Budget Build Advice Please

[mk79x]

I am building a computer
These are the components i have picked out so far

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16813138264

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16819103535

Ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145440

Case
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16811133174

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/product/Produc...82E16817153023

Cd Rom
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106014

Hard Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148105

Heatsink/Fan
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185125

Mouse/Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823126152

Videocard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814133154

Total with Shipping: $551.87

Are any of these NOT GOOD?
And are they all compatible?


Also....does anyone know if newegg's "Buy now pay later" allows you to pay in monthly installments? And if so, how much do you think i would have to pay each month for 550 dollars?

[freakitchen]

That's a decent starting point, my suggestions would be as follows.

1. If you're getting a video card, then there's no need for a motherboard with on-board video. I'd get the ASUS A8N5X. Higer quality than the Biostar, too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131569

2. The power supply won't be suitable for a PCI-Express build, since its not ATX2 spec. I'd recommend this unit as a quality replacement.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817104954

3. No need for an aftermarket heatsink/fan. Your CPU comes with a perfectly adequate one, and not using it would invalidate your warrenty.

4. Are you wanting to play games with this system? If so, then you'll need to upgrade the video card - the 6600 won't cut it. Let us know what you want this system to do, and we can advise further here.

Can't help with the Finance question.

FK

Edit: You'll also need an operating system. Windows XP Home the default in most cases

[jayb1234]

Take a look at the Antec Sonata II, 75 bucks after rebate and comes with a high quality 450W PSU.

[blue60007]

I'm no finance expert - but I know that you really shouldn't be buying stuff you don't have the money for right now - and getting into debt, etc....I would wait till you have money to buy everything at once. I'd much rather pay it all at once and get it over with - but that's just me. Try contacting Newegg support - they'll be glad ot answer your questions.

[bill_bright]

I second the suggestion for the Antec Sonata II case. I have two and can attest to their worthiness. It supports an additional 120mm fan up front (which I recommend you get), has side mounted drive bays (love them) and a very effective washable air filter. Finally, it is hard to beat Antec PSUs.

I agree also with the suggestion to drop the after market HSF from your list - for now anyway. However, changing the HSF will not void the warranty. If you do change or remove the HSF, be sure to clean the mating surfaces thoroughly and apply new thermal compound, such as Arctic Silver 5.

As FK mentioned, you need an OS - make sure you buy it with your HW so you can save a few bucks getting the OEM version.

I recommend you add a round EIDE cable for your DVD to replace the flat, airflow blocking ribbon cable that will come with your drive. Also, although many will disagree, I think you should add a floppy drive. They are cheap, and when you need one, you need one. And certainly, adding 3rd party drivers during Windows install is a time you may need one.

Concerning your video card - try to determine your video needs 2 or 3 years down the road in terms of monitor support. The card you listed has both DVI and D-Sub (standard VGA) support. That's fine if you have one LCD w/DVI and/or a LCD w/o DVI or a CRT. BUT, if in a couple years, you find you may want to run dual-display (once you do, you will never go back to a single monitor) with two upper-end LCD monitors, you will need a card that features two DVI connectors. Note you can run a standard VGA LCD or CRT from a DVI card with the supplied adapter that comes with DVI graphics cards.

Although I admit Newegg is one of my favorite suppliers, check out ChiefValue, MWave, ZipZoomFly, and Monarch Computer Systems too. Note that MWave and Monarch Computers have great motherboard bundle offerings that may save you a few bucks. MWave motherboard bundle wizard is especially nice at determining which RAM or CPU is compatible with which motherboard. And for only $9 more they will mount the RAM and CPU and test them. This is a good warm fuzzy at a cheap price - not only do you know from the wizard which components work together, but if you opt for the testing, you know that your particular components work, and work together. Something to thing about.

[ryan126]

Originally Posted by Freakitchen That's a decent starting point, my suggestions would be as follows. 4. Are you wanting to play games with this system? If so, then you'll need to upgrade the video card - the 6600 won't cut it. Let us know what you want this system to do, and we can advise further here.

I use a 6600 pci-e, and I must say it performs fairly well. Though yes, you may want to invest in something better.

[bill_bright]

I think it depends on the 6600 model - a search on NewEgg shows 35 nVidia 6600 models, with core clock speeds ranging from 300MHz to 400 MHz, Memory clock from 500MHz to 800MHz and video RAM from 128Mb DDR to 512Mb GDDR2 - priced from $65.99 (excluding the open box sales) to $129.99 (new).

[blue60007]

A 6600GT is a decent gamer (the minimum I'd recommend for a gaming rig), but it is showing it's age. A vanilla 6600 isn't going to be much of a gamer.

