Yet another 'Suggestions on new PC'

[CCEvers]

Hi everyone at OC.com! Obviously I'm new here, but I have been reading a lot of your posts. Very informative and has been fun to track down and read the incredible amount of info / conflicting opinions (oh god). But I am searching down a new computer; so please give me any suggestions.

Mobo: Abit BD7-II RAID 845E
CPU: Intel 2.26 GHz P4 Northwood
RAM: Crucial PC2700 256MB (x2)
HDD: Maxtor 60GB QuiteDrive 7200rpm
Video Card: VisionTek Xtasy G4 Ti4200
Case: Antec? Enermax?
PS: w/ case or buy seperate?

I have everything else (monitor, mouse, keyboard, DVD, burner)

w/ the Mobo: I'd like to have USB 2.0 support and 10/100 support. Is the AC '97 soundcard OK? and is RAID worth it for 10 extra dollars?

This set up above is about 900 dollars. It is definately more than I was planning on spending (600-700). While I have done much research to figure out above components (which is more likely because of not knowing much from the start), and I think they are all very good... they are expensive. Which might be inevitable, if I go around trying to find the absolute best regardless of the price.

So anyway, what compromises / swaps would you guys recommend that would bring the price of this back down to 600 or 700 bucks. Furthermore, I plan to buy accessories in the future to quite and cool it down for a little bit of OCing, so I have to figure that into my budget as well.

Well good luck, and thanks for any suggestions.

[RedDeathDrinker]

If you don't plan on setting your HDD's up in a RAID configuration, it's not worth getting the rAID mobo, and AC97 sound is OK for most things, you can always upgrade to a 5.1 soundcard at a later date......

Buy a separate PSU though, as the 300W ones that come with most cases are barely up to the job.

Nice selection though!

[Kakao]

If you plan to overclock why don't you get a 1.6A and save some? It is an easy overclock to 2.13 without PCI clock worries as you probably already know.

Edited: May be you could start with "only" 256 MB and add more latter if you feel the need. I think you don't need it too bad.

And wellcome.

[CCEvers]

Hi again, thanks for the help so far.

I think I will go with the 1.6A as it is nearly half the price. And 256MB RAM.
As for the case and power supply.
What is a good and not expensive case (less than 50 dollars), without a powersupply.
What is a good PS that is most importantly quite.
What Wattage is needed for the above outlined computer? 300W, 350W, 400W?

Cool, thanks everyone, at this rate I'll have a raging new pute in no time. Any advice is welcome. Thanks.

[toastedzergling]

If you are on a buget, I suggest you get a evercase from Newegg, it costs only $21. I bought one and found it amazingly good for its money. Screwless design, ample room, nice finish, and one 80mm case fan included (quiet fan, below 30dba). As for powersupply, I suggest Enermax 350w or above, they are the quietest PSU out there, if you care about noise like me:cool:

[Maxvla]

the BD7-II is a good board... but the abit intel forum is loaded with BD7-II problems... so i'm going with the BG7.

you might want to check out the abit intel board forum and read up.

yeah i'd go with the 1.6a if you do plan to overclock. if not the 2.26b is a nice chip to leave un o/c'd.

ps. make sure its a 1.6a northwood and not the willimette (spelling) 1.6.
theres a bigtime difference in the chips.

[HaywirE]

You know, i had mixed thoughts about P4.


Stick w/ AMD Bro


AMD Athlon Xp 1800+ Retail $102

Www.Newegg.com

gogoogog

[CPFitz14]

You know, I bought one of these cases, and I love it. Only prob. is that it only has one intake and one exhaust.
Link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2035437970

$38 shipped if you use buy it now.

-CPFitz-

[HaywirE]

Mod It.

[Da Whip]

Here is another option for a MOBO;
http://www.giga-byte.com/products/8irxp.htm

It has USB2.0, 845 chip, C-Media audio(much better than AC97), on board Lan and Raid for $117@newegg.

It has had great reviews;
http://www.motherboards.org/articlesd/motherboard-reviews/1061_1.html

[CCEvers]

So thanks to the suggestions so far, here is what the final computer looks to be shaping out like. Any last comments; get your memmory, your thoughts, your cares eternally (for next 2 years or so) locked in the workings of one hopefully supreme and woderful computer. Last chance... blah blah, Here it is:

Mobo: Giga-Byte GA-8IRXP 133 ATA Raid, USB 2.0, 10/100, C-Audio, 400Mhz FSB-->$117
Processor: Intel P4 1.6AGHz Northwood-->$140
Memory: Corsair PC2700 256MB-->$75
Video Card: VisionTek Xtasy Ti4200 128MB-->$220
HD: Maxtor QuiteDrive 60GB 7200rpm-->$90
Case: Ever Case-->$40
PS: Enermax EG365P-VE 350W-->$50

Total: $720

A little high, but I'd have to say pretty impressive. Thanks a lot for the help so far and please give me last minute suggestions. I really appreciate it.:D

[Da Whip]

Originally posted by Da Whip
Here is another option for a MOBO;
http://www.giga-byte.com/products/8irxp.htm

It has USB2.0, 845 chip, C-Media audio(much better than AC97), on board Lan and Raid for $117@newegg.

It has had great reviews;
http://www.motherboards.org/articlesd/motherboard-reviews/1061_1.html

One more thing, WELCOME TO THE FORUMS

[KeyboardCowboy]

Originally posted by CPFitz14
You know, I bought one of these cases, and I love it. Only prob. is that it only has one intake and one exhaust.
Link:http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2035437970

$38 shipped if you use buy it now.

-CPFitz-



that is why the god of overclocking made dremels

[beau_safken]

You might consider getting Registered PC2100 Ram instead of the 2700 unbuffered. It has better OC'ing potential and would be a little easier on the wallet. Damn for 730 some bucks I could build two 1.5 gig AMD setups..LOL Great choices though, And WELCOME TO THE FORUMS

[Maxvla]

you don't want registered memory... it'll slow you down.

unbuffered, non-registered, non error correcting is what you want for speed. the less you do to the memory the faster it is.

[heezer7]

if price is a consern i would go with AMD. i just bought a dual AMD 1800 @ 2000+ (1.66), a mobo, and 512 DDR for $700. you could get a single system AMD for a lot cheaper and better performance. i don't know if you have looked into them at all but it is worth a look before spending all that money.

[Penguin4x4]

Antec TruePower 430 PS and 1.8A (Good luck finding a 1.6A).