new build shoping list (so far)

[PlanesWalker]

ok this is a very preliminary list and isnt anywere near final (unless you guys think its ok)

Mother board: Biostar P4M800 Pro M7 Via Socket 775 MicroATX Motherboard

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2467734&sku=B450-2206

Case:Apevia Black X-Plorer ATX Mid-Tower Case
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1384989&sku=A107-3016

Psu:Apevia 500-Watt ATX Dual 80mm LED Fan

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=905179&sku=A107-2000

CPU: Intel Pentium D 830 3.0GHz
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1424108&sku=CP2-P4-830%20C

Video CardBFG GeForce 7600 GS OC 512MB GDDR2(would get 7900Gs but not worth extra money because I'm planning on upgrading 100% to dx10 card at end of year)

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2427400&sku=B52-7856

Hard Drive have one already 200Gb maxtor ATA with WindowsXP already installed

Ram ive yet to decide. aming for 1Gb.

Disc drive yet to find one. looking to burn CD/DVD at descent speed no blue-ray budget only around 800$

both ram and disc drive willing to take any and all suggestion :)

[newbuilder14]

Let's start off with a budget first, if you wouldn't mind.

TigerDirect is noted to be of poor customer service - I highly recommend Newegg.com

I see a possible problem with your selections - you seem to have chosen some low quality components such as your power supply. The motherboard is okay but I definitely recommend an Asus instead. That processor is fine but the Pentium D 915 or even Core 2 Duo E6300 is a much, much better choice.

[glc]

You are heading in the wrong direction. You are choosing low end components from a schlocky vendor. The only item on that list I'd even consider is the video card, that's a decent card. I'd also consider that case if that's what you like.

Via chipsets and Intel processors = instability. 8xx series Pentium D's = a lot of heat and so-so performance. Apevia power supplies = bling but shoddy quality.

Let's regroup - you need the following for $800?

Case
Power supply
Processor
Ram
Video card
DVD burner

Your priorities are gaming - and you will be tossing whatever video card you get in a while for a DX10 card?

Okay - if you like that case, let's build around that and your IDE hard drive.

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144102 (same as you chose at Tiger)

Power supply: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817189003 XClio 450 watt - cheapest unit I trust on PCI-E.

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131048 Asus P5LD2 R2.0 - do NOT skimp on a motherboard, it's too important.

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819115005 Core 2 Duo E6300 - come play with the big boys!

Ram: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145098 Yes - 2 gigs.

DVD burner: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106050

This leaves you about $150 for a video card. You can get a very good placefiller for that kind of money.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130062 Lookie that! A 7600GT for under $150!

I hope this all is in your budget - it sure makes what you picked out at Tiger look like trash and you will be dealing with a much better vendor from a customer service standpoint.

The only other mod you may have to do is upgrade the power supply when you go to a DX10 card.

[PlanesWalker]

hey i really appreciate you taking the time to look up those components and happens that with shipping you actually came in $8 under budget lol :) thanks for the help and i trust the parts you selected (of course i still checked them out) and i didn't think that some of those parts could come that cheap especially the Gpu thanks. whats great in addition is that you worked around some of my obvious likes and conditions other web sites they just throw a crap load of expensive things at me i couldn't afford (I'm 13).

[PlanesWalker]

hey i was wondering i sound a much cheaper Intel Pentium d 915 2.8Ghz on newegg and i was wondering would that be compatible with the mother board you listed a link for. i know core 2 duo is better but this is cheaper and pretty fast.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116253

[newbuilder14]

That's a fine processor but that Core 2 Duo would be much faster/more powerful. And yes, it is compatible with that motherboard. If you plan on overclocking I'm not sure if I recommend that board, you may want to look into the newer P965 chipset (Asus P5B). However if you're on a budget just stick to what you have there.

[jfk]

Get the Core 2 Duo. You will not regret it, it is superior to that CPU.

