1st build component list ideas, will this work?

[peterd]

Hi,
Thanks to your help here. I'm learning a lot. Also very quick responses, I can't believe it. I think I would like to build my first computer. The main reason is because I like a lot of fps type games and what I have now isn't going to keep up. I also do some multitrack recording with a soundcard that I already have and use software for mixing and editting, and and am currently using two soundcards, one for recording, and one for games (compatibilty problems with the recording one). I'll probably keep my old computer for maybe playing multiplayer games with a friend here in the house (or at least try, it sounds fun), the computers will be right next to each other for that I would suppose. Maybe I can use it as extra storage for some audio files if I get both computers hooked up together by ethernet? I have a cdrw on my old computer and thought I could transfer finished songs from the new computer to the old and use the old one as storage and burning the songs to cdr. Would this be advised, or would it be best to keep the audio files with the computer that I am recording to? Or I could just put the cdrw from the old computer to the new, I don't know. Anyway, here is my thinking so far for components:

case: enlight en-7237az 340w (oem) $60
extra fan: 80x80x25 sunon (this goes in the back of the case I believe) $5
motherboard: epox ep-8kha+ (retail) $105
video card: gainward geforce2 Ti 500xp 4ns (retail) $139
processor: amd 1600+ xp (oem) $128
hard drive: IBM deskstar 40GB 7200rpm 60gxp (oem) $95
modem: creative modem blaster (oem) $18
heatsink/fan: alpha pal8045u $47
floppy: sony (oem) $9
arctic silver II $6
a good set of nerves for when I start building: $?

With shipping from newegg.com it comes to $658

I'll get cdrom (52X) another soundcard (maybe soundblaster live value or something) and two network cards (maybe dlink 530tx and crossover cable) from somewhere else (newegg out of them) and then memory from crucial.
512 MB pc2100 ddr (two sticks) for about $60

If I am missing something please let me know. Also any suggestions on improving it. I'm pretty sure everything is compatible, but I'm so new at this I may be way off. I would imagine that the video card would be good enough for the games coming out soon, and the option to overclock it sounds good too, in case it needs to be faster.
Will I need any cables or do they usually come with the what I might be purchasing? I will do more research on monitors. Its pretty fun sitting at this forum and just reading posts and learning.

Well, thanks again for any input.
Pete
Oh, can I use the windows 98se cd that I still have for the os?

[fatboyjim]

Your cables will come with the Motherboard (cables as in IDE, FDD and power)

All seems fine to me, you might want to check though that the mobo you want and the graphics card etc work well together

(Sometimes some mobos don't work properly with other peripherals like certain graphics/sound cards)

But as far as I know, it is all compatible



HTH, Thanks,

[Cricket]

Hi peterd,

Your parts list looks good, but you may want to replace that Creative Modem Blaster with an external serial modem (you don't want the ire of glc or reboot to come down on you :D ). PCI modems (winmodems) generally don't perform very well and are sometimes very troublesome. An external serial modem is a real hardware modem, are easy to set up, easily tranferred to another PC and will be well worth the extra money.

Check out this website to see what kind of issues EPoX motherboards are having currently: http://www.amdmb.com/vb/forumdisplay.php?forumid=9

Samsung makes good monitors that are very competitively priced.

:) Cricket

[Bobo23]

Everyone says external modems are better and I assumed it was because they don't use the processor to convert data, but what about internal non-win modems, they seem to be the same thing but internal, and still just as fast.

Tell me what you think.

[bosco]

& can you recommend a good external serial modem?
just collecting info for my next build.:)

[Cricket]

Hi again,

Either a USRobotics or Daimond SupraExpress 56K external serial modem would work fine. Don't get the USB models.

:) Cricket

[peterd]

Thanks everyone for your input. Since I'm in no real big hurry for a new computer, I'll keep on reviewing that epox motherboard. It sounds like some problems are occuring with it that may or may not have been fixed. Who knows. I'll just keep watching. Its funny because the problem they are getting with it (rebooting at start up) is sort of what I have been having with my abit be-6 for a couple of years. When I turn on the computer it starts but won't get the first beep and the monitor won't turn on. I hold the power button on for a few seconds, then wait 10 sec, then turn it on again and its fine. I'm just so used to it that I don't even try to fix it, and I wouldn't really know what I was doing if I tried, being such a beginner and all.
Thanks again. I think I'll keep on watching and learning for a while and see how things turn out with the board. I read good reviews, and some bad with that boot problem, so I'll watch.
Another question I just got is about onboard sound with motherboards. If it indicates it has onboard sound, does that mean it already has a soundcard built into the board and I don't need one? Sorry if its silly question, I guess I just don't know what that means, and if its ok to use other soundcards. I'm sure you can.
Also, I'll look into an external modem.
Pete

[fatboyjim]

Onboard sound means that it has a sound chip built onto the board which can be used

Sometimes this is quite good, sometimes it is appaling. Depending on your situation you may want to use your own sound card

You can change this in the BIOS (Press DEL at start - you know what I mean I'm sure :)) . It will all be in the manual which comes with the motherboard

External modems are better and probably only 10 quid more than an internal modem, just grab anything for a modem. To be honest I don't know the difference between a good and crappy one. (Would like to know please... :confused:;))



HTH, Thanks,

[Bobo23]

A lot of boards come with onboard sound and a few come with onboard video. For sure get your own video card.

