change the case to the 3700 (it's the one I wanted originally.. didn't see the shipping on it was free until now).

 

[Sonic587]

Originally posted by: mechBgon

Originally posted by: Tremulant
mech: I was going to put WinXP Pro on and give him about 0 rights.

Sonic: I chose the 2x256 for the dual channel, does it give a worthwhile performance boost? I was also looking at the WD, but I've heard of some problems with them (problems with the maxtor too, for that matter).

On the MN31N, the dual-channel would boost the performance of the onboard video in gaming. You could start with two 256's and still plunk in a 512 for 1GB total, too.

On a board with an add-in video card, the benefits of dual-channel are nearly zero, because even one DDR controller is enough to cover the AthlonXP's appetite well. No harm in it, of course, but no huge benefits either... a few percent.

IMHO, Mech, he should go with the board he has(or shuttle AN35N-U if he wants to save). Onboard is a good idea, but this kid is playing BF:V and UT2004. 512MB+onboard video might leave those games going for the swap file because the RAM is too low. I think he needs all he can get. Since he already has a stand alone G4MX, there's more disadvantages going with the MN31N than benefits.

I was also looking at the WD, but I've heard of some problems with them (problems with the maxtor too, for that matter).

I would go with the WD just because of this. All hard drive brands have problems. Better to have the 3 year warranty should encounter any yourself.

 

[Tremulant]

One more question: Would it be worth it to get another 120mm for intake? I was actually looking to use this case for my computer (that I just built a few weeks ago, used the kt-424 instead) and I always wondered whether the intake was needed or not. I'm in South FL, so it's *always* hot and humid, and the room this will be in is the hottest room in the house (farthest away from central air, so in the middle of the day it's an oven in there)

edit: I have a headache, time to sleep. I'll probably be ordering sometime this weekend or on monday, but it will most likely be by next weekend. Thanks for all the replies & help. :beer:

 

[JohnG86]

Seagate hard drives have 3 year warrenty and are quieter then WD. I own 3 Seagates and own just a few more WD hard drives that are noisy. I havent heard my Seagate hard drives make any sounds.

 

[Tremulant]

The seagate also costs like $25 more than the WD. If it cost ~$70 I would've gone with that without even thinking about it.

 

[Connoisseur]

get another 120mm fan. If it's hot, you want to keep that hard drive cool. That and the intake will def help your case and cpu temps especially if you're going with retail HS. And you can probably get one for $10 shipped.

 

[Tremulant]

Originally posted by: Connoisseur
get another 120mm fan. If it's hot, you want to keep that hard drive cool. That and the intake will def help your case and cpu temps especially if you're going with retail HS. And you can probably get one for $10 shipped.

I'm considering getting a temp. controlled fan to put as the exhaust and moving the fan it comes with to use as intake. Would it be worth the extra $10? Or would a plain old 120MM be better? (79cfm/30dba)

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: n0cmonkey
Looks like a nice system. Forget an OS though?

His brother uses linux like everyone else.

 

[Zebo]

Looks good...a bit overkill... I'd get a duron... Biostar board with same features for $60... mATX case/PSU...for $22 and so on... Cheap you say? well I never liked any of my brothers.

 

[rogue1979]

Since this is a gaming computer, how about considering this?

Go for a Shuttle or Biostar Nforce2 board and save about $40.

Get an 1800+ and overclock to 2000MHz at around a 174MHz fsb, very easy only small core voltage if any needed, save $40 more.

Get a generic case without a power supply, you should be able to find one for about $25 with an 80mm side port and several in the rear. Put a CoolMax 350-watt in there for $35, quiet and powerful save another $10.

Take the $90 and get a better video card, if you shop around you can get an 8500 128MB or Ti4200 128MB new for that, or get a refurbed video card at newegg.

This will play games much faster than the MX420 and still cost the same.

 

[mechBgon]

The Hitachi 8MB-cache drives are also worth a peek: $89 for 120GB version. Fluid bearings for long-lasting quietness, 3-year warranty, relatively inexpensive for the capacity, and they make an eerie meow noise at random intervals to keep your little brother scared of it :Q Look at it this way, you can give him 40GB of it and make a second 80GB partition that you can use as a network share for backing up your system

I got the 120GB one for my little sister. Not bad for a 7200rpm drive, I guess.

 

[Polishwonder74]

Think about snagging a used Dell off of ebay. If he just wants to screw around a little, I'll bet you could get away with a $200, 500Mhz Dell.