Time for a New PC

[Thawonandonly]

I'm in the market for a new computer and this is the best I've seen for the price. Not really a fan of Compaq but HP has brought their rep up a little bit. I've built systems before but its been quite some time so I wondering what I can build that would be similar to this machine or better around the $550 that I'll pay for this one.

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s..._type=product_detail&product_code=ER925AA#ABA

No super machine necessary. I dont play PC games so i just need a PC that will be able to handle mulitasking and burning to multiple drives simultaneously while using other programs. I want the final price to be pretty close to the 550 and I plan on getting all my parts from newegg.com

 

[Ku-sama]

not a bad price, i'd go with that HP if i were you, cause it comes with a monitor and crap

 

[Decadence]

I think for now, thats a good deal.
The processor is always upgradeable, as well as the RAM(u can add 3 more gigs if needed)
the only that i find needing immediate replacement is the graphix card. that thing is crap, but its ok considering the price of the computer. honestly i think you might be saving money by buying from HP in this case, although I'm not sure.

 

[Bobo]

not a bad price, i'd go with that HP if i were you, cause it comes with a monitor and crap

No it doesn't, read the fine print. Monitor sold separately. Under the "specs" tab.

 

[TheChef]

Have a look at this for some building ideas:

http://www.computerforum.com/37635-computer-specs-101-a.html

Now the prices are a tad outdated. You can get a X2 3800+ for half of what they say on that now. You could probably squeeze a dual core in 550 or around it, and maybe not integrated graphics.

 

[Thawonandonly]

How much of a difference will I see in performance in building with a 3700+ with 1mb cache versus a 3800+ X2?

And I also do I really need a processor that powerful if I wont be playing any video games and will primarily use my pc for multitasking such as burning to multiple drives while surfing the internet and maybe downloading torrents.

 

[Thawonandonly]

Also any suggestions for a cheap video card that does the basics because all the board I've been recommened dont have onboard video and I dont want to invest much, if anything, in my video card.

 

[TheChef]

Well an X2 processor will certainly help with what you described, and it will make it so that you won't have to upgrade for awhile as programs become more and more intensive.

An ATI Radeon X1300 or low end 1600 should do you just fine.

 

[Burgerbob]

I would reccomend staying with the X2, and finding a board with the Nvidia Geforce 6200 integrated, which is better than average integrated graphics.

 

[Thawonandonly]

any suggestion for boards with onboard video that are compatible with the the 3700+ or the 3800x2. And those video cards mentions are both over 150 bucks on newegg so they definitely dont work with my 550 budget.

 

[Thawonandonly]

These are the 3 board I'm choosing between. I decided to go with the AM2 socket because I've heard many good things about it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813157089

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813138027

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138029

Got a few questions...

What is Tforce and how much better is it?

Also will all of these board allow me to expand up to about 4 or 5 Sata Burners?

Next will there fans be good enough for a 3800 X2?

And last can someone help me pick out cases?

Thanks for all the help in advance and you guys will be proud of me when I get this all together.

 

[Thawonandonly]

I think I've got it just about all together but I need some reviews.

First there is this:

AMD 3800 X2 AM2
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103735

Next comes this
Gigabyte GA-M51GM with onboard video and sound ( good enough for me)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813128009

And this
Corsair XMS2 1GB (2x512)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145566

and this
Samsung Spinpoint 250 SATA 3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822152025

and this
Samsung 16x DVD RW w/ lightscribe
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827151118

I'm at 450 right now and all I need is a case preferrably that comes with a decent power supply and i'm good to go and well within my price range. Keep in mind i'm looking for about 4 or 5 5.25 bays and front usb ports and audio connectors if possible. Come on guys help me wrap this project up.

 

[Thawonandonly]

Okay slight oversight. SATA DVDRW's are wayyyyyyyyyy to expensive right now and this board has 4 SATA connectors but I dont know how many IDE connectors. Any idea how many IDE connectors this board has and can the drives be piggy backed off of one or two connectors so i can get about 4 or 5 IDE drives in? I'm so anxious that i plan on buyin this comp tonight if i get everything figured out so help me out guys...

 

[TheChef]

How's this for a PSU, leaves you with 50 to get a case, and I'm not really sure if you're looking for something flashy (I doubt it), quiet, cool ...?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182004

I would think you would like Antec's stuff, but their lowest priced stuff was just a tad too expensive.

I'm skeptical recommending a Rosewill, but thsi one looks like it's not a bad deal. I'm jsut trying to keep everything within the budget.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147042

 

[Bobo]

Any idea how many IDE connectors this board has and can the drives be piggy backed off of one or two connectors so i can get about 4 or 5 IDE drives in?

It has 2 IDE connectors, which means that you can have 4, and only 4 IDE drives connected to it. THe only way to expand is to add an IDe controller card.

 

[Ekim401]

build one

 

[TheChef]

If you read the last page you'll realize that he's going to...

 

[Thawonandonly]

I feel so bad asking all these questions because I actually new all this about 5 years ago. I was looking at a few pretty cheap cases with the room i'm looking for and some pretty good reviews with 450w power supplies. Is there something wrong with a stock power supply for my processor if i wont be using it for gaming?

 

[TheChef]

Many of the stcok power supplies in, say, a RaidMAX case are just crap. I wouldn't feel safe putting a P2 system in them, the voltage fluxuations are huge, low tolerances, no over voltage protection. I was hoping to grab you an Antec, even their stock PSUs have good things going for them.