[krishiyer]

Hi All,

I am a newbie in building computers. I want to build a computer totally to gain some experience. I am on a tight budget, looking at preferably something less than $500/-.

I will be using it as a web server and mostly for checking e-mails and all the regular applications. I do play games a little but nothing very seriously.

I seached around a while in tigerdirect.com build could not really make up my mind. Any tips or ideas on what is the best way to start ?. Any first hand experience is greatly appreciated.

I just want the computer, no monitor , keyboard or mouse. I would like to have the Windows XP Professional software for the machine. Some of the specs I have kind of narrowed down are as follows :-

120 GB or higher
16x DVD+- RW drive --- What is the difference between this and the optical drive ?.
Video card
512 MB RAM or higher
10/100 Ethernet NIC card

CPU --- I don;t really care if it is INTEL or AMD unless somebody can tell me what is the best I can get for the price range I am looking at.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

-Krishnan.

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Yep

Check out pricewatch

www.pricewatch.com

It deals with various computer vendors so you can find dirt cheap prices

I would look into a Asylum GeForce™ FX 5700 Ultra. Its a 100 dollar card but is REALLY NICE!!! It's compared to the ATI 9800 all in wonder and has almost the same bench marks but for 100 less. This is the card you want. Here's a link

http://www.logicalpl...asgefxul12.html

Go with a amd sempron 2800+ cpu with a asus Mobo

If you're willing to spend more, go with an amd 64, it's a lot better and will last longer.

Another note:


You can find a 160 gb Western Digital HD 7200 rpm for about 50 bucks on pricewatch, so check that out. One last note.

Since your on a budget, go with some corsair ram, 3200 ddr 400 mhz. You can get away with 512, so go with that. All this together will lead to one kicking gaming comp for about 500 bucks. So check out prices and let me know what you think. Some final tips

Sata HD, NOT IDE

16x DVD/RW = 50 bucks on pricewatch

ThermalTake CPU Heatsink/Fan

A scorpion Case

Look into A sound blaster gamer audigy 2 card: its about 70 bucks but offers 7.1 sourround sound and comes with 5 different games (Tom Clancy Raven Shield, Tomb Raider)

I hope I could help you out

David

[Technogeek8]

Yep

Check out pricewatch

www.pricewatch.com

It deals with various computer vendors so you can find dirt cheap prices

I would look into a Asylum GeForce™ FX 5700 Ultra. Its a 100 dollar card but is REALLY NICE!!! It's compared to the ATI 9800 all in wonder and has almost the same bench marks but for 100 less. This is the card you want. Here's a link

http://www.logicalpl...asgefxul12.html

Go with a amd sempron 2800+ cpu with a asus Mobo

If you're willing to spend more, go with an amd 64, it's a lot better and will last longer.

Another note:


You can find a 160 gb Western Digital HD 7200 rpm for about 50 bucks on pricewatch, so check that out. One last note.

Since your on a budget, go with some corsair ram, 3200 ddr 400 mhz. You can get away with 512, so go with that. All this together will lead to one kicking gaming comp for about 500 bucks. So check out prices and let me know what you think. Some final tips

Sata HD, NOT IDE

16x DVD/RW = 50 bucks on pricewatch

ThermalTake CPU Heatsink/Fan

A scorpion Case

Look into A sound blaster gamer audigy 2 card: its about 70 bucks but offers 7.1 sourround sound and comes with 5 different games (Tom Clancy Raven Shield, Tomb Raider)

I hope I could help you out

David

[krishiyer]

Hi David,

Thanks a lot for your help. I will put together the specs you have given me with the URLs I find with the cheapest price. I will send out the final list of items I am planning to buy and you can give me your final piece of advice.

In terms of tools to build this computer, is there anything other than a screw driver I need.

Thanks,
Krishnan.

[Technogeek8]

Nope not really

Since this is your first comp, look into some basic how to guide stuff. If you need anything or have any questions, just ask me. I've put 6 machines together and have never had one fail to boot yet (knock on wood!)

