Is this configuration any good for a new PC build?

[jhonrox]

Hello there,

I'm trying to build a PC at the moment and this is my first time, although I've upgraded my current desktop a few times. So, I've found a few components and if you could tell me whether they are any good, it would be great.

Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H -->

Processor - Intel P4 HT 3.4 GHz --> or another Intel P4 HT 3.4 GHz -->
(I don't really know the difference between these two!)

Case - an ATX PC Case from Maplin.co.uk -->

Memory - Now, about the memory, I'm confused as the Motherboard description says "2 x 1.8V DDR2 DIMM sockets supporting up to 4 GB of system memory, support for DDR2 800/667/533 MHz memory modules". But when I search for DDR2, I get different standards like PC2-5300 and PC2-4200 an many more! Which do I choose?

I already have to 2 Hard drives - a Seagate 500GB SATA and a Maxtor 300GB ATA, as well as two DVD drives. These should work with the motherboard, right?

I now need to find a heatsink, and a PSU (would this do?)


So, would this work? Is it any good? I'm not a heavy gamer or anything, but I do play games, occasionally. I do a lot of multi tasking as well (quite a lot of file conversion!) and I don't like it when a PC is slow! All comments and alternatives/suggestions welcome! (My budget is about £250 though .. )

Many thanks in advance!!

 

[Mr soft]

I'd say don't do that PSU
have a look at this.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=223827

and have a look at a dual core , they are just as cheap at the moment .

 

[h364]

Are you sure about P4? You'd be wanting something newer to make it a little more future proof.

 

[daisymtc]

Sorry, I am a bit confused. Did you already get Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H or you are about to purchase?

If you have not get the Mobo, here is my suggest list.

New £260 list:

AMD Athlon II X2 250 3.0GHz 1MB L2 Chche Socket AM3 Retail Box Processor
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166519

MSI K9A2 Neo-F 770 Socket AM2+ 8 channel audio ATX Motherboard
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/148370

ASUS HD 4670 512MB GDDR3 VGA DVI HDMI PCI-E Graphics Card
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/152940

Crucial 4GB (2X2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Ballistix Memory Kit CL4 2.0V
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166461

CoolerMaster Elite 333 Black Case With CM eXtreme Power 460W PSU £53
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/161317

You will be able to hook up to ATA device in modern mobo, probably 1 HDD and 1 DVD Drive. And thus, you will need to buy new SATA DVD burner if you really want 2 DVD Drive

 

[jhonrox]

I'd say don't do that PSU
have a look at this.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?moduleno=223827

and have a look at a dual core , they are just as cheap at the moment .

Thanks for the alternative Mr soft, I've added it to my list.

Are you sure about P4? You'd be wanting something newer to make it a little more future proof.

h364, I know P4s are not very up to date, with all these dual cores and quad cores out and about, but most of them are quite expensive. So I thought I should give the P4 a shot, and if its too slow or out of date, I could just swap it in the future. After all, the Gigabyte motherboard I chose supports all these CPUs!


daisymtc, thank you for your reply and suggestions. No I haven't bought the processor, motherboard, or PSU yet. All I have are 2 hard drives and 2 DVD drives.

As to your suggestions, should I be getting AMD? I mean, with Intel, I have so many choices. So if I want something faster, I could just swap it with another. Is it the same with AMD? I've never used it before and neither have I looked in to the choices available. The motherboard you suggested is great by the way, I'll add that to my list in case I go with an AMD CPU.


Anymore suggestions, anyone?
Thanks again to all those who've replied so far ..

 

[Bodaggit23]

h364, I know P4s are not very up to date, with all these dual cores and quad cores out and about, but most of them are quite expensive.


As to your suggestions, should I be getting AMD? I mean, with Intel, I have so many choices. So if I want something faster, I could just swap it with another. Is it the same with AMD?

How much does the cpu cost that you've chosen?

AMD's are more upgradeable than Intel.

 

[jhonrox]

How much does the cpu cost that you've chosen?

