Building my own computer

Jeepers79 · 08-06-2004, 04:50 PM

tristan · 08-06-2004, 05:13 PM

Any of those cases will do just fine.
I highly suggest one of these for the PSU
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...104-962&depa=0
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...104-963&depa=0
That one would do but the PSU isnt really something you want to just go skimpy on. Especially if you plan on doing any kind of OC'ing.
Great DVD burner. Plextors the way to go
Great CPU
Great Mobo, BUT it is very new (just came out this month) so you are going to have to wait a little bit for the updated bios. So far i have heard its a great board though. (I have a Nf7-S v.2 and i love it)
Good solid HD

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-360&depa=1
this would be a good lower budget one.
or this
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-314&depa=1
I typically wouldnt recommend Sapphire because of their benchmark results but this would be a solid card for a non-gamer.
Memory- one stick of 512 pc2700 would be fine. (i typically go with either crucial or corsair) there are a bunch of good brands though. if you want a little more go with pc3200, and if you want even more grab a gig stick or 2 512's.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...146-541&DEPA=1
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...145-479&DEPA=1

(OCZ and GEIL are also very high performance sticks but very pricey.)

Jeepers79 · 08-06-2004, 05:25 PM

Thanks!
What MOBO do you think is better of the 2 I have there? Or is there another recommendation?

You guys are great
Mike

**Praetor** · 08-06-2004, 05:34 PM

Quote:

I typically wouldnt recommend Sapphire because of their benchmark results but this would be a solid card for a non-gamer.

What benchmark results? They use the same video chip, the same memory, the same output, the same input, virtually identical electrical components (capactitors, transistors etc). The only difference is (a) they are assembled (note the word choice there) abroad and (b) typically the PCB board is a different color neither of which translate to noticeable differences in end-user performance.

Quote:

What MOBO do you think is better of the 2 I have there? Or is there another recommendation?

Either is good.... can't really go wrong with it. Go for the cheaper one.

tristan · 08-06-2004, 05:46 PM

Praetor, the sapphire does not come with heatsink fan like others do. They overheat and are unable to be clocked verywell resulting in poor benchmarks.

I have done my own tests with ATI cards versus Sapphire. There is definately a difference. Sapphire is just supplied with cheaper parts. When it comes to video cards, you get what you pay for.

As for the 2 mobos they are both great. I go with ABit because of its amazing OC'ing capabilities. Just food for thought for down the road.

**Praetor** · 08-06-2004, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Praetor, the sapphire does not come with heatsink fan like others do. They overheat and are unable to be clocked verywell resulting in poor benchmarks.

1. For the money you save going Sapphire, you can get a damn nice Artic cooler.
2. If you intend to seriously OC your card you'd get an aftermarket cooler regardless of the make so it's a slightly moot point I would imagine.
3. Look at the ASUS 9200 or since you like Abit, have a look at their 9200. No fan.

Quote:

I have done my own tests with ATI cards versus Sapphire. There is definately a difference.

Are you comparing a OC'd ATi card with a non-OCd Sapphire? If not I highly doubt the Sapphire will get dominated by the ATi card left right and centre because if that was the case, they'd either (a) out of business or (b) a lot cheaper.

Jeepers79 · 08-06-2004, 06:04 PM

tristan · 08-06-2004, 06:07 PM

My stock ATI Radeon 9800 pro comes with adequite cooling and has no need for aftermarket cooling. I have it OC'ed a ton also. Would you disagree that Sapphire is a cheaper company that uses cheaper parts?
For example here. This sapphire 9200se doesnt even have a heatsink
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...102-298&DEPA=1
and look at the pure size of the heatsink on the ABit.
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...123-136&DEPA=1

I was able to OC a ATI 9200se a lot more than the Sapphire, and had better results.

**Praetor** · 08-06-2004, 06:29 PM

Quote:

My stock ATI Radeon 9800 pro comes with adequite cooling and has no need for aftermarket cooling. I have it OC'ed a ton also. Would you disagree that Sapphire is a cheaper company that uses cheaper parts?

We're not comparing the 9800 Pro. If you can find a 9800Pro that doesnt ship with active (or exotic) cooling lemme know and I'll yell at the company myself. We're talking about the 9200 (or now that you mention it, the 9200SE). Have a look at two such cards from reputable companies we've all come to know and love:
- http://usa.asus.com/products/vga/r9200se/overview.htm
- http://www.abit-usa.com/products/gra...es=2&model=171
- http://www.abit-usa.com/products/gra...es=2&model=171
Hell even the ATI one doesnt have a fan:
- http://www.pcchipsusa.com/prod-atiradeon9200-1.asp

Quote:

Sapphire is a cheaper company that uses cheaper parts?

In order for Sapphire to maintain it's contract and partnership with ATI it needs to adhere to certain conditions and regulations and such. A few of them are:
- They must use ATi made chips (duh)
- They must use ATi-spec'd memory (duh)
- They must meet ATi-spec'd QC (again, duh)
This is nothing special and all the major companies shipping ATi based cards must adhere to the same basic conditions. How and where they make their product is up to the company. In the case of Sapphire .. they save craploads of money from two things:
- They are based out in Asia where mass manufacturing facilities are already established
- Cheaper labour force
- Brute force raw materials
- Favorable exchange rate
The only unique cost of this is shipping but when you're talking about shipping say 500,000 units it's a moot point per card. Thus they can make a comparable card for a crapload cheaper.

Quote:

I was able to OC a ATI 9200se a lot more than the Sapphire, and had better results.

