New comp

[cillik]

K i'm new to building comps, and still pretty stupid when it comes to comps in general other than downloading and installing... but i need to build a new comp for gaming. All i know is that i need 1gb of ram or more and my budget is $500-1000. I have no monitor, case, or anything else and i'm pretty much wondering if i can mix and match parts without having to worry about some parts not being compatible.

srry i double posted ><

[Peli]

Well your Motherboard is your main component, the processor should match it's socket type and your motherboard should be able to support your processors fsb speed.

The motherboard should be able to support your ram (memory stick) speed.

Everything else I don't think matters about compatibility.....


You can get a pc that has the below specs pretty easily along with the rest you need for $500 or less.

RAM 1GB
CPU: 2.0+ GHZ

[liambl]

It is near impossible to build a serious gaming build on that budget, and definately since you need a monitor. If you are gaming you will need at least soething around an 8600GTS or 2600XT. I'm not used to compiling builds but there are a few people here that can.

[pam123]

Monitor : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824001088 $209

Graphics Card : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102703 $109

Motherboard : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130138 $99.99 ( this will give you an upgrade path)

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103210 $109.99/ (If you want to overclock) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103194 $99.99
(You will need an aftermarket Heatsink/fan and Arctic silver $$50)

Memory : Crucial, Corsair, Kingston, Mushkin, OCZ and Buffalo are all supported by MSI. : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134586
2 GB Kingston 1066 $79.99

Case/power supply : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024 $129.95

Keyboard/mouse : ps2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126017 $13.99

Operating system : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116142
$218 .99 ( An over-priced travesty but I don't see how you can avoid it unless you have, or can borrow, a retail disk of 98/ME and install XP Home Upgrade at $99. ).

Sound ( Do you want speakers or headphones? How will the family/neighbors/room-mates feel about you rocking their world ? ) : $100 after you figure out the way to gol

Optical Drive : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106057 $32.99

With shipping and handling you're still under $1000 and you have an upgrade path.

[Cricket]

K i'm new to building comps, and still pretty stupid when it comes to comps in general other than downloading and installing... but i need to build a new comp for gaming. All i know is that i need 1gb of ram or more and my budget is $500-1000.What games do you want to play with this computer? For $1,000 you won't be able to play the most demanding new games with all the eye-candy settings turned on unless you double that budget.I have no monitor, case, or anything else and i'm pretty much wondering if i can mix and match parts without having to worry about some parts not being compatible.You always have to think about part compatibility when you're building a computer. You don't just "mix and match" and hope for the best...doesn't work that way.

Do you have any parts now that you want to put into this new computer?

Do you have a preference on the CPU and video card GPU?

What operating system are you planning to use?

:) Cricket

[cillik]

k well i won't be playing all the new games, mostly Silkroad Online, Kalonline, and Counterstrike. Thats about it for games, the only preference i have is the antec case that i saw in some of the other posts and 2 GB Kingston 1066, both of which pam123 put in that build. Plan on using Windows XP or Vista, i don't really care which. I'll need speakers of course, i have a mic and headset already. i have no idea what the artic silver is lol, i searched it on newegg and i'm guessing it's a liquid you put in something to help cool down the pc, thats about all i have on it. thats all i can think of right now for what i need help with, i'll try to think of anything else, just so it's not read a question, post an answer, so on and so on for 10 or 12 posts.

Edit: Something like the Samsung monitor pam123 put in the post would be preferable too, but i'm guessing you can use just about any monitor once the actual tower is set up.

[pam123]

Arctic Silver is thermal paste.
If you chose to go the over-clock route you would need it for the after-market heatsink; if you're not then forget it.
Yes you can use any monitor that will give you at least 1024 x 768.

[cillik]

k well i don't know what overclock is. I've noticed that sometimes the pc i'm on says i'm running on low virtual memory... is it something to do with that?

[pam123]

k well i don't know what overclock is. I've noticed that sometimes the pc i'm on says i'm running on low virtual memory... is it something to do with that?

Over clock is to take a lower spec'ed, unlocked cpu and run it at the speed of a higher spec'ed and more expensive cpu.
Getting more speed, say 6000+ speed out of a 5200+ cpu, out of a less expensive processor.
AMD sells unlocked processors for that reason but that should be your second project not your first.
It's got nothing to do with virtual memory which is the space on the hard drive the operating system uses in addition to physical ram : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_memory

[cillik]

ok i think i got the very very basic of what you mean, thx for the link to virtual memory also. i'm going to see if i can try to put together a build, price it out and hopefully i get lucky the first time and get it all right. ^^'

[cillik]

Here's what i put together for a build, it's 743.92 from the prices they listed, no shipping and handling or taxes (not sure what they would be at). 4 of the parts (momory, case, Optical, and keyboard/mouse) are from the build pam123 posted, the rest is what was cheap, had decent reviews and if i'm thinking straight, what i need.


