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ready to order for a new build and would sure like your advice

T

tooltime

Golden Member
Hello,

This will be my first build and I am chomping at the bit to buy the gear but thought I?d better pull back and get some reality checks. I would greatly appreciate feedback especially if I am off track on anything. This forum has given me a lot of good advice already...thanks in advance! I will be using this mostly for gaming, so I am not sure on a few things...
1. I would not choose the ?All in wonder? if the 9800 Pro would be any better at gaming.
2. I have a few CD drives listed and I like the Samsung sm-352 because I?ve read it?s quieter but I?ve also read don?t use the combo CD/ DVD for gaming as the read time is better on CD only drive
3. Is this sound card going to be ok? I don?t think I need 6.1 sound but not sure
4. Do you think the PSU has room left for another (IDE) HD and/or DVD drive? Any comments on wether or not this PSU will be close to being maxed out?
5. Any sites explaining what to when I am ready to power on this Intel 3.2 for the first time; I haven?t read a lot yet on this.

Components (and a newegg url):
Intel Pentium 4 (800 FSB) Motherboard Model D875PBZLK Retail $149.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16813121180

Intel Pentium 4 3.2GHz 512k 800MHz FSB | socket 478 w/ Hyper Threading Technology - RETAIL $395.00 (price could come down soon ~ 1/3?)
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16819116164

ANTEC LIFE STYLE SERIES SONATA PIANO BLACK Model# Sonata w/ ANTEC TRUE380 380W Power Supply $99.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=sonata

1GB of memory: KINGSTON KVR400X64C3AK2/1G 1GB Kit (2x 512MB) DDR400 PC3200 CL3 $185.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16820141423

ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DVI/TV 8X AGP RETAIL $358.00 N82E16814102286
or :ATI All-In-Wonder RADEON 9800 PRO 128MB DDR 8X AGP RETAIL $376.00 N82E16814102297

Western Digital 160GB WD1600JB 7200 RPM 8MB Hard Drive OEM WD1600JB $131.00
N82E16822144203 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E1682214420

N82E16829102162 Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI Internal Sound Card - Retail $88.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=1&submit=Go&description=N82E16829102162

Microsoft Windows XP Professional with Service Pack SP1a - OEM $141.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=6&submit=Go&description=N82E16837102143

Second fan: ANTEC ALL Clear 120mm SMARTFAN $19.99 N82E16835129033
SONY 1.44MB 3.5 INCH INTERNAL FDD DRIVE - OEM-BLACK $9.99 N82E16821103116

Samsung CDRW/DVD Combo Drive 52x24x52 CD-RW 16x DVD (Black) 2mb Cache, Model SM-352BENB - OEM $56.99
N82E16827151023
or: Lite On Black 48x24x48x16 CDROM/CDRW/DVD Combo Drive LTC-48161H 53.99 N82E16827106196
or:Samsung SW-252BENB 52x24x52 Black CDRW Bulk- OEM N82E16827151021 37.93

Logitech Cordless MX Duo - RETAIL $75.00 N82E16823126124

Viewsonic 17" LCD Monitor Model VP171B Retail $499.00 free SH N82E16824116276

i have not chosen the speakers yet
 
Hi, welcome to AT.

The formatting is kind of hard to read (you only have to name the component) but I'll try.
The AIW is definitely worth it for just a few more bucks. It's not necessarily faster at gaming, but because of the tv tuner, radio tuner, and other goodies, it makes it very nice for that price. However, you can get a 9800 Pro from Best Buy for $300, so yea, the price difference is big if you're broadening out.

1GB of memory: Buffalo 3700 should be quite a bit better for just afew more bucks.

Sound card: that's a lot but this is the top card there is.

Hard drive: try to buy locally. Saves tons of money. For instance, you can get a Maxtor 120GB for $80 after rebate, and if there's a $20 coupon, you can make that $60.

Case: not sure if it was this week or last week, but some store had it for $89.
 
1. The all in wonder card would be the same as a non AIW card for gaming but for the minimal price difference the extra features are great.

2. I use a Lite-on combo drive and there is no difference in gaming.

3. The sound card is alright.

4. The Antec 380 will support many HDDs

5. As long as you read the manuals you should not have a problem. If you do come here.

If I were you I would do the following:

1 Switch from the Intel board to an Abit IS7. It will be much faster at stock and provide overclocking options should you want them. It also has good onboard sound and 10/100 ethernet.

2. Switch to better ram with lower timings. It cost more but its worth it.

3. Do you need XP pro? If you don't need remote desktop, advanced networking features, and encrypted files. Home would be just fine.

