New Desktop For College.. Need Help!

lukeduke28 · 04-14-2008, 01:38 AM

Hey guys, this is my first time looking at parts and really looking at computers at all. I have been looking around for about a month now, and I put together a list of parts for my desktop. My list might totally suck for all I know, and thats why I need some help and maybe some suggestions.

Im goin to college next year and getting a new computer for the occasion. I will use it for a few games (Battlefield, Halo, some older games maybe), downloading music, and mostly surfing the web. My budget is about $1000-$1100, but cheaper is always better if it can be had.

Heres my list.....

MOBO-- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX $97

Video Card-- XFX PVT88SFDF4 GeForce 8800GS $129.99- $30(rebate)= $100

RAM-- G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $45

CPU-- Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 $200 (out of stock

)

HDD-- Western Digital Caviar SE16 $90

PSU-- Antec NeoPower 650 ATX12V $100

Case-- XION Onyx XON-303 $75-$15(rebate)=$60

Monitor-- Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" $245

OS-- Microsoft Windows XP Professional $140

DVD-- SAMSUNG Black 20X $30

I already have keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Any suggestions and/or ideas will be appreciated!! Thanks!

g25racer · 04-14-2008, 01:49 AM

That hdd is not that good and you should get one with 32mb of cache as it will be faster and cost maybe $10 more. Also that monitor is kinda pricey for only a 22"!! If you really want a good monitor get the 22" hp at tiger. It only $5 more but is a better monitor!!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...9&Sku=H25-2200

reddevil6 · 04-14-2008, 02:01 AM

get this DVD burner instead
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135157

lukeduke28 · 04-14-2008, 03:27 AM

THanks!! Switching some things around....

HDD-- Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 $130

Monitor-- HP w2207 $285

DVD-- ASUS Black 20X DVD+R $30

g25racer · 04-14-2008, 03:31 AM

Heres the hdd I just ordered!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152100

HumanMage · 04-14-2008, 03:39 AM

If its your going to college soon, why not consider a laptop? I don't want to say desktops are bad, but all my friends wish they went with a laptop out of high school. They just fit that type of lifestyle a lot better. But its up to you though. Just thought I'd add my two cents.

lukeduke28 · 04-14-2008, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumanMage

If its your going to college soon, why not consider a laptop? I don't want to say desktops are bad, but all my friends wish they went with a laptop out of high school. They just fit that type of lifestyle a lot better. But its up to you though. Just thought I'd add my two cents.

Yea, I have thought about that a lot. I was planning on going with a laptop, but I talked to a few of my friends in college and they said that they dont really take their laptop anywhere outside of the room and I figure thats the only reason to get a laptop over a desktop. Plus all I could is Vista on laptops, and i heard a lot of bad things about that. So I have just decided to go with a desktop. But thanks for the thought, I just want a desktop.

g25racer · 04-14-2008, 04:19 AM

Vista is great!! Prob alot slower on a laptop as most of them dont have great specs but vista is running better than ever for me!!

UriA702 · 04-14-2008, 04:32 AM

That's an OEM processor, meaning it doesn't come with any fan or heatsink, you will need to purchase one separately. May I recommend this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134

Otherwise that is a great setup. If I were you I would spend a few extra bucks and get the seagate barracuda drive w/ 32mb buffer. but that's not a necessity

lukeduke28 · 04-14-2008, 04:45 AM

I will add that fan to my list, thank you very much for the suggestion and the compliment. Im very excited to get everything and see how it works. Its good to hear that a rookie like me put together a good setup.

About the HDD you reccomended, were you thinking of this one?

04-14-2008, 01:38 AM	#1 (permalink)
lukeduke28 New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 19	New Desktop For College.. Need Help! Hey guys, this is my first time looking at parts and really looking at computers at all. I have been looking around for about a month now, and I put together a list of parts for my desktop. My list might totally suck for all I know, and thats why I need some help and maybe some suggestions. Im goin to college next year and getting a new computer for the occasion. I will use it for a few games (Battlefield, Halo, some older games maybe), downloading music, and mostly surfing the web. My budget is about $1000-$1100, but cheaper is always better if it can be had. Heres my list..... MOBO-- GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX $97 Video Card-- XFX PVT88SFDF4 GeForce 8800GS $129.99- $30(rebate)= $100 RAM-- G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) $45 CPU-- Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 $200 (out of stock ) HDD-- Western Digital Caviar SE16 $90 PSU-- Antec NeoPower 650 ATX12V $100 Case-- XION Onyx XON-303 $75-$15(rebate)=$60 Monitor-- Acer AL2216Wbd Black 22" $245 OS-- Microsoft Windows XP Professional $140 DVD-- SAMSUNG Black 20X $30 I already have keyboard, mouse, and speakers. Any suggestions and/or ideas will be appreciated!! Thanks!

