Hello everyone, it's good to have found your forums.
I have been looking for a new computer for several months, ready to spend about $2000 on a system. Looked around the local computer stores I realized it would be cheaper to build one and doing so would afford me much better upgradability options.
I have been monitoring NewEgg and Monarch for a few months and had my eyes set on a good Asus MB Pentium system... the only thing I would be missing by ordering it before now would be the dual SLI graphics option that was supposed to be coming out soon... so when I was finally ready to make the order ( I was waiting for my coursework to finish to take the time to build it), I was happy to see that for a few dollars more an SLI board was available from ASUS with all the great features of the one I was originally planning to buy.
I only wish I had found Drislers sticky explaining more about RAM and tweaking the timing on BIOS because I might have gone for something better than what I have already ordered for memory. Take a look at the system they are currently breaking in at Monarch. They are testing the RAM, processor and motherboard combination right now:
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Pre-Tested and Setup Intel P4-775 Barebones System w/DDR2 Support 1 $18.00 $18.00
Case: 100168 - NO PS - Thermaltake VA9000BWS Kandalf Sup $183.00 $183.00
Power Supply: 100122 - PS 535W - Enermax EG565P-FMA REV.2.0 ATX $89.00 $89.00
Case Fan: None
Motherboard: 110409 - Asus P5ND2-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI Audio/G $247.00 $247.00
** Processor: 120315 - Intel P4 640 3.2GHz LGA775 2MB 800 FSB (H $282.00 $282.00 (updated to the 3.4GHz version)
Thermal Grease: 800018 - Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease (Cools CPU $14.00 $14.00
Heat Sink: 800083 - None - Fan REQUIRED - except with RETAIL
Memory: 140672 - DDR2 (533) 4200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) OCZ (O $261.00 $261.00
2nd Memory: None
Round Cables: None
Warranty: 800036 - Motherboard-CPU Warranty - 3 Year w/30 Da $29.95 $29.95
Power Supply Adapter: None
170108 Mitsumi Floppy 7-in-1 USB Card Reader/Smart Media Internal Drive (Black) 1 $25.00 $25.00
150606 Seagate 160GB Barracuda 7200RPM 8MB Cache SATA 2 $99.00 $198.00
Warranty: 800011 - Manufacturer Direct Warranty from MFG Dat
160527 Pioneer DVR-109BK Dual-Layer DVD±RW 16x4x16x-DVD+RW/32x24x40x-CD-RW (Black) (OEM) 1 $79.00 $79.00
160426 Asus 5232ASQT-BLK (BLACK) 52X32X52 CD-RW Drive Internal IDE FlextraLink (Retail) 1 $45.00 $45.00
Warranty: 800483 - 90 Day Monarch Computer Warranty
160833 Lite-On SOHD-16P9S 16X-DVD/48X-CD-ROM (Black) (Retail Box) 1 $49.00 $49.00
Warranty: 800483 - 90 Day Monarch Computer Warranty
190696 ATI (Sapphire) Radeon X800 256 MB DDR3/PCI-E/TV-Out/DVI (OEM) 1 $219.00 $219.00
Molex Connector: yes
210111 Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/CD and license w/Service Pack 2 1 $156.00 $156.00
Shipping: Federal Express Ground - Five (5) to Seven (7) Day: $50.00
Total: $1,944.95
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RAM is OCZ25332048VDC-K 2GB 2pcs(1MB) DDR2(533) 4200
My question is, if I later upgrade to a higher speed memory like 6400 (800FSB) will I still be able to move my old memory into the last two slots and use the new mem along side it without reverting the new memory to a 533 FSB speed?
Sadly the prices on DDR2 memory have already dropped significantly since I ordered
My plan with this system was to have something that will be fairly upgradeable for some time to come, preferably longer than 3 years. When the time comes for upgrading I will go into the BIOS and overclock the system as needed. You can see I went cheap on a graphics card as well especially for a system that uses SLI. I am planning on replacing that with a matched pair a couple years down the road when the card prices go cheaper.
Besides gaming and the internet, I will be using the system for CAD and engineering simulation software and for producing technical documents and presentations. I may also be using it for other things, I'll have to see what comes up.
This is my first computer building experience, my current computer is a Compaq I bought in late 1999 and until very recently was running the first edition of Windows 98. I think we spent 3k on it at the time which included a 19" CRT monitor (which I will be using with the new comp for a while) and a printer. It worked fine until recently when my Printer was no longer supported (now in the trash) and programs were having a lot of problems running. Now I can get the software I want and will later by a scanner/ printer.
Because its my first build I thought it might be a good idea to have Monarch do a barebones setup to make sure the basics are running alright. Besides a few links on the internet I think im gonna pick up a "build your own PC" book at the local bookstore, and keep monitoring the OC forums of course
I just hope my initial memory choice won't drag the whole system down.
