|
help chosing a motherboard and verifying chosen parts
|
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
10. December 2005 @ 19:14 |
Link to this message
|
|
I am building a computer for a friend of mine for a Christmas present from his parents. I?ve picked out the parts I want to use but I?m not sure what kind of motherboard I should get. I would also like to set up the case to allow front USB connectors. How would I go about doing that? Could you take a look through my setup and offer suggestions and make sure it is all compatible and will work together?
Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Here is what I?m planning on getting:
CPU
AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX - Retail
RAM
CORSAIR XMS 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model CMX1024-3200 - Retail
MOBO ?
ABIT KN8 Ultra Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Video Card
matrox Millennium G450 32MB DDR PCI Video Card - OEM ? He wants a dual monitor setup
Hard Drive
Maxtor DiamondMax 10 6L200M0 200GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM
Case
POWMAX Bio II CP601-2 Blue All Metal Construction (SGCC) ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450W Single Fan Power Supply - Retail
PSU ? I?m going to replace the psu that comes with the case with one I have here at my house
CoolMax 400w.
CD/DVD
NEC Black IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner Model ND-3550A - OEM
Thanks,
Chris
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
10. December 2005 @ 19:19 |
Link to this message
|
|
why would you use a pci 32meg videocard on an up to date system as that card is at least 4 yrs old as i worked at the company that probably made them. get a pci/e card that has both vga & dvi connectors on it with at least 128meg ram on it.
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
10. December 2005 @ 19:27 |
Link to this message
|
|
I chose that one because its what I'm currently using in my computer and its worked great. I didnt realize it is so outdated.
Which one would you suggest. Its going to need to have dual monitor support.
I'll look around some more and let you know what I come up with.
Thank you for the quick reply.
Chris
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
10. December 2005 @ 19:30 |
Link to this message
|
|
what is your budget for this present?
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
11. December 2005 @ 05:25 |
Link to this message
|
|
Right now I am up to $850. I might could go a bit higher but not a whole lot. That matrox video card cost 100 dollars so I'm looking for a dual monitor video card that is in that price range. My friend will mostly be using this computer for autocad, coral draw, etc. I doubt hes going to be doing much gaming but you never know.
Thanks again for all the help.
Chris
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
11. December 2005 @ 06:03 |
Link to this message
|
|
where are you located country wise??
|
|
DemonDog
Member
|
11. December 2005 @ 06:09 |
Link to this message
|
DFI LanParty nF4 SLI mobo
eVGA 256mb GeForce 7800GT
OCZ PowerStream SLI 520Watts
AMD Athlon 64X2 3800+ 2500MHz (250x10)
1GB Patriot DDR600 (PC4800) mem
Boot Disk WD 74GB Raptor SATA
2 x Hitachi 250mb Deskstars SATA II, Raid 0
NEC ND 3540, BenQ DW1640, LiteOn 16P9S
|
|
novicebb
Member
|
11. December 2005 @ 10:53 |
Link to this message
|
|
Good thread here. I was about to start my own but this will do. How about a decent overclocking friendly motherboard for AMD 64 chips that is under $110? Any suggestions from you guys?
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
11. December 2005 @ 12:23 |
Link to this message
|
ddp: I am located in Arizona
After hearing suggestions from several people I've decided to change the power source to
Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-380 ATX12V 380W Power Supply 115/230 V UL, TUV, CB, FCC CLASS B, CUL ? Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103927
and the video card to
SAPPHIRE 100119-HS Radeon X550 256MB 128-bit DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card ? OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102637
Will the video card will work fine with a dual monitor setup as long as I have one crt monitor on the vga port and one lcd monitor on the dvi port? I can also buy adapters if I want two crt or two lcd monitors right?
I have also decided to change from one stick of 1 G Ram to two paired sticks adding up to 1 G Ram.
I noticed in a Frys electronics add that I can buy the same processor I currently have with a motherboard with it for about 100 dollars less than I am going to currently spend. I?m guessing the combo motherboard is going to be cheaper and I shouldn?t go there but do you have any suggestions? Here is a link:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Processor 3800+ & ECS KV2 Lite Motherboard
http://shop1.outpost.com/product/4693638?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
Thank you for all of your help. I think I?m getting pretty close to being ready to order. Do you have any additional suggestions?
