Creating a PC from Komplett

sirpsycho · 13-10-2005 9:15am #1

I'm thinking of buying all the parts for a pc or asking komplett to build one based on the parts I choose, but I need some help in choosing the parts. Endurance Man created a list of parts for me before but the shopping list has expired or something, as I can't view it any longer. I'm looking to build a pc for €700 (no more!) that will be used for browsing and playing the odd game. i'm not a gamer but i'd play occasionally, so i'd want something that will handle recent games (Doom3, BF2 etc) decently. I dont need a monitor, speakers, sound card, mouse, keyboard or network stuff, just the mini-tower.

I've come up with this one for starters:

8 Midi Tower ATX Black Case w/350W PSU (303550)
Gainward GeForce 6600GT 256MB GDDR3 AGP8X, "Ultra/1980" Tv-out,DVI, Retail (307193)
Upgrade Kit AMD Athlon 64 3200+, K8T800PRO, 1024MB, AGP (111924)
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB SATA 8MB 7200RPM NCQ (309275)

All items are in stock but it comes to €724 before shipping. Any ideas?

edit: I want to stick with Athlon 64 btw.

Kintarō Hattori · 13-10-2005 10:16am

To get something half way decent your probably going to have to overshoot the €700 budget slightly. I can give you a few suggestions if you like.

K.O.Kiki · 13-10-2005 10:19am

I would recommend to throw out the PSU in the case when it comes.
Get a 380-460W PSU made by any of the following companies instead:

Akasa
Tagan
FSP
Hiper
Seasonic
SilverPower

Not sure if you can get any or all of them at Komplett, though.

sirpsycho · 13-10-2005 10:40am

eo980 wrote:

To get something half way decent your probably going to have to overshoot the €700 budget slightly. I can give you a few suggestions if you like.

Please do and include the komplett ids if you can so that i know exactly what item you are talking about. Cheers.

uberpixie · 13-10-2005 11:05am

sirpsycho wrote:

I've come up with this one for starters:

8 Midi Tower ATX Black Case w/350W PSU (303550)
Gainward GeForce 6600GT 256MB GDDR3 AGP8X, "Ultra/1980" Tv-out,DVI, Retail (307193)
Upgrade Kit AMD Athlon 64 3200+, K8T800PRO, 1024MB, AGP (111924)
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB SATA 8MB 7200RPM NCQ (309275)

All items are in stock but it comes to €724 before shipping. Any ideas?

edit: I want to stick with Athlon 64 btw.

Don't get a mobo with AGP. Get a Pci express nf4 board. AGP is now dying and there is no point buying into a dead standard.

You could always go for something like this....

amd64 3500+ €230
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307203&s=sc

1024mb twin mos cas 2.5 in 2 x 512mb sticks €105
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=118498&s=sc

200 gig sata 2 samsung spinpoint P120S €97
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307912&s=sc

antec sonata 2 case with 450w antec PSU €129
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=311799&s=sc

Asus A8N-E nforce 4 ultra with Gblan, sata 2, onboard sound €99
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307700&s=sc

Gainward 6600GT PCi-e €185
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=309288&s=sc

(all prices as of 13th oct '05 from komplett.ie)

Total €845 + shipping (€20)

A little more expensive than your spec but way more upgradeable and better for the long term.

You can trim the price a good bit by getting a 3000+ instead of a 3500+ AMD64 and that willl bring the price down to €773 + shipping.

As there is only €30 in the difference between a 3200+ and a 3500+ I put the 3500+ in the spec.

You could alwys trim the ram back to 512mb saving you about €50 if you are really tight on money. But I wouldn't.

Other than gfx card, ram and cpu there is not much more you can trim.

You could go for a cheaper case i.e

antec SLK1650B midtower with 350w antec PSU
(psu is plenty for what you will be running but you will want to change it if you ever put in a better gfx card etc...)
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=305075&s=sc €80

If you cut the cpu down to a 3000+ and cut the case down to the SLK from the main spec:total cost is €723 + shipping

Best of luck.

tba · 13-10-2005 11:15am

uberpixie wrote:

You can trim the price a good bit by getting a 3000+ instead of a 3500+ AMD64 and that willl bring the price down to €773 + shipping.