[PlanesWalker]

ok then i cant really argue with that ill go for the core 2 duo i knew there was obvious performance increase but i never thought a 2.8Ghz core dou could be matched or excelled by a 1.8ghz core 2 duo :)

[newbuilder14]

Pay no attention to ghz anymore my friend - it is all in the core architecture - and the Core 2 is much superior to the older Pentium D processors when it comes to this. Have a look: http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html?modelx=33&model1=433&model2=440&chart=174

[blue60007]

Core 2 Duo's do more per clock than Pentium 4's.

[crimsonjax]

Planes, I thought it was odd too. But I read up on the core2duo. Good stuff!

[glc]

I recommended that motherboard for a reason - yes, the P5B is a better board, but the OP has an existing IDE hard drive and the 965's IDE is not so hot. With IDE, you are better off with a retrofitted 945 or a 975X (too expensive for a budget computer). If you do get the urge later to overclock that E6300, you can upgrade the motherboard and move up to the SATA hard drive world.

The great thing about building your own with carefully chosen components is the ease of doing upgrades as you want them and can afford them.

[PlanesWalker]

lol when i first purchased my hard drive its was a SATA and i was happy but i forgot that my computer was very old and didn't have a SATA connector so i returned it for a ATA. my old desktop is a compact pro with a Pentium 3 processor at 500Mhz lol very crappy :)

[PlanesWalker]

ok well it turns out that my processor from my computer didn't die at all but the hard drive did fail the ata one i was planning on using in this build so i was planning on getting this HDD from new egg its 320Gb and is sata I wanted to ask if that motherboard you listed would still be the best choice seeing how im going to be using a SATA drive not an ATA?

Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148140

[flanzig1]

The P5LD2 is a good board but for $22 more can get the P5B which is a newer board.

[PlanesWalker]

ok the p5b looks a bit better and does support 8Gb of ram but m losing a pci expansion slot is it worth it?
P5b:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131043

Pfld2:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131048

also the p5b has on board video i would need to disable that right?

[newbuilder14]

Yes, the P5B would be better. This is the P5B we also recommend (no onboard video): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131030

[flanzig1]

You linked the P5b-VM which is a uATX board w/on-board video. The plainP5B is a standard ATX: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131030

[PlanesWalker]

=p don't i feel stupid lol ok then thanks

[PlanesWalker]

ok last question i have a windows xp install CD and have it installed on my old hdd I'm not using and i believe doesnt even work is there any way i can install it on a new hdd and still register it so that the 30 day thing doesn't stop usage?
(I might get my old HDD to work by re installing it because it doesnt register as being hooked up but i don't know if that would erase the OS.)

[flanzig1]

If you have a regular Microsoft XP disc, then no problem. You will need to reactive. If the CD is from a prebuilt like Dell/HP or is a burned copy, then need to get a new XP install disk.

[PlanesWalker]

ok then great it is a regular i had gotten when i upgraded to XP from windows 2000 professional :) ok thanks for all the help.

[flanzig1]

If the XP disc is an Upgrade version, you will need an older Windows disc to verify that you have a valid older OS to upgrade from.

[PlanesWalker]

lol yet another question i believe that the P5b supports ATA ide hdd i have if ever i was able to find the install disc and wanted to use it as an extra storage device Its just that i don't want a 250Gb hard drive to go to waste if i do find the install disc.

[PlanesWalker]

no it not an upgrade i miss told i meant that i brought the hard drive and the OS together which was an upgrade from my old hdd that had windows 2000 lol glad thats cleared up :)

[LeftyAce]

That P5B has one ATA slot, so as long as you're only using two ata devices, you're ok. (Presumably cdrom and possibly this extra harddrive).

[PlanesWalker]

well i was planning on using dual dvd drive so are thoe ATA? if so i can either have dual drives or one drive and the HDD right?

http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106050

[Alaron]

That's correct. You have a couple of options though. You can buy an IDE controller card to add an extra IDE connection. These are PCI cards.

A second option, and the easiest, is to wait a few days for these to come back in stock: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106046 This model is SATA based, so you can hook it up no problem.

[PlanesWalker]

ok there no price difference accept for like a dollar lol and ye mobo comes with X4 SATA cables and so ill just get two of those and then use the hdd sometime later thanks :)

[glc]

The JMicron IDE controller on the 965 boards is troublesome - why not do all SATA inside the box and put the IDE drive in an external housing for backups?