Thanks again.
Chris
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
11. December 2005 @ 12:32 |
Link to this message
|
|
seems to be alright on all 3 options tho check to see if bigger psu is available. can get a dvi adapter for analog monitor whether crt or lcd.
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
11. December 2005 @ 13:25 |
Link to this message
|
What if I changed the PSU to
FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX400-PN ATX12V 400W Power Supply 115/230 V NEMKO, TUV, CSA, IEC, UL, CE ? Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953
or is that a really bad choice?
I've got to find somewhere to cut the price around 30 dollars and changing the psu that would do it right there. Should I go value select ram or would that be a bad idea? I've just got to find somehow to drop the price a little bit.
Thanks again for all the help.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11. December 2005 @ 13:42
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
11. December 2005 @ 15:39 |
Link to this message
|
|
if the other psu saves you $30 than leave it & let him upgrade later.
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
11. December 2005 @ 20:01 |
Link to this message
|
It was brought to my attention on another board that the SATA hard drive I have chosen might not work with the motherboard I have becuase the motherboard is SATA II.
I could find almost nothing about this except that here : http://forums.livingwithstyle.com/t232310-build-me-computer-rewar...
someone suggested using a SATA hard drive with the same mother board I have chosen.
Any help would be great.
Thanks,
Chris
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
12. December 2005 @ 07:55 |
Link to this message
|
|
sata2 controllers are backwards compatible with sata1 just as usb2 is compatible with usb1.
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
12. December 2005 @ 12:39 |
Link to this message
|
|
I was reading elsewhere on the internet that windows xp home edition is compatable with dual core processors. I have windows xp home and would like to put on the computer but I need to make absolute sure that it supports dual core processors.
Could anyone confirm this for me?
Thanks,
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
12. December 2005 @ 13:45 |
Link to this message
|
|
I called AMD and they told me that the home edition will not use both of the cores in the dual core processor.
I've decided to instead purchase the athlon 64 3800+.
Is there another processor you would recommend or is this one a pretty good deal?
Thanks again for all of the help.
Chris
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
12. December 2005 @ 14:12 |
Link to this message
|
|
With the money I save from buying a cheaper processor I'm going to upgrade the video card to
SAPPHIRE 100121 Radeon X700 128MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card - OEM
Thanks,
Chris
|
|
ddp
Moderator
|
12. December 2005 @ 16:25 |
Link to this message
|
|
you seem to be doing alright!
|
|
novicebb
Member
|
13. December 2005 @ 09:46 |
Link to this message
|
|
To Chris 769: I am somewhat in the same boat as you except I am a bit more decided in what I want to purchase. I am not about to spend an arm and a leg to start off when I build my computer but I do want some components that will allow me to get more out of my system in the future if I wish to take advantage of it(mainly overclocking).
Try out Mwave.com I hate their shipping cost because it appears a bit high especially on certain products but they have some incredible Mobo/CPU deals though. Example: You can get a MSI Nforce 4 SLI mobo for $100 and then get a 3700+ 1mb cache AMD San Diego Core CPU for only $210. I think 4 day shipping added is like 9.96 or so so that is a pretty good deal. You and I seem to be in the same boat and have some of the same desires.
Oh to the other AD memebers if you can read my earlier question on this thread and perhaps give me an answer I would greatly appreciate it.
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
13. December 2005 @ 17:23 |
Link to this message
|
|
Thanks for the site. I'll have to look into it when I'm buying some more computer stuff.
I've already ordered all of the stuff so I'll let you know how it all turns out.
Thanks again.
Chris
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
chris769
Newbie
|
24. December 2005 @ 11:06 |
Link to this message
|
|
I would like to thank everyone helping me refine my setup and for all of the great suggestions. I put it all together and its working great. The only problem I'm having is that it takes a long time for windows xp x64 to load. Once it boots up if, before doing anything, I reboot it again it boots real fast. Once I run programs and use the computer for a while and try to reboot it boots real slow. Once the computer is booted it works like a charm
I'm currently searching the web for a solution. If anyone has any ideas I'm open to trying anything.
Thanks again for all of the help.
Chris
|
