Stupid Questions

[scorpion12]

I'm looking to replace the current system I have now:

AMD K6-2-333, 64 mb ram, Win 95, 4.3 gb Bigfoot, 2.2 gb Western Digital...(caviar I think) Riva TNT or TNT2 (I don't remember)... soundblaster PCI-128

Reasons for replacing instead of upgrade: Stuff is old and slow.

I'm looking for recommendations of a system I can put together my self for under $1,000 that is

#1. 1ghz (preferably not overclocked... I know my limits and I don't want to burn up CPU by not properly connecting the heatsink and such)

#2. Stable under known os's like Win2000, Office 2000, Redhat 5.2, and 6.0...

I'm willing to go with any AMD motherboard, but I've only used ASUS.

I've read good reviews of the ASUS A-7V.


I'm looking for recommendations on vendors who will source the following at reasonable prices with good customer support

#1. Sound card

to be used for editing some old cassettes onto CD-R...
providing sound for a Klipsch promedia system I have read about

#2. Video card
usual uses: games, office work, showing the occasional DVD

#3. Hard drive

usual needs: fast, many gigs in size, prefer ide udma 100 as It's new and fast... (not knocking scsi at all, but I like ide for my home machines.)

#4. Speakers

currently have some labtech cheapies... want something better... like the Klipsch promedia system I've heard about or something like that...

#5. Case to hold all of this stuff...

mid tower size... accessible without too much difficulty to swap parts...

I know resellerratings have good postings PCNUT...


Thakns for taking the time to read this and answer some stupid questions for me.

Scorpion12

 

[Commited]

How about an AMD 1.1Ghz, Abit KT7A(my personal favourite), 256mb cas2 ram, 32mb geforce 2 graphics card, Soundblaster PCI 1024 live, globalwin 802 case, taisol 742 hsf, 300watt psu. Speakers: Creative surround or that kind, poss boston acoustics. The last thing i would upgrade would be the hard drive, and if you do go for IBM 75GXP 60GB.
Hope that helps..

 

[scorpion12]

That definitely sounds like a good combo...

Here are a few more questions:

Would it ship with fan and heat sink already attached? I've read where if the heatsink is even off a little bit, the processor is toast... I've been eading tonight that the ORB series of coolers has a tendency to crack or chip processors.

A creative soundblaster 1024: would this allow me to clean up the cassettes I need to transfer onto CD media and still be able to preserve the sound that is left?

Would it also give me the surround sound or live audio or whatever it's called to hear the foot steps behind me, or the mech beside me?

Is is dolby digital 5.1 capable (never mind, I'll surf there for the answer to that)

I've read that VIA will be pushing DDR Ram into some combos on their boards soon with prices around $50 per stick...

Would the ABIT be included in this deal?

Thanks.

Scorpion12

 

[FunkyTechnician]

scorpion12 (Mar 19, 2001 10:44 p.m.):
That definitely sounds like a good combo...

Here are a few more questions:

Would it ship with fan and heat sink already attached? I've read where if the heatsink is even off a little bit, the processor is toast... I've been eading tonight that the ORB series of coolers has a tendency to crack or chip processors.

A creative soundblaster 1024: would this allow me to clean up the cassettes I need to transfer onto CD media and still be able to preserve the sound that is left?

Would it also give me the surround sound or live audio or whatever it's called to hear the foot steps behind me, or the mech beside me?

Is is dolby digital 5.1 capable (never mind, I'll surf there for the answer to that)

I've read that VIA will be pushing DDR Ram into some combos on their boards soon with prices around $50 per stick...

Would the ABIT be included in this deal?

Thanks.

Scorpion12

I know that PCNUT no longer sends hsf mounted on the mobos simply for the reason that they would be knocked off and prone to damage during shipment.

As far as the soundcard goes, I have found that the soundblaster 5.1's are great. The only caviat there would be making sure that it runs properly on the VIA chipset. Some people have problems but are usually fixed by moving the card to a different slot and using the latest bios. I don't think you would have any problem cleaning up the sound on any wavs, I think it would be more dependant on the software you are using.

I'm also upgrading from a 300mhz cpu for the same reasons you are. I would suggest looking into the KT133A chipsets and matching it with an Athlon. Check out the A7v133, Abit KT7A, Iwill KK266...there are tons of reviews out there.

For case suggestions, Addtronics has some really nice cases. I am getting the 6896 but that is a full tower. You definitely want to match your case with at least a 300 watt power source though with an AMD setup.

