New Build

[supermannnnnnn]

This came from a thread about getting a laptop, but i decided not to:


ok, it seems i gotta hold off some time before i buy that laptop. I've been reading around this site as well as talking to friends, and they point me to a different option: making my own computer from scratch. Heck, i guess its a good opportunity to try something new!
Thanks everyone for the advice on laptops, i really find the advice useful even though i'm not getting a laptop yet.

I've scraped some parts together from newegg, this computer will do about the same things ive wanted for my laptop to do. Price: less than 600 dollars

DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136119

Case w/ PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811190102

HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231098

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131187

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115014


Windows XP home

Ill appreciate any input on the parts. I'm content with onboard video and sound since im a very light gamer.
Also, the case i saw looks kinda funny with the power supply in the front like that, is that bad?
Ive heard that the G33 & P35 chipsets are "future-proof" or something, is there a better choice than the one i picked out? I would like my computer to be upgradeable.
I'm willing to spend more than 600 dollars if necessary.


Thanks a lot

[Stuey]

Links are broken.

Since I might not be able to respond after you fix the links, I'll say this: do not cheap out on the case and PSU. If you want a case w/ a PSU look at Antec cases, and the Sonata II is at a great price point these days since a new release (the III) came out. For a cheap but sturdy case, there's the CoolerMaster Centurion series.

You can also check out Antec or Fortran PSUs. There's a sticky list of reliable PSUs in the hardware category.

Good luck!

Also, if you're a light gamer, don't worry too much about your comp being future proof. Generally, most people add hard drives, ram, optical drives, video cards to their rig. Much fewer people upgrade their CPUs. So as long as it's a current chipset, don't worry too much about upgradeability.

If you want to game, then you should strongly consider a dedicated card. I mean STRONGLY consider it. You don't need a $400 card; a $150-$200 midlevel card will provide fantastic performance for a few years to come.

[Alaron]

Fixed the links.

[LeftyAce]

Definitely get a better powersupply. Athena tech isn't even on our good/bad list. Take a look at the list: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195
and pick out something from there. 450 watts is plenty if you're sticking with onboard video, and should handle a mild video card upgrade if you decide to do that later.
Keep the case if you like it, but a bad powersupply can cause instability and fry other components if/when it dies.

That motherboard is solid, as is the processor given your proposed use and budget.
The ram you listed is way overkill. Since you're not overclocking, some ValueSelect ddr2 667 ram is fine: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098

I'd go for a seagate harddrive. This one's a little more expensive, but they're quite reliable and come with a 5 year warranty: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148144

And lastly, the newer motherboards have issues with IDE drives, so we suggest going for a SATA dvd drive. Lite on are good quality, and come with burning software: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

[supermannnnnnn]

Thanks everyone for the input

Here are the things I changed from the original setup:

DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098

Can anyone answer my question about the athenatech case? The PSU is in the front of the case, which looks different. Does that mess up the cooling of the case, or affect performance?

EDIT: Also, my mobo says the memory standard is DDR2 800 while the corsair ram you suggested is ddr2 667. Is that compatible?

Thanks for your help.

[supermannnnnnn]

i switched to a different HD too:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

also, is a floppy drive neccessary?

[LeftyAce]

The psu in the front should be no problem. It vents out of the front of the case.

The ram is compatible with that motherboard. The mobo supports up to DDR2 800, as far as I know.

I've been without a floppy for a year now, and haven't needed it. If you have a pressing need for one in the future, they're really cheap, and pretty easy to add.

[Katreat]

Power supply in front may not matter but I am not sure if that is just an extension cord or part of the PSU. If just an extension I guess any PSU would work, but if the PSU comes with a foot long cable attached then if might be hard to replace it?

Personally, if you do any kind of gaming I would recommend a video card. You can find some nice ones for under $100. Games put a big strain on the system when they dont have a dedicated video card. If you go that way try to get one with its own memory so it does not use system rams while playing.

Kat

[supermannnnnnn]

thanks for the advice about a video card, it never occurred to me to get a video card under 100 dollars so thanks!

How is this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102098

Also, if i already have an OEM XP home edition that was installed on an older computer, can i use that for this computer legally?