This is a good idea, as the newer AMD X2 retain the same socket (939) meaning you will be able to upgrade to dual core painlessly.

uberpixie · 13-10-2005 11:20am

tba wrote:

This is a good idea, as the newer AMD X2 retain the same socket (939) meaning you will be able to upgrade to dual core painlessly.

Which if you want to go dual core in INTEL you prolly have to buy a new motherboard for €150 - €200.....

tba · 13-10-2005 11:29am

The real pain in the hoop these days is DDR2, they just recently started out prefoming their ancestors, so a mobo with DDR(vanilla) on it may not have a simple time of getting ram upgrades in the future, you can never tell.

All in all you need to make sure you spend the extra money on your motherboard, because it is that decides if you can upgrade cheaply.

Kintarō Hattori · 13-10-2005 12:43pm

AMD Athlon64 3200 - €199
Sapphire X800GT PCI-E 256MB - €170.01
Abit KN8 Mobo - €99
Hitachi SATA2 NCQ 160GB HDD - €88
Coolermaster Centurion 1 Tower No PSU - €57
Generic DDR400 Memory 512MB x 2 - €96

Total - €709.01

Add an extra €60 or so for a decent PSU. You might find a better deal in town.

In fairness guys, I think he's looking to go A64 as cheap as possible, yet still be able to play games more than reasonably well.

Sirpsycho- Is this going to be your main upgrade to A64.
You really need to evaluate what your going to use the machine for and how long it's going to last you. Are you just looking for a first footing into 64bit or do you plan to use this for a long time?

sirpsycho · 13-10-2005 1:41pm

eo980, as i said above, i will only be using the pc for the web and playing the odd game. what i had in mind was something that wouldnt cost me an arm and a leg but something that wouldnt need to be upgraded for a while, yet at the same time would be easily upgradeable.

going by the replys I'm thinking that uberpixie's selection makes sense although i would be choosing the €80 case rather than the €130 case to bring it to around €800. the choice seems to come down to which gfx card to pick... the 128Mb 6600GT or the x800GT 256Mb card. if i wanted to see it in a year or 2's time i'm betting that the 3500 would sell easier than the 3000. Thanks for all the replies so far.

sirpsycho · 13-10-2005 2:35pm

Right, I have this in my shopping cart. Opinions please!!

amd64 3500+ €230
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307203&s=sc

1024mb twin mos cas 2.5 in 2 x 512mb sticks €105
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=118498&s=sc

200 gig sata 2 samsung spinpoint P120S €97
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307912&s=sc

antec SLK1650B midtower with 350w antec PSU
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=305075&s=sc €80

Asus A8N-E nforce 4 ultra with Gblan, sata 2, onboard sound €99
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307700&s=sc

Sapphire X800GT PCI-E 256MB - €170.01

The total including shipping is €800.

tba · 13-10-2005 2:51pm

I like it. Although I would seek another opion on the case and PSU ( I havnt a clue about that stuff.)

Are you going to use the stock cooler on the AMD?
And are you using the DVD drive of another PC?

sirpsycho · 13-10-2005 2:52pm

stock cooler? wah?
have a dvd burner at home that i may use in this pc.

tba · 13-10-2005 3:08pm

sirpsycho wrote:

stock cooler? wah?

The heat sink and fan that come with the CPU, you can get better ones but, only if you want. Although you may want to consider two fans for air circulation, only about €7 each from komplett.

uberpixie · 13-10-2005 4:12pm

tba wrote:

I like it. Although I would seek another opion on the case and PSU ( I havnt a clue about that stuff.)

Are you going to use the stock cooler on the AMD?
And are you using the DVD drive of another PC?

Stock cooler is fine. It aint too loud.

That cheap antec case has gotten good reviews anywhere i have seen it.

Its a steal at €80. you could always buy a cheaper case and a seperate psu, but it will cost you more and you a stuck with a crap case in the long run.

Psu is an antec 350W which is fairly dacent.

350w will happily run the hardware he wants to put in it. But as I said it would want to be upgraded in the future if a more power hungry gfx card is slapped in or an extra hard drive or 2.

Have seen amd 64 3000+, 512mb ram, 160 gig hardrive and 6600GT run happily on a hipper 350W.(friends machine)

I'm running an amd64 3500+, 200 gig ide seagate, X800XT PE all on a 240W psu in my shuttle.