I have been looking for a new computer for several months, ready to spend about $2000 on a system. Looked around the local computer stores I realized it would be cheaper to build one and doing so would afford me much better upgradability options.
I have been monitoring NewEgg and Monarch for a few months and had my eyes set on a good Asus MB Pentium system... the only thing I would be missing by ordering it before now would be the dual SLI graphics option that was supposed to be coming out soon... so when I was finally ready to make the order ( I was waiting for my coursework to finish to take the time to build it), I was happy to see that for a few dollars more an SLI board was available from ASUS with all the great features of the one I was originally planning to buy.
I only wish I had found Drislers sticky explaining more about RAM and tweaking the timing on BIOS because I might have gone for something better than what I have already ordered for memory. Take a look at the system they are currently breaking in at Monarch. They are testing the RAM, processor and motherboard combination right now:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-Tested and Setup Intel P4-775 Barebones System w/DDR2 Support 1 $18.00 $18.00
Case: 100168 - NO PS - Thermaltake VA9000BWS Kandalf Sup $183.00 $183.00
Power Supply: 100122 - PS 535W - Enermax EG565P-FMA REV.2.0 ATX $89.00 $89.00
Case Fan: None
Motherboard: 110409 - Asus P5ND2-SLI Deluxe nForce4 SLI Audio/G $247.00 $247.00
** Processor: 120315 - Intel P4 640 3.2GHz LGA775 2MB 800 FSB (H $282.00 $282.00 (updated to the 3.4GHz version)
Thermal Grease: 800018 - Shin-Etsu G675 Thermal Grease (Cools CPU $14.00 $14.00
Heat Sink: 800083 - None - Fan REQUIRED - except with RETAIL
Memory: 140672 - DDR2 (533) 4200 - 2 GB (2 pcs 1GB) OCZ (O $261.00 $261.00
2nd Memory: None
Round Cables: None
Warranty: 800036 - Motherboard-CPU Warranty - 3 Year w/30 Da $29.95 $29.95
Power Supply Adapter: None
170108 Mitsumi Floppy 7-in-1 USB Card Reader/Smart Media Internal Drive (Black) 1 $25.00 $25.00
150606 Seagate 160GB Barracuda 7200RPM 8MB Cache SATA 2 $99.00 $198.00
Warranty: 800011 - Manufacturer Direct Warranty from MFG Dat
160527 Pioneer DVR-109BK Dual-Layer DVD±RW 16x4x16x-DVD+RW/32x24x40x-CD-RW (Black) (OEM) 1 $79.00 $79.00
160426 Asus 5232ASQT-BLK (BLACK) 52X32X52 CD-RW Drive Internal IDE FlextraLink (Retail) 1 $45.00 $45.00
Warranty: 800483 - 90 Day Monarch Computer Warranty
160833 Lite-On SOHD-16P9S 16X-DVD/48X-CD-ROM (Black) (Retail Box) 1 $49.00 $49.00
Warranty: 800483 - 90 Day Monarch Computer Warranty
190696 ATI (Sapphire) Radeon X800 256 MB DDR3/PCI-E/TV-Out/DVI (OEM) 1 $219.00 $219.00
Molex Connector: yes
210111 Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/CD and license w/Service Pack 2 1 $156.00 $156.00
Shipping: Federal Express Ground - Five (5) to Seven (7) Day: $50.00
Total: $1,944.95
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RAM is OCZ25332048VDC-K 2GB 2pcs(1MB) DDR2(533) 4200
My question is, if I later upgrade to a higher speed memory like 6400 (800FSB) will I still be able to move my old memory into the last two slots and use the new mem along side it without reverting the new memory to a 533 FSB speed?
Sadly the prices on DDR2 memory have already dropped significantly since I ordered
My plan with this system was to have something that will be fairly upgradeable for some time to come, preferably longer than 3 years. When the time comes for upgrading I will go into the BIOS and overclock the system as needed. You can see I went cheap on a graphics card as well especially for a system that uses SLI. I am planning on replacing that with a matched pair a couple years down the road when the card prices go cheaper.
Besides gaming and the internet, I will be using the system for CAD and engineering simulation software and for producing technical documents and presentations. I may also be using it for other things, I'll have to see what comes up.
This is my first computer building experience, my current computer is a Compaq I bought in late 1999 and until very recently was running the first edition of Windows 98. I think we spent 3k on it at the time which included a 19" CRT monitor (which I will be using with the new comp for a while) and a printer. It worked fine until recently when my Printer was no longer supported (now in the trash) and programs were having a lot of problems running. Now I can get the software I want and will later by a scanner/ printer.
Because its my first build I thought it might be a good idea to have Monarch do a barebones setup to make sure the basics are running alright. Besides a few links on the internet I think im gonna pick up a "build your own PC" book at the local bookstore, and keep monitoring the OC forums of course
I just hope my initial memory choice won't drag the whole system down.
