|
The (new) Official PC building thread!
|
|
Senior Member
1 product review
|
9. July 2007 @ 05:15 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by Lp531:
@ greensman & mike
Yes...I would be concerned about the thermatake 430...He didn't have link to P/S for me to look at connectors and spec's...But I would be nervous about that low of a P/S with a Quad Core...
I would look at Seagate 500gb drives...500gb drives offer the best...GB for $ ratio right now...
The Video card is weak at best...I would spend more there...and I would run either 2GB or 4Gb of memory...Not 3Gb...
3Gb will not be running in Dual channel mode...Hp misleads customers on the memory...
They will tell you that the 3Gb's of memory are dual channel...which is correct...however in that configuration it will only be running in single channel mode...It is Dual Channel memory running in only single channel mode...
what i am trying to do is see if i can match HP with their computer for a very similar price, at first i thought it would be impossible, and i knew i would have to choose some terrible parts, but I was able to do it, and i know that PSU is very week, but i dont know what else I could go lower on to allow me to spend more on a PSU.
I just want to be able to make a computer very similar to HPs just incase someone ever asks if I can match it.
|
|
Advertisement
|
 |
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
9. July 2007 @ 06:16 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by mike:
I just want to be able to make a computer very similar to HPs just incase someone ever asks if I can match it.
I think you're wasting your time on trying to "match" HP. They put out less than superior products most of the time and buy in huge quantities when they purchase components. :) I'm talking 1000's of pieces and you can't compete with that. ;)
If you're gonna build something like a Quad you gotta sell the people on the superiority of your components. LIKE the PSU. Put some monster in there that you know will never fail under normal conditions. (700W minimum) AND the GPU, install a GPU that will push sammorris's LCD. :P @ sam. hehehe. It's all about value for the user.
LIKE I said I learned the hard way on buying "cheap" components. If I would have been more attentive and receptive on other people's ideas (mainly Mort and docTY) I could have built a Core 2 Duo machine for what I had to replace "wonky" parts for on the AMD 939 system I built on the "cheap". LESSON learned and NOT afraid to bug the crap out of the people I trust NOW. :D
Hope I'm making some sort of sense and NOT offending anyone. :D
...gm
|
Senior Member
1 product review
|
9. July 2007 @ 07:09 |
Link to this message
|
Quote:
Originally posted by mike:
I just want to be able to make a computer very similar to HPs just incase someone ever asks if I can match it.
I think you're wasting your time on trying to "match" HP. They put out less than superior products most of the time and buy in huge quantities when they purchase components. :) I'm talking 1000's of pieces and you can't compete with that. ;)
...gm
Your right, I think it would be better to build a better computer and charge a little more ($200-$300??) because right now its like:
CPU
Hard Drive
RAM Motherboard
Graphics
Other
PSU
Windows vista lol
*ok, the cart i tried to make really didn't work out, but your get the idea (top is high quality)
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 9. July 2007 @ 07:10
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
9. July 2007 @ 09:06 |
Link to this message
|
|
I'm interested in your current "brand choices" signature. You limit yourself to one specific brand every time? That's not how I do things. Admittedly I haven't actually built as many PCs as you, but I've priced up a lot, and I usually go with whatever works out the best value using brands and models I can trust. Solely going with Intel and nVidia isn't always so great. Core 2 Duos are pretty much a given now, but just because the HD2900XT was a flop doesn't mean you can discount ATi altogether, they make some reasonable stuff. Likewise with Hard disks and Power supplies, good deals come and go. Remember this is probably the area where you're being stopped short of beating hp. They use very cheap power supplies, we never do for obvious reasons.
|
Senior Member
|
9. July 2007 @ 11:48 |
Link to this message
|
@ Mike
Quote:
Your right, I think it would be better to build a better computer and charge a little more ($200-$300??) because right now its like:
Smart decision... your goal should never be to build a Hp...you want to build something better then a Hp...Hp uses the cheapest components that it can get away with...They do stupid things like offering 3Gb of Dual Channel Memory...when it will only be running in Single Channel Mode...
Greensman & Sam are giving you good advice...especially about using Good Quality Components...Do not stick to just one Manufacturer or Retailer...great Deal are out there to be found...You just have to look...and DO RESEARCH...it can save your A$$ in the long run...which it looks like you are doing by being here...
