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Selling old pc, need to buy/build a new one

sourceninja

sourceninja

Diamond Member
Ok here's the deal. I got someone to buy my old pc for 1100 bucks. So now I need to build/buy a new PC. I would like to stay around 1100 but I could go as high as 1500 bucks (maybe higher if it is worth it). I was wondering what you guys would do. I should note that I'm a very experianced builder (I've built hundreds of computers for friends, family, myself, my job, etc) I built my last computer (the one i'm selling) and I really liked it. My only reason for selling is because its a good deal right now. The computer is still very nice and I love it.
Current machine:
AMD 3500
Nvidia 6800 GT 256 meg
1 gig OCZ plat ram
DFI Ultra-D board
fortran blue storm PSU
300 gig sata drive (7200 rpm)
16X DVD burner
Running Gentoo linux (I will be putting a legit copy of xp on it for him before sale)
your normal mid range/high end pc.

Requirements for a new computer:

I no longer really play video games. The games I play are few and far between (although I like having the option and have no problem with buying a 300+ dallor video card). I would be fine with a laptop and have concidered a macbook (its just that to get it where I like it we are talking 2800 bucks with my work discount).

The machine must be dual core.
64 bit cpu is perfered, but I dont really require it.
The machine must have 2 gigs of ram
I will be running linux so the machine MUST have an nvidia video card.
If the machine is a laptop it must be linux compatable
No wireless is needed if the computer is not a laptop. If it is then it must be linux compatable (hopefully without ndiswrapper)
I want at least 2 hard drives. This is because I perfer to keep my /home on a second hard drive and to have room to play with development distros.
Keyboard and mouse are not required. I have my own and will be keeping them.
No monitor is required, I will be keeping my 2001fp.
I'd like the machine to run as cool and quiet as my last one did. Thus I'm leaning towards AMD.
I want to reduce as much noise as possible by using 5 and 1/4 in fans everywhere possible.

Here is what i'm leaning to right now:

DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 SLI-DR Expert Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI
Some form of mid case like a antec
16X dvdr
Patriot 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model PDC2G3200LLK - Retail
2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3300622AS 300GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4400CDBOX - Retail
BFG GeForce 7900 GT
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A, 2.0 version, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 500W
Some kind of heatsink (I'll need advice on this, I use a thermalright now and I liked it, but it says its only rated up to 3500+.) I thinking I could just use the stock heatsink/fan.
The total was around 1550 bucks.

I'm open to any suggestions. Laptop or otherwise.
 
Because this guy needs a new pc, I wanted dual core and a video upgrade (I dont need it, I just want it). So I figure its win win. I get 1100 to a new system (maybe a laptop or an apple, but most likley just an upgraded desktop). And he gets a very nice machine to play games on.
 
well if you are overclocking you might want a cheaper CPU like the 3800 or the opteron 165. If not it looks good.
If you want a quiet computer look at the zalman heatsinks. The pure copper ones are better obviously.
 
I never overclock, I dont get into it. I just like to set the machine up, install linux and use it. I do a lot of development and you can never trust bugs when you are overclocked. The first thing people will suggest is to set everything back to sane levels when you ask for debuging help on weird issues.

But thanks for the input on the heatsinks, I'll check them out.
 
Are there any new motherboards out there that have better reps then the dfi boards? I dont really need a sli board, I could just get another ultra-D again, but I was wondering if there are any better choices?
 
If you're not OCing then almost any board is better than a DFI. The single card Epox board is well regarded, although it's still an overclockers board, another one to look at is the A8N E.

The rest of the build is pretty good, Use the stock heatsink if you're not OCing, hell even with stock you can OC quite well and it doesn't sound like a vacumecleaner.
 
I'm mostly concerned with quality. That was the reason I went dfi with my first amd64 box. The quality and support. I'll check out that Epox board thanks for the heads up. I dont mind paying more for quality. Usually overclock equipment is quality which is why I buy it.
 
i'd change the motherboard to the epox 9npa+ Ultra for $105
get the fortron 450w power supply. if you won't go SLI or overclock, you have no need for a 500w psu...the 450w is $50

i don't think the $1xx difference between the x2 3800 and 4400 is worth it...

you could get the WD SE16 250gb drives so you save some money plus they perform better.

use the stock heatsink for now, upgrade later if you need to

you could consider the eVGA 7900GT too...

hope i helped
 
For your DFI board go to www.DFI-Street.com and follow the guides there. My username is UncleDavid218 if you need to PM me. This site is run by DFI employees and the like who specialize in DFI equipment. DFI is the best.
 
Well, here was the final build. Ordered it last night.

eVGA 256-P2-N565-AX Geforce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $359.00
1 FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A, 2.0 version, 2 SATA, PCI Express, 500W - Retail $89.99
1 BenQ 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model DQ60 BK - OEM $34.99
1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo 1GHz HT Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4400CDBOX - Retail $460.00
1 Patriot 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model PDC2G3200LLK - Retail $199.25
1 COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UB Black /Blue Aluminum Bezel , SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail $43.99
1 ASUS A8N-E Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $92.99
1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM $123.00
Subtotal: $1,403.21
 
My friend needed a computer. I could live without one for a while. And its fun to build new things. Nothing ever wrong with an upgrade.
 
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