New PC Build

[mike3uz]

Well my dad hasn't gotten a new pc since i did post a thread a few months ago about it. He might let me build a system from that is $1200. Dont need mouse, keyboard, and monitor. The only extra I need right now is XP Professional. My dad was clever enough to setup a domain so I'm forced to get pro but thats fine with me plus I seem to like pro better. The system I use a p3 500 most of the time so its a big improvent.

I generally use Openoffice, Miranda IM, Real Alternative, WMP, Limewire, and Firefox. Thats pretty much it but this pc might get me into pc gaming. I would like to overclock but not by that much. How noisy is the retail fan for the 3000 and the fortron 450. I have read the guide by mechbgon and going to a computer building class at this one school of mine.

Now here is it component wise

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice Core)
Retail HSF or an aftermarket
I cant decide on a case. Maybe you could suggest a good case.
Arctic Silver 5 and arcticlean if i get an aftermarket hsf or use the stock one.
Fortron 450 or XClio 450
1 GB DDR400 2.5 (Corsair Value Select)
Epox EP9NA Ultra
NEC ND-3540A
liteOn SOHC-5236K Black Retail
Sony Floppy
6600GT or better but I heard nvidia has better linux support If I put linux on this machine
Seagate 160 GB SATA HDD (I dont have a lot of mp3's and nearly all are on another slower machine.
Windows XP Professional SP2 OEM
Sound card If I can spring for it.


Well this is it. If You have any suggestions that would be awesome.

 

[alimoalem]

i would drop the NEC ND-3540A. why have a DVD/CD-RW combo drive when you already have a DVD burner?
second, i'm not familiar with Epox but is it a decent OCer? cause i know some boards are limited to 10% OCing, just don't remember which ones. if you want to do possibly a little bit of overclocking, i'm guessing you'll do more than 200MHz

 

[i1o0i]

Yeah, Epox is a decent OC'er mobo. Anyways, mike3uz, its good rig.. you may want to considering to get AMD 3200+ for better overclock and get Forton 450watts psu as well

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

:thumbsup: Excellent choice in components. Even with stock HSF, you should be able to get that 3000+ up to ~2.4-2.5Ghz. Go with the Fortron 450W PSU. It has slightly higher amps on the +12V rails, and Fortron is a slightly better manufacturer than Channel Well. As for the case, the Antec P180 is really nice. There was a deal a couple weeks ago for like ~$100 on some site. Dunno if it's still around though.

 

[Aepheme]

I recently (two days ago) built a new PC for $1344 (after tax and shipping). You can see the components with prices and vendors here:

New Mid-Range Gaming System & Price! (Anandtech)

It's amazing how much you can get for $1344. The rig is pretty close to your specs... the only thing I wouldn't recommend is a 7800 GT. That's probably not necessary if you're not a hardcore gamer or if you don't have a 24" monitor. If you downgraded that, you could easily achieve the same system for $1200.

 

[Cooler]

If you can wait a week The New ati line should offer better profromance for the same price with a x1600 model. Other then that it looks good. Also if you got exta $150 go for the 3800 dual core.

 

[mike3uz]

Well my monitor is a panasonic Pro P17 so I dont know if a great video card makes a difference.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Hmm, actually, if you have the money, try to go for the brand new X800GTO2. It's fully unlockable and overclockable to X850XT PE speeds for only ~$180!

 

[mike3uz]

Wow maybe I might consider it. How good is ati's linux drivers! If I run linux it wont be for gaming though.

 

[w00t]

if you get an antec sontana you could save money and get a better graphics card btw chaintech makes a really good sound card for audio but still you cant beat the sound of audigy for gaming but its good enough.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829120103

 

[mike3uz]

I got an altec Lansing avs500 speakers.

 

[mike3uz]

Here is what I have chosen

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice (monarch)
Epox EP-9NA Ultra+ (Newegg)
Corsair 1 GB DDR400 Value Select (Newegg)
Antec P180 (monarch) I love this case design!!!
Fortron 450W PSU (newegg) It's one of the best $50 USD PSU's and its got perfect length cabling for the p180.
Seagate 160 GB SATA HDD (Monarch) I havent filled up my 80 and my music is on another pc that I stream from.
Black Sony Floppy (Newegg)
LiteOn SOHC-5236K Combo Drive (Monarch)
Nec ND-3540A (Monarch)
BFG 6600GT (newegg) dunno about ati's linux support
MS Windows XP Professional SP2 OEM (Monarch)
Arctic Silver 5 (newegg)
ArctiClean (newegg
80 mm antec fan (monarch)
120 mm antec fan (monarch)
extra fans are for p180

any fixes would be great. I can always get a sound card from bestbuy or compusa.

Total is 1175.85 from both monarch and newegg

 

[mike3uz]

Another Revised System

All parts are from the egg

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice
Thermaltake Big Typhoon HSF
Fortron 450W PSU
CoolerMaster Cavalier 3 Black Chassis Should I add an extra fan for the case since it has a port for one?
Epox EP-9NPA Ultra Mobo
Corsair ValueSelect 1 GB DDR400 Should i get the 89 dollar one or the 94 dollar one
EVGA 6600GT I hope I can overclock this one!
Sony Floppy
LiteOn SOHD-16P9S DVD-ROM Black Retail
NEC ND-3540A Black Retail for nero as well
160GB Seagate 7200.9 SATA2 HDD
ArcticSilver 5
ArctiClean
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS OEM
Windows XP Professional SP2 OEM

This all fits my budget. I do plan overclocking. Any responses are welcome.