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Yet another "Building my computer, any suggestions?" thread

A

AncientPC

Golden Member
I already have the case, monitor, and periphials picked out.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000, socket 754 (any advantages to socket 939?)

CPU Fan: Someone recommend one I can find off Newegg. Has to be quiet (not going to OC).

Mobo: Deciding between Abit NF8 or Abit KV8 Pro. I'm probably going to choose NF8 because I like the nForce2 chipset in my current computers.

RAM: Mushkin 1GB PC3200 DDR Dual Pack

HDD: Abit NF8 has onboard RAID and I have 2x WD 120GB SATA drives. Should I use raid 0 or just stand alone? Can I use IDE drives in conjunction with SATA drives?

Vid card: Radeon 9600 Pro w dual DVI (cheapest dual-DVI vid card on Newegg for $130, I don't plan on much gaming).

Optical: Sony DVD+/-RW drive.

Speakers: Can someone pick a decently priced 2.1 system?
 
The prices I'm all grabbing off Newegg.

I don't have a budget, something that's good performance for price but not top of the line. When you get the newest stuff you're paying through your nose for minute increases in performance. That's why I chose Athlon 64 3000+ over 3400+.

Also, the only Newegg Abit board with 939 uses a VIA chipset. Plus mobos are so cheap that when I get a new chip I'll probably get a new board as well. The NF8's only $85, 4 years ago I paid $200 for my Asus board.
 
Since you're not doing any gaming, it's unlikely that you're going to care about PCIe or upgrade for a while. Go ahead and get a retail (stock CPU cooler) 3000+ or 3200+ with a Chaintech VNF3-250 or DFI Lanparty board. Use the stock heatsink to start off with; if you find it too loud, then go splurge on a Zalman 7000/A/B AlCu.

The NEC 3520A seems to be the most recommended drive these days; consider that.

I find my $40 Logitech X-230 set very good for the price.
 
Do you plan on ocing??? If so I know a few ppl who have had very bad luck with that board...Actually I cant think of many who have had good luck with that board...Abit for Intels are enthusiast's dream, but not for AMD64's....

Look at either the MSI Neo2, ASUS, or EPOX.....


Sidenote: T o be honest I had issues trying to run SATA and PATA HDD's at the same time, especially if the SATA drive is the boot drive....I eventually got an SATA adapter for the IDE drive to run it as an SATA drive and the issue went away...

So no ocing, under 100 bucks, and no HDD SATA/PATA issues look away from the mSI board, IMO...
 
get a 939 3000+ retail from monarch.. 158$ i believe last i checked.. then you dont have to worry about a fan and heatsink.. they are quite quiet and very reliable
 
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