I'm Building A System

**CRLocky** · January 9th, 2005, 08:01 PM

Alright, I've seen people post asking for peer review on their choices for computer components, so I figured I should do the same, and see what you guys think about what I've chosen. My laptop finally died on me, so I've decided to build a system. Keep in mind this is just a tentative list, hopefully I will have everything ordered within a week. I kept with one source for all my choices, it being newegg.com. Though I still did a little cross referencing for better prices, but I still have a little bit more of that to do before I follow through with everything. I've posted other components too, but the one's with the asteriks* are my first choices. Well, here's everything.

Mobo:
-$117.00 ASUS ''P4P800-E Deluxe'' I865PE Chipset mobo Intel Socket 478 CPU
-$162.00 ASUS "P5GDC-V Deluxe" 915G Chipset Mobo Intel LGA 775 CPU
(used to be first choice)
***$180.00 ASUS ''P4C800-E DELUXE'' I875P Chipset mobo Intel Socket 478 CPU
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...131-508&DEPA=0
Processor
***$184.00 Intel LGA 775 Pentium 4 530 3.0 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail
(LGA775 Socket only) L1: 12K+16K L2:1MB
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...116-184&depa=1
-$215.00 Intel Pentium M 725 1.6GHz, 400MHz FSB, on-die 2MB L2 Cache
socket: 478 L1:32k+32k L2: 2MB 1.6Ghz
??This one is socket 478, but will it still be usable in a 775 socket??

Disk Drive
***$68.00 Samsung 16X DVD±RW, Model TS-H552B/WRCH Black, Retail
Write Speed: 2.4X DVD+R DL, 16X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 12X DVD-R, 4X DVD-RW, 40X CD-R, 32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 48X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...151-055&DEPA=1
-$35.00 Samsung Black 52X32X52X16 DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive, Model TS-H492A/WBGH, OEM
Write Speed: 52X CD-R, 32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 52X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM

Case
-$37.50 POWMAX 702 MATRIX Silver ATX Mid Tower Case With Side Panel Window & 450W PSU, Model "CP702-2"
450Wpower supply
-$39.00 CODEGEN Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with 400W Power Supply, Model "C-6209-CA-38C" -RETAIL
400W P4 Ready ATX w/ 120mm fan power supply
-$40.50 Linkworld Black/Silver ATX Mid-Tower Case with 400W Power Supply, Model "Q319-C2628-P4" -RETAIL
P4-400W power supply 2 Firewire front ports
-$49.00 Rosewill Black ATX Mid Tower Case with 400W Power Supply, Model "R114A Black" -RETAIL
400W single fan 2 usb 2 audio frontal ports
***$50.50 MGE ATX Mid Tower Case With 450W Power Supply & LCD Control Panel, Model "CAG-H1-BL" -RETAIL
MGE 450W power supply 2 USB 2 Audio 1IEEE1394 frontal ports
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...171-035&depa=1

Video Card
*$121.00 ATI RADEON 9550 Video Card, 256MB DDR, 128-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "100-437105" -RETAIL
S-Video + DVI
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-428&depa=1

DDR RAM
-$275.00 Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, 184 Pin 1GB DDR PC-3200 PRO
1GB stick
-$193.00 Corsair Value Select Memory 184 Pin 1GB DDR PC-3200, Model VS1GB400C3
*$227.00 CORSAIR VALUESELECT 240-Pin 1GB DDR2 PC2-4200, Model VS1GB533D2
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...145-525&depa=1

Hard Drive
-$124.00 WD High-Performance 160GB 7200RPM EIDE Hard Drive Kit, Model WD1600JBRTL
1 year warranty Buffer: 8mb
-$104.00 Seagate 160GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST3160023A-RK, Retail
5 year warranty Buffer: 8mb
-$123.00 Seagate 200GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST3200822A, OEM
5 year warranty Buffer: 8mb
*$142.50 Seagate 200GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model ST3200822A-RK, Retail
5 year warranty Buffer: 8mb
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...148-036&depa=1

Keyboard
*$85.00 Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Elite - RETAIL
mediacenter cushioned palmrest
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...109-131&depa=0
-$83.00 Microsoft Wireless Optical Desktop Pro -RETAIL
sleep and logoff hotkeys mediacenter

LCD/Monitor
-$186.99 CMV CT-522A 15" LCD Monitor w/ Speakers -RETAIL
500:1 brightness:450 built in speakers 15"
-$288.00 Megavision MV173V 17" LCD Monitor -RETAIL
450:1 brightness:250 17"
*$245.00 AVIDAV (Made by Jetway) M1731D-F 17" Active Matrix LCD Monitor w/ Speaker & DVI -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...004-005&depa=1

There's what I have so far. I haven't looked into a network card yet, but that shouldn't be a thang. I'm open to any suggestions/tips/questions, feedback is greatly welcome! let me know what you think.

**rebirth** · January 9th, 2005, 08:12 PM

oh, I was thinking homeya when I read the thread title. nevermind. I'll go back to trolling elsewhere.

SanDiegoKid · January 9th, 2005, 08:12 PM

That motherboard doesn't seem to have an AGP slot, which would make that video card unusable.

You'll have to use the onboard video (bleck), get a new-fangled PCI Express video card, or get a motherboard with AGP.

