Okay, here's a custom build

[Shadow Conception]

Since I have a feeling the E510 may not accept a high end video card, how's this? This is essentially an old rig I've posted before, only updated, and no salvaged parts this time. Criticism/improvements are accepted, and the price it's at right now is the absolute highest it'll go. I'm just scared of buying the wrong parts and totally messing up the whole thing. Main reason I prefer to go fo prebuilt systems. That, and I have no idea how to put together a computer, anyway. Any help on how to build a computer would be appreciated, as well.

Anything missing? The only things I'll be salvaging is the keyboard, mouse, harman/kardon speakers 😀, printer, and monitor, so I need to know what I need. I dunno how to choose out any network stuff. All I'll say is that I have a Verizon DSL Broadband connection, so I need something of that as well.

ASUS A8N-E ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131530
($93.99)

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 1GHz HT Socket 939 Processor - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535
($105.99)

G.SKILL 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory ? Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820231046
($81.99)

eVGA Geforce 7600GT 256-P2-N553-AX Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130283
($169.99)

Western Digital Caviar SE 80GB 3.5" IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive ? OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144122
($45.99)

SONY Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model DDU1615/B2s ? OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101131
($19.99)

Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24bit 70SB041000000 Sound Card ? Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16829102176
($33.00)

NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058
($35.49)

COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811119068
($49.99)

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN, 12cm FAN, version 2.0, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 450W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104954
($50.99)

BELKIN F5D5000 PCI Desktop Network Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833314101
($8.99)

Microsoft Windows XP Home With SP2 ? OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16837102059
($89.99)

Grand Total = $786.39 + shipping + tax = $896.05

 

[bamacre]

Looks good to me.

Building guide...
http://www.mechbgon.com/build/index.html

 

[igowerf]

If you have Amazon Prime, you should see if you can get some of that stuff on Amazon. The prices are usually similar and there's no tax with free shipping. Just a suggestion.

 

[Howard]

You need the sound card?

 

[pkme2]

You should consider MCE.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832102357

 

[Arcanedeath]

based on that system I would suggest one of these Compaq SR1850NX its 499 after 150 in rebates, just add your video card and your done, and you'll have a faster system for less cash you might be able to fit in an X1800XT instead wich will outperform your 7600GT by quite a bit and still come in under budget, you just have to deal w/ the rebates, the power supply in this unit will handle a decent video card and it has an open x16 pci-e slot, I recently purchased the SR1820NX a step down but it had a good 350 watt OEM rated unit w/ plenty of amps on the 12V rail for a decent video card.

edit: the SR1820NX has an Nvidia 6150le/mcp 430 chipset w/ an Asus A8N-L motherboard if you prefer an nvidia chipset.

 

[Shadow Conception]

My old computer was a Compaq, it really sucked. And according to my dad, he's had very bad experiences with Compaq, its reliability, warranty, service, etc, so overall, I'm trying to stay away from Compaq. If I do get a prebuilt, it'll be a Dell Dimension E510. See my other thread.

Okay, I added a network card. I obviously need one... 😛

I don't have much of a need for Media Center Edition. If I ever head that way, I'll be going for Professional, instead. MCE is for new users.

Integrated sound = yuck. I have Sound Blaster Live! right now, and I think I'll keep it, since it serves me well. I'll be selling off this computer, so I'll have to buy it again.

 

[JoeFahey]

Originally posted by: bamacre
Looks good to me.

Building guide...
http://www.mechbgon.com/build/index.html

Excelent guide. It got me started about 3 years ago when I knew nothing about computers. I haven't had a chance to thank him for making it.

Rig looks good, except the sound card. From my experience, it's only worth getting a sound card if it's one of a very high quality, and is on the more high end side. This is because onboard sound will usually suffice.