I have a gateway 2000 G6-350mhz PII and it has onboard (also called integrated or fused) sound and video. The video isn't terrible though it is almost impossible to play games w/o slowdowns. The sound however is the worst thing i've ever heard. Every time a sound plays its all distorted, it comes out multiple times as well. Its like it keeps starting over and plays the very beginning of a sound like 10 times (Wel-wel-wel-wel-wel-welcome). There are other problems like the fact that it only has two ports (line out and microphone).

However I can't say they are all bad because of one case. I got a Intel D850GB for my P4 computer i'm in the process of building. It is the best board on the market right now (most stable, best processor capability) and it has onboard sound. I am hoping the onboard sound of that is good(i haven't used it yet) but if it isn't i'm gettin an Audigy. Some people think sound is the area to skimp, but I personally like sound alot and need it to be good.

Also get good speakers.

The modem thing is good, I got an internal PCI (nonwinmodem) for $10 on ebay! and it goes at 49.3kbps!! (its not broadband but its faster than my old modem (21kbps (this was 56k that just really sucked)).

Sorry for the long posts, i have a lot to say, and learn.

[wrelax]

It sounds like some problems are occuring with it that may or may not have been fixed. Who knows. I'll just keep watching. Its funny because the problem they are getting with it (rebooting at start up) is sort of what I have been having with my abit be-6 for a couple of years. When I turn on the computer it starts but won't get the first beep and the monitor won't turn on. I hold the power button on for a few seconds, then wait 10 sec, then turn it on again and its fine. I'm just so used to it that I don't even try to fix it, and I wouldn't really know what I was doing if I tried, being such a beginner and all.

I've seen that problem happen with some of my friends comp. It is most likely due to the fact that the power supply is either bad or is not giving enough power at start up. Each problem was solved w/ a better and more powerful PSU.

[Colb]

what happens if onboard video goes out? how do you disable it in bios if you can not see anything?

[fatboyjim]

You will only want to disable the on-board vid once your own video card is installed. If you were to disable it before installing your own vid, just put your own video card in

HTH, Thanks,

[whr2206]

looks good, you dont want to get too expensive, cause its your first build, I built an old celey back in Dec. it taught me everything I needed to know....go for It!

[Xayd]

That mobo has no video on board, only sound. The sound is "ok". If you're a gamer, the Creative Live series definitely has better surround sound. If you're not, it will probably be fine.

The on-board sound is basically the equivalent of a SoundBlaster 128.

[RayH]

Why buy a 52x CD ROM? A DVD ROM or another CD-RW will probably be almost just as cheap! As for WinModems, I've used my Diamond SupraMax for over three years and it works just fine. With microprocessors so fast these days, does it really make a significant difference if you have a hardware modem or WinModem? If you need that little bit of edge, you probably need a different type of internet connection, like cable or DSL!

[morriswindgate]

For a case, take a look at the ones at the site below. I am really impressed by the ones that they sell. They are heavy weight with all rolled edges and well finished. They have the brass screw in motherboard supports and enough screws to do two computers. The power supplies are P4/AMD approved with long heavy wire gauge leads (7 - 12 volt plugs). The cases include an extra case fan and if you want you can get one with front USB (2), Sound card Plugs, Volume Control, Game Port,and PS2 Mouse port. And all this in a 7 bay case for $45 + $17 Shipping. Also Great looks

http://electroseller.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=SFNT&Store_Code=electroseller

[peterd]

Hey your right, dvd/cdrom drive from lite-on $50. 16X dvd and 48X cdrom. Just about $20 more than a low cost cdrom. If I were playing games, would the 48X speed make any difference than to a 52X speed cdrom? I wouldn't think so, but just thought I'd ask.
Thanks again for the input. I am using a soundblaster 16 pci soundcard now with my P3 500Mhz computer and it sounds ok to me through my receiver and speakers. I guess it would be about the same or better as the one in the motherboard. So maybe I could just find out if I get it running.
Boy, I've been reading a lot about those epox 8KHA+ boards on the amd site. Its kind of making me wonder how long I should wait until getting one. Its funny, I'm reading their forum everyday waiting for someone to say, "Ok everythings fine now, you can buy one of these boards now."
If I were to make a purchase with newegg.com, can I specify an epox 8KHA+ motherboard with an N+ bios? That is what I've been reading, that boards with this N+ bios chip usually won't have the problems, and that they are really good boards for gaming.

[fatboyjim]

48 and 52 speed wouldn't make any difference when playing games, only a TINY difference (I would think) when copying CDs from it and INSTALLING the games

But the difference I imagine would be un-noticable (nearly)


My mobo has PCI128 sound on-board and its great, (well, I'm getting an SBLive soon with nice speakers with any luck) but If I didn't want to listen to music a lot and play games with top-grade sound then 128 is fine!


HTH,

[Xayd]

No, they won't flash the bios for you, but you can do it yourself after the machine is up and running, only takes about 5 minutes.

Agreed on the DVD drive. You'd pay 50 dollars for a decent CDROM, when a Pioneer 16x DVD drive is only 15 dollars more? No point in it, get the DVD.

[fatboyjim]

Don't be frightened about flashing the BIOS either, you may have heard horror stories about people's computers being nothing more than an expensive paperweight after flashing incorrectly

But if you get the patch from the manufacturers website and don't have a power cut whilst flashing you'll be fine

If you do it incorrectly you're still able to recover the BIOS and the PC will work again. I've flashed mine about 20 times now, no problems


HTH Thanks,

[glc]

Winmodems generally work OK in a powerful machine for general websurfing etc. but fall on their face in games. You will almost always get better pings and less latency with a hardware modem. Hardware modems are a lot easier to set up properly because they do not need a full driver package, just a simple .inf file.