Build DD a kick ass computer contest

[devil_dog]

OK, funny, I work as a computer tech/LAN Admin, but I'm not even close to in touch with the latest and greatest when it comes to building a computer. I also don't know where the best deals are either.

So, I'd like to start a little contest to benefit me with your knowledge. Lets keep the budget at $1000. I figure I need everything to include, MB, RAM, SATA HD, Video Card, Case, Power Supply, etc. I don't need a burner, but I would like a DVD ROM. Floppy is a good idea too, although I rarely use it. We are talking only hardware ppl. I've got the software, but might could use a 64 bit version of XP if anyone has one.

I'm pretty happy with my AMD 2600, but I'm open to just about anything that will perform. 64 bit would be awesome, PCI-X Video, Northbridge heat sink. I'd like this thing to perform the best it can for the money I'm spending.

So, please help a brother out and let me know what you think. I can build it, just not sure I'd not mess up and get the wrong parts to mate up with each other or something like that.

dd

[Phenix]

tomorrow night during work i may spend some on this...

[MiddleFinger]

lazy bum...do your own research. :tongue:

http://www.pricewatch.com/

[Nebula]

or better yet...

http://www.newegg.com/

price watch and froogle are all great, but I almost always come back to new egg.. not to mention you can usually get combo deals.. like when I bought my new equipment, I got $50 off for buying the processor and the RAM together.

Also, I know you are looking for more of the latest and greatest.. but I'm willing to sell an AMD 3000+ for like $50 (plus some $ for shipping) if you are interested.

[MiddleFinger]

woah...I might be interested in that cpu Neb. I'm one of those bargain upgraders. I'll have to talk to my wife about it, so I'll let you know this evening cuz I'd have to get a mobo and ram to for it.

[Nebula]

woah...I might be interested in that cpu Neb. I'm one of those bargain upgraders. I'll have to talk to my wife about it, so I'll let you know this evening cuz I'd have to get a mobo and ram to for it.

ok, 1st come 1st serve... I'm going to be up front about it - but definitely let me know

I might also have some left over thermal greese if you are interested as well (free of charge)

[GNG-Victory]

Couple questions:

1. You like intel or AMD
2. NVIDIA or ATI (some people will only use one or the other for both of these)
3. What is the computer being used for (just gaming?)

[MiddleFinger]

ok, 1st come 1st serve... I'm going to be up front about it - but definitely let me know

I might also have some left over thermal greese if you are interested as well (free of charge)

Nah...better sell it to someone else. I don't want to give my wife the hand me down, and me get the new one. We'll probably end up buying two new rigs this summer anyway. Her's is about to crap out on her anyway.

[zero]

I've got the software, but might could use a 64 bit version of XP if anyone has one.
You don't want the 64bit version of XP because drivers are very hard to come by, most manufacturers only offer limited support for 64bit windows.

And for how cheap burner drives are, you can get a DVD +/-RW /CD burner for about the same price as a DVD ROM drive so you might as well. I prefer LiteOn drives personally.

[devil_dog]

Well, my current system is AMD 2600, MSI Nvidia TI 4200 128mb, 512mb PC2700 RAM, and my mother board is a MSI Nvidia chipset. I think my current board would support the 3000 you have Neb, but that is a very small step from where I am.

I've had good luck with this combo, but I'm open to suggestions.

I'd do my own research, but I think I might get better results with some help. I might start investigating this weekend and post up some of my build ideas for you to analyze.

This system would be used primarily for gaming. But I'd most likely set it up as a dual boot with a second instance of XP to run everyday apps. Or I'll just through a KVM on my current setup and keep everything separate physically.

dd

[devil_dog]

Just a quick browse on NewEgg and this is what I came up with...

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice 2000MHz HT 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail = $147
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103531

Motherboard
MSI K8NGM2-NBP Socket 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150 Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail = $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130540

or

MSI RD480 Neo2-FI Socket 939 ATI Radeon XPRESS 200 CrossFire ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail = $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130038

RAM
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail = $82
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

or

CORSAIR XMS 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail =$102
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145449

Video Card
MSI NX7900GT-T2D256E Geforce 7900GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card With Full Version Game King Kong - Retail = $269
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814127098

or

No idea on what ATI card to get, I don't know squat about them.

I'm very open to suggestions on everything. I could use some help finding a good case with plenty of cooling and a good reliable power supply. I also need help finding a good CPU fan. If you want to help me find a DVD burner, that would great too.

I'll probably use the hard drives I currently own or "borrow" a new one from work. LOL

I feel like I'm forgeting something...

I'm already up to $608 on a rough estimate for the items I listed.

dd

[devil_dog]

Check out this deal on Tiger

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2217067&CatId=332

Damn thing comes with almost everything you need. I need to research the MB and CPU though. Needs more RAM too.

dd

[MiddleFinger]

Looks pretty sweet. I know Asus has come a long way in Mobos. Although, I had one a while back, and was having some problems with it. I kept getting a BSOD with errors pointing to RAM problems. The research I did on the problem said that particular mobo (K8-7nvm 266) had problems with generic RAM. I eventually got a new mobo. The problems didn't start right away though. It was a good year before I ran into any issues. I'm sure it wasn't "bad" ram though. I still use the same gig of RAM I had almost three years ago but it's on a Soyo mobo now.