4. I would switch to a 3.0c. You would only need to run a 213FSB to reach 3.2 which is a very mild overclock. Even if you left it at 3.0 you wouldn't see much performance difference between 3.0 and 3.02.

5. I would switch to the Seagate 160GB 7200rpm SATA Hard Drive Barracuda 7200.7 and take advantage of the SATA. It will be a little faster (not because of sata but because its a newer drive) and quieter.

^Edit: Actually knowing what I know now I would go with two Raptors in raid 0. I store a bunch of junk on my PC and thought I would need more space. I don't. I would have rather had the speed.
 
thanks and yes, url's added a bit too much. i am looking for some buffalo memory and will price this video card some more. i recall Intel listed buffalo as a tested product. i also thought about crucial and corsair too.

i like XP pro for experimenting/testing with it's networking, user management and security. i have a peer to peer now but will soon setup a PDC running Server 2000 advanced.

thanks for the advice, i will continue researching. my head has been spinning as i've been reading/surfing so many sites the last two weeks taking all this (new) information in...my wife thinks i'm obsessed!
 
First: Welcome to AT Forums. 🙂

Couple of suggestions:

1. I would get a Abit IC7 motherboard or if you want one with all the bells and whistles consider a P4C800 Deluxe

2. Don't waist your money on a 3.2C and get a 2.6C to save $100 with the new price drop and this will do 3.2Ghz easy and be faster than a stock 3.2C.

3. Spend a little extra on the ram and get some HyperX KHX3200A/512 CAS Latency 2 (2-3-2-6-1T). You will be glad you did and using the 5:4 ratio you would still only be running it at stock.

4. Unless you will use the additional features of the AIW there is really little need for it. I do have the AIW myself and use almost every feature.
 
149
395
99
185
376
131
88
56
499
----------
Total:1978.00
S&H:30.00
Tax:118.00 (6%)
-----------
Grand Total Est: 2214.00

Est Price of Dell of Equal Value: 3500.00 (1 Year limited warrenty) 3.2 Ghz, 1 Gig 400 Mhz Ram, 9800 pro, 17in LCD, and 120 + 80 Gig 7200 HDD's.

Savings of more than 1286.00 Dollars.

*Claps
 
I agree RAM quality needs to be kicked up a notch or two. I will look at the abit mobo and have read intel is not flexible in OCing. I like the idea of OCing but am not sure I want to take that on along with a first-time build. I guess I began choosing an Intel mobo because I?ve read it?s a more stable combination and this is my first build. Yeah...I know...I will probably look back a few months later and ask why didn?t I push the envelope a bit. But for now im guessing the intel proc and mobo will be easier to get running, troubleshoot and learn from using sites like Intel...

The price differential is remarkable when building your own!...especially when you realize the quality is much more than some of the oem components a maker like Dell uses. I?ve been buying Dell?s for about 6 years but now I?m not sure why! Nothing against Dell...they?re a great [over-the-counter] computer. But I began to notice how they have different fittings and such... case, mobo tray, mobo, proc, power connecters...I even went to Creative?s site to get a new driver for my soundblaster...Creative?s diagnostic tool said my card was not a Soundblaster! And there right...it?s a dell card with their name on it.
 
Assuming you stick with your initial parts, you've picked many of the same components I'm using for my new system:

Intel D875PBZ mobo
3GHZ P4 CPU
1GB Corsair XMS3200 CL2 RAM (matched pair)
ATI Radeon 9800NP
SB Audigy 2 ZS
Seagate 120GB 7200.7 SATA HDD
Sony DRU-510A Optical Drive
Antec Sonata Case w/380W PSU

I have everything but the mobo, which should arrive tomorrow. Like you, I chose the Intel mobo because of its reputation of being highly stable and easy to work with, and I don't plan on doing any overclocking - at least not for awhile. I'll be assembling this thing tomorrow night, so I'll let you know of any snags I run into, as this is the first system I've built in 5+ years.
 
Originally posted by: MATT1400
Assuming you stick with your initial parts, you've picked many of the same components I'm using for my new system:

Intel D875PBZ mobo
3GHZ P4 CPU
1GB Corsair XMS3200 CL2 RAM (matched pair)
ATI Radeon 9800NP
SB Audigy 2 ZS
Seagate 120GB 7200.7 SATA HDD
Sony DRU-510A Optical Drive
Antec Sonata Case w/380W PSU

I have everything but the mobo, which should arrive tomorrow. Like you, I chose the Intel mobo because of its reputation of being highly stable and easy to work with, and I don't plan on doing any overclocking - at least not for awhile. I'll be assembling this thing tomorrow night, so I'll let you know of any snags I run into, as this is the first system I've built in 5+ years.
Click to expand...


Why buy all those highend/performance components and stick them on an intel mobo.
 
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