Building new PC

TinCool

Right, my main rig is showing it's age. Athlon XP 1.2 gig.

I'm looking at getting this upgrade kit:

http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=111923&s=sc

along with an extra 512megs RAM and this case: http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=120090&s=sc

As a good starting point for a base system.

Suggestions or comments please.

Cheers,
TC

zoro

Well the two main questions you should ask yourself are:
1: What will you be using the machine for (primarily)? ie: Hardcore porno movies, General everyday use, Uber-Gaming ...
and
2: How interested are you in over clocking?

Plus, I've always loved these cases
I'll be getting one myself if I can afford a new rig!

tman

thats what i'd most likely go for if i had to build a budget intel rig.

http://komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=122901&cks=PRL
add one of those babies and you've got yourself a pukka gaming machine:)
(i'm guessing from your post on games, that that's what you have in mind for your new rig)

the case is the only thing that i can fault. then again, i've never seen one in the flesh(/cheap plastic)
if you have the bucks to spare, get one of the chieftec cases that are on weekly offer on komplett and a nice zalman psu from overclockers.co.uk.

you can't go far wrong with the 200gb seagate barracuda hd that's on weekly offer as well:)

zoro

300493 - AMD 64 3200+ - E294.01
119922 - My loverly case - E113.55
300323 - NForce3 MoBo - E157.30 (onboard audio + GIGlan + USB2.0)
124048 - 1024MB Ram - E254.10
122901 - 9800 Pro - E223.85
123995 - 200Gig HD - E132
*edit* adding fan
123406 - Fan - E31.61
Total - 1206.42

I assume you have a monitor?
If you go for the P4 combo (remove the motherboard, processor and memory from above, and add 111923) plus the extra memory (113518) you'll save E114.29 giving you a grand total of 1092.13

But if it were my choice, I'd go with AMD64

TinCool

Thanks dudes. Yeah, main reason is for uber gaming ie. Doom3, HL2. I don't really need hard drives, monitor etc as I already have a 21" philips and 240 gig's worth of h/d space. I'm cut between Athlon and P4 and with all the new sockets and AMD 64's..... I don't want to go over board on price as I only have about 6-700 to play around with.

zoro

300493 - AMD 64 3200+ - E294.01
119922 - My loverly case - E113.55
300323 - NForce3 MoBo - E157.30 (onboard audio + GIGlan + USB2.0)
124048 - 1024MB Ram - E254.10
122901 - 9800 Pro - E223.85
*edit* adding fan
123406 - Fan - E31.61
Total - 1074.42

That's what you'd be looking at for a good AMD64 machine so. It's a bit over your price range though, so if you want, you can use a lower gfx card and memory as well as the case.
But if you want an uber-gaming machine you're looking at a ~E1500 max (no monitor) that you'd be spending, and ~E1000 min (no monitor again).

It's unlikely that you'd be satisfied with a E600/E700 pc when those games get released - but it's totally up to you!

TinCool

Right, well best not cut corners and start putting some cash aside. Does the 300493 come with a CPU fan or would I need to buy a separate one. If so, suggestions ?

zoro

You're dead right - sorry about that
I've edited the posts above to include the fan.

And regards the cutting corners, you'd be best to wait until you have the extra cash to splash out on the AMD64 machine - and who knows, when you do have it the prices may have come down a bit!

TinCool

Cheers Zoro, yeah I'm going to wait and get the AMD64 machine whoop !

zoro

No problem - best of luck with the build, and be sure to post back here to let us know how you get on!

Daniel

RE*AC*TOR

yeah - also recommend you get pci express gfx card and mobo.
more of a chance for future upgrades.

also 254 is a bit expensive for a gig of ram. buying 2 512 sticks should save you money.

zoro

Originally posted by RE*AC*TOR
also 254 is a bit expensive for a gig of ram. buying 2 512 sticks should save you money

What I quoted him was a set of two 512 ram chips. They're designed to be a pair, so they'll work faster when used together than one stick of 1024.