Let me know how things are going then when you start building, I hope I could help you out.

David

[Technogeek8]

Check out this amd 64 mobo@

http://www.compu-ter...product977.html

It's an Nforce 3 mobo with 5 pci and is really nice. It's only 60 bucks and is from a good trsuted name (gigabyte) Plus it looks really cool for one of those clear side cases. keep this Mobo in mind for your comp

David

[Technogeek8]

Also check out this amd 64 processor from porta-tech. This company is amazing for finding great deals

AMD 64 3000+ for 114 bucks

I'll give you the link

http://www.portatech...em.asp?ID=10722

This would go nice with the gigabyte mobo. I'll have to double check but I'm pretty sure their compatiable

David

[Technogeek8]

One last thing,

160 gb Western Digital HD 7200 rpm 8 mb buffer

http://www.upgrade-s...PID=715&add=yes

77 bucks

Hope I could help

David

[krishiyer]

Hi All,

I think I have come up with my final system. Please tell me where I am going overboard and do not need to spend the money on ?. Also, please tell me if all the parts I have mentioned is compatible or not.

Final System

Processor

(a) AMD athlon 64 3400+ with 512K L2 cache version - $114/
http://www.portatech...em.asp?ID=10722

(b) AMD athlon 64 3400+ with 1 Gig L2 cache version
Hyper Transport Technology (1600 Mhz system bus) Socket 754
http://www.portatech...em.asp?ID=10723 - $171/-


Motherboard

(a) http://www.compu-ter...product977.html - $61/- Does this mean I do not need a video card ?.


Combos - CPU + Motherboard

(a) http://www.compu-ter...product710.html - $235/-


(b) Combo - Asus A7N8X-E (Deluxe) Socket A DDR MB with Athlon XP 3200+ 400FSB CPU & Fan (CT)
http://www.compu-ter...product350.html - $207.78/-

Hard Drive

(a) Hard drive 7200 rpm SATA - $73/-
http://www.upgrade-s...PID=715&add=yes

(b) http://3btech.net/whlamadate162.html - $61/-

160 gb Western Digital HD 7200 rpm for about 50 bucks on pricewatch

RAM

1Gig RAM

http://www.tigerdire...M&CMP=KNC-GOOGL - $30/-

Corsair Ram --- Could not find ?. Any web site that beats the above price ?. Please let me know. Need help here as I am not sure if it is better for 2 * 512 or 1 Gb.

Removable Media Drive - DVD+-RW

I am planning on getting a DVD ROM +- CD RW and a 16x DVD +-RW

DVD ROM +- CD RW

(a) http://www.tigerdire...265081&CatId=88 - $25/-
(b) http://www.zipzoomfl...ductCode=170634 - $22/-

16x DVD +-RW
(a) http://www.tigerdire...337277&CatId=89 - $60/-

(b) http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827106985 - $45/-

© http://www.zipzoomfl...ductCode=174227 - $56/-

CDRW + DVD RW
16x DVD/RW = 50 bucks on pricewatch

Video card

(a) http://www.monarchco...uct_Code=190322 - $70/-

Case

(a) http://www.a-top.com/main.html - $70/- (Some of these include power supply - do I need another one ?.) Also, does this include
power supply and the thermal tank CPU and also the screws and stand offs. Or do I need to add that too ?.

(b) http://www.xoxide.com/5in1combo.html - $65/-

Miscellaneous

Look into A sound blaster gamer audigy 2 card: its about 70 bucks but offers 7.1 sourround sound and comes with 5 different games (Tom Clancy Raven Shield, Tomb Raider)
Can you send me the link for this ?.

Total cost : $601/- + shipping of all the items.
Need to get an OS and also a monitor, not now though.

Thanks,
Krishnan.

[krishiyer]

Hi Guys,

Can you review my system and give me comments. I am waiting for one of the techno geeks to review it and let me know. I will then buy the parts and start building it.

thanks,
Krishnan.