• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

New System Questions

J

JaYBirD0613

Member
First I'd like to say that this community is awesome! I put together my first system with the help and advice from people on here about 3 years ago. Its time for a new system and I'd like some suggestions/feedback. I dont really stay up to date on the latest technology so I'm hoping you guys can help me out with my new system.

What I'm keeping from my old system:

19" Flat screen (Viewsonic)
16x DVD (Pioneer)
12/10/32 CDR (Plextor)

What I need to buy for my new system:

CPU (P4 - at least 1.5GHz) - What is the difference between 423 and PGA478?
Video Card - Geforce3 Dlx (Asus) - I want video in/out
Mobo (Asus) - What is the best one for the above CPU and Video Card?
Hard Drive - 60 GB 7200 rpm - Whats the best brand and model?
Power Supply - Will 300w be enough?
RAM - 512 MB DDR - Micron?
Case - I'm sure I can something =)
Sound Card - I'm buying a 5.1 system, do I need a special card to support this?


Thanx in advance for any help. Feel free to email or icq me if you wish!

P.S. If anyone knows of a good place to buy PC parts near Toronto or London Ont. gimmie a hollar!

Thanx again!

Jason.
 
about that HDD, a 60GB 7200RPM is about the same price as a 80GB 5400RPM drive, so go with a 80 GIG 🙂

both 5400 and 7200 can transfer data REALLY REALLY FAST, the only difference between the two is search time, you may save like a tenth of a second total with a higher RPM drive
 
Thanx for the tip Halogen.

I thought going with 60GB might be overkill... but 20 more GB cant hurt!

I thought getting a 20GB a few years ago was too much... but now its full! =)

Any other advice on Mobo and CPU?

 
423 is intel's first socket for the p4, the 478 is the new one. get the new one.

p4 1.5GHz isn't all that fast... if you're going for the p4 route i'd say 1.8+ (i think s478 will force you into this anyway)

the asus p4t-e is one of the best p4 boards available... its rdram but the price gap between rdram and ddr is shrinking all the time (especially with ddr prices doubling in the last month or two.) as for ddr boards, anandtech.com just did a roundup of i845 ddr boards. its a bit slower than rdram and the i845 is a bit slower than other ddr chipsets due to intel politics, but its stable and works. p4x266a should be a good chipset but boards on it might be hard to come by. the SiS 645 is also high performing, esp when used with DDR333 ram... asus is coming out with a board based on that, should be good (isn't everything asus good?)

power supply - intel changed the atx power specification to add another 12v connector, so old ones generally don't work (though asus, being the thoughtful people they are, came up with a way around that.) the antec 300watt is probably the best 300 watt out there, and will work for the p4 just fine. get an antec case to go with it, like the sx830 or sx1030.

rdram brands i'm not sure of... but ddr is crucial.com, definitely. go through the anandtech link at the top of the threads list to save 15%.

case see above

sound card - current bests are turtle beach santa cruz and soundblaster audigy. though a live 5.1 OEM might suit your needs just fine. holy wars go on about these things, read up on it and make up your own mind, i suppose.


EDIT: oops forgot hard drive... take a peak at storagereview.com's leaderboard, the best hard drives are up there. i'd grab a 7200 rpm myself, even if i could get more space from a 5400 rpm... western digital is making the best stuff right now... and the 7200 rpm is ~20%+ faster
 


<< CPU (P4 - at least 1.5GHz) - What is the difference between 423 and PGA478? >>

Since you are stuck with Intel (they charge too much for their stuff, IMO) PGA478 is the newer socket and will be supported longer, so get it - not 423.


<< Video Card - Geforce3 Dlx (Asus) - I want video in/out >>

decent choice bet expensive, but no GeForce 3 with VIVO costs less that I have seen.


<< Mobo (Asus) - What is the best one for the above CPU and Video Card? >>

Since you are stuck on ASUS (also charges too much for their motherboards, IMO) Don't know what to tell you here, except either get an Intel 850 chipset board (RDRAM) or one that supports DDR - not the original i845s that supported only PC133 SDRAM.


<< Hard Drive - 60 GB 7200 rpm - Whats the best brand and model? >>

I think the Seagate is looking pretty sweet, but the competition is pretty fierce at that point between them, Wester Digital, Maxtor and IBM, so just about any should be okay.


<< Power Supply - Will 300w be enough? >>

I would try to get a little bit more - maybe try the ENLIGHT EN-7237AZ MEDIUM TOWER P4 CASE - OEM with 340Watts Power Supply


<< RAM - 512 MB DDR - Micron? >>

Get it at Crucial for low $$$ and make sure you have picked out your mobo before you do this.


<< Case - I'm sure I can something =) >>

See above


<< Sound Card - I'm buying a 5.1 system, do I need a special card to support this? >>

If it is not already on your motherboard (which it probably won't be) then you need a soundcard that supports this - check out the Soundblaster Audigy series or the Hercules Game Theater XP.
 
Thanx ElFenix!

I knew someone would bring up RDRAM! I've been thinking about it a lot. Price is a concern, so I'll have to look into it. How much RDRAM would equal 512 MB od SDRAM in speed? (Aprox)

I think I will get 1.8 Ghz. =)

Know of any good Canadian PC retailers? I'm sick of paying taxes at the border when I buy off the net from a US company.

Thanx!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top