For all around video card usage, I think that the Radeon is the way to go.

Amiel

 

[Commited]

Heatsink: Depends where you buy from....
Be really careful when fittin the hsf.
You would need some thing better than a creative sounblaster for that. You probably could get some software though.
Yeah the 5.1 is surround sound.

 

[scorpion12]

I feel like such an idiot for asking newbie questions... I guess I've been out of the data stream for too long... I use computers everyday, but I don't really get under the hood anymore, and now it has come back to bite me...

Ok, a few more newbie questions:

Understandable about a heatsink/fan and having it preinstalled... And I know I've said this already a few times, I'm afraid of breaking a $200 processor by not fitting a hsf right, or busting the mobo mounts or whatever... I know I can probably do it.

#1. How good is the stock heatsink for a thunderbird? Is it enough or is anything better than the factory?

I know there are those who will yank the things off and replace it before they do anything else, and there are those who say it is fine... and I know heat is a killer for any processor, but I've not had a processor worthy of these concerns until I get my thunderbird...

#2. I'm open to anything better than a soundblaster also. Recommendations?

I remember a few years ago how important it really was to have a sound blaster compatible card to be sure yo could play doom, quake, and whatever... but now with direct sound...

#3. Have there been any problems getting the stuff going with Win2k?

Once again, thank you in advance for any help and advice.


Scorpion12

 

[Da Whip]

Hey, We have all been new to this at one time or another. I am new to this also. You need to do some research by surfing lots of overclocking sites and general PC sites to get as much info as possible.
From what I have been able to gather from the posts on this forum (it is by far the best overclocking forum around) and diffrerent hardware reviews;

Question #1. Almost anything is better than a stock T-Bird HSF. Vantec Gloewin, Taisol, Alpha,ETC.

Question#2. Soundblaster Live is the benchmark right now, but there are others, Philips Acoustic is one.

Question #3 Personally i am staying w/ 98SE until there are more games, drivers, and other devices available for Win2K.

Hope this helped.

 

[Tachyon]

scorpion12 (Mar 21, 2001 09:23 p.m.):
I feel like such an idiot for asking newbie questions... I guess I've been out of the data stream for too long... I use computers everyday, but I don't really get under the hood anymore, and now it has come back to bite me...

Ok, a few more newbie questions:

Understandable about a heatsink/fan and having it preinstalled... And I know I've said this already a few times, I'm afraid of breaking a $200 processor by not fitting a hsf right, or busting the mobo mounts or whatever... I know I can probably do it.

#1. How good is the stock heatsink for a thunderbird? Is it enough or is anything better than the factory?

I know there are those who will yank the things off and replace it before they do anything else, and there are those who say it is fine... and I know heat is a killer for any processor, but I've not had a processor worthy of these concerns until I get my thunderbird...

#2. I'm open to anything better than a soundblaster also. Recommendations?

I remember a few years ago how important it really was to have a sound blaster compatible card to be sure yo could play doom, quake, and whatever... but now with direct sound...

#3. Have there been any problems getting the stuff going with Win2k?

Once again, thank you in advance for any help and advice.


Scorpion12

If you're not going to overclock it doesn't matter whether you get a KT133 or KT133A board unless you are definately getting a 133MHz T-Bird.

The cooler your system runs the better. An Addtronics 6890A or 6896A provide space for plenty of case fans. A good CPU heat sink and fan are ~$30 and will ensure that your CPU is kept cool. If you're concerned about mounting it get one with a friendly clip such as an Alpha PAL6035.

If you spend a little more for a RAID board you will have 4 IDE connectors (if you don't configure the RAID) instead of two. Make sure you look at how different boards are configured and select one that meets your needs (ie. jumpers or BIOS control, USB ports).

Have you looked at the Turtle Beach sound cards? I think a SB Platinum should work for you though.

Win2K should work fine

Terry

 

[Commited]

Hey man, ive only been here for a month.
I was a semi-newbie, only getting my first PC a year ago. Then I heard of overclocking. Im sooo glad I did. The only bad thing is, my dad hits the roof when he sees the phone bill!!!!!!!
Ah well!
Good luck anyway.

 

[Commited]

Hey man, ive only been here for a month.
I was a semi-newbie, only getting my first PC a year ago. Then I heard of overclocking. Im sooo glad I did. The only bad thing is, my dad hits the roof when he sees the phone bill!!!!!!!
Ah well!
Good luck anyway.
Tell me how you get on! 8)