Hello one and all,
I have a got a really old computer and have started to notice a few problems in terms of speed.
I would like to buy a really high spec computer but, in light of the new i5 coming out, I shall be waiting until next year now for reviews on the CPU and the new mobos.
I have decided to build a budget computer for the time being and then plug it up to my 40" LCD in my living room once I buy my top spec computer.
Having scanned the internet and magazines, it seems that AMD offer the best value and have come up with
the following:
Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
Gigabyte GZ-X1
Hard drive for Windows and my progs
DVD-RW - taken from my old computer
1TB Spinpoint (which I keep my music, camcorder footage etc) - taken from old computer
500GB IDE Hitachi Drive for Back up - taken from old computer
4GB RAM
Antec Basiq Power 350w ATX
Using the above bits and canabilising bits from old computer, I reckon I can build a fairly good computer to keep me going that is cheap as chips.
Just a few bits advice would be appreciated:
Q1. Will the power supply be good enough for all this? and some upgrading in the future?
Q2. The CPU is the lowest spec dual core - would it be cost effective to get something a little better?
Q3. I would like the ability to upgrade bits as time goes one. I really do not understand how the AMD chips are named. I know that the MOBO supports AMD2+ - what CPUs could I upgrade to in the future?
Q4. What speed of RAM should I get - noted that they range from DDR2-400 to DDR2-1066. Obviously, the fast it gets, the more expensive, but what is the recommended speed, without being a waste on my board, and would be good for my situation
Q5. Have no idea which HDD to use for windows and my programmes. Not only do you have to consider brands, but also cache size and size. Would anyone recommend anything in particular? One thing that concerns me that only the biggest drives have the big cache, but then would a big cache necessarily help with a modest build? Also, would a huge drive then be wasteful as I am unlikely to stick masses of programmes on it and I read that system drives should be kept small
Q6. As my back up drive and RW are ide, I was thinking of using round shielded cables instead of the usual ribbon ones - is this a good idea?
As you can probably tell, this is the first computer for which I have had to choose the bits for myself and your help would be great. Hopefully I can learn some stuff before I have to build a fast one next year.
Noobo-k
UK
I have a got a really old computer and have started to notice a few problems in terms of speed.
I would like to buy a really high spec computer but, in light of the new i5 coming out, I shall be waiting until next year now for reviews on the CPU and the new mobos.
I have decided to build a budget computer for the time being and then plug it up to my 40" LCD in my living room once I buy my top spec computer.
Having scanned the internet and magazines, it seems that AMD offer the best value and have come up with
the following:
Athlon 64 X2 4200+
Gigabyte GA-MA78GM-S2H
Gigabyte GZ-X1
Hard drive for Windows and my progs
DVD-RW - taken from my old computer
1TB Spinpoint (which I keep my music, camcorder footage etc) - taken from old computer
500GB IDE Hitachi Drive for Back up - taken from old computer
4GB RAM
Antec Basiq Power 350w ATX
Using the above bits and canabilising bits from old computer, I reckon I can build a fairly good computer to keep me going that is cheap as chips.
Just a few bits advice would be appreciated:
Q1. Will the power supply be good enough for all this? and some upgrading in the future?
Q2. The CPU is the lowest spec dual core - would it be cost effective to get something a little better?
Q3. I would like the ability to upgrade bits as time goes one. I really do not understand how the AMD chips are named. I know that the MOBO supports AMD2+ - what CPUs could I upgrade to in the future?
Q4. What speed of RAM should I get - noted that they range from DDR2-400 to DDR2-1066. Obviously, the fast it gets, the more expensive, but what is the recommended speed, without being a waste on my board, and would be good for my situation
Q5. Have no idea which HDD to use for windows and my programmes. Not only do you have to consider brands, but also cache size and size. Would anyone recommend anything in particular? One thing that concerns me that only the biggest drives have the big cache, but then would a big cache necessarily help with a modest build? Also, would a huge drive then be wasteful as I am unlikely to stick masses of programmes on it and I read that system drives should be kept small
Q6. As my back up drive and RW are ide, I was thinking of using round shielded cables instead of the usual ribbon ones - is this a good idea?
As you can probably tell, this is the first computer for which I have had to choose the bits for myself and your help would be great. Hopefully I can learn some stuff before I have to build a fast one next year.
Noobo-k
UK