Well, the P4 3.4 GHz CPU I've chosen costs about £50 ..

AMD's are more upgradeable than Intel.

Forgive me if this question sounds stupid, but could you explain/elaborate "more upgradeable", please? How is it upgradeable? (I'm not quite up to date on AMDs, so more info is welcome)

Thank you once again to everybody who replied!

 

[bomberboysk]

Well, the P4 3.4 GHz CPU I've chosen costs about £50 ..



Forgive me if this question sounds stupid, but could you explain/elaborate "more upgradeable", please? How is it upgradeable? (I'm not quite up to date on AMDs, so more info is welcome)

Thank you once again to everybody who replied!

£50 for a pentium 4 is about £45 too much. AMD atm is using socket AM2+ or AM3, while intel is transitioning to new sockets for all of its cpu's. Socket 775 that the pentium 4 and core 2 line is being phased out.

Go with this cpu:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166519

This mobo:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159073

GPU:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/153214

Memory:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/146049

PSU:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/127861

Case:
Whatever case you want?

 

[jhonrox]

Sorry about the late reply, I was out of range for a while!

£50 for a pentium 4 is about £45 too much. AMD atm is using socket AM2+ or AM3, while intel is transitioning to new sockets for all of its cpu's. Socket 775 that the pentium 4 and core 2 line is being phased out.

Go with this cpu:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/166519

This mobo:
http://www.ebuyer.com/product/159073

Thanks for the reply, bomberboysk. Just wondering, if I plan to do the options you suggested, what heatsink should I choose? Are they selected based on the processor or the socket?

Thanks a lot for the help so far!

 

[Bodaggit23]

Thanks for the reply, bomberboysk. Just wondering, if I plan to do the options you suggested, what heatsink should I choose? Are they selected based on the processor or the socket

The linked cpu is a retail box, meaning it comes with a heatsink.

They are designed to fit certain sockets, not specific cpu's.

Aftermarket cpu coolers are designed to fit specific socket types, not specific cpu's.

 

[jhonrox]

The linked cpu is a retail box, meaning it comes with a heatsink.

Thanks for the info, Bodaggit23!


So just to sum up the list:
AMD Athlon II X2 250 3.0GHz Socket AM3 Retail Box Processor

Gigabyte GA-MA770-UD3 770 Socket AM2+ ATX mobo

Sapphire HD 4650 512MB with 1GB HyperMemory GDDR3 PCI-E Graphics Card

OCZ Stealth XStream 600W PSU - SLI Ready ATX2.2

OCZ 4GB (2x2GB) DDR2 800Mhz/PC2-6400 GOLD XTC Memory Kit

Extra Value Shiny Piano Black Mid Tower Case

All in 1 Internal Card Reader Plus One USB2.0 Port just to occupy the free space!

You might have noticed that except the case, everything is recommendation of bomberboysk. I just read the product descriptions & reviews, and they looks alright to me, not that I know a lot!

So .. any last minute adjustments I need to make? (I'll be buying it in a couple of days, hopefully) Any advice for a 1st time builder?

By the way, in the reviews for the memory kit, I read some customers using terms like "6-6-6-18 at 1.8v" and "5-5-5-18 at 1.9v" .. I don't have a clue what they mean, should I be worried?

Thanks a lot to everybody who has helped so far!

 

[bomberboysk]

Should you be worried? Nope, thats just people saying what kind of timings they are running the memory at. You can get a few of those parts cheaper now:

PSU:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CA-023-OC&groupid=701&catid=123&subcat=1098

Corsair for same price as ocz memory:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-190-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=813


Id suggest reading this, will get you the general idea how to build a computer:
http://www.computerforum.com/104641-how-build-computer-step-step-photos.html

 

[jhonrox]

That's good then!

Thanks for the builder's guide by the way,
it is very detailed and illustrated!!


Thank you once again to everybody who helped, I really appreciate it. Once I get all the components and fix them all together, I'll let you know how it works!