[LeftyAce]

That card will do casual gaming much better than onboard video. And the price is pretty good, too :-)

I don't think you can re-use your XP install if it's OEM. If it's a Dell or Gateway disc, it won't load except with the original motherboard, and otherwise I think only the Retail versions are legally transferable. OEM XP Home is $90 at newegg....

[supermannnnnnn]

Oh well, i guess 90 bucks is fine for XP home.

REVISED LIST:

DVD drive: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057

Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811190102

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817153023

HD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148140

RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145098

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131187

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115014

Video Card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102098

[supermannnnnnn]

Ordering the parts, hope everything works out ok.

[Alaron]

Everything is fine except for the PSU. That Thermaltake is not an ATX 2.0 unit and does not have dual 12V rails. New builds that use PCI-E require this. I'd put in another order for this instead (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...fortron%2b450w) and then send back the Thermaltake.

[supermannnnnnn]

wow, you caught me just in time, i was just getting my dad's credit card. How's this PSU (its cheaper, heh): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189005

THanks so much, it would have been a hassle to order another, and return once i get it

[Alaron]

Glad we caught it. That XClio is fine.

[supermannnnnnn]

OK, i just got my parts yesterday and put everything together. (At least thats what i think)

I ddin't start it up yet because i still have a couple of questions. THe power supply has a 6-pin PCI-E connecter, which i'm quessing is for the video card in the PCI-E slot. HOwever, i can't really find a place that fits it. Does that mean i don't need it, or have i overlooked it?

Another thing, there are 3 fan connectors on the motherboard. I know that one of them is definitely the CPU fan/heatsink, and i plugged it in. But the manual labels the other two as "chassis fan" and "power fan." What do i plug in each?

THanks for all your help.

[LeftyAce]

The pci Express power plug fits into your video card, IF you have a vid card that requires the extra power. Based on the newegg pictures, your card doesn't require such a plug.

The other two fan headers are for a case fan (chassis) and the rpm monitor on your powersupply fan. I wouldn't plug anything into those two fan headers. If you have a case fan (or more than 1) plug it directly into the powersupply molex connectors. Using the motherboard header can put undue strain on the motherboard power circuit.

[supermannnnnnn]

Thanks leftyace for clearing everything up. Unfortunately, my chassis fan has no molex connectors, so i just put it in the mobo. I've been running it for a while now, and I'm very happy with it

Does anybody have suggestions for case fans? My case comes with one 120 mm in the back, and thats it.

Also, my HD seems to make clicking noises. Its not unbearably loud, since i can't hear it when i'm not really paying attention, but is it normal? (it may just be because no other component makes noise at all, really quiet!)

Thanks guys for helping me out. I really would have had a more worrisome build without you guys.

[Chazell29]

Originally Posted by supermannnnnnn Thanks leftyace for clearing everything up. Unfortunately, my chassis fan has no molex connectors, so i just put it in the mobo. I've been running it for a while now, and I'm very happy with it Does anybody have suggestions for case fans? My case comes with one 120 mm in the back, and thats it. Also, my HD seems to make clicking noises. Its not unbearably loud, since i can't hear it when i'm not really paying attention, but is it normal? (it may just be because no other component makes noise at all, really quiet!) Thanks guys for helping me out. I really would have had a more worrisome build without you guys.

You should probably put another 120mm fan either on the side of your case (if you can) or in the front. The rear fan is usually an exhaust fan, so you'll want an intake fan too. Plus you shoul dhave 2 fans at least.

[supermannnnnnn]

My computer has been working fine, but I guess i'm worried that im not getting the optimal performance in a sense out of my computer. I don't mean gaming-wise, but start-up wise. I was under the impression that the faster the computer, the faster the startup time. Yet, my new computer's startup takes nearly a minute and a half, which is a negligible difference from my 4 year old computer. Is this lengthy startup time normal?

when i mean startup, i start counting from the windows bootup screen ( THe black screen with the green bar) till everything is loaded up and I'm able to work on my computer.

[Alaron]

Fire up the Run box and type 'msconfig' no quotes. Click on the startup tab and uncheck anything you don't absolutely need when the computer boots. A lot of programs tend to add things here and slow down your boot time unnecessarily.