First Computer Build... Recommendations

N

nd4spd

New Member
Alright guys i think i am going to attempt the impossible and try and build my first computer. I have NO idea what i need, so if someone could make me an amazing computer it would be great. I have never done anything like this before and i do not know much about computer internals at all.

Here is what I use it for: I use it for basic school stuff... i DO NOT play many games at all, only every once in a while... i surf the internet ALL THE TIME and watch TONS of movies and listen to music. I want something that is really fast, however i dont really think i need that amazing of a graphics card if i dont play games correct?

What i Need: I need EVERYTHING to put the computer together straight down to a power cord, fans, etc. I also need a monitor... i would love as big of one as possible and if i coudl get a thin one that woudl be great. Keyboard and mouse as well. NO speakers and NO printer needed.

BUDGET: AROUND $1500... i could probably push my dad a hundred or so higher too...

If you guys could give me links to everything i need and prices, etc. that would be great. KEEP IN MIND THAT I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE SO I WOULD LIKE TO STICK WITH NAME BRAND PARTS!
 
alright well i leave for a 12 hr drive in 5 in the morning and it is currently 10:30 so i should probably get some sleep. i probably wont be able to check the forum until tomorrow night since i will be driving from phoenix to san jose all day tomorrow but maybe ill come back to a nice new setup =-). thanks so much for everyone's help!!! this forum is awesome and so helpful!
 
Intel Option

Intel Pentium D 830 Smithfield 800MHz $410
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116212
GIGABYTE GA-8I945P-PRO Socket T (LGA 775) $154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128293
GeIL Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 PC2 5300 $148
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144326
SAPPHIRE 587L Radeon X600PRO 128MB $83
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102417
NEC DVD BURNER 3250A $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152047
Nec floppy $9
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-152-005&depa=0
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM $105
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=22-148-032&DEPA=1
Antec NeoPower ATX 480W Power Supply $116
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-924&depa=0
Case of choise ~$50
Shipping ~$50
Keyboard and mouse ~$50
Monitor ~200

TOTAL: 1435

AMD option

AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+ $558
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1446873
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Socket 939 $142
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130484
KINGMAX SuperRAM 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820156020
SAPPHIRE 587L Radeon X600PRO 128MB $83
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102417
NEC DVD BURNER 3250A $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152047
Nec floppy $9
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-152-005&depa=0
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM $105
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=22-148-032&DEPA=1
Antec NeoPower ATX 480W Power Supply $116
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=17-103-924&depa=0
Case of choise ~$50
Shipping ~$50
Keyboard and mouse ~$50
Monitor ~200


TOTAL: 1498
 
1GB Ram(2x512 Corsair XMS)> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450

case/400W PS> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811209008

Western Digital 200GB 8mb cache HD> http://www.basoncomputer.com//WD2000JD/item.aspx

Geforce 6600GT Video Card> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814122201

NEC 3520 DVD Burner> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152038

wireless keyboard/mouse> http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/9674420403kbm.html

5.1 speaker setup> http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/loz51spandsu.html

NForce4 MB/athlon 64 90nm CPU> http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merc...ct=110248,120205,130122&AFFIL=pricewatch&NR=1

17" LCD> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16824209002





be sure to remove the fan from your order and switch the processor to the retail version.. also remove that sticker thing they try to get you on for $3 and add your free version of HalfLife 2... That mb/cpu combo also comes with FarCry, and 4 months of free napster downloads along with that free HalfLife2

that setup is decent... It is:

Athlon 64 90nm with DFI Nforce4 board
1GB (2x512) Corsair XMS ram(good stuff)
WD 200GB 8MB Cache SATA Hard Drive
6600GT Video card(best bang for your buck out)
decent case and a 400w PS(might be wise to get a different PS if the setup locks up occasionally.. I have no experience with that brand)
Logitech wireless keyboard/mouse
Logitech 5.1 surround speakers(not the best quality but they work and they are inexpensive)
NEC-3520 DVD Burner
12ms 17" LCD(has good reviews although I never heard of it)



oh, and the whole setup is black so it matches.. wont look like some pieced together work of art

that setup costs $1025 shipped but if you want to spend the full $1500 limit by all means, get a better case/power supply maybe, better CPU, maybe even a bigger monitor? It would be easy to bring it up to $1500 to make it better than that.. that is just a starting point
 
oh man, didn't see your post before mine.. now that is a setup.. but I am assuming he wants kb/mouse, monitor, etc... and like I said in mine.. he should probably invest in a new PS too, I dunno bout spending that much on the Antec tho.. he is a beginner ;) hell even I only have the Ultra X-Connect PS.. cost me $60 shipped with a chieftec Dragon case.. found that deal on bensbargains.net ;) I have an antec case/ps for my server but I cheaped out on my PC... go figure?? It works great for me tho..
 
CorNut said:
but I am assuming he wants kb/mouse, monitor
Click to expand...
I included in my price $50 for keyboard and mouse and $200 in monitor. Those things are added in to the price I gave.


