How does this setup look

[Ultra Josh]

Hi, I'm the new guy :D and this is my first post here. I've never built my own computer befor, although I am some what familiar with the inside of computers, and have been doing some research on my own. But I'm unshure about what to actually buy. To finaly get some input from peolpe with experience will be great.:)

Here is the list so far, how does it look?-

Case: Lian-Li PC65
Power: Enermax SE 350 Watt FCA

MoBo: MicroStar K7T266 Pro2-RU DDR USB 2.0
CPU: AMD Athlon XP2000 (1662 MHz)
Heat sink: Coolermaster DP5-6131C-A1 FC-PGA Socket A/370
RAM: (2) Crucial Technology 256MB stick

RAID controler: Promise Fast Track 100
Hard Drive(1): Western Digital 100.9 GB
Hard Drive(2): Western Digital 100.9 GB

DVD: Pioneer Trayless DVD Drive-16XDVD-40XCD
CD-RW: Plextor 24X10X40 CD-RW

GPU: Hercules 3D Prophet III Ti500 64Mb
Monitor: 22" NEC FE1250

Audio Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1-500Watt THX 5.1 Point Speakers

Network Card: (?) I'm thinking about a 3COM card
Modem: (?)
Floppy Drive: Samsung or Sony(?)

and some sort of wireless keyboard(Logitech) and mouse:)

Ya, it'll cost a arm and a leg, but so what, I haven't actualy bought anything yet.
I will probable just get 1 stick of ram, just the DVD drive, and 1 hard drive at first. I can always get the extra things later on, it is a computer after all.:)

:burn:

[Al Capone]

I'm don't know anything about AMD motherboards or processors
Network card - the 3com's are quite expensive this is because they have some extra features but these are only useful in a business environment, I have the D-link 10/100 card its like $10-$15 same speed as the 3com and its really good.
The floppy drive make doesn't really matter - they are all exactly the same sumsang are good and so is sony.
Audio card and Dvd drive are good, check which DDR memory you buy e.g. 2100/2700/3000.

[Ultra Josh]

Originally posted by Al Capone
I'm don't know anything about AMD motherboards or processors
Network card - the 3com's are quite expensive this is because they have some extra features but these are only useful in a business environment, I have the D-link 10/100 card its like $10-$15 same speed as the 3com and its really good.
The floppy drive make doesn't really matter - they are all exactly the same sumsang are good and so is sony.
Audio card and Dvd drive are good, check which DDR memory you buy e.g. 2100/2700/3000.

Thanks Al, originaly I actualy had a D-link as the network card, but wasn't shure. I was just going to choose and buy at the end since it's not too critical to the over all set up. Does 2700 and 3000 make much of a difference, and I'm not shure if the MoBO will take 2700 and 3000?
But here's the setup now:

Case: Lian-Li PC65
Power: Enermax SE 350 Watt FCA

MoBo: MicroStar K7T266 Pro2-RU DDR USB 2.0
CPU: AMD Athlon XP2000 (1662 MHz)
Heat sink: Coolermaster DP5-6131C-A1 FC-PGA Socket A/370
RAM: (2) Crucial Technology PC2100 DDR 256MB

RAID controler: Promise Fast Track 100
Hard Drive(1): Western Digital 100.9 GB
Hard Drive(2): Western Digital 100.9 GB

DVD: Pioneer Trayless DVD Drive-16XDVD-40XCD
CD-RW: Plextor 24X10X40 CD-RW

GPU: Hercules 3D Prophet III Ti500 64Mb
Monitor: 22" NEC FE1250

Audio Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1-500Watt THX 5.1 Point Speakers

Network Card: D-Link Systems DFE_530TX+10/100
Modem: (?)
Floppy Drive: Samsung or Sony(?) Doesn't matter which

[ucfswimmer]

Originally posted by Ultra Josh


Thanks Al, originaly I actualy had a D-link as the network card, but wasn't shure. I was just going to choose and buy at the end since it's not too critical to the over all set up. Does 2700 and 3000 make much of a difference, and I'm not shure if the MoBO will take 2700 and 3000?

PC2700 or PC3000 depends on whether you want to OC it or not...do you intend to up the FSB past 150? if so go with PC2400 or PC2700...there is no real use for PC3000 RAM yet unless you get an Epox MoBo and want to be 100% sure that your mem isnt limiting the OC


But here's the setup now:

Case: Lian-Li PC65
Power: Enermax SE 350 Watt FCA

Both excellent choices, if you have the money, might not hurt to go with an Enermax 430W, just so that you're set if you plan to add anything else and OC...

MoBo: MicroStar K7T266 Pro2-RU DDR USB 2.0

not too familar with the mobo to be honest, tho...It's got USB 2.0 which is a nice plus to have built-in...BUT it's running off of a 266 northbridge as opposed to 266a...better memory stats with the 266a northbridge, so if you find a mobo you like with 266a, definately go with that

CPU: AMD Athlon XP2000 (1662 MHz)
Heat sink: Coolermaster DP5-6131C-A1 FC-PGA Socket A/370

fine...