Even if you could use it, that video card is old news anyway. Advanced lighting and shading effects will choke it out.

If you switch things up make sure your motherboard and CPU sockets match.

**CRLocky** · January 9th, 2005, 08:18 PM

thank you! that's a large oversight on my part, i'm much obliged. i'll go with my second choice then.

**A-Team Van** · January 9th, 2005, 09:05 PM

I would recommend a better video card... at least a Nvidia 6XXX or a ATi X700 or higher... maybe 2 sticks of RAM as well... way cheaper and such

**CRLocky** · January 9th, 2005, 10:07 PM

like two 512MB sticks of RAM? why not just the one stick at a Gig?

**Malakai1911** · January 9th, 2005, 10:37 PM

Hmm,
Mobo ($189): MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum [nForce4 Ultra]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=241158

Processor ($208): AMD Athlon 64 3200+ [Socket 939]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ctCode=80701-2

RAM ($239): Patriot PDC1G3200+XBLK 1GB Kit [DDR400 @ 2-2-2-5]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ductCode=83705

Video Card ($195): XFX GeForce 6600 GT [PCI Express]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=321017

I'd prolly go with a Lite-On DVDRW, and use that handy OmniPatcher to patch the firmware to really get the most out of a DVD drive. Case is really a personal choice, so whatever you feel like obviously. Same goes with keyboard, though I typically advocate a Logitech KB/Mouse combo. You may also want to try getting two smaller hard drives (SATA, perhaps?) and running RAID-0 for the heck of it.

edit: Oh, also notice I used ZipZoomFly, they have no tax in my state, and they have free 2 day fedex shipping on most everything, so they end up being the best option for me.

**nukehella** · January 9th, 2005, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by CRLocky

like two 512MB sticks of RAM? why not just the one stick at a Gig?

He means two 512's are cheaper than one 1GB.

**Malakai1911** · January 9th, 2005, 10:52 PM

Two sticks of ram also enable the extra bandwith afforded by running them in "dual channel" mode.

**CRLocky** · January 10th, 2005, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by kleenr

If you switch things up make sure your motherboard and CPU sockets match.

so sockets must be a strict match? I saw one processor was LGA775 only, but others don't say that they are strictly 775 or 478 and such, so i was confused... but i'll make sure they match.

I've switched a few things up with thanks to the wonderful suggestions, thank you by the way.

**Potato** · January 10th, 2005, 02:50 PM

I have two sticks of 512MB ram, it's good for me (seeing how I fried that other one I had)... Go with two, because if something happens to one, you're not entirely fucked. :)

SanDiegoKid · January 10th, 2005, 05:59 PM

Nothing warms my heart more than building myself a new PC.

My last one was only in July '04.. and I'm still jealous.

**Undying Wizard NHD** · January 10th, 2005, 07:01 PM

Mobo: ASUS- anything that does not have on-board video, and does have a AGP slot with a socket LGA 775 ( Gigabyte is nice also )

Processor: Intel LGA 775 Pentium 4 530 3.0 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - Retail

Disk drive : Samsung 16X DVD±RW, Model TS-H552B/WRCH Black, Retail
Write Speed: 2.4X DVD+R DL, 16X DVD+R, 4X DVD+RW, 12X DVD-R, 4X DVD-RW, 40X CD-R, 32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 48X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM

CAse: MGE ATX Mid Tower Case With 450W Power Supply & LCD Control Panel, Model "CAG-H1-BL" -RETAIL
MGE 450W power supply 2 USB 2 Audio 1IEEE1394 frontal ports

Vid card: I hate ATI, I suggest a Geforce Fx but thats just me

DDR RAM: Corsair XMS

HDD : any thing 7200 RPM , seagate ,maxtor, WD in that order ( seagates tend to run hotter yet last longer )

Keyboard : screw that microsuck , get the LogiTech DUEO wireless mouse and wireless keyboard package they go from $50 to 100

Monitor: I prefer CRT better picture quality but alot more heat and space takin up, View Sonic is nice

**CompuGeek** · January 10th, 2005, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Malakai1911

Hmm,
Mobo ($189): MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum [nForce4 Ultra]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=241158

Processor ($208): AMD Athlon 64 3200+ [Socket 939]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ctCode=80701-2

RAM ($239): Patriot PDC1G3200+XBLK 1GB Kit [DDR400 @ 2-2-2-5]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...ductCode=83705

Video Card ($195): XFX GeForce 6600 GT [PCI Express]
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=321017

I'd prolly go with a Lite-On DVDRW, and use that handy OmniPatcher to patch the firmware to really get the most out of a DVD drive. Case is really a personal choice, so whatever you feel like obviously. Same goes with keyboard, though I typically advocate a Logitech KB/Mouse combo. You may also want to try getting two smaller hard drives (SATA, perhaps?) and running RAID-0 for the heck of it.

edit: Oh, also notice I used ZipZoomFly, they have no tax in my state, and they have free 2 day fedex shipping on most everything, so they end up being the best option for me.

I just want to put in my two cents for ZipZoomFly.

I've bought a lot of hardware from them over the years and highly recommend them.

Great selection. Great prices. Free 2 Day shipping.

:sw