I think I?ve finalized my build components. Here?s my list below. I am a pretty heavy graphics user (Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver), and am considering getting into some animation stuff (Maya, Bryce, Poser). I?m not much of a gamer (go figure!), so I think it?s best to go with the dual-cores. And every test I read, Athlon 64 X2?s are destroying Pentium D?s; and the 4400+ looks like the sweet spot. I?m hoping some of you may give me some feedback, since this will be my first pc build. Yeah, I figure I might OC this up to about 2.6 Ghz from its stock 2.2 Ghz- but that would be down the road.
Cpu: AMD athlon 4400+ X2 dual-core 2.2 Ghz, 2MB cache $526
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-K8N PRO-SLi nForce4 $133
I like this rear surround out and Serial II (SATA-300) capabilities.
RAM: 2 GB OCZ Platinum DDR400 (PC3200) 2 x 1 GB kit $220
Dual-channel, 2.6v, 2-3-2-5-1t, at barely more than budget ram prices.
Case: RED Aspire Cruiser ATX Mid-Tower $90
With its outside control dials, and lots of bays, this is one cool case.
Psu: Thermaltake W0023RUC PurePower 12v 560W $103
w/ active PFC, ATX Logic on-off, and 22A of +12v power.
Hsf: Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCu Kit $46
Seems that e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e else loves this kit for chillin? at home.
Video: ATi All-in-Wonder X600 Pro, 256 MB w/ TV-out $160
Sound: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer $85
Got hooked up on this pack from ZipZoomFly.
Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 250 GB $121
Using that SATA II 300mbps in the mobo, and w/ 16 mb cache!
Optical: NEC ND-3540 Dual Layer DVD+/-RW, CD-R $46
Reader: Mitsumi 7-in-1 card reader and floppy drive $20
Essential if I plan to ever load those BIOS, riiiiigggghht?
Monitor: Philips 19? SXGA LCD 190B6CS/27 $394
w/ speakers, a built-in TV tuner, USB port, 600:1, silver case.
Input: maybe Kensington Wireless Comfort Type $62
I?ve read the reviews saying how fast the mouse battery goes?
O/S: Microsoft XP Media Center, full version $114
Security: probably going with Macafee over Norton $40
Adds: Arctic Silver thermal compound & adhesive $20
?Building the Perfect PC? by Robert Bruce Thompson $20
I might try to run this at 2.68 Ghz, 268 Mhz FSB, 10x multi, 1.5v, HTT 3x,
Ram divider 11:12 @ 246 Mhz w/ 2.5-3-2-7 settings or closest and 2.8v.
Everything I?ve listed was at current prices from PriceGrabber INCLUDING TAX/SHIPPING. This build totals EXACTLY $2200 with operating system (after rebates).
I?m REALLY new to pc?s and need to get one pronto (I?ve been a Mac power-user my entire life). Yeah, so this would seem like a good way to learn about the equipment I?ll be using for the next 3-4 years.
Anybody want to comment if I should reconsider/be intimidated because I need to learn everything from scratch. I mean, I barely know command line. But I?m on an HP Pavillion a1123c (I am definitely returning this piece of shizzle) and have already gotten into the BIOS (mostly all cpu/mobo/ram is locked ot by HP).
Think you can do better on a budget?
Wanna copy this and build first to tell me how it matches?
The OC?d settings are just a guess, until I start twiddling, I won?t really know.
And, yes, I do think 2 GB RAM is important for my system, and 256 MB of vram isn?t necessary, but it hardly makes a cost difference and helps render times.
Lastly, I?ve thought about dropping to the X2 3800+, but the $157 in savings is borderline justifiable when losing the 1MB cache along with the 200Mhz clock. Seems then I may as well go with OCZ Plat revision 2 (2-2-2-5) 4 x 512 mb and push that to 260 Mhz and 1:1 with bus speed to help make up cache loss. And hey, that?s not saving money anymore. Or, use X2 3800+, take the loss, and drop to value Corsair 2 GB ram for $89, lighten up the hsf and roll an extra $300 under my mattress.
Thanks for input. Cheers.
Cpu: AMD athlon 4400+ X2 dual-core 2.2 Ghz, 2MB cache $526
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-K8N PRO-SLi nForce4 $133
I like this rear surround out and Serial II (SATA-300) capabilities.
RAM: 2 GB OCZ Platinum DDR400 (PC3200) 2 x 1 GB kit $220
Dual-channel, 2.6v, 2-3-2-5-1t, at barely more than budget ram prices.
Case: RED Aspire Cruiser ATX Mid-Tower $90
With its outside control dials, and lots of bays, this is one cool case.
Psu: Thermaltake W0023RUC PurePower 12v 560W $103
w/ active PFC, ATX Logic on-off, and 22A of +12v power.
Hsf: Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCu Kit $46
Seems that e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e else loves this kit for chillin? at home.
Video: ATi All-in-Wonder X600 Pro, 256 MB w/ TV-out $160
Sound: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Gamer $85
Got hooked up on this pack from ZipZoomFly.
Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE16 250 GB $121
Using that SATA II 300mbps in the mobo, and w/ 16 mb cache!
Optical: NEC ND-3540 Dual Layer DVD+/-RW, CD-R $46
Reader: Mitsumi 7-in-1 card reader and floppy drive $20
Essential if I plan to ever load those BIOS, riiiiigggghht?
Monitor: Philips 19? SXGA LCD 190B6CS/27 $394
w/ speakers, a built-in TV tuner, USB port, 600:1, silver case.
Input: maybe Kensington Wireless Comfort Type $62
I?ve read the reviews saying how fast the mouse battery goes?
O/S: Microsoft XP Media Center, full version $114
Security: probably going with Macafee over Norton $40
Adds: Arctic Silver thermal compound & adhesive $20
?Building the Perfect PC? by Robert Bruce Thompson $20
I might try to run this at 2.68 Ghz, 268 Mhz FSB, 10x multi, 1.5v, HTT 3x,
Ram divider 11:12 @ 246 Mhz w/ 2.5-3-2-7 settings or closest and 2.8v.
Everything I?ve listed was at current prices from PriceGrabber INCLUDING TAX/SHIPPING. This build totals EXACTLY $2200 with operating system (after rebates).
I?m REALLY new to pc?s and need to get one pronto (I?ve been a Mac power-user my entire life). Yeah, so this would seem like a good way to learn about the equipment I?ll be using for the next 3-4 years.
Anybody want to comment if I should reconsider/be intimidated because I need to learn everything from scratch. I mean, I barely know command line. But I?m on an HP Pavillion a1123c (I am definitely returning this piece of shizzle) and have already gotten into the BIOS (mostly all cpu/mobo/ram is locked ot by HP).
Think you can do better on a budget?
Wanna copy this and build first to tell me how it matches?
The OC?d settings are just a guess, until I start twiddling, I won?t really know.
And, yes, I do think 2 GB RAM is important for my system, and 256 MB of vram isn?t necessary, but it hardly makes a cost difference and helps render times.
Lastly, I?ve thought about dropping to the X2 3800+, but the $157 in savings is borderline justifiable when losing the 1MB cache along with the 200Mhz clock. Seems then I may as well go with OCZ Plat revision 2 (2-2-2-5) 4 x 512 mb and push that to 260 Mhz and 1:1 with bus speed to help make up cache loss. And hey, that?s not saving money anymore. Or, use X2 3800+, take the loss, and drop to value Corsair 2 GB ram for $89, lighten up the hsf and roll an extra $300 under my mattress.
Thanks for input. Cheers.