Of course there is cheaper ram, but I like that one, plus I told him to use a lower spec ram if he wanted to save money

Mutant_Fruit

ermm.. the A64 you specified doesn't do dual channel memory as far as i know. That feature is only support on the newer chipset thingy, and on the FX processors.

zoro

I thought it was motherboard specific though?? /me goes to read up on it

tman

aye, the socket 754 processors only have one memory channel.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/cpu/20040601/socket_939-02.html

either buy 2 sticks of cheapo ram, or hold on until the socket 939 processors and mobos become an affordable option

zoro

Ah sorry I was getting confused.

TinCool: If you're waiting to build up more funds anyway, have a look at the Socket 939 motherboards when you have enough money. If they're still outside of your price range then jump on the Socket754 bandwagon.

If you want to keep waiting for the next best thing, you'll never get a new machine

tman

if i were you, i'd buy a 9800 pro now to tide me over. and if neccesary, sell it and get the next best thing when you can afford a socket 939 system.

a 1.2 gig athlon will still do the job as long as you couple it with a reasonable gfx card.
maybe stick as much ram in it as possible and then sell it on the fs forum when you upgrade to a new pc?
(any kind of ram is guarenteed to sell like hot cakes over there)

TacT

since you're going the A64 route I'd suggest you wait on a few more motherboards and get something like this fella http://uk.asus.com/products/mb/socket754/k8n-e_d/overview.htm -- due v.soon.

TinCool

aahhh, stupid technology. Right, well probably the best thing for me to do is to re-post when I have the cash, probably a couple of months anways.

TacT

Good stuff, I love shopping for everyone

BloodBath

300493 - AMD 64 3200+ - E294.01
119922 - My loverly case - E113.55
300323 - NForce3 MoBo - E157.30 (onboard audio + GIGlan + USB2.0)
124048 - 1024MB Ram - E254.10
122901 - 9800 Pro - E223.85
*edit* adding fan
123406 - Fan - E31.61
Total - 1074.42

That's what you'd be looking at for a good AMD64 machine so. It's a bit over your price range though, so if you want, you can use a lower gfx card and memory as well as the case.
But if you want an uber-gaming machine you're looking at a ~E1500 max (no monitor) that you'd be spending, and ~E1000 min (no monitor again).

It's unlikely that you'd be satisfied with a E600/E700 pc when those games get released - but it's totally up to you!

That's awful RAM and a horrible case. That RAM has almost the worst timings possible and is massively overpriced. Get your ram from www.shop4memory.co.uk

They have the best prices and offer free delivery within a couple of days.

I recomend the 1Gb kit DDR PC-3200 Level1 Dual Channel - Mushkin for only 228 euro with 2-2-2-3 timings compared to the 3-3-3-8 timings of the other RAM recomended. 2-2-2-3 is pretty much as good as it gets.


Get whatever case you like. Cases are a personal thing but try and get something with decent airflow thats not too big or heavy. You'll be happy when you have to move the thing anywhere. My case is heavy enough with everything in it and the case itself is only 4kg's. I couldn't imagine what it would be like with a 15kg chieftec not to mention the extra size.



BloodBath

zoro

Sorry about the memory so

Cases are very much a personal thing - I've always liked those massive Chieftech cases!
Although I've my eye on the Zorro cases too, for obvious reasons

BKtje

recomend the 1Gb kit DDR PC-3200 Level1 Dual Channel

Does dual channel ram actually work with the amd 64 tho....? If not (and i was under this impression) then why get it?

Best timings i could find for y amd 64 sys thats on its way was 2-2-2-5 (none dual channel)

Woden

dual channel works on the new socket 939 chipset i believe but not on the older socket 754 one

TinCool

I'm a bit thick when it comes to all this memory and timing stuff. Haven't bought any components for a couple of years and the whole thing has gone and changed on me. All I want is a spakingly good base system (ie. m/b, cpu, ram) that'll last a couple of years. The other bits and bobs I can add on later. although, thanks all for your suggestions so far.