new computer

[zippity]

im trying to build a somewhat cheap gaming machine for around $1000 and ive come up with the following from new egg

-ANTEC Performance PLUS Model PLUS1080AMG- with Antec Original TRUE 430W P4 Power Supply ATX12V Retail
-Lite On 52x24x52 CDRW Model LTR-52246S Retail
-LITE-ON XJ-HD166S/XJ-HD165H 16X DVD ROM Drive - Retail
-WD WESTERN DIGITAL "SPECIAL EDITION" 80GB 7200RPM EIDE HARD DRIVE MODEL # WD800JB - OEM, DRIVE ONLY
-CORSAIR MEMORY XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series 512MB 32MX8 PC-2700C2PT With Platinum - Silver Heat Spreader OEM x2
-Asus Motherboard for AMD Athlon/XP/Duron Processors, Model# A7N8X Deluxe Retail
-AMD ATHLON XP 2500 "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR CPU- RETAIL
-Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy Gamer

this is what i have so far. It comes out around 800 dollars and it lacks a video card
id like a video card around $200-300 that wont be obsolete in the next year - year and a half

what recommendations can you give me?
what extra cables and stuff should i get?

im a total newb to building computers so any help is appreciated

thanks

 

[mechBgon]

With the nice onboard audio of the A7N8X-Deluxe, do you need the Audigy? I'd leave that out, and spend some of the savings on XMS3200C2 modules so you don't have to buy PC3200 later if you upgrade to a 400MHz-based CPU in a year or so (like the AthlonXP 3200+ for example).

The motherboard will come with the cables you need for what you're showing there, so you should be ok on cables. Nice case/power supply choice The Western Digital drives sometimes run louder as time goes by, so if noise is a concern then you might consider a drive with fluid bearings as an alternative (when will WD get with the program and start making fluid bearings standard? )

For a video card, how about an ATI 9700 Pro? Personally I would go for a built-by-ATI one, and with the money you save by eliminating the Audigy, you may have almost enough money, even after the upgrade to PC3200 memory.

Welcome to the Forums, by the way

 

[foofoo]

hi,
that system looks great, nice job. the only comment that i'd make is that if you arent going to be using the sata raid on the asus board anytime soon, you could go to a different mb that has the other good features of the asus a7n8x deluxe but not the sata and save some money that could be put toward a better video card. try looking at the epox 8rda+ or the soltek nforce2 mbds if you think that this might make sense.
you wont need any extra cables. the motherboard should include all of the cables that you need.
you are within striking range of the ati 9700pro which would be a good video card for your system. they are still ~$300 now. if monsy is a problem, get the 9700 non-pro. that should hold you for a while.
good luck

 

[squidman]

Get yourself either a 9700, or 9700PRO OEM (the pro OEM is just about 300 on newegg), which are excellent cards, and wont become obsolete in years to come, cuz they have the DX9 support, and are pretty darn fast. If I had 250+ on a video card, id definitely would get myself a 9700 Pro.

Recommendations - just put the stuff in the case, connect, organize the cables (you dont have to buy any - deluxe mobo has all you need, like IDE cables, etc. Make sure you connect the 80pin IDE conductor to your Hard drive, so it could work in ata 100 (or 133) mode). If everything works fine, and im sure it would, then just remember: DO NOT update the BIOS on your mobo!!! If you, as you said, are a newb, then dont do it - you might f*** up a perfectly working system.

Also - why do you need the audigy dude? The ASUS Deluxe has the fastest APU!!! If you havent ordered it YET, just scratch it. I had an M-audio pro card (really good, and really expensive), but my Deluxe's APU is still faster when it comes to games.

As for the extras - just get yourself couple of quality case fans.

Good luck!

 

[squidman]

Originally posted by: foofoo
hi,
that system looks great, nice job. the only comment that i'd make is that if you arent going to be using the sata raid on the asus board anytime soon, you could go to a different mb that has the other good features of the asus a7n8x deluxe but not the sata and save some money that could be put toward a better video card. try looking at the epox 8rda+ or the soltek nforce2 mbds if you think that this might make sense.
you wont need any extra cables. the motherboard should include all of the cables that you need.
you are within striking range of the ati 9700pro which would be a good video card for your system. they are still ~$300 now. if monsy is a problem, get the 9700 non-pro. that should hold you for a while.
good luck

I still think that asus would be an excellent choice for him, for as he said, hes a newb. ASUS is still the most stable, and is a great mobo in many aspects.

 

[Krk3561]

Get Kingston HyperX PC2700 512MB x 2 instead of the Corsair. Its less expensive and rated to run at 2-2-2-5-1 vs. Corsair's 2-3-3-6-2. You could also get Kingston HyperX PC3000 for less than the Corsair also. Corsair is not as good compared to the rest as it used to be.

 

[foofoo]

I still think that asus would be an excellent choice for him, for as he said, hes a newb. ASUS is still the most stable, and is a great mobo in many aspects.

hi squidman,
that's true, the a7n8x is a good board. i still would reccomend that he at least consider the soltek board.
check out this thread. thread
i've got one of these soltek boards and they are really good. the first post has links to many reviews. the soltek is very stable and pretty much a snap to set up.
the money saved by not going with sata that you are not going to use can be used for better components, maybe he can get that 9700pro we all reccomend.

 

[zippity]

thanks guys
much appreciated

sound card scratched and 9700 pro added.. now to decide on ram

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: zippity
thanks guys
much appreciated

sound card scratched and 9700 pro added.. now to decide on ram

HyperX 3500 512MB

 

[Krk3561]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon

Originally posted by: zippity thanks guys much appreciated sound card scratched and 9700 pro added.. now to decide on ram

HyperX 3500 512MB

I'm using this ram right now and its awesome.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon

Originally posted by: zippity
thanks guys
much appreciated

sound card scratched and 9700 pro added.. now to decide on ram

HyperX 3500 512MB

hyper x has issues with the rev 2 a7n8x boards. i wouldn't chance it (though i luckily got a 1.06 from googlegear last week)

 

[Corporate Thug]

because of nforce2 and hyperX issues, i would go with Corsair

 

[squidman]

Id join shady and recommend the corsair. Kingston does have instability problems (*sigh* thats why i got the 7-3-3-2.5 samsung instead. But who the f cares! its still HELLA fast when compared to my PIII 750!)

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: squidman
Id join shady and recommend the corsair. Kingston does have instability problems (*sigh* thats why i got the 7-3-3-2.5 samsung instead. But who the f cares! its still HELLA fast when compared to my PIII 750!)

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: ScrapSilicon

Originally posted by: zippity
thanks guys
much appreciated

sound card scratched and 9700 pro added.. now to decide on ram

HyperX 3500 512MB

hyper x has issues with the rev 2 a7n8x boards. i wouldn't chance it (though i luckily got a 1.06 from googlegear last week)

funny..nForce2 had issues with some Crucial not long ago...this manufacturer's boards work well with this and this board works with that...pattern begins..my lil kt333 board has no issues with my current Samsung TCB3 and Infineon-6...so..I'll wait a lil longer.. ...heh..I've been Joe Pesci'd by MacD's :|

 

[zippity]

any major differences between the sapphire and aiw 9700 pros?

im not sure which to get.. will get the cheaper one though if theyre pretty much the same performance-wise

thanks