buying a new computer

[dimachka]

so the time has come for me to buy a new computer. im thinking that i will have monarch computer build it for me. I know there are some pretty smart people here so i was hoping i could get some feedback on this:

Case: PS 500W - Aspire ATXA8NW-BK/500 X-Navigator $165.00
Motherboard: Asus P5AD2-E Premium 925XE 1066FSB $269.99
Processor: Intel P4 540 3.2 GHz LGA775 1MB 800 FSB $220.00
Thermal Grease: Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease $14.00
Heat Sink Fan: Thermaltake Jungle 512 for Intel LGA775 $34.00
Memory: DDR2 (667) PC5400 - 1 GB (2 pcs 512) Corsair TWIN2X1024-5400C4 $344.00
Hard Drive 1: SATA - Western Digital (WD360GD) 36 GB/10000 RPM Raptor $104.00
Hard Drive 2: SATA - Western Digital (WD2000JD) 200 GB/7200 RPM $116.00
CD-RW/DVD-RW: DVD-RW - NEC ND-3500A/GNB 16x-Dual Layer $77.00
Video Card: (Connect 3D) Radeon X600 PRO 256MB DDR $ $125.00
Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech® Cordless MX Duo $59.00
Monitor: ViewSonic 17" VG710B LCD Flat Panel (Black) $410.00
Fees: Molex connector and Build Fee $56.95

Total: $1993.95

So what do you guys think? any advice, suggestions on what i should change, yada yada? thanks for the help.

[Flip-Mode]

I don't think the DDR2 memory is worth the extra cash, the improvment it gives is very small compared to the price instead get 2gb of normal DDR mem or invest in the vid card.

Get an Thermalright heatsink, XP-120 or XP-90 with an Thermalright Smartfan 2 or something bigger.

Do you really need an LCD monitor? The performance in gaming isn't really good and unless this is an <16ms monitor its really not worth the money.

Those are my thoughts...

[jnev_89]

he's getting a 925 chipset board, which only supports 240-pin ram, which is ddr2, so he doesn't have much choice. also, i'd spend a bit more on your video card. an x600 will be barely be able to play most newer games.

[Flip-Mode]

thanks for pointing that out

You might need to rethink your mobo and cpu...

[MasterCraft]

thanks for pointing that out

You might need to rethink your mobo and cpu...


why? the p5ad2-e is a fabulous motherboard? and the 3.2 (although one of the hotter socket T's is still a good processor?)

he should see 3.6 on air easy

[theELVISCERATOR]

I would save money on case and monitor and put it in video card area.

Say till I had an x800 pro at least.

[Quigsby]

Case: PS 500W - Aspire ATXA8NW-BK/500 X-Navigator $165.00


Spending $2000 on a system and getting a subpar powersupply is like going hunting and not bringing any bullets with.

Look at something better like the PC Power & Cooling 510 Deluxe, OCZ Powerstream 520, or Fortron 530. Also, look at the Cases and Power Supply section and read a bit.


Heat Sink Fan: Thermaltake Jungle 512 for Intel LGA775 $34.00


From my days on the cooling forum I can tell you that you'll be dissappointed with the results you'll get from a Thermaltake heatsink. Check out Thermalright (http://www.thermalright.com) for a compatible heatsink (and check out the Cooling forum).

Make sure you have decent case fans, and for the fan atop the CPU use a higher pressure fan like a Delta Tornado. A fan controller is almost required for these higher RPM fans.


Memory: DDR2 (667) PC5400 - 1 GB (2 pcs 512) Corsair TWIN2X1024-5400C4 $344.00


Corsair makes quality products. I'm sure you'll do fine with this.


Hard Drive 1: SATA - Western Digital (WD360GD) 36 GB/10000 RPM Raptor $104.00
Hard Drive 2: SATA - Western Digital (WD2000JD) 200 GB/7200 RPM $116.00

Good selection of hard drives. I'm not sure if you noticed the 74GB version of the Raptor, might be worth the extra money.


CD-RW/DVD-RW: DVD-RW - NEC ND-3500A/GNB 16x-Dual Layer $77.00


Very good selection. I have the 8x Dual layer NEC drive and love it.


Video Card: (Connect 3D) Radeon X600 PRO 256MB DDR $ $125.00


Not sure here, I'm an nVidia fan. I'd reccommend the 6600GT.


Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech® Cordless MX Duo $59.00


Good choice. The mouse might give you problems if you're going to play FPS games.


Monitor: ViewSonic 17" VG710B LCD Flat Panel (Black) $410.00


Good monitor.

[dimachka]

so based on peoples recommendations i changed some things around, and am thinking about maybe going AMD. This config is amd but im still not 100 percent sure. I have read that intel cpu's are better at doing many things at once and that is probably my main problem with the p4 2.2ghz laptop that i have. I want to be able to run peer2peer software, possibly burn a dvd, and still be able to watch a movie, or play a game, or just use my computer in general without it being super slow. Will the 3500+ beat the p4 3.2 at that kind of stuff? Also changed the case to antec with antec truepower430 based on people not having the best things to say about aspire. I need to get a wireless network card because im in school and that is how we share internet at my house. otherwise i would have to route like 50 feet of ethernet cable to my room. lol. BTW, i think i only need the 36 gig raptor because i only plan to put windows, my swap file, and my games on that hard drive since they need the most speegd. There is no way i can fill 36 gigs with just that. Im figuring i will put all my random stuff that doesnt need too much speed on the big drive. let me know if this isnt a good idea. thanks so much for all your help.


Case: PS 430W - Antec Performance Plus 1080AMG $135.00
Case Fan: 80mm - Antec 80mm Quiet Case Fan $15.99
Motherboard: Abit AV8-3rd Eye K8T800 Audio/GB-LAN/USB/ $139.00
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 512K 90nm (939) $272.00
Thermal Grease: Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease $14.00
Heat Sink Fan: Thermaltake Venus 7+ for AMD Opteron/64/6 $20.00
Memory: DDR (400)- 1 GB (2 pcs 512) Corsair TwinX1024-3200XLPRO $274.00
Hard Drive 1: SATA - Western Digital (WD360GD) 36 GB/10000 RPM Raptor $104.00
Hard Drive 2: SATA - Western Digital (WD2000JD) 200 GB/7200 RPM $116.00
CD-RW/DVD-RW: DVD-RW - NEC ND-3500A/GNB 16x-Dual Layer $77.00
Video Card: XFX GeForce 6600 GT 128MB DDR3/8x-AGP $229.00
Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech® Cordless MX Duo $59.00
Monitor: ViewSonic 17" VG710B LCD Flat Panel (Black) $410.00
Wireless Network Card: NetGear WG311 2.4GHz (802.11b/g) PCI $55.00
Build Fee: $49.00

Total: $1968.99