Build me a system and get $10 (x-post)

[SomethingClever]

(Wasn't getting any replies in the Computer forum, so I'm x-posting here).

First of all, I suck. I have gotten recommendations before and ended up not buying anything. However, to up the ante, I will transfer $10 to the person who recommends me a baller desktop system using Newegg links.

Note: You must have a Stars account to qualify. The system must be in my price range and I reserve the right to pick and choose one over another based on pure whim. If I buy a system, someone will get the $10 though.

Here's sort of what I have in mind.

I want an Athlon 64. I don't need the absolute top of the line, but I want it to be pretty sweet.

I want at least a gig of good ram.

I already have a Radeon 9800 Pro video card, so I guess I'll need the mobo to be AGP instead of PCI-E. (Is this a bad idea?)

I need a new hard drive.

I need a new case that's slick and classy looking, quiet and cool.

Don't worry about monitors/printers/peripherals.

Recommend away! First person to recommend a system I like enough to buy gets the $10.

[MrTrik]

It would be clever to state the price range.

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
It would be clever to state the price range.

[/ QUOTE ]

I haven't decided what it is yet /images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Part of the challenge /images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[bravos1]

here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102628) you go

[stabn]

I'm waaay too lazy to do this for $10. Gl with it though /images/graemlins/wink.gif. If you play any games i'd reccomend going PCI-E and just getting a new card, but if you want to save $$ and are willing to replace your mobo and video card in a year or two that's fine as well.

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
here (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102628) you go

[/ QUOTE ]

Ok, that's more than I want to spend and has more stuff than I need.

Further info: I already have a DVD writer, so I don't need one of those. And I would like to reuse the 9800 Pro video card that's in my system now if at all possible (I may be able to be talked out of this).

So, here are the specific components I need.

Case
Processor/mobo
Ram
Hard Drive
<font color="#666666"> (Video Card... hopefully not)</font>

[astroglide]

[ QUOTE ]
I want an Athlon 64

[/ QUOTE ]

they are good, but having a specific reason for targetting them would be nice.

[ QUOTE ]
I want at least a gig of good ram

[/ QUOTE ]

you shouldn't need more than a gig

[ QUOTE ]
I already have a Radeon 9800 Pro video card, so I guess I'll need the mobo to be AGP instead of PCI-E. (Is this a bad idea?)

[/ QUOTE ]

if you game or intend to keep the system for a while, it could become a limiting factor. cards are still coming out in both agp and pci-e but often have different release dates, different pricing, etc. if you can easily dump the card on a friend or something, it might be a good idea.

[ QUOTE ]
I need a new case that's slick and classy looking, quiet and cool.

[/ QUOTE ]

so why don't you just buy a shuttle (http://global.shuttle.com/Product/Barebone/brb_default.asp)?

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]

so why don't you just buy a shuttle?


[/ QUOTE ]

If he wants to use his video card that isn't really an option. If he is convinced that upgrading his video is a good idea then that's a possibility. I couldn't find any AMD shuttles that didn't come with video built in (i didn't bother checking the INTEL ones).

[Dudd]

I'm running a Shuttle that's a little over 2 years old, and it has a Radeon 9800 running in there fine for the whole time. I can't imagine that they don't have a current model with an AGP slot.

[astroglide]

huh? all of the athlon64-compatible units on the front page i linked have slots. there is only one with integrated video, and it still has a pci-e slot. several of them support agp.

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
so why don't you just buy a shuttle?

[/ QUOTE ]

Those look pretty dope. I couldn't find any prices though...

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
so why don't you just buy a shuttle?

[/ QUOTE ]

Those look pretty dope. I couldn't find any prices though...

[/ QUOTE ]

Nevermind, I figured it out.

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
they are good, but having a specific reason for targetting them would be nice.


[/ QUOTE ]

I did some research a while ago that pointed me toward the AMD 64 bit chips. However, I can't remember which socket was supposed to be the one to get, etc.

Hoping for some of that info in the thread.

As for why I like AMD versus Intel, it's my understanding that you get more bang for the buck.

[SomethingClever]

Ok, so this shuttle system looks pretty cool, but I can't figure out what exactly comes with it.

web page (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16856101471#DetailSpecs)

Looks like the case and the mobo.... but you buy the processor(s) separately?

Am I correct?

[astroglide]

yes. it's a case, motherboard, and power supply. everything else you add yourself.

[stabn]

[ QUOTE ]
huh? all of the athlon64-compatible units on the front page i linked have slots. there is only one with integrated video, and it still has a pci-e slot. several of them support agp.

[/ QUOTE ]

The last time i looked at NFORCE chipsets they all seemed to have built in video. It looks like that isn't the case anymore.