[Phenix]

oh man im getting antsy to get a new rig now.

but its either pauy next semesters tuition or get a new comp!!! CRAP

[papa smurf]

oh man im getting antsy to get a new rig now.

but its either pauy next semesters tuition or get a new comp!!! CRAPget a new comp no dissuccion i hope i spelled disscussion right:confused:

[Laroacha]

I went and did a few min's work on a guy I know's AC and for payment he gave me 2 new Seagate 500 gig drives. That means homey's about to cobble a new system together now. I'm gonna start buying parts this week and the initial config looks like this:

Pentium D 940 (3.2GHz)
ASUS P5N32-SLI Deluxe
2x1-GB Kingston HyperX DDR2-750
HP Super Multi DVD Writer with Lightscribe
EVGA e-GeForce 7900 GT CO Superclocked 256MB x 2

I'm gonna setup the giant drives in a Raid 0 array, so I'll have a fast ass 1TB logical drive.

No idea on what ATI card to get, I don't know squat about them.

I'm very open to suggestions on everything. I could use some help finding a good case with plenty of cooling and a good reliable power supply. I also need help finding a good CPU fan. If you want to help me find a DVD burner, that would great too.

I'll probably use the hard drives I currently own or "borrow" a new one from work. LOL

I feel like I'm forgeting something...

I'm already up to $608 on a rough estimate for the items I listed.

I've been an ATI fanboi for years, but honestly right now I think Nvidia has them beat.

A really good case is gonna cost you some money. A Coolermaster Wavemaster is suppost to kick ass, so look that way. Power supply, Antec and Enermaster both make really good ones. Go for 500W or higher if you ever plan to SLI your video card, and even if you don't, more power the better.

If you keep your house at a normal temp like 80 somthing or below, then just buy a retail CPU with it's included heatsink/fan, unless you plan to overclock, then in that case you might want to look into water cooling or maybe something like the Thermalright XP-90C.

[devil_dog]

My dirt bike is in need of some new valves and piston. $400 in parts alone. I may have to put the computer on hold, but I'm still shopping because I think the funding is still there despite the dirt bike.

dd

[devil_dog]

OK, on a budget do you buy one good Video Card, or two lower priced and run them in SLI mode?

I'm thinking about $300 limit on the Video Card.

dd

[Laroacha]

depends on your timeframe to get more money. If it's going to be an extended time before you can buy another expensive one, than get the cheapies now and call it done, otherwise you may not be able to match the card a year from now. If it's just a month or 2 delay, then get the big buck card and enjoy that for a while.

[devil_dog]

I'm thinking of getting that card I picked earlier along with a SLI compatible board. I'll see if the single card meets my expectations, and then decide later on getting a second.

Problem is, the reviews I've read so far on some boards that support SLI is that space is a major issue. The cards make access to other items a real bitch or prevent use of expansion cards completely.

dd

[Laroacha]

I'm not looking so much for my current expectations. I usually build about a computer every 4 years, so I'm looking to the future myself. I no longer really play CS or anything, so based on my current needs, I could get by with a 600 buck POS, but I'm hoping I get hooked into something new and great in the next year or two and I've got the horsepower to run it smooth. I also plan to make this one a DVD ripping and playing powerhouse, so I have that to take into consideration.

[devil_dog]

I'm throwing down the $$ people so stand the fuck by cuz I'm going to pwn big time with this system.

HP 16X DVD±R DVD Burner W/ LightScribe Black IDE Model DVD740RI - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827140014

Antec Solution SLK3000-B Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129152

SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16821103116

Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 ST3300622AS 300GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148110

MSI K8N SLI-F Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813130527R

Running 2 of these video cards on SLI mode
MSI NX7900GT-T2D256E Geforce 7900GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card With Full Version Game King Kong - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814127098

Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-550 ATX12V 550W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817103931

CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model Twinx2048-3200c2pt - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145575

AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice 2000MHz HT Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3800BPBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103531

Grand total before rebates.... $1300 with shipping.

God help us all...

dd

[zero]

It's all great, except .. an open box MSI mb? Just get the Asus SLI and be done with it. Other than that, this system is gonna pwn some face

[devil_dog]

LOL Zero,

Either you read minds or you control them.

I switched out the MSI board for the ASUS.

ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce SPP 100 ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131568

It was almost twice as much, but I like Laroacha I only get to do this once every 3-4 years. I might as well get the best I can afford.

dd

[zero]

That's better lol. And one last thing, if you can afford it, get a decent soundcard with at least EAX, maybe an Audigy2 or something, I've been away from that stuff for awhile so I'm not even sure what's out. Integrated sound is great and all, but it uses the CPU to run which is bad for a gaming or media rig, plus it will sound better. Everyong seems to skip the sound card these days because it's usually integrated. Hardware accelerated sound ftw!

[devil_dog]

Well, I just blew my wad on this, so the Sound Card will have to wait.

dd

[Animal]

Why no dual core processor?

[devil_dog]

Well, I heard some games have issues with them. Plus the price...

I can always put a dual in the board later if I think I need it. By then the price should have dropped alot too on the dual cores.

dd