350W will be fine, as long as it's not a qtech ;-)

t5pwr · 13-10-2005 4:27pm

Check this out on tomshardwareguide.com it might give you a few ideas also
http://www.tomshardware.com/howto/20051014/index.html

sirpsycho · 14-10-2005 8:37am

I think i might put the order in this morning. will komplett assemble it for me? is that an extra cost?

edit:
Just read on their site

"Pre-built PCs

We deliver both complete campaign models as well as the option to tailor your own Komplett PC using the 'Customise with recommended options' function. When you tailor your PC, you can choose from a variety of compatible components. Komplett will build and test the PC for you and deliver it with a warranty.

We can only assemble PCs built using the "PC builder" and not components picked "randomly" from our site."

i'll have to give it a go myself.

uberpixie · 14-10-2005 11:36am

sirpsycho wrote:

I think i might put the order in this morning. will komplett assemble it for me? is that an extra cost?

edit:
Just read on their site

"Pre-built PCs

We deliver both complete campaign models as well as the option to tailor your own Komplett PC using the 'Customise with recommended options' function. When you tailor your PC, you can choose from a variety of compatible components. Komplett will build and test the PC for you and deliver it with a warranty.

We can only assemble PCs built using the "PC builder" and not components picked "randomly" from our site."

i'll have to give it a go myself.

You'll be fine. Just make sure you build near a radiator/ pluged out lap with metal base (to discharge your self of static: give em a tip every couple of minutes/ every time you go to pick up a new part)

There are plenty of build your own sites, komplett link one.

Also your motherboard should come with a manual that will prolly tell you how to build anyhow.

So no worries :-)

Just remember to put in the standoffs to the case, the ones that raise the motherboard above the base of the case and that take the screws to hold the mobo in place.
(common mistake for first time builders)

There are threaded sockets on the case to take the stand offs, usually you hold the mobo over the bottom of the case to see which sockets you have to put standoffs in.

Also don't be worried if you cannot put in all the screws to hold the mobo in. Just get most of em.

Other than that take your time, take a good hour or more to assemble everything and make sure you route your power cables etc properly.

The tidier you have your cables the easier it is to trouble shoot i.e. what power cable did I not plug in? :-)

Also make sure the ram, cpu and gfx card go into the slot properly.

Also put the cpu in, then the ram and then everything else.

Ram will bend the motherboard when you put it in so dont be too worried, make sure you put a good bit of pressure on it to get it in right.

Just make sure the ram is lined up right. There is a little dent 3/4 of the way down on the edge of the chip to show you which way it's meant to go into the slot.

Other than that read the 'ecking manual 3 times over to make sure you know what you are doing BEFORE you start :-)

Best of luck.

sirpsycho · 14-10-2005 2:12pm

Order gone in now. Thanks for the advice on building the machine

sirpsycho · 24-10-2005 6:47pm

sirpsycho wrote:

Right, I have this in my shopping cart. Opinions please!!

amd64 3500+ €230
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307203&s=sc

1024mb twin mos cas 2.5 in 2 x 512mb sticks €105
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=118498&s=sc

200 gig sata 2 samsung spinpoint P120S €97
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307912&s=sc

antec SLK1650B midtower with 350w antec PSU
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=305075&s=sc €80

Asus A8N-E nforce 4 ultra with Gblan, sata 2, onboard sound €99
http://www.komplett.ie/k/ki.asp?sku=307700&s=sc

Sapphire X800GT PCI-E 256MB - €170.01

The total including shipping is €800.

All built and working(almost?)

Thanks for the help again.

There is only one problem, the fan at the back of the power supply isn't spinning. If i put my hand up to it I can feel air coming out so i'm guessing it's from another fan i think is at the opposite end of the psu. should this fan be on? i was thinking either the psu has a faulty fan or maybe this fan only comes on when the psu heats up or draws a certain amount of power. Any help? The case/psu is: Antec SLK1650B Miditower, Black w/350W PSU.

Thanks in advance.

DemonOfTheFall · 24-10-2005 7:40pm

Can you definitely see that it's not spinning ? Theres been a lot of times where I would have sworn that a PSU fan wasn't spinning but turns out that it was.

sirpsycho · 25-10-2005 8:01am

Yep, definitely not spinning as I can see the blades stationary.

Creating a PC from Komplett

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