Maybe? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102627#sctNav)

Very Customizable Don't Know Too Much About Company (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&amp;Store_Code=M&amp;Product_Code= 80326&amp;Category_Code=furiaultimatedesktops)

Edit: oops needs to be newegg.com

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
Maybe? (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16883102627#sctNav)

[/ QUOTE ]

That's more in line, but I don't need those drives or the video card.

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
Very Customizable Don't Know Too Much About Company (http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&amp;Store_Code=M&amp;Product_Code= 80326&amp;Category_Code=furiaultimatedesktops)

Edit: oops needs to be newegg.com

[/ QUOTE ]

No, it doesn't have to be newegg, sorry for the confusion. I just thought it would just be an easy way to go.

That system looks pretty good, a little overkill on the power supply though, and I was unable to change it to a cheaper one.

[handsome]

Hey, I just rebuilt my own computer with similar characteristics. I went the cheap route with a Sempron, and right now I'm running a 2500+ at 2GHz with 1GB RAM. The upgrade from 1 P4 1.6a was very noticeable. Anyway here's my recommendation:

1. Motherboard: DFI Lanparty nF3 Socket 754 motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813136147) - $99
2. Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103461) - $225
3. CPU Fan: Zalman CNPS7700-CU (http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/FeedBack/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16835118115) - $47
4. RAM: Corsair ValueSelect PC3200 1GB RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440) - $85
5. Hard drive: WD 36.7GB 10K Raptor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144200) - $111

Total: $567

Reasoning: Since you want to use your 9800, which is fine if you're not a hardcore gamer, you're looking for an nForce3 board (nForce4 for PCI-e). The DFI Lanparty board pwnz. I chose the processor assuming you weren't going to overclock, and the 2.4GHz 3700+ (L2 cache of 1MB) is a real bargain. The Zalman fan because it's cool and quiet. The RAM assuming no overclocking. The HD because of RPM speed and quicker seek times (PT much faster). On top of these, you probably need to get a new power supply and a couple of case fans, but that depends on what case you already have, or whether or not you even wanna keep your current case.

[SomethingClever]

This is very close.

I do need a new case.

Also, the hard drive is too small. I need at least 150 gigs, maybe more like 250. Will it be really slow though?

[ QUOTE ]
I chose the processor assuming you weren't going to overclock, and the 2.4GHz 3700+ (L2 cache of 1MB) is a real bargain.

[/ QUOTE ]

So, would I want the 939 socket if I were going to overclock?

Do I want to overclock? /images/graemlins/confused.gif

[SomethingClever]

How about this?

Processor: Athlon 64 3500+ Venice Socket 939 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103533)
Mobo: Is the LANparty better than this one? GIGABYTE GA-K8NSC-939 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce3 250Gb ATX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128286)
Hard drive: Is this ok? Western Digital 320 gig 7200 rpm (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144394)

[rohjoh]

Check out these cases, they are all over Ebay for around $120, but do not include anything. I just built this system for about $1000. AMD 64, GIG LAN, 1.5GIG of memory, dual video card, 78GIG Raptor HD, and 400GIG second harddrive, DVD bruner and DVD/CD-RW. Cases are so sweet, every thing clips in, really easy to build. Bought the drives and mother board, memory and processor from Tigerdirect.com. The CD and DVD off Ebay.

Thermal Take (http://www.thermaltake.com/xaserCase/tsunami/swa/swa.htm)


Here it is in use...
http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/8789/img00018px.jpg

[handsome]

Oh, when someone recommends a small HD with a high price/GB ratio, it's kind of assumed that you should also buy another hard drive with a low price/GB ratio.. heh.

You can overclock pretty much everything these days.. just takes a lot more cooling equipment. I would not recommend overclocking unless you're familiar with all PC components in and out..

As far as the case goes, that's like choosing a car.. just go with your preferences..

[SomethingClever]

[ QUOTE ]
Oh, when someone recommends a small HD with a high price/GB ratio, it's kind of assumed that you should also buy another hard drive with a low price/GB ratio.. heh.

[/ QUOTE ]

lol, i think.... /images/graemlins/confused.gif

The raptor is really fast right? Are you saying the WD drive blows?

I don't want a slow drive, but I need more than 36 gigs, brah....

[SL__72]

I am also planning on upgrading... how does this look (I'm trying to not spend to much $$$ because I just want something decent that I can upgrade as I see fit.) How does this look? Any poor choices? Anywhere where I could be spending less?

ASUS A8N-SLI Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131524) - 129.00
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA3000BPBOX - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103537) - 146.00
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model VS1GBKIT400 - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145440) - 85.00
Antec PERFORMANCE TX TX1050B Black Steel Server Computer Case 500W ATX12V v2.0 Power Supply - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811129158) - 139.00
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160021A 160GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148021) - 81.50
AOpen GF6600GT-DV128 Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814135185) - 139

Total with shipping: $741.64

[SomethingClever]

Hmm... maybe you're talking about using the raptor as the system drive and a bigger one as a backup?

I don't want to buy two, though.