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
9. July 2007 @ 11:55 |
Link to this message
|
|
That's it, the end result of a build should be something that's better quality and more reliable than a stock system, not just on par with, so spec for spec you can expect it to be expensive.
|
|
6spdSER
Junior Member
|
11. July 2007 @ 14:34 |
Link to this message
|
|
@mike
I would probably reconsider the case that you chose. From the picture it doesn't seem that airflow is all that great. And of course what everyone has said PSU, GPU...etc
As for building something at the price of what any of the major PC companies can offer. It will be tough indeed. You've got to remember that they buy everything in bulk quantities, which gives them the price advantage already. However, if you purely stick to just price...you'll have a system that is equally as fast or maybe just slightly slower...but in the end your custom build should be way more reliable since it has way better parts.
@sam
you've got 1.8TB of storage on one of your builds...how do you have that set up? RAID 0, 5, JBOD?
Anyone,
Does anyone currently use a NAS drive enclosure at home? If you don't mind what brand and how reliable has it been for you?
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 11. July 2007 @ 14:41
|
|
dash34
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
13. July 2007 @ 09:02 |
Link to this message
|
I have the asus a8n32-sli deluxe motherboard. I have two geforce 6600 video cards. I cannot get sli mode or two displays. The motherboard does not recognize the other card at all. switched cards and monitors. Cannot get anything from lower pci-e slot. What else can I try? Updated bios reinstalled drivers removed and reseated card nothing what can I try now? Isolated my issue to the pci e slot.
|
|
6spdSER
Junior Member
|
13. July 2007 @ 10:02 |
Link to this message
|
@dash
have you tried running just a single card on the bottom PCIe slot?
@greensman, LP, Mort, Sam, etc...
specing out a box for my buddy, and he games on occasion but pretty much does a lot of "backups" he's pulling some old parts from his existing system, which he is giving away to another friend in need. Heh, I think he just wants a new system.
Anyways...this is what he will be transferring over.
GF 7800GT PCIe
I think about 4 HDD's
SB X-Fi w/ 5 1/4" breakout box
2 DVD-RW drives
1 3.5" mem card reader
So these are the specs of what I plan to send him. (all from newegg)
Coolermaster Elite 330 Case $39.99 w/$15MIR
C2D E6420 $186.00
Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 $109.99
Corsair 2GB PC6400 XMS2 CAS4 $131 w/$40MIR
Question is how large of a PSU should he go with, I was thinking 600 -650W should be enough, but should I go larger?
No upgrades are really planned for this system except for maybe HDD upgrades later. He doesn't plan to OC either.
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
13. July 2007 @ 10:08 |
Link to this message
|
|
A 500W PSU would do for that, but it'd have to be a good one. I'd recommend something like a Corsair HX 520W, a Hiper 580W Type-R or a Seasonic S12-500. Avoid cheap power supplies AT ALL COSTS.
6spd: Just individual hard disks at the moment, no type of RAID setup at all, a friend of mine uses RAID5 and he's had too many issues, I don't fancy it much.
|
AfterDawn Addict
|
13. July 2007 @ 11:40 |
Link to this message
|
@6spdser,
The Corsair that sam recommended. :) $105 after MIR
OCZ StealthXStream 600 $93 after MIR
Mushkin 550200 550W $79 delivered
Hyper HPU-4R580 $99 delivered
Thermaltake PurePower 600 $105 after MIR
Antec True Power Trio 550W $80 delivered
There's a few to look at that "seem" like decent PSU's. The only one that I have personal experience with is the Antec Trio. I built a computer for a friend and he likes the PSU just fine. He's running SLi and an AMD Opty but no OC'in for him. LOL.
The others look good on paper and the reviews aren't too bad. :) You know about reviews tho. :P Maybe someone else can offer more advice but there are the ones that I would look at for "GOOD" money spent. :D
.....gm
edit:
Deleted the link to the XION psu. With some more research and closer scrutiny I'm also a little leery of their products at this point. Good call sam. :) I left the Muskin tho, at this point it seems like a fairly good psu for the money. :S
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 13. July 2007 @ 19:26
|
|
6spdSER
Junior Member
|
13. July 2007 @ 11:56 |
Link to this message
|
@sam
You are running straight discs, must be nice to have 4 x 750GB. I've ran RAID-5 before using both PATA and SCSI. I never had any issues with either, more of it seemed to be linked to the controller and driver issues more than anything. Is your friend using identical drives? RAID-5 tends to prefer exactly the same drives, RPM, Cache, RW speeds.
