Building a PC for College

[tsho44]

Hey all

I have been contemplating on what to do for college. I was just going to get a laptop from dell but have always wanted to build my own PC. Anways... Here I am, asking you what to build. I have no idea where to start. I love powerful computers, and of course want to build one, with the idea of possibly gaming a little? After I build, I am probably going to get a little netbook (taking notes, simple word processing) I think this is a great idea.

My range is up to $800usd which is including Monitor, mouse and keyboard.

Again, thanks a lot!

-TSHO

edit: configured on newegg
opt. drive: LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM
case: Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
hd: Western Digital Caviar SE WD3200AAJS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM
gpu: EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
ram: G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
psu: Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7400 - Retail
monitor: ASUS VW224U Black 22" 2ms(GTG) Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
netbook: ASUS Eee PC EPC1000HE-BLK005X Fine Ebony Intel Atom N280(1.66GHz) 10.0" WSVGA 1GB Memory 160GB HDD Netbook - Retail

total: $1,157.91

[glc]

Looks good to me, but I'd get a WD Black drive instead of a SE. It's considerably faster.

[tsho44]

Alright, any other suggestions? Am I going to have trouble setting all of this up?

[Alaron]

Just take your time and ask questions here. You'll be set in no time. We recommend using this procedure to start: PROBLEMS with a NEW BUILD? Try This!! so you know things are working properly before you get everything loaded into the case. Saves you a lot of headache if there is any issue.

[tsho44]

I'm looking to order tonight. Here is what I have changed in my setup.

Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Wolfdale 2.8GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80571E7400 - Retail
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail
EVGA 512-P3-1150-TR GeForce GTS 250 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Hard Drive - OEM Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model GH22NS30 - OEM

If you guys have any suggestions on this one, post em
Also, would an asus mobo be better?

Monitor (around 22")?
Mouse and keyboard? (wireless?)
decent cheap speakers?

[Khalil]

I recommend you go with an Asus motherboard, I like Gigabyte but hate how inconsistent their customer support and RMA system is, sometimes to RMA a motherboard it is like pulling teeth.
Unless you are in love with Nvidia ATI is the way to go. Any 4550 or higher model will do nicely for you.
Are you still going with the Sonata case with the 500W?

[tsho44]

Originally Posted by Khalil I recommend you go with an Asus motherboard, I like Gigabyte but hate how inconsistent their customer support and RMA system is, sometimes to RMA a motherboard it is like pulling teeth. Unless you are in love with Nvidia ATI is the way to go. Any 4550 or higher model will do nicely for you. Are you still going with the Sonata case with the 500W?

Can you link me up?
I was planning on it, although it would be cool to have some led's I'm not willing to dish out more than what that case I already have though.

[Khalil]

No, the case you picked is great quality and has a nice power supply, I was not suggesting you get something different.
Here is the Motherboard I recommend.
Video Card

[tsho44]

You are a lot of help. Thanks.

Any keyboard and mice you recommend? Monitor? Speakers?
Should I just go with a 3.0 ghz intel?

[Khalil]

There is a great deal right now on an awesome Asus Monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236050
Can you afford the E8500? If you can, it is definitely a plus but the E7400 is a very capable processor.
Speakers, keyboards and mice are a personal preference.

[tsho44]

Originally Posted by Khalil There is a great deal right now on an awesome Asus Monitor http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236050 Can you afford the E8500? If you can, it is definitely a plus but the E7400 is a very capable processor. Speakers, keyboards and mice are a personal preference.

I think I am going to go with an E8500

[tsho44]

Alright, I didn't pull the trigger a few weeks back. I have made a few changes, and now the video card I was gonna buy is sold out, I'd like to get this thing ordered. Anways..... the video card I have here, is it alright? There is now reviews at all?

SAPPHIRE 100245DP Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Western Digital Caviar Black WD6401AALS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive - OEM
ASUS VH226H Black 21.5" 2ms(GTG) HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-8500CL5D-4GBPK - Retail
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail

I've gotta add a drive yet.


EDIT: Is a Sapphire 4830 a decent video card?

[tsho44]

Any feedback before the end of the night some deals are ending at midnight

[ryuk999]

the radeon 4850 seems like quite a capable graphics card, even if you decide to go a little heavy on the gaming.

[scuderia]

I'd recommend the 4770 over the 4850..

[tsho44]

Originally Posted by scuderia I'd recommend the 4770 over the 4850..

Any reason why?


Edit: Since I have never bought a dvd drive or HD, do I need to buy extra sata cables and power cables?

[Khalil]

Scud, sorry buddy I have to disagree. A 256 bit card will always be superior to a 128 bit card of the same generation.
I would stick to the 4850.
The motherboard you picked will come with 2 Sata cables and the power supply will provide enough power cables to run what you need.

