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[pbrx7]

hello all.

im getting ready to start building a new computer. my old emachines has a amd athlon 2400+ processor and everything else hooked to it is slow so i think its time to start anew. has been a good computer but ive always struggled with this thing to play games. currently have 512mb ram and a ati 9550 agp card.

alot of the terminology confusses me when im trying to put all the new pieces together. for instance, what is sata/raid. i understand sata is faster than my old ide hardrive but can someone explain what the raid setups are and what they do? also, im gonna post the parts im looking at and would appreciate you alls opinion. are the parts compatible, will it perform well (how much better than my old one). that kind of thing. money is an issue. these parts are pushing my wallet to far already.

motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813127234

processer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103622

power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817101021

ram x2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145505

video card x2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102041

like i said, money is an issue, all this is addind up to around $680. unless someone has a better idea! thank you

paul

oh, i forgot, i also have a large "gaming" case my family got me for xmas to start the buid. lots of airflow!

 

[Bobo]

for instance, what is sata/raid. i understand sata is faster than my old ide hardrive but can someone explain what the raid setups are and what they do?

http://www.computerforum.com/10889-raid-101-a.html?highlight=raid+101

motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813127234

processer:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103622

power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817101021

ram x2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145505

video card x2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814102041

like i said, money is an issue, all this is addind up to around $680. unless someone has a better idea! thank you

paul

Is there any reason why you are going with socket 939?

Well I don't have time to build you one right now, but you definitely do not want X1600s in crossfire. You'd get much better performance out of a 7900GS, which would cost a lot less.

 

[Trizoy]

Do you already have a case, HD and OS?

If you post what you would like to spen, there are some nice guys on here which would build a nice machine for you... Just mention which parts you already have...

 

[pbrx7]

ideally, i would like to stay under $600. ive always been partial to amd. i have an operating system (xp home) and a case. i also have a dvd burner and cd rom drive (ide i believe). and i know i will need thermal paste and all kinds of other odds and ends. ive worked on my computer in the past, but never built one. i forgot to put the hardrive in the list. it was a hitachi sata 80gb. i know its small but i have a maxtor 80gb now thats only about 40% full. had it for 4yrs!

was going with socket 939 for price.

 

[Jet]

If you are going to stick with AMD, at least get Socket AM2. Processors are no longer being made for Socket 939, so you won't have as much upgrade options in the future.

That being said, I'd seriously recommend that you buy a Intel Core 2 Duo setup. Besides beating AMD by a long ways, they have great overclocking ability. With the right motherboard, you can get the cheapest model (the E6300) to perform faster then the ~$1000 X6800 processor.

 

[pbrx7]

read raid 101. thank you.

 

[Iluvpenguins]

Okay,go with socket AM2 not socket 939,because AM2 will have upgradeability

instead of 2 x1600 pro's,go for the 7900GS or maybe GT if you can pull off enough cash.

since Am2 should be whats in your head,you'd need a new mobo too,here is a cheap alternative by Gigabyte that'll save ya some cash

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128029

or this one by Asus

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131040


both are nice companies.

 

[ceewi1]

Switch the PSU to an XClio Goodpower 500W. A better unit at the same price.

 

[pbrx7]

alright guys,

you might groan at this but but i got it put together. went with the am2 socket like you reccomended. family comes first and i had to buy a new washer and dryer so the budget got chopped more!

put a biostar km8m800 board, an amd atlon x2 3800, 1 gb of corsair extreme ddr2 600, and used my old radeon 9550. i know its old technology but with this new setup it really breathed some life into my old agp card im assuming because this mobo allows my agp card to run 8x instead of 4x on the old one.

i have a sata hardrive and a power supply on the way that meets most of the specs posted in the PSU 101. and im happy to report that this computer puts my old setup to shame! also cut dvd burning time in half. also, half life 2 never looked this good before!

thanks for your help!