PC build spec

doggy_s

Hi all,

I'm thinking of building my first PC and have spent a while reading the boards and looking up magazines and books to be as accurate as possible with the spec. The PC is severely limited by budget and it will only be used for internet surfing, some accounting for the family business and printing digital photos. The spec below is fairly basic, but i'm limited to a budget of about 600euro and to put the spec into context, the computer I'm replacing is a 1997 Gateway running Windows 95 with 16MB ram and a 166MHz CPU.

I'd be really grateful for any thoughts on the spec below. My main concern is compatibility, if the following bits fit together and they are the best quality for the price, then I'll buy and build.

On specific items, I know Q-Tec aren't supposed to be great but I'm hoping to save money on the case. Also, I'm using a mobo with onboard gfx to save a bit of cash before upgrading the graphics.

+++++CASE & POWER SUPPLY++++++++
Q-Tec Midi tower ATX TL-MD, Silver transparent, without powersupply
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=121478&s=sc
Komplett # 121478
59euro

Q-Tec Dual Fan Gold power supply - 400 Watt
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=112083&cks=ACC
Komplett # 112083
33.77euro

++++++MOBO+++++++++
Abit NF7-M mainboard for Socket A, LAN nForce2IGP/MCP/, ATX, VGA, USB2.0
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=116328&cks=PRL
Komplett # 116328
105.27euro

++++++CPU++++++++++
AMD Athlon XP2600+ 1.917 GHz Socket A 333MHz, 512KB Barton, BOXED
Komplett # 121907
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=121907&cks=PRL
102.33euro

OR

I may get the OEM version and use the following fan:

Cooler Master CPU-Fan Socket A/7/FCPGA CP5-8JD1F-0L, up to AMD XP3200+
Komplett # 119824
14.93euro

+++++++HARD DRIVE++++++++
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB 8MB IDE ATA/100 8MB cache 7200RPM
Komplett # 118031
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=118031&cks=PRL
94.20 euro

++++++MEMORY+++++++++++
Crucial PC2700 DDR-DIMM 512MB CL2.5 6ns Unbuffered, Non-parity, 2.5V, 64Meg x 64
Komplett # 112684
91.96euro

To the above i'd add the existing monitor, keyboard and speakers and a CD-writer & modem.
I am assuming the gfx card on the Mobo can be upgraded as it has an AGP slot. Is this correct?
Also, if I want Windows XP, do i have to purchase the retail edition or is there an OEM version available to DIYers?
Many thanks in anticipation of your help, much appreciated.

Creamy Goodness

no no no

you don't save money with qtec

what would happen if the psu blows and ends up taking everything with it???

cpu gone ram gone motherboard gone gfx card gone

get a decent power supply they don't cost too much and it's worth it in the long run.

as i always say the psu is the most important part of the computer

Jammer

Originally posted by doggy_s

++++++MEMORY+++++++++++
Crucial PC2700 DDR-DIMM 512MB CL2.5 6ns Unbuffered, Non-parity, 2.5V, 64Meg x 64
Komplett # 112684
91.96euro

I got a stick on 512 PC3200 for less then that on komplett the other day, and its working grand.

Dempsey

Get the Case but not that PSU. Get a Antec or a Zalman or a decent brand. Anything above 350W will do.

I personally dont like the memory choice available from komplett. Id recommend looking through www.shop4memory.com

Otherwise you have a grand system there

uberpixie

You could just get a chieftech case with a 360w power supply off komplett for the same price as buying the qtec case and seperate power supply.

Chieftechs are far from pretty but they are decent cases and the psu in em are grand.

Its an option if you just want to get case+psu all together at the same time instead of splitting an order between two different sites.

Also add in a case fan or two to keep the temps down :-)

You can buy an oem version of XP. You can find it at www.overclockers.co.uk for about 90 sterling for the pro edition. I'm sure if you look harder than i did you can find it on other sites at a better price.

And according to the specs for your mobo there is a spare AGP slot so you should just be able to disable the onboard gfx and slap in a shiny new agp card in the future.

Hope that helps some.

Col_Loki

AMD Athlon XP2600+ 1.917 GHz Socket A 333MHz, 512KB Barton, BOXED

Ok seriously get an Xp2500+, there is so little difference in performance and the Xp2500+ has almost the perfect multiplier for overclocking (mabye at a later date).......

And get a Heatsink and fan (like the one you chose) that has a low RPM (quieter fan).

Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 120GB 8MB IDE ATA/100 8MB cache 7200RPM

Not the best performance wise, but when it comes to noise its very quiet. Better options (considering your not going for a silent rig) might be a Samsung, Maxtor, WesternDigital (in order of quietness).......