Monitor : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254018 159.99

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820134586 $79.99

Case/power supply : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129024 $89.99 (rebate)

Video: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131075 $199.99

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813188023 $49.99 (rebate)

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103194 $99.99

Keyboard/Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126017 $13.99

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836113016 $49.99

Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106057 32.99

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056 $89.99

[pam123]

You cannot buy an Intel Motherboard for an AMD processor.


If you buy that processor you must buy an AMd motherboard and an after market heatsink/fan to go with it and a tube of Arctic Silver.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200036
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

[cillik]

Theres a revised list, which will be probably be around $950-$1000 after all the costs:


Monitor : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254018 159.99

Memory: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134586 $79.99

Case/power supply : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129024 $89.99 (rebate)

Video: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131075 $199.99

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Store/Category.aspx?Category=20&name=Motherboards $84.99

Processor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103194 $99.99

fan: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200036 $14.99

Artic Silver: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007 $5.99

Keyboard/Mouse: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126017 $13.99

Speakers: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16836113016 $49.99

Optical Drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106057 32.99

OS: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116056 $89.99

[pam123]

The problem is with newegg's site, not you.
I"m getting 404 errors and being sent to wrong pages.
I can check back later and you may need to do so for your links as well.

What I can get to shows me that you're buying an open box motherboard.
No.
That's a gamble for someone far more experienced then you are.
It means that the board was returned and put back on the shelf,
There may no problem, there may be a minor problem but it's like gambling with the foundation of a house.
It's just a bad way to save money.

Also you haven't checked the board's specs for memory compatibility.

[cillik]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128075
it was that motherboard i think, didn't know it was open box though Oo, 159.99, lol i'm over budget now ><

Edit: Ya i'm getting 404 errors when i click the links too.

[Alaron]

It is an issue with the forum software. You cannot simply highlight and copy/paste, because the board shortens long URLs. Instead, right click on them and choose "Copy Shortcut". I fixed your links above. :)

[cillik]

k thx, i'll have to remember that.

[pam123]

OK, it's your cash.
Give us your update for the computer.

[cillik]

well now i'm kinda stuck, i wanted to build that comp, but now theres a special at Staples in the city next to me (30 mins, i live in a little town) and that comp is advertised as:
HP Pavilion Desktop PC Bundle
Intel Core 2 dou Processor E4500
3 GB DDR-2 SD RAM
500 GB hard drive
multi dvd with Lscribe

it's about $250 cheaper than the build i had posted, and thats without any S+H. I'm probably gonna buy that comp over the build, better price mostly, but i was wondering if maybe that was better or not. I think it is but i also barely know the parts of a PC.

[Masaki 7-11]

Most store bought computers are horrible for gaming since most either come with a low end video card, or an integrated one, both of which won't work well with games. If you wanted to upgrade the video card of a store bought computer, then you would void the warranty. Including peripherals, monitor and operating system, it's possible to make a computer for a little as $500 or $600 for gaming. If you want to get a good build, it's usually best to build it yourself since you get much more performance for your money. Let us know what kind of budget would be ideal for you and we'll help you figure out the parts.

[pam123]

Take a deep breath.

Begin again, I did.

[Cricket]

well now i'm kinda stuck, i wanted to build that comp, but now theres a special at Staples in the city next to me (30 mins, i live in a little town) and that comp is advertised as:
HP Pavilion Desktop PC Bundle
Intel Core 2 dou Processor E4500
3 GB DDR-2 SD RAM
500 GB hard drive
multi dvd with Lscribe

it's about $250 cheaper than the build i had posted, and thats without any S+H. I'm probably gonna buy that comp over the build, better price mostly, but i was wondering if maybe that was better or not. I think it is but i also barely know the parts of a PC.A computer like this is fine for most casual computer users who don't play the latest games, but it'll be painful to use as a dedicated gaming computer. Even if it does cost more you're much better off building your own computer geared toward gaming...you'll be much, much happier if you do.

:) Cricket

[cillik]

Ok then i should still build my own comp, i'm going to try cutting down on some of the costs though, instead of just looking at new egg i'm going to see how much it'll cost at the few (two lol) stores within 150 miles (middle of no where lmao). I'll try finding this out, and buy which is cheaper. Also to help cut down i'm probably going to get just a normal monitor, i'm not so dedicated a gamer that it'll bother me... to much.

[pam123]

Post the parts here, we can tell you what works.

[cillik]

I won't be building this comp for about another month, maybe 2. I hit a 3 deer last night and wrote off my truck so i'm using the money i was gonna use for the comp to finally fix my civic. thx for the help, i'll post my build when i get everything back to normal