04-14-2008, 01:49 AM	#2 (permalink)
g25racer Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,583	That hdd is not that good and you should get one with 32mb of cache as it will be faster and cost maybe $10 more. Also that monitor is kinda pricey for only a 22"!! If you really want a good monitor get the 22" hp at tiger. It only $5 more but is a better monitor!! http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...9&Sku=H25-2200 __________________ CPU - AMD Athlon 64x2 5200+ @ 2.6ghz Ram - 2GB Stock clock HD - 320gb seagate & Samsung 750gb 32mb cache GPU - XFX 8600GT XXX Zalman @ 680 or 700mhz PSU - Ultra X-finity 600watt OS - Vista Home Premium(32) & XP Pro and Vista Audio - JVC 460watts Control - Logitech G25 Wheel & Logitech Rumblepad 2 Games - GTR2 and LFS -- Race Sim's for Life --

04-14-2008, 02:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
reddevil6 Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Australia Age: 15 Posts: 1,064	get this DVD burner instead http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135157 __________________ (1) GA-MA770-DS3 - AMD 6000+ - WD SE16 2x500G - Gigabyte 3870 (upgrading to a 4850 soon) - Apacer 2x2G DDR 800 - Thermaltake Soprano RS100 full tower - Coolmaster extream power duo 650W - 3DMARK06 10643 (2) GA-81945P-G-RH - Pentium D 945 (3.4GHz) had it @4.42 GHz - SATA 3.0G 1x250G 2x500G - ASUS 3850 - 3G DDR 533 - Topower 750W - 50''(127CM) 1080P 1920x1080 plasma - 3DMARK06 7250. (3) Intel P4 3.0GHz - Jetway PM880DMS - IDE 320G - RADION 512MB 1650 pro - 1.5G DDR 400 - ATLAS 450W.

04-14-2008, 03:31 AM	#5 (permalink)
g25racer Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,583	Heres the hdd I just ordered!! http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152100 __________________ CPU - AMD Athlon 64x2 5200+ @ 2.6ghz Ram - 2GB Stock clock HD - 320gb seagate & Samsung 750gb 32mb cache GPU - XFX 8600GT XXX Zalman @ 680 or 700mhz PSU - Ultra X-finity 600watt OS - Vista Home Premium(32) & XP Pro and Vista Audio - JVC 460watts Control - Logitech G25 Wheel & Logitech Rumblepad 2 Games - GTR2 and LFS -- Race Sim's for Life --

04-14-2008, 03:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
HumanMage Platinum Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 744	If its your going to college soon, why not consider a laptop? I don't want to say desktops are bad, but all my friends wish they went with a laptop out of high school. They just fit that type of lifestyle a lot better. But its up to you though. Just thought I'd add my two cents. __________________ -----Laptop: Asus G1----- http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3403

04-14-2008, 03:27 AM	#4 (permalink)
lukeduke28 New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 19	THanks!! Switching some things around.... HDD-- Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 $130 Monitor-- HP w2207 $285 DVD-- ASUS Black 20X DVD+R $30

04-14-2008, 04:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
g25racer Diamond Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 3,583	Vista is great!! Prob alot slower on a laptop as most of them dont have great specs but vista is running better than ever for me!! __________________ CPU - AMD Athlon 64x2 5200+ @ 2.6ghz Ram - 2GB Stock clock HD - 320gb seagate & Samsung 750gb 32mb cache GPU - XFX 8600GT XXX Zalman @ 680 or 700mhz PSU - Ultra X-finity 600watt OS - Vista Home Premium(32) & XP Pro and Vista Audio - JVC 460watts Control - Logitech G25 Wheel & Logitech Rumblepad 2 Games - GTR2 and LFS -- Race Sim's for Life --

04-14-2008, 04:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
UriA702 Gold Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 276	That's an OEM processor, meaning it doesn't come with any fan or heatsink, you will need to purchase one separately. May I recommend this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134 Otherwise that is a great setup. If I were you I would spend a few extra bucks and get the seagate barracuda drive w/ 32mb buffer. but that's not a necessity __________________ CPU: Wolfdale e8400 Mobo: Asus p5k-se Ram: 4 gb 1066 mhz G.skill 4-4-4-12 Video: EVGA 8800gt Lite-on IDE 20x dvd-ram/16x lite-on dvd-rom Monitor: 22" KDS LCD Raidmax smilodon case 500 watt raidmax psu Photos: http://mynetimages.com/album/uria702

04-14-2008, 04:45 AM	#10 (permalink)
lukeduke28 New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 19	I will add that fan to my list, thank you very much for the suggestion and the compliment. Im very excited to get everything and see how it works. Its good to hear that a rookie like me put together a good setup. About the HDD you reccomended, were you thinking of this one?

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