new build- economy

[Jerry1]

Dear Friends,

This is my first build, so I am going for ease of build, power for general office applications, internet browsing, some MP3 files to disc recording' , movie playing. Thinking about upgrading in the future to an HDTV card. I would also like to install a version of Linux rather than Windows. I run a chess engine called Schredder 3 which is a lower end chess software. I chose a case with pws because of the brand and its one less item to install, right? Cost is an issue, but I want this to be a reliable system.
I want to use onboard sound and video for now. Any ideas? suggestions? Thanks.

* Antec NSK6580 Black/ Silver 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX
Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail
*
*Model #:* NSK6580
*Item #:* N82E16811129033
*$119.95* -$10.00 Instant *$109.95*

* GIGABYTE GA-M57SLI-S4 AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD
Motherboard - Retail
*
*Model #:* GA-M57SLI-S4
*Item #:* N82E16813128014
/
*$89.99* *$89.99*

* AMD Athlon 64 LE-1620 2.4GHz Socket AM2 45W Single-Core Processor
Model ADH1620DHBOX - Retail
*
*Model #:* ADH1620DHBOX
*Item #:* N82E16819103198
*$46.99* *$46.99*

* CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail
*
*Model #:* TWIN2X2048-6400
*Item #:* N82E16820145590
*$53.00* *$53.00*

* Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard
Drive - OEM
*
*Model #:* WD800JD
*Item #:* N82E16822135106

*$41.99* *$41.99*

* ASUS Black SATA DVD-ROM Drive Model DVD-E616A3T - Retail
*
*Model #:* DVD-E616A3T
*Item #:* N82E16827135143
*$20.99* *$20.99*
*Subtotal:* *$362.91*

[pam123]

Consider this instead of SLI board you've picked if you want on board video and the option of upgrading later : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130068

It would probably be a good idea to get a larger hard drive, you'll find that you fill it up fast.

A DVD burner would only run you about $10 more then the rom drive you've picked.
Unless you're certain you 'll never need to copy files, which is unlikely, it's a better choice.

[Jerry1]

Originally Posted by pam123 Consider this instead of SLI board you've picked if you want on board video and the option of upgrading later : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813130068 It would probably be a good idea to get a larger hard drive, you'll find that you fill it up fast. A DVD burner would only run you about $10 more then the rom drive you've picked. Unless you're certain you 'll never need to copy files, which is unlikely, it's a better choice.

Dear Pam123,

Very helpful comments-- a beginner's mistake! The MSI board has good reviews on video quality, Linux compatibility, and cost. Upgrading potential too! It appears a better choice than the comparable GigaByte product. I will check the specs of the drive again--thought it does burn to CD--but a DVD burner is more the standard today right? Thanks again

[pam123]

The Asus DVD-ROM drive you picked is playback only (ROM - read only memory ).
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827135143

You need to specifically buy a burner and we like Lite-On : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072

[12twelve12]

Just did a budget build yesterday and used this motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128090

It's very popular right now, thus currently out of stock, but Newegg had been getting more of them about every 3 or 4 days it seems. Best on board video out there right now with a ATI HD 3200. The neat thing about it is that it has Hybrid Crossfire and a available PCI-E 2.0 slot so if you decide you want even more video power later you can stick a HD 3450 card in there and it will work in Crossfire mode with the on board video.

The build yesterday was the first time I used a Gigabyte board and it was the smoothest build for me to date. Fantastic motherboard!

EDIT: Forgot to mention that the mobo's on board video has HDMI out! (as well as DVI & D-Sub) So right now the new build is hooked up to a 20" LCD HDTV via HDMI cable.

[Khalil]

With all due respect to Pam123. I would stay away from MSI products, there support does not exist. Buy Asus or Abit if you want support. That single core CPU is nice but for $13 more you can get this CPU and have dual core http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103774

[mattaggie]

definately spend a few extra dollars for an AMD Athalon 64 X 2 and a bigger hard drive.

[Jerry1]

Dear Friends,

Thanks to all of you who pointed out serious oversight on my choice of mobo and drive. Amy123 made the suggestion for this choice of mobo-has good reviews, and Linux compatibility. The upgrade to dual-core was made to get better speeds with multi-tasking-not something I do that much of right now-price just $10 extra And yes for a few dollars more, a DVD burner too. I like the reviews about the choice of hard drive—very quiet—which is important. Anymore ideas? suggestions? Am I missing a crucial part? Thanks.

* Antec NSK6580 Black/ Silver 0.8mm cold-rolled steel construction ATX
Mid Tower Computer Case 430W Power Supply - Retail
*
*Model #:* NSK6580
*Item #:* N82E16811129033
*$119.95* -$10.00 Instant *$109.95*

MSI K9N6SGM-V AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Model #: K9N6SGM-V
Item #: N82E16813130068
$52.99 -$5.00 Instant $47.99

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor Model ADO4000DDBOX - Retail
Model #: ADO4000DDBOX
Item #: N82E16819103774
59.99 -$4.00 Instant $55.99

* CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail
*
*Model #:* TWIN2X2048-6400
*Item #:* N82E16820145590
*$53.00* rebate

* Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard
Drive - OEM
*
*Model #:* WD800JD
*Item #:* N82E16822135106
*$41.99*

SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B - OEM
Model #: SH-S203B
$29.99 -$3.00 Instant $26.99
*Subtotal:* *$334.91*

[Masaki 7-11]

Take a look at this motherboard, it is if better quality than the one you listed and costs about the same: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131249, this motherboard also has good linux support.

I would also take a look at getting a 160GB hard drive of the same model you listed since it's only about $10 more expensive.

If you plan on getting a video card in the future, look for Nvidia products since they have better driver support for linux than ATI.

[Jerry1]

Thanks Masaki

I noticed that at the MSi site the references were to Nvidia and Linux. So you think the larger drive is as quiet as an 80 MB? I'll look in to this mojo recommendation

Originally Posted by Masaki 7-11 Take a look at this motherboard, it is if better quality than the one you listed and costs about the same: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131249, this motherboard also has good linux support. I would also take a look at getting a 160GB hard drive of the same model you listed since it's only about $10 more expensive. If you plan on getting a video card in the future, look for Nvidia products since they have better driver support for linux than ATI.

[Khalil]

160GB or 80GB makes no difference on the level of noise as long as they are made by the same company and are the same series. I found that the quietest Hard Drives are the WDs, then Seagate and finaly Hitachi. However I personaly prefer Seagate over the others.

[Jerry1]

Thanks Khalil I'll go with the bigger drive either seagate or WD

[Jerry1]

Here is the system I purchased through Newegg. The Mobo was changed on a recommendation by Masaki 7-11. I looked up the compatibility at the AMD site and they mentioned a better compatibility with the ASUS M2N series than the original MSI choice, especially the "cool and quiet" feature. The ASUS website is user friendly, and I had no trouble finding downloads of Linux bios and drivers. The seagate users emphasized quiet so I went with that—note bigger drive. I'll make an update as the build proceeds. Thanks for the many helpful suggestions. This is an interesting concept.

Antec NSK6580 case with 430W Power Supply
ASUS M2N-MX SE Plus AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 6100 Micro ATX AMD
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4000+ Brisbane 2.1GHz Socket AM2 65W Dual-Core Processor
CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 2048-6400
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3160815AS 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-S203B -
NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive
total cost: $361.89