, etc... and like I said in mine.. he should probably invest in a new PS too, I dunno bout spending that much on the Antec tho.. he is a beginner ;) hell even I only have the Ultra X-Connect PS.. cost me $60 shipped with a chieftec Dragon case.. found that deal on bensbargains.net ;) I have an antec case/ps for my server but I cheaped out on my PC... go figure?? It works great for me tho..
Click to expand...

You right the PSU I choose might be a little over kill. It not going to hurt anthing but it might be worth it to save a little money and get a cheaper one. The ultra x-connect PS you listed would be a decent alterntive and save him $50 from the one I choise.

Your computer you picked out for him good but I think mine would be alot better for multitasking due to the dual core in both my choices. I think a 6600GT might be a little over kill for him since he dont plan on gaming. the x600 pro is fine for older games and for some one not gaming. Your ram is better then the ram I chose for the AMD system but I dont think it would make a noticiable different in performance.
 
for $120 this would probably be a decent case/PS...(450w Antec):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155 and the cpu could definately be faster.. The ram I'm not 100% sure... I try to stay with Corsair because I have never had an issue with it like I have other brands... I used to only use OCZ until I had issues with an old system.. I agree the x600 would be great for him... and if he is looking to spend the full $1500 he should most definately go your route with mb/cpu.. Although if he goes AMD and wants HL2 he should get his combo from monarchcomputer if it isn't too expensive.. the game is free... and decent... why not?
 
alright so which choices of the ones i have would u say would suit me best? i like the look of the Intel one... do i have to buy fans as well?
 
I think he is right on the video card... u have no need for the 6600GT if you don't plan on playing many games... the x600 will still get the job done, and save you $100... possibly check out that case I posted in my last post... it isn't the best looking but if you decide to follow my link for the DVD burner(same as his choice but different color) and get the keyboard/mouse I posted.. and monitor as well, it'll stay with the all black theme
 
also, what about things like power supply cables, any internal wiring, etc... does that all come with it? also, can anyone recommend a reasonably price 19" monitor, or does that jump in price too much?
 
CorNut said:
for $120 this would probably be a decent case/PS...(450w Antec):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155
Click to expand...
Never mind I was looking at the orginal case/psu you posted and not the one in your last post. for some reason the link did not show up till I quoted it.

11-129-155-08.JPG


yeah that PSU look good to me.
 
Last edited:
if you don't mind spending the whole $1500 or getting a little extra $ to spend, his intel setup is nice if you go with that cpu/mb/ram, you can use any of the other parts with those setups if you like anything I posted, like keyboard/mouse, dvd burner, hard drive etc...
 
Intel Pentium D 830 Smithfield 800MHz $410
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16819116212
GIGABYTE GA-8I945P-PRO Socket T (LGA 775) $154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16813128293
GeIL Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 PC2 5300 $148
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820144326
SAPPHIRE 587L Radeon X600PRO 128MB $83
Western Digital 200GB 8mb cache HD> http://www.basoncomputer.com//WD2000JD/item.aspx
wireless keyboard/mouse> http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/9674420403kbm.html
5.1 speaker setup> http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/loz51spandsu.html
17" LCD> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16824209002
NEC 3520 DVD Burner> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16827152038
case/PS> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811129155


that setup should work
 
nd4spd said:
also, what about things like power supply cables, any internal wiring, etc... does that all come with it? also, can anyone recommend a reasonably price 19" monitor, or does that jump in price too much?
Click to expand...

Most the cableing comes with the parts. You should have most everything you need with the parts.

19" monitor you can easily get under $200 if you want CRT. A 19" LCD one going to cost you a bit more then $200. Do you want CRT or LCD monitor?
 
CorNut said:
Intel Pentium D 830 Smithfield 800MHz $410
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16819116212
GIGABYTE GA-8I945P-PRO Socket T (LGA 775) $154
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16813128293
GeIL Value 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 PC2 5300 $148
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16820144326
SAPPHIRE 587L Radeon X600PRO 128MB $83
Western Digital 200GB 8mb cache HD> http://www.basoncomputer.com//WD2000JD/item.aspx
wireless keyboard/mouse> http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/9674420403kbm.html
5.1 speaker setup> http://store.yahoo.com/justdeals/loz51spandsu.html
17" LCD> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16824209002
NEC 3520 DVD Burner> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16827152038
case/PS> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...N82E16811129155


that setup should work
Click to expand...


You cant just copy and past the link off computer forum. Computer forum shrinks the links. This is why none of your links works.
 
i'm blind.. I'll try to find a 19" LCD... I know you can get the Acer 1912 for around $275 some places... I got my Acer 1914 which has a 12ms response for $283

I'll try to find a reasonably priced one(leaving the house for a min... be back soon if you are still around)
 
and i want to make sure that i have ALL of the cabeling so i dont get stuck anywhere. also is there a good cheap kind of tool kit i could pick up so i have all the necessary tools to put everything together?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top