Ok, so I'm finally going to build myself a new PC, mine is so outdated and it's due. I'm going to link each different component, and I will also provide a description of each. I'm basically trying to figure out if I'm going about this the right way. I want high end stuff. Not bleeding edge high end, but pretty damn good. OK. So far I have (click the prices to see newegg.com product info) Motherboard: Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX AMD, 1 pci-e slot, 3 pci $84.00 CPU: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 1GHz FSB Socket 939 $381.00 GPU: ASUS EN7800GTX/2DHTV/256 Geforce 7800GTX 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card $530.00 Hard Drive: Western Digital Caviar SE 80GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 $53.00 Memory: CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model VS1GB400C3 - Retail $102.00 Sound Card: CREATIVE Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit (7.1) Channels PCI $29.00 My basic questions are: a. Should I get 1 or 2 sticks of 1gb ram? I plan on using two monitors b. I have an old windows xp reinstallation cd. Can I use that for my OS? c. What about Linux? It sounds intriguing, but can I run games and photoshop on it? d. I need a recommendation for a case. Also recommend anything else you can think of. e. Please don't try to make this an amd vs. intel, or ati vs. nvidia discussion, those are the cpu and gpu brands I have researched and like. f. I know that I scimped on the hard drive. But I think I also scimped on the motherboard, should I invest in a better one? g. Finally, please help me determine if all of this stuff is compatible. I will be giving out credits to answers I find helpful, so any help is greatly appreciated
what brand mobo are you getting you only put a price? I would get 1 stick of 1mb ram Yes to your OS question. Most people that use Linux usually have windows also because of compabtility issues. If your looking for a case go here http://xoxide.com/ you should find something there. As far as your mobo I would recommend this http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetai...ductCode=241158 Also I would get some better memory
1.if your using 2 monitors than 2gb is a must 2.yes 3.wine linux, it emulates windows, or dualboot 4.if you want to go expensive try frozencpu and look for the diabolic minatour 5.good motherboards are always better, i suggest biostar or asus 6.i believe its all compatible side not: try xpbargains.com its a really great site for finding great deals esspecially on gpus and memory
mobo: consider 2 pci-e slots (SLI) for upgrading later CPU: exelent choice GPU: np here (needs alot of power) HD: buy what you need, but not too much.(having not enough space s*cks) memory: Double it (said) Sound card: np but be sure you