I hope that's not the basis for your argument :S I assume you've done quite a bit of OCing here and there so I'll be brief: you take two cards, both, say, 9200 (even the ATI ones if you want) and you OC them. It's quite possible that you can OC one by 100Mhz and the other by only 10Mhz .. you should know that! Now unless you've tried this with like 30 cards of each it's quite possible you just had a not-so-OC-friendly-card

Quote:

and look at the pure size of the heatsink on the ABit.

Btw note that the Abit one is pre-OCd.

Now to the real point behind this.....for average Joe users getting a 9200SE.... do you think they give a crap whether their card overheats at 1900x1600 with settings to max? Hardly, they'll be busy trying to get a medium details running at 1024x768. Let's also not forget the targeted profile for the 9200 series: the business environment (low budget gaming was a secondary -- and much less lucrative market). For business machines running office apps, their's no way in hell the 9200SE will overheat, HSF or not. I think both you and I are looking at this card from a gamer perspective when really it should be from a non-gamer perspective because that's their targeted market. But since I work in computer sales, I'll grab a heatsinkless Sapphire and I'll give it a whirl ... doubt it will overheat but ya never know (got a HSF-less GF4MX and that can play games without overheating... again i could just be lucky) ... i'll let you know how that goes

tristan · 08-06-2004, 06:43 PM

Bottom line, if you are going for really high quality Sapphire isnt the way to go. Their pros lie in there cost rather than quality. Thats all I am saying. Like I said for this case, since he isnt a gamer, it really doesnt matter. Hense why i recommended it.

08-06-2004, 05:46 PM	#15 (permalink)
tristan Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 296	Praetor, the sapphire does not come with heatsink fan like others do. They overheat and are unable to be clocked verywell resulting in poor benchmarks. I have done my own tests with ATI cards versus Sapphire. There is definately a difference. Sapphire is just supplied with cheaper parts. When it comes to video cards, you get what you pay for. As for the 2 mobos they are both great. I go with ABit because of its amazing OC'ing capabilities. Just food for thought for down the road. Last edited by tristan; 08-06-2004 at 05:56 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

08-06-2004, 04:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
Jeepers79 Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 50	Update..... What do you think of this? Case: (not sure?) http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...156-023&depa=1 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...156-132&depa=1 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...156-112&depa=1 PSU: (Will I need to upgrade?) http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...153-006&DEPA=1 DVD Burner: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-311&depa=1 CPU: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...103-381&depa=1 MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...127-184&depa=1 OR http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-478&depa=1 MEMORY: Can someone point me to the right place? HD: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...144-122&depa=1 Video Card: Also please help. Remember im not much into gaming at all... Just need somethign basic. Thanks! MIke

08-06-2004, 05:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
tristan Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 296	Any of those cases will do just fine. I highly suggest one of these for the PSU http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...104-962&depa=0 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...104-963&depa=0 That one would do but the PSU isnt really something you want to just go skimpy on. Especially if you plan on doing any kind of OC'ing. Great DVD burner. Plextors the way to go Great CPU Great Mobo, BUT it is very new (just came out this month) so you are going to have to wait a little bit for the updated bios. So far i have heard its a great board though. (I have a Nf7-S v.2 and i love it) Good solid HD Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-360&depa=1 this would be a good lower budget one. or this http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-314&depa=1 I typically wouldnt recommend Sapphire because of their benchmark results but this would be a solid card for a non-gamer. Memory- one stick of 512 pc2700 would be fine. (i typically go with either crucial or corsair) there are a bunch of good brands though. if you want a little more go with pc3200, and if you want even more grab a gig stick or 2 512's. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...146-541&DEPA=1 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...145-479&DEPA=1 (OCZ and GEIL are also very high performance sticks but very pricey.)

08-06-2004, 05:25 PM	#13 (permalink)
Jeepers79 Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 50	Thanks! What MOBO do you think is better of the 2 I have there? Or is there another recommendation? You guys are great Mike

08-06-2004, 06:04 PM	#17 (permalink)
Jeepers79 Bronze Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 50	Okay I think I have completed my system (no thanks to myself!...) One last overview before I make my order.... Am I missing anything? Case: (Prob #1 29.00) http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...156-023&depa=1 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...156-132&depa=1 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...156-112&depa=1 PSU: 69.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...104-963&depa=0 DVD Burner: 101.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-311&depa=1 CD ROM: 19.89 (to allow me to burn one cd right to another) http://www.essencompu.com/nupplysingar.asp?ID=6123 CPU: 146.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...103-381&depa=1 MOBO: 88.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...131-478&depa=1 MEMORY: 86.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...146-541&DEPA=1 HD: 63.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...144-122&depa=1 Video Card: 89.00 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...102-360&depa=1 Am I forgetting anything to complete my system? For a total of $690.89 Not TOO bad.

08-06-2004, 06:07 PM	#18 (permalink)
tristan Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 296	My stock ATI Radeon 9800 pro comes with adequite cooling and has no need for aftermarket cooling. I have it OC'ed a ton also. Would you disagree that Sapphire is a cheaper company that uses cheaper parts? For example here. This sapphire 9200se doesnt even have a heatsink http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...102-298&DEPA=1 and look at the pure size of the heatsink on the ABit. http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...123-136&DEPA=1 I was able to OC a ATI 9200se a lot more than the Sapphire, and had better results.

08-06-2004, 06:43 PM	#20 (permalink)
tristan Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 296	Bottom line, if you are going for really high quality Sapphire isnt the way to go. Their pros lie in there cost rather than quality. Thats all I am saying. Like I said for this case, since he isnt a gamer, it really doesnt matter. Hense why i recommended it.