Building Your Own Pc

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CHoff1

New Member
First Self-Built Computer

So, I’m delving (for the first time) into the self-built computer world for my next computer and I’m looking for some general advice. I bought my Dell five years ago and it’s run well for me, but I can feel its limitations more and more each day.

Here are the specs of my current system (Standard Dell factory casing, cooling, etc.)::rolleyes:

Processor
2.00 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Board
Board: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 8200
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A05 04/18/2002

Drives
MAXTOR 6L080J4 (80.05 GB)
LITE-ON CD-RW SOHR-5238S [CD-ROM drive]
LITEON DVD-ROM LTD163 [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Memory
768 Megabytes Installed Memory

Slot 'RIMM1' has 256 MB
Slot 'RIMM2' has 256 MB
Slot 'RIMM3' has 128 MB
Slot 'RIMM4' has 128 MB

Printer
Dell Photo AIO Printer 942

Display
NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420 [Display adapter]
Iiyama 17NE1 [Monitor] (17.1"vis, March 2004)

Audio
Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM AC'97 Audio Controller
harman/kardon speakers w/ sub-woofer

Comms
1394 Net Adapter Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC

Controllers
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel(r) 82801BA Bus Master IDE Controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]

Bus Adaptors
Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2442
Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2444
VIA Rev 5 or later USB Universal Host Controller (2x)
VIA USB Enhanced Host Controller

Operating System
Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

*******

I’ve browsed through PCMech articles on building my own PC and I’ve scoured every 101 posting I could find on this site. I’ve also done some research of my own and checked out Pricewatch.com and some other retail sites.

I’m looking for general feedback in terms of obvious incompatibility issues, potential cooling problems, hardware installation obstacles, etc. If there’s anything glaring, I’d love to hear about it.

My new system should be able to handle the following::D

Limited/Middling gaming: I’m a big fan of the Half-Life 2, Call of Duty, and Splinter Cell series; World of Warcraft; Civilization IV; and I’m looking forward to the new Enemy Territory: Quake Wars online game. (I’ve been playing Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory for years and can’t seem to get away )

I do the usual office/home type of work, pretty low-end in terms of resource use/demand. I do write music, though, and might look to put in a soundcard and ProTools-type recording/editing software.

I’m not a graphics guru, nor do I overclock, need two video cards, or engage in real heat-producing gaming activities.

My new system is fairly low budget but quality and leaves room for expansion (hopefully). So…here goes. ANY comments will be very helpful:

CASE
Cooler Master Centurion 5 - Silver ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB, Firewire and Audio Ports
49.99 + Shipping
TigerDirect.com

PSU
XCLIO STABLEPOWER 500W ATX 500W Power Supply 100 - 240 V UL, CUL, TUV, CB, VDE, FIMKO, DEMKO, NEMKO, SEMKO - Retail
69.99 + Shipping
Newegg.com

MOTHERBOARD
GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
109.99 + Shipping
Newegg.com


CPU
Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 2.4GHz 1066MHz 8MB LGA775 EM64T CPU
282.00 + Shipping
Memorylabs.com

VIDEO CARD
EVGA 256-P2-N751-TR GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
114.99 + Shipping
Newegg.com

OS
Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit
114.99 + Shipping
Newegg.com


I may also look to upgrade the CD drive and add a new/second hard drive (~250 GB).

Thanks everyone in advance.

CHoff1
 
Get an 8800GTS 320Mb or above, if you can.... Good choice on case, I have used that a bit on business builds. For a PSU, that is decent, I would recommend an Ultra from Tigerdirect. If you can afford this too, go with the P35-DS3R...
 
Thanks very much for your input. I might up the specs on the mobo and graphics cards I'm looking for. Very helpful comments, though. Just what I was looking for.
 
Would you recommend the below (with modular cables)?:

Ultra / X-Connect V-Series ( XVS) / 500-Watt / ATX / 120mm Fan / 20/24-Pin / Modular Power Supply

$79.99 from TigerDirect.com.
 
Is there any particular reason why you'd choose the second PSU over the first? The modular design seems to have more resistance (28A). Is the second preferrable because of the extra peripheral connections? Or something else? Or just cheaper?
 
CHoff1 said:
Is there any particular reason why you'd choose the second PSU over the first? The modular design seems to have more resistance (28A). Is the second preferrable because of the extra peripheral connections? Or something else? Or just cheaper?
Click to expand...

The one i mentioned is 600watts along with 2 rails one of 20 and another one of 18, if you still want to buy a modular psu get the corsair 520w which is a much better unit and for a similar price

http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-520w-sli-certified-modular-atx-power-supply/q/loc/101/203270716.html
 
INTELCRAZY said:
Get an 8800GTS 320Mb or above, if you can.... Good choice on case, I have used that a bit on business builds. For a PSU, that is decent, I would recommend an Ultra from Tigerdirect. If you can afford this too, go with the P35-DS3R...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great input.

Is this the board you're talking about? NewEgg

If so, that looks good. It's only $20 more and better than the one I was originally considering.

Also, as far as the video card goes. This is the one I looked at based on your post. About twice as costly, but significantly better. I'm not there yet, but when the time comes, I may just fork out the extra bucks for the performance.

Oh yeah, ordered the case today. Should be here in a few days. Step one complete.:)
 
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