Where do I start? [building a new computer]

[MaDfLaMe37]

I was going to build myself a nice system a couple of years ago, but I ended up using my cash on different things after getting a new graphics card to "tide me over" for a while...

But now I'm going to college and I have all this graduation money and I need a desktop to take with me.

I'm going to be gaming more than anything on this computer--of course I'll be writing up reports and what-not but nothing that I need to design my computer around.

So how do I go about choosing my hardware when I haven't been keeping myself up to date on anything that's been going on in the computer scene?

I was thinking about maybe taking some "ideal" systems and tweaking them to my liking?

 

[mechBgon]

A good starting point is to tell people

1) what your budget is

2) what items you do or don't need it to cover (speakers, headphones, monitor(s), mouse, keyboard, operating system, other software)

 

[Twsmit]

Also, Intel vs AMD, ATI vs Nvidia preferences. I think you should go for whats "best" but if you have a diehard preference, its good to know also. but what Mechbgon said would be a great starting point.

 

[MaDfLaMe37]

Well I guess as for the processors I don't really have any preference... Maybe AMD because of the 64-bit stuff; but then again, I'm not at all up to date.

For graphics, though, I prefer nvidia.

My budget is around $2000 give or take a few.

Items I won't need is... Pretty much just speakers and headphones.

I'll have to buy everything else.

 

[KoolDrew]

Do you plan on overclocking?

 

[MaDfLaMe37]

Probably not.

But if necesary I will.

I'd like a system that has the capabilities to run a game like BF2 or HL2 on the highest settings without problems.

 

[KoolDrew]

Chaintech VNF4 Ultra - $80
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice - $265
2x1GB PC3200 - $160
ATI Radeon X800XL - $250
Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 250GB - $130
NEC ND-3520A - $50
Lite-On 16X DVD-ROM - $20
Antec SLK3800B - $100
Dell 2001FP
Logitech Elite keyboard - $30
Logitech MX518 - $40
Floppy - $8
Windows Xp home

I don't know what the total comes to and the prices may be off, but this is just to give you a basic idea. You can change it to your desire.

 

[mechBgon]

Here is a starting point (you haven't named a budget yet --ok, now he has):

wish list

Cliff notes:

Asus A8N SLI Premium with one passively-cooled 6800GT
Venice-core Athlon64 3000+
Corsair XMS3200C2 memory, 2 x 1024MB kit (hey, you did say BF2)
Antec SLK3000B case with TruePower 2.0 550W PSU and 120mm exhaust
80GB Seagate 8MB-cache NCQ-enabled SATA drive
BenQ DVD burner with software
Mitsumi floppy drive with integrated memory-card reader
WinXP Pro with Service Pack 2
Netgear RP614 router to keep the worms out (and possibly in, too)
Good-quality surge supressor

You will need to pick out your own speakers, monitor, pizza, keyboard, mouse, printer and antivirus software. McAfee is one of the easiest to configure (schedule a virus scan and you're done). I tend to like Kaspersky better for the hourly updates, though.

You could add more drives if you need more storage capacity, this chassis will handle up to five just in the main HDD rack. One of my priorities was quietness, on the assumption you might have a roommate, and you could make this even quieter with an aftermarket Zalman CPU heatsink/fan unit too.

 

[UsandThem]

AMD Based Computer $1057.00


AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice Processor $147.00

CHAINTECH VNF4/Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Motherboard $92.00

Thermaltake SOPRANO VB1000SWS Silver ATX Mid Tower Case $79.00

OCZ PowerStream OCZ420ADJ ATX 420W Power Supply $89.00

Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 $91.00

Windows XP Home $88.00

SAMSUNG 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive $94.00

Samsung 160GB 7200RPM Hard Drive $88.00

POWERCOLOR Radeon X800XL 256MB PCI-Express Video Card $289.00

 

[mechBgon]

One thing about school, it might be handy to have the capabilities of XP Professional in the networking department I suppose that'll depend on the school in question, though.

 

[Cheezeit]

Originally posted by: UsandThem
AMD Based Computer $1057.00


AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice Processor $147.00

CHAINTECH VNF4/Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Motherboard $92.00

Thermaltake SOPRANO VB1000SWS Silver ATX Mid Tower Case $79.00

OCZ PowerStream OCZ420ADJ ATX 420W Power Supply $89.00

Corsair Value Select (Dual Pack) 184 Pin 512MBx2 DDR PC-3200 $91.00

Windows XP Home $88.00

SAMSUNG 160GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive $94.00

Samsung 160GB 7200RPM Hard Drive $88.00

POWERCOLOR Radeon X800XL 256MB PCI-Express Video Card $289.00

I pretty much agree with usandthem, but I wouldn't reccomend that case and psu. for my system, I got a fortron BS 500 ($75) and an antec p160 ($80). or, you can save some money on the case and get the antec slk300b (47)

Why have 2 hard drives? you can get a WD 320gb SATa drive for 135 at monarch, which is cheaper. umm, monarch also has a 800xl for 250.

just wondering, usandthem, is that ram price a typo or did ram prices just jump?

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: Cheezeit


I pretty much agree with usandthem, but I wouldn't reccomend that case and psu. for my system, I got a fortron BS 500 ($75) and an antec p160 ($80). or, you can save some money on the case and get the antec slk300b (47)

Why have 2 hard drives? you can get a WD 320gb SATa drive for 135 at monarch, which is cheaper. umm, monarch also has a 800xl for 250.

just wondering, usandthem, is that ram price a typo or did ram prices just jump?

I recommend a SATA and a PATA drive for people building their own PC's that don't have much computer knowledge. I always see posts here where people have trouble installing Windows on a SATA.

Plus, for safety reasons (ie losing stuff), I like having an extra drive to back up important stuff on.

The ram is probably cheaper now, I just copied from my guide and didn't really look at newer prices.

 

[Cheezeit]

Okay, I see. *bows down to the two most helpful people to first time builders, usandthem and mechbagon*

 

[imported_Tick]

Since he did say his budget was $2000, he could certainly go with more oomph. At that budget, a dual-core should be possible if he wants it, depending on multi-task behavior, and even perhaps a 7800 gtx. Then get 2x512 semi-generic ram, as he's not OCing. That should bring it up to 2k. Just a thought.

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: Tick
Since he did say his budget was $2000, he could certainly go with more oomph. At that budget, a dual-core should be possible if he wants it, depending on multi-task behavior, and even perhaps a 7800 gtx. Then get 2x512 semi-generic ram, as he's not OCing. That should bring it up to 2k. Just a thought.

True, but he is going to have to get a monitor, keyboard, speakers, CD and DVD drives, and so on.

 

[imported_Tick]

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: Tick
Since he did say his budget was $2000, he could certainly go with more oomph. At that budget, a dual-core should be possible if he wants it, depending on multi-task behavior, and even perhaps a 7800 gtx. Then get 2x512 semi-generic ram, as he's not OCing. That should bring it up to 2k. Just a thought.

True, but he is going to have to get a monitor, keyboard, speakers, CD and DVD drives, and so on.

Oh, forgot about monitor... Rest of it should be possible, but a monitor might be a budget breaker.

 

[MaDfLaMe37]

Awesome guys, thanks for the help. I'll have to do a little bit of research but this is definitely getting me off on the right foot. I'll post back here if I have any questions.