Anyways per your response, so you think a solid 500W PSU would be sufficient for his needs then huh? I was reading reviews on several sites and came across the Thermaltake Purepower line. Any experience with this particular one? Several sites state that the power is very stable and fluctuates from low to high on all 3 rails about 1%.
|
|
dash34
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
13. July 2007 @ 12:02 |
Link to this message
|
|
@ 6spdSER
yes, no picture only the top works. anyway to reset? or diagnose with software?
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
13. July 2007 @ 14:42 |
Link to this message
|
4 750GB drives would be nice, but never mind I'm happy with my mish mash of 250s, a 400 and a 160.
As per the power supplies, I'd be happy to build a PC with any of those excluding the mushkin and the Xion. Mushkin may make good memory but their first PSU outing was pretty lame, don't know if they've improved yet. Also, Who are Xion? Unknown brands in the PSU industry are dangerous!
|
|
dash34
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
14. July 2007 @ 11:40 |
Link to this message
|
I use a 320 gig sata drive. partitioned into c,d. windows installed on c using d for storage. had unrelated problem with pci-e video card decided to install fresh xp on 13 gig ide drive just to see if it recognized my lower pci-e slot. it did not, but now I cannot access my files on the 320. shows in my computer as 10mb hd. tried to remove 13 gig but now sata won't boot computer says ntldr missing. please help
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
14. July 2007 @ 12:50 |
Link to this message
|
Whenever you remove a drive, it will reset the boot list, check it's set to boot from the right hard disk.
|
|
6spdSER
Junior Member
|
15. July 2007 @ 19:15 |
Link to this message
|
@dash
Is this system a new build? Has the 2nd, lower, PCIe slot ever worked? ntldr issues can be power related, memory (RAM) related, or a failing HDD. After reflashing your bios did you reset it? Try popping out the lithium battery or using the bios jumper. see if that helps.
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
15. July 2007 @ 23:40 |
Link to this message
|
|
A lot of motherboards have an additional power connector on the board itself which enables the lower PCI express 16x slot. On my boards it's contained at the back of the board underneath the rear output ports (USB, LAN etc)
|
Senior Member
1 product review
|
19. July 2007 @ 12:30 |
Link to this message
|
If i gave you $2800US as a budget (including taxes, $150 labour) to build a custom computer what parts would you use, i just want to get see different ideas for people, would some of you go for higer cpu speeds, more ram or a better video card. You can build any type of computer you like (media center, full tower, or mid tower)
you need to include:
case, cpu, motherboard, ram, videocard, hard drive, cd/dvd drive, operating system, and powersupply.
This is just to get an idea as i said above I want different people with different ideas. Also please post what you think your computer would be best for (gaming, video editing, . . . . )
thanks!!!!
mike
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
19. July 2007 @ 13:25 |
Link to this message
|
Wow, $2800, we're in top end teritory now!
I'll have a scout around and get back to you.
I'm thinking Quad Core (probably the 6700), 4GB of XMS2, two 500GB disks, And 8800 graphics, in a very elaborate case. I'll see what that costs, if I have a lot left over, I'll consider adding another 8800.
|
Senior Member
1 product review
|
19. July 2007 @ 13:32 |
Link to this message
|
Originally posted by sammorris:
Wow, $2800, we're in top end teritory now!
I'll have a scout around and get back to you.
I'm thinking Quad Core (probably the 6700), 4GB of XMS2, two 500GB disks, And 8800 graphics, in a very elaborate case. I'll see what that costs, if I have a lot left over, I'll consider adding another 8800.
funny, when i did mine i used the 6700 4GBs of RAM (Partiot) and 2 500GB HArd drives (seagate), i also used BFG 8800 graphic card (GTS)
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
19. July 2007 @ 14:03 |
Link to this message
|
GTS, lame! Is that all you had the budget for?
Also, is this including peripherals?
|
Senior Member
1 product review
|
19. July 2007 @ 14:10 |
Link to this message
|
|
nope, just main parts
|
|
dash34
Suspended due to non-functional email address
|
19. July 2007 @ 15:20 |
Link to this message
|
|
@ 6spdSER
new build. 2nd pci-e worked at first used sli mode when I finished the initial build. hardly game though so had no idea it had stopped working.
|
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
|
20. July 2007 @ 01:29 |
Link to this message
|
|