RAM: (2) Crucial Technology PC2100 DDR 256MB

Do you want to OC the FSB? If you want to go real high..then go with 2400 or 2700...otherwise Crucial 2100 is some of the best mem.

RAID controler: Promise Fast Track 100
Hard Drive(1): Western Digital 100.9 GB
Hard Drive(2): Western Digital 100.9 GB

All I can say is MEGA $$$...I'd go with IBM drives, but that's just me...many people will argue as to brand..won't make a HUGE difference...

DVD: Pioneer Trayless DVD Drive-16XDVD-40XCD
CD-RW: Plextor 24X10X40 CD-RW

Both very good choices...if you aren't getting the stuff now you can wait till Plextor comes out with a 32x CD-RW =)

GPU: Hercules 3D Prophet III Ti500 64Mb
Monitor: 22" NEC FE1250

Again, some MEGA $$$ but a good graphics card and monitor nonetheless...if you wait about 3-4 weeks for the graphics card, prices will start dropping like mad (when they announce the GF4s)

Audio Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1-500Watt THX 5.1 Point Speakers

OK, seriously...where do you have all this money to spend? those speakers are sooooo expensive (but sooooo nice) if you've got $$$ to blow I could REALLY use some ;-)

Network Card: D-Link Systems DFE_530TX+10/100
Modem: (?)
Floppy Drive: Samsung or Sony(?) Doesn't matter which

Sounds like a good system..everything is fine as far as a gaming rig goes...id look into other mobos, but thats just me (maybe ABIT KR7A-RAID, Soyo Dragon+, Epox 8KHA, etc. etc.) Other than that, everything looks good....but expensive...


~jeff~

[Yodums]

Case: Lian-Li PC65
Power: Enermax SE 350 Watt FCA

I'd save some money... Buy an Antec w/ a 400watt PSU instead which would be a 50-60 dollar difference.

MoBo: MicroStar K7T266 Pro2-RU DDR USB 2.0

Not too farmiliar but I'd take a more popular brand like Shuttle AK31 and Epox 8KHA+ as they have outstanding performance and motherboard power


CPU: AMD Athlon XP2000 (1662 MHz)

Good but I'd get myself a 1600 or 1800 as those clock very good and the 2000 is basically top of the line now so teh prices would be really high.

Heat sink: Coolermaster DP5-6131C-A1 FC-PGA Socket A/370

Good, keep in mind I read that lapping the heatsink improves it <ALOT>

RAM: (2) Crucial Technology 256MB stick
If you really need 512Ram then I have nothing to say but if you can hold off abit till they drop I'd hold since they are really expensive and 512ram would cost alot over your motherboards.

RAID controler: Promise Fast Track 100
Hard Drive(1): Western Digital 100.9 GB
Hard Drive(2): Western Digital 100.9 GB

Why would you need 200 gigs? If your not using at least 50% of that basically a waste

DVD: Pioneer Trayless DVD Drive-16XDVD-40XCD
CD-RW: Plextor 24X10X40 CD-RW

Good I like em both
GPU: Hercules 3D Prophet III Ti500 64Mb

The new series of card are coming out from ATI and Radeon and the prices of nVidia and ATI 8500/Ti500 will drop alot. Although I'd consider a 8500 over the TI500.
Monitor: 22" NEC FE1250

I prefer Samsung or KDS I heard alot of people having problems with NEC.

Audio Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1-500Watt THX 5.1 Point Speakers

Nothing to complain about, raw power there :D If your planning to watch DVD's and such and want to have a kick arse system ... Then the Radeon has very good quality and the card w/ Klipsch 5.1 will definitely provide you with the best multimedia avaliable.
Network Card: (?) I'm thinking about a 3COM card

Good quality and overclocking-friendly

Modem:

Hmm mainly any good popular brand like 3Com and Aopen have all good modems
Floppy Drive: Samsung or Sony(?)

Panosonic

and some sort of wireless keyboard(Logitech) and mouse:)

Ya, it'll cost a arm and a leg, but so what, I haven't actualy bought anything yet.

I'd say coordless stuff is a waste I'd get a Microsoft Natuaral Keyboard and a Logitech or Microsoft Optical Mouse
I will probable just get 1 stick of ram, just the DVD drive, and 1 hard drive at first. I can always get the extra things later on, it is a computer after all.:)

My two cents... Wait on other peoples opinion.

[David]

Everything looks fine but I would say unless you are going to do video editing or RAID on that rig then I would go with two lower capacity drives. 2 x 60GB 7200rpm/UDMA100/2MB cache drives would be perfect and a lot cheaper. I have one 30GB HDD which I am struggling to fill more that half of. Go with 2x 40GB or 60GB and you will save lots of cash and not run out of disk space.

