Newbie Building New Computer - Need Help

[DisinfectedDuck]

Well, I wanna build a new computer since i'm going to the U.S in two weeks and the prices there are 50% lower than here (here in Israel). Anyway, i've decided i'm going on an Athlon, I think the 1.33 ghz. The Asusv8200 GF3 card as it looks awesome and received excellent reviews. Sound card - SB live! platinum 5.1 - can't beat that. Now here's my problem - I have no idea which motherboard and memory I should get. I'm looking for the best one available - but one that will be compatible with the Athlon and the Asus v8200. Anyway, if anyone can suggest the best overall motherboard (performance AND stability) to me i'd really appreciate it.
Now the memory - I think the 256mb DDR 2100 is enough right?
Note that the main purpose of this pc is gaming.
I appriciate your time reading this and any thoughts or advice is very welcome.
Thanks.

 

[bigbootydaddy]

<< Sound card - SB live! platinum 5.1 - can't beat that. >>


yeah you can...hercules GTXP...cheaper, nicer, etc.

memory? goto www.crucial.com/webpromo and type in anything, and then plug in your mobo.

booty GTXP

 

[Athlon4all]

I take it you're not an oc'er or tweaker right? Then the best DDR board for u is MSI's K7 Master. Great board, has a few ocing options, very stable and High Performing, it's for about 130 U.S. Dollars. Yeah, 256megs of PC2100 from Crucial is great.

 

[DisinfectedDuck]

Thanks for the reply guys.
But will the Asus v8200 be stable with a MSI mobo?

P.s - what's an OEM version? is it worse then a retail v?

 

[WhatWasIThinking]

RAM is so dirt cheap I would buy 2 256mb sticks. Also I think there are issues with VIA based mobos and the SBLive. I don't have one so I don't know firsthand, but I see that a lot on these boards.

Anandtech has a lot of chipset and mobo reviews, as do places like amdmb. Don't bother asking here, since you will get about 1000 different answers. People love ASUS, they hate ASUS, Epox rocks, Epox sucks, yadda yadda yadda.

BUT, since you asked I have an Epox 8K7A and like it just fine.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

The video card is going to be okay with just about any motherboard. You don't need to buy an ASUS motherboard just because you bought an ASUS video card. If you would feel more comfortable with that, then ASUS does have the A7M266 which has the AMD 761 northbridge just like the MSI K7 Master mentioned earlier. Another less expensive but very popular choice is the Epox EP-8K7A which has a lot of overclocking features. 256 Mb of Crucial RAM would be sufficient, but if you won't be in the US again for a while, you might want to get 512 Mb just in case because prices are good now.

 

[DisinfectedDuck]

Will I have problems with the SB Live platinum 5.1 and the VIA chipset?
If so, what's the best soundcard (no matter what price) to buy? i'm looking for a 5.1 one.

and thanks again for all your help guys, you respond really fast!

 

[WhatWasIThinking]

I may or may not have been talking out of my a$$ about the SBLive thing. Like I said, it's something I've seen mentioned, but not something that affects me personally, so I can't really speak knowledgeably about it (not that that ever stops me )

 

[bigbootydaddy]

again, the Hercules GTXP is IMO better, ivehad both, and the herc wasonly 129.99 at Best Buy B&amp;M. 6 channel support.

Best Booty Buy

 

[DisinfectedDuck]

Okay, simple question - with no regard to price, what's the best mobo out there? (overall)
MSI/Asus/Epox?

 

[Atlantean]

MSI K7 master

 

[Athlon4all]

Like I said, it depends on the user. K7 Master is best for the non ocer, it's more stable when using factory settings then Epox 8k7a, but for the ocer, then 8k7a+ has more ocing options so It depnds.

 

[wfbberzerker]

in my opinion, the best ddr motherboard is the epox 8k7a. im getting that with a 1.33ghz t-bird and 256mb of crucial pc2100.
stable board, overclockable
do a search for 8k7a and read posts about it to see if you would have any problems with it

 

[thephew]

For soundcard, if you are using 2 or 4 speakers, I say get the Hercules Game Theatre XP. For 5.1 speakers, the Phillips Acoustic Edge is the best, because it gives you 5.1 discrete channels in games, DVDs, and music (the GTXP will only give you that for DVDs). The SBLive is inferior to both products, there is really no reason you should choose it, unless you are dead set on having a thingie in one of your 5.25&quot; bays with some knobs and connectors on it. Don't forget important parts like the case, HSF, and power supply; If money is no object, you definitely have to go for the Lian-Li PC 68+USB case. Its all aluminum, great to work on, has filters on the fans (keep that desert sand out of your case), and looks SWEET. Power supply, any 350+ watt enermax, sparkle, or antec should be fine. Heatsink, I say go with the Thermalright SK6. Its not too expensive, and possibly the best copper heatsink out there. Strap any 30+ scfm fan on it, and you can overclock like crazy. Another vote for the Epox board, although I hear the MSI would be more stable. Depends on if you want to overclock.