[bill_bright]

I have a XFX GF6600 GT - 256 MB DDR 8X AGP Dual DVI on one of my systems and I like it a lot. I am not a serious gamer but I do run two LCD DVI monitors at 1280X1024 with it and have no complaints.

[glc]

Bill:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/0,,3715_135..._11125,00.html

This Limited Warranty shall be null and void if the AMD microprocessor which is the subject of this Limited Warranty is used with any heatsink/fan other than the one provided herewith.

[bill_bright]

I stand corrected. Thanks for the link.

So the moral of the story, if you replace the HSF, keep the OEM HSF and replace it if you have to RMA the CPU!

[mk79x]

Operating System - Don't need already got
Duel Monitors - Have no use for them
Did i mention that this is a budget build?

Video Card - I wanted to get the 6600 GT but it brought my cost up a litle higher than i wanted. With a $$$550 budget i can't get a really good video card. I don't expect to be able to play Oblivion on this budget but i know that the video card should handle things like guild wars and WOW. Only game i play anyway is Diablo 2 and Knight Online.

Only thing i do with my computer is play those games and Web Development

[bill_bright]

There's absolutely nothing wrong with a budget build - but that does not mean to cut yourself off from future expansion/upgrades.

As far as having no use for dual monitors - that's one of those things that once you have them (and get used to them) you wonder how you ever lived without them!

As far as the OS - make sure you are authorized to move it to this new machine. If that copy came as an OEM copy with another computer, such as a Dell, then you can't use it. If you bought it retail for another machine, at the very least, you must remove it from that other machine.

[mk79x]

ok i switched a few things around
Now i have the following

Athlon 64 3200+ Venic 939 socket
Asus A8N5X Motherboard
Antec Sonata II Case/PSU
Corsair Value Select Duel channel 1 gig 2x 512 ram
Saphire radeon X850XT 256Meg 256-bit 16 pipeline Video card
Seagate Barracuda 160GIG 7200 RPM Sata 3Gb/s HDD
Lite-ON CD/DVD/ Burner Combo
Logitech Mouse/Keyboard

Thats all i think
Ihave a dell 17 inch lcd flatscreen monitor.....wil that work with this video card
Don't need an OS I already have that.
Still worried about not having an extra heatsink.
And i am wondering if the case will be cool enough for all this cuz i heard the video card is LOUD and Hot

If i gotta remove the retail OS from this machine thats fine cuz i plan on letting this collect dust anyway when i get my new PC Up

[freakitchen]

Don't be worried about not using an aftermarket heatsink. The one bundled with the processor is perfectly adequate.

The Sonata II case runs cool and quiet, with its 120mm fan in the back, and the option to purchase an intake fan for the front of the case.

Your new parts list looks good to me. If your current OS is a retail version, then you can legally use it with your new computer, as long as you remove it from your current machine.

FK

[Mr.Ferrari]

Originally Posted by mk79x And i am wondering if the case will be cool enough for all this cuz i heard the video card is LOUD and Hot If i gotta remove the retail OS from this machine thats fine cuz i plan on letting this collect dust anyway when i get my new PC Up

I used to own that card. And yes its a hot running card, but I wouldnt worry too much as its a blower designed to shove the hot air outside your case. And it usually takes care of the fan speed. It usually isnt too loud on idle. But may become loud when gaming. But usually then you have headphones or speakers blastin so I dont think you should have much of an issue.
But truely nowadays gpu's are designed to run hot. You really shouldnt be worried. Its was one of the most powerful pcie cards on the market back then. You really wont be dissapointed as far as performance goes.

[ryan126]

The Asus A8N5X Motherboard has 4 SATA 1.5gb/s connectors, that is a SATA 3.0gb/s hard drive. I'm not sure if you can use SATA300 hard drives on SATA150 connectors, then again, I may be wrong.

[Alaron]

Ryan, you can use SATA 3Gbs drives on 1.5Gb/s ports no problem. They are backwards compatible.

[ryan126]

Good to hear, actually, I have seen them to be cheaper.

[bill_bright]

Back to the AMD warranty and 3rd party heatsinks. Note the above link ONLY applies to PIB (processor in box) or retail versions of the processor. If you buy an OEM version of the CPU, no HSF comes with it. Therefore, you can legally use a 3rd party HSF. However, do note that OEM versions are not covered by AMD anyway - you must go through the seller. This includes CPUs that come in pre-built systems from makers such as Dell, Compaq and the like. See here for details.

[glc]

Yep. In fact, if you buy an OEM processor from Tiger Direct, you have NO warranty or exchange privileges unless you buy a compatible HSF from THEM on the SAME order.

However, let's keep this whole thing in context. The processor in the link in the very first post in this thread is a PIB.