[tsho44]

Originally Posted by Khalil Scud, sorry buddy I have to disagree. A 256 bit card will always be superior to a 128 bit card of the same generation. I would stick to the 4850. The motherboard you picked will come with 2 Sata cables and the power supply will provide enough power cables to run what you need.

Thanks a lot. I just can't figure out what keyboard and stuff I want.

[LeftyAce]

Keyboard and mouse are personal preference; you should head into a "real" store and see what feels good in your hand. Personally, I don't care much about my keyboard; running an old dell kb that came with a now retired computer, but I got a Razer mouse for gaming. Again, personal preference; there's no hardware compatibility or performance issues to consider.

[tsho44]

Originally Posted by LeftyAce Keyboard and mouse are personal preference; you should head into a "real" store and see what feels good in your hand. Personally, I don't care much about my keyboard; running an old dell kb that came with a now retired computer, but I got a Razer mouse for gaming. Again, personal preference; there's no hardware compatibility or performance issues to consider.

What is the difference between this board, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131295 and this one, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131299

there is a nice combo deal with the processor i want with the first mb

[shadowpr]

The number of pci-e slots, and the amount of ram it can take.

Look at your needs, and price and decide which would work better for you.

[tsho44]

Ordered.

I'm all nervous now. I guess I'll have to find a good guide.

[LeftyAce]

The link in Alaron's post, above, is an excellent procedure for assembling a new system (even though it talks about troubleshooting an old one). Feel free to post any questions/problems, and we'll see what we can do.

[scuderia]

Originally Posted by Khalil Scud, sorry buddy I have to disagree. A 256 bit card will always be superior to a 128 bit card of the same generation. I would stick to the 4850. The motherboard you picked will come with 2 Sata cables and the power supply will provide enough power cables to run what you need.

Oh, its undoubtable that, card vs. card, any 256bit card will outperform a 128bit card. But for the price point, the 4770 is king (in my humble opinion). The extra money you pay, around 30USD at the moment, gets you marginal (only ~2 FPS in a couple Crysis benchmarks I've seen) performance increase at larger resolutions at which the bottleneck becomes the bus width.

Plus, it's on the 40nm architecture... Come on..

EDIT: Sorry to kinda hijack the thread. Khalil, should we move this discussion to PM's?

[Khalil]

Just to be sure. I have 4770s and 4850s in stock. I tested them both on our gaming display machine at our main store this morning. It has an AMD Phenom II 720 and an Asus M4A78T-E and 4 GB DDR3 memory. The machine has supreme commander and Grid and a few other games loaded on it. In SC with 500+ units on each side fighting it was running around 43 fps, never dropped under 37. The 4770 was 26-30 fps and at times dropped under 20. The 4850 was visibly better, you can see the 4770 chopping and lagging in certain parts of Grid during the race that the 4850 went through smoothly.
Like I have said on numerous occasions, benchmarks on internet sites are not to be trusted. If you want to know for sure, test it yourself. I take posting on this site seriously and I try not to make any comments or recommendations that I am not sure of.

Edit: the test machine is hooked up to a 24" Asus VW246H display settings is 1920x1080

[scuderia]

Tactfully and skillfully put. Thank you for correcting me, Khalil.

This is one of the reasons why I love this site. I've learned an incredible amount in the month or so I've been on.

[Khalil]

Scud, my intention was not so much to correct you or prove you wrong, I enjoy your posts, you have enthusiasm and you care to give good advice.
I did it because I was curious myself, the 40nm thing you mentioned put a twist on it and I wanted to see how it would compare. We are running tests all day on all the ATI video cards that we carry, we are doing them all on the same machine.
One of my guys is keeping track of all the numbers and later tonight or tomorrow I will post my findings.
Generally when I shop for a video card I will also look for 2 things first, bit rate and bandwidth, everything else is secondary.
I have an ATI 850XTX on an older first generation AMD FX 57 machine, I installed Grid and Supreme Commander, the card is is still amazingly fast for it's age and gives awesome performance.
It might shock you if I tell you it performed better than the 4770 playing Grid but not on Supreme Commander, as a matter of fact on Supreme Commander the FX machine performed poorly.
I am having fun today with all this testing, thank you for enticing me to do this!

[scuderia]

Hehe.. You're welcome man.

[tsho44]

Well, I have everything together. I need some help/advice. I am trying to install vista... I get stuck at the blue screen with the mouse pointer. No text or anything. What's wrong?

[glc]

What mode is the SATA controller in - IDE, AHCI, or RAID? This is a bios setting. I assume you are using a SATA hard drive and DVD drive?