Crucial PC2700 DDR-DIMM 512MB CL2.5 6ns Unbuffered, Non-parity, 2.5V, 64Meg x 64

Crucial / corsair is good ram , go for Pc3200 . It will run perfectly at Pc2700, Pc2100 etc but for the very small extra ammount you have ram that will run at a higher speed which might be handy for upgrades of overclocking (future)

The place dempsey mentioned is the same as www.pc-memory-upgrade.co.uk (nicer site i think) and is based in kildare....... like dempsey id rather buy my ram from these people.

Q-Tec Dual Fan Gold power supply - 400 Watt

Like the guys said, we dont much like q-tec arround here !! Mabye think about an ..

Antec Lanboy (good PSU and nice clear side&blue light )/ Sonata (comes with PSU and extremely quiet) ....... www.elara.ie

Or mabye get the Q-tec case and a Fortron 300w PSU (there excellent and will run your system with ease - running mine perfectly) ........... www.pc-look.com - much better than any q-tec PSU. (although your system needs very little power due to onboard graphics etc and the q-tec would most probably be fine)



All that said your choices seem pretty good, the above listed is only a slight improvement as youve done your homework pretty well !!

doggy_s

Many thanks for the help folks, very much appreciated. Having read the above posts, I've changed the following:

(Komplett unless stated)

+++++CASE/PSU++++++++
Chieftec Dragon Medium Tower Silver Case w/360W power, w/USB/Firewire
Komplett # 114494
Mfr part # DX-01SL-D-U
95.59euro

EKL PAPST case fan 80x80x25mm (13000000014) fan 5,25" power plug
Komplett # 107185
Mfr part # 13000000014
12.67euro

++++++MEMORY+++++++++
(from shop4memory.com)
512Mb DDR RAM PC3200 - Samsung Original
400Mhz, 184 pins, 64 bit, CL3, DDR400
Double-sided, P/N: M368L6423ETM-CCC
Rated CAS 3-3-3, Stock: 10-20 units
Manufacturer: Samsung, Warranty: Lifetime
92.52euro

+++++++HARD DRIVE+++++++++
Samsung SpinPoint P80 120GB 8MB IDE ATA/133 8MB cache 7200RPM
Komplett # 120051
Mfr part # SP1213N
94.43euro
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=120051&cks=PRL

+++++++PROCESSOR+++++++++
AMD Athlon XP2500+ 1.833 GHz Socket A 333MHz, 512KB Barton, OEM
Komplett # 116244
Mfr part # AXDA2500DKV4D
83.99euro

Cooler Master CPU-Fan Socket A/7/FCPGA CP5-8JD1F-0L, up to AMD XP3200+
Komplett # 119824
14.93euro


Adding these items to the existing mobo:

++++++MOBO+++++++++
Abit NF7-M mainboard for Socket A, LAN nForce2IGP/MCP/, ATX, VGA, USB2.0
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=116328&cks=PRL
Komplett # 116328
105.27euro

This spec would cost a shade under 500euro (excl. delivery), and adding a CD writer/modem and OS would bring it to approx 650euro.
It's probably the best machine I can get to come in under budget. Another question, how necessary is thermal paste for the CPU/fan?
Once again, thanks for all the help, I'm flabbergasted by the response.

Col_Loki

The thermalpaste (or in some cases a thermal pad) should be on the heatsink and ready to go so no need to buy any. It is very important to have it all the same but if your only going to seat it once then your fine !!

Depending on the CPU you get , you should be able to get the Xp2500+ to Xp3200+ with little hassle and a small voltage increase (totally safe to run 24/7) as your setup is perfectly matched to do so. Basiclly all it will involve is upping the FSB from 166mhz (333mhz when double pumped) to 200mhz (400mhz when double pumped) and adjusting the CPU voltage a little to stabilise it (keeping an eye on temps - shouldnt be a problem).

That would give you a nice performance increase from the RAM and CPU ....... if need be. But that said the Xp2500+ is a general good performer and i doubt you will stress it too much with your current usage (nice to know theres an easy overclock in the future).

On the memory issue, samsung is very good quality and hard to fault. You would see a decent performance gain if you were to get 2x256mb instead of 1x512mb as you would be using Dual DDR. Normally on AMD boards the Dual DDR isint much of an advantage 2-5% performance increase but this figure is much greater on AMD boards with onboard graphics........... just worth keeping in mind

savemejebus

Hi,

I know i'm probably too late in saying this but if you want to save an extra few euros, to maybe upgrade a different part you might want to take a look at pc world for your optical drive/s, they are currently (in limerick anyway) doing decent deals on sony cd rewriters (€35) sony & samsung dvd rom drives (€40) and artec dvd/cdrw drives(€65), and also for the modems - all oem and in their component section (i'd imagine you can use the cables from your old gateway for these), they also have samsung hdds 120gb(don't know which model) for €90

regarding your case, i don't know if you already have your heart set on the chieftec but, when i was asking about cases and psus here i heard nothing but good things about antec and noticed this case, which could save you another few euro if you want to invest it in upgrading something else

hope this helps