Thoughts on first build

[thefatkid]

I'm reasearching for building my first computer for my wife. She will be using it for web and office stuff but I would like to have to be upgradeable for the future for me to use of course. Here are my thoughts so far and wondered if any one has any input:

Mobo: ABIT NF7-M $95.00
Processor: 2400 Thoroughbred $72.00
Memory: Crucial PC2100 512MB (2x256) $46.00/each
DVD: NEC ND-2510A $83.00

So any thoughts on the Mobo? Is the 2500 Barton worth the extra $15? Should I go with the PC2700 for the couple extra bucks? Any suggestions on a case and psu that are good and not too expensive? That is one thing I don't have any experience with. What about extra fans for the rig and such? Like I said, this is for my wife to do web/office stuff so I don't want to go out of my mind as far as price but I want it to be upgradeable so I can. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[dmw16]

For case, find something resonable that you like. For power supply, 300W or more from Antec, Enermax, Sparkle, Thermaltake, Zalman, and some others will do.

Yes, go with the Barton. It runs at a faster bus speed and has more cache. Also, go with at least PC2700. Honestly, i would get PC3200 as the prices is usually the same, or just a few bucks more. You cant do much upgrading w/ PC2100 since no future CPUs will use that. Also about the RAM, dont buy from Crucial, $92 for 512MB is too much money. Newegg has one 512MB stick of Corsair PC3200 RAM for $83, get that instead.

-doug

 

[thefatkid]

Thanks I will look int the memory. I thought that it is better to run 2 sticks as opposed to one?

 

[Trey22]

Originally posted by: thefatkid
Thanks I will look int the memory. I thought that it is better to run 2 sticks as opposed to one?

You get a slight, very slight (single digit percentage points), performance boost on these Nforce2 boards when you run your memory in dual channel mode. For what the system will be used for, you can go either route, single or dual sticks of RAM. If you don't want to spend the extra money now, go with dmw's suggestion of a single 512MB stick now, and then down the road, add another.

 

[thefatkid]

Okay went to this config any more thoughts:

Mobo: ABIT NF7-S $95.00
Processor: 2500 Barton $80.00
Memory: Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM $80.00
DVD: NEC ND-2510A $83.00
PSU: Thermaltake Silent PurePower 410W Model "W0038RUC" -RETAIL $56.00

Any more thoughts? What exactly is the difference between buying OEM and Retail? Any major difference between the NF7-M and the NF7 and NF7-S mobo's?

 

[Trey22]

Originally posted by: thefatkid
Okay went to this config any more thoughts:

Mobo: ABIT NF7-S $95.00
Processor: 2500 Barton $80.00
Memory: Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM $80.00
DVD: NEC ND-2510A $83.00
PSU: Thermaltake Silent PurePower 410W Model "W0038RUC" -RETAIL $56.00

Any more thoughts? What exactly is the difference between buying OEM and Retail? Any major difference between the NF7-M and the NF7 and NF7-S mobo's?

OEM - your stuff comes in a plain white/brown box, and depending on the product, for example a video card, you won't get the free games that would of come with a retail package.

Retail - you get the pretty box w/ pictures.

NF7-M has onboard video, NF7 has no Soundstorm or SATA.

 

[ROcHE]

That's a nice little system you got there. Make sure you buy the NF7-M if you don't have a video card.

 

[Futher]

Looks pretty good, but something about paying more for the DVD drive than for the processor doesn't sit right with me...

 

[thefatkid]

I know what you mean but everything I have read shows that this NEC is great and with the DL capability I should have no problem in the future with burning.

 

[ROcHE]

The NEC is good. It's not really overpriced. It's more like the cpu is very cheap

 

[sao123]

remember...oem cpu you also need to buy your own fan & heatsink.

IMO...
I like the asus k8v with the sckt 754 3200+. well priced from zipzoomfly.com 98 + 279.
Definately get DDR3200.

I say hesitently with all the intel bashers around me....
...if you not going to be gaming...and mostly office + internet...
you might want to condsider a P4 2.4C with an i865 board such as the asus p4p800-e dlx.

 

[blazerazor]

" Looks pretty good, but something about paying more for the DVD drive than for the processor doesn't sit right with me..."

dvd : NU tech 8x dvd +rw/-rw drive. model ddw-082 = $68 @ newegg.

better now.

 

[Tostada]

Do you already have some of the parts? Why aren't you listing a case, video card, hard drive, etc? That PSU you list is probably fine, but if you go with an Antec case you'll get an arguably better PSU and a good case, and save money in the process.

There's nothing wrong with getting on-board video, but the NF7-M is extremely overpriced for a board that doesn't have MCP-T (no SATA, RAID or SoundStorm like the NF7-S). I would certainly doubt you need any of those features... I'm just saying you should get a cheaper board.

The Biostar M7NCG 400 is a great dual-channel nForce2 IGP board for $65. If you're getting (or already have) a separate video card, check out the Shuttle AN35N-Ultra for $58. If you really want SATA, get the ABIT NF7-S for $95.

People often experience quirky problems when using a single stick of memory with on-board video. Get 2 x 256MB PC3200 if you're going to use on-board video. Here's good stuff for the same price as the Crucial PC2100 you listed.

 

[thefatkid]

I have a hard drive that I will transfer from my current computer and figured I would just find a good deal on another HDD. I have updated the system to einclude a case that I have been told is good:

Case: ANTEC Model "SLK3700AMB" -RETAIL $64.00
Processor: 2500+ Barton Retail $80.00
Mobo: ABIT NF7-m $95.00
Memory: Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM $80.00
DVD: NEC ND-2510A $83.00
Total: $402

Any new thoughts?