PS The MSI K7T266Pro2 has the KT266A chipset, so I would go with that.

[Rezman5]

If you are going to be overclocking, you want headroom on your PSU. IF you don't switch over and get an antech case, and still want to Lian-Li case, I would suggest getting a 400W sparkle PSU.

[Ultra Josh]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I won't be overclocking right away maybe just a few minor things at first, I'm not ready yet to go all out. Concerning the hard drive, I can fill 30Gb, for that matter 60Gb would be no prob either, in no time but I'll just get one 100Gb for now. The board has built in RAID, at least it seams to. I also won't get the Ti500 I'll get the Ti200. The only thing I won't change is the sound, I love having great sound even more than a large monitor, I may get just a 20" instead of the 22".

Here is what I might get now.

Case: Lian-Li or Antec (black)
Power: Enermax SE 350 Watt FCA

MoBo: MicroStar K7T266 Pro2-RU DDR USB 2.0
VIA® KT266A chipset. (North-Bridge 552 BGA)
VIA® VT8233 chipset. (South-Bridge 376 BGA)

CPU: AMD Athlon XP1800
Heat sink: Coolermaster DP5-6131C-A1 FC-PGA Socket A/370
RAM: (2) Crucial Technology 256MB stick

Hard Drive(1): Western Digital 100.9 GB

DVD: Pioneer Trayless DVD Drive-16XDVD-40XCD
CD-RW: none (for now)

GPU: Hercules 3D Prophet III Ti200 64Mb
Monitor: (still looking, need more sugestions)

Audio Card: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy X-Gamer
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia 5.1-500Watt THX 5.1 Point Speakers

Network Card: D-Link Systems DFE_530TX+10/100
Modem: (?)
Floppy Drive: Samsung or Sony or Panasonic(?)

I think I'm missing something important. Oh well.

[deez]

the Dlink 530TX are good cards we use them at work

make sure you get cl2 RAM...its faster than cl3

Haven't priced Lian-li cases lately but from what I can remember they are a bit more moneu than Antec and you can get the Black Antec tower with 350W PSU from CompUSA for $130 I think

100Gb is a lot of HDD space unless your going to be ripping or recording music or DVD's then you'll probly find the 60 or 80's a lot cheaper

[Yodums]

Originally posted by deez
the Dlink 530TX are good cards we use them at work

make sure you get cl2 RAM...its faster than cl3

Haven't priced Lian-li cases lately but from what I can remember they are a bit more moneu than Antec and you can get the Black Antec tower with 350W PSU from CompUSA for $130 I think

100Gb is a lot of HDD space unless your going to be ripping or recording music or DVD's then you'll probly find the 60 or 80's a lot cheaper

Are they? I have both cards.

3Com and Dlink 530 TX.

Yodums

[RangerJoe]

--get an antec sx1200 case...full tower, $70 from www.emscomputing.com.
--431 watt enermax psu
--get the msi board you put, very nice board
--good cpu
--get an alpha pal 8045 with the 47 cfm delta on it...its $47 from newegg, and will cool that chip great and it wont be loud
--get two sticks of CAS2 crucial ddr 2400 ram (256 mb)
--get two ibm 60 gb deskstars, much higher quality than WD. and RAID 0 them, they are like $90 from newegg i believe
--id say a cd-rw drive is of much more use than a dvd, but thats just me, either one is just great
--get a gainward golden sample gf3 ti200...very good overclocker, and good features.....
--get a sony 21" trinitron...SUCH a good monitor. its the flat screen, not LCD though, its GREAT
--sound card is good
--speakers are wonderful
--all network cards are the exact same, so that doesnt matter
--what kind of modem (i.e. cable, dsl, 56k?) (toshiba for cable, same with dsl, and us robotics for 56k)
--sony floppy drive ($9 from newegg)
--dont get wireless mouse and keyboard, they suck ball sack for gaming...so i say get the microsoft internet pro keyboard, 19 hot keys and 2 USB ports built in...and the microsoft intellimouse explorer 3.0 mouse, very good combination for gaming

[Eansdad]

Ditch the mobo...go for an Abit or Asus. also if you want a good cheaper cd-rw then look at the Lite-on's most are about $30-50 cheaper than the TDK's and Plextors with the burn proof technolgy. everything else looks nice.

[ThePunkGeek]

nice pick of parts
good luck on the rig

[Malakai]

id get the epox nor the soyo dragon+, both have the kt266a chipset and o/c well.
trust me, if u keep hangin around the forums, youll be overclocking sooner than u think:)

[RangerJoe]

get the dragon, and save some money with getting the sound card and the lan card

and plus, with epox boards, you have to use jumper pins, soo much easier and fool proof with the bios, expecially if you are new with making computers

stay with plextor, its worth the extra money to get higher quality parts

also, if you dont get the dragon, get the msi k7t-266a pro2-ru, this board is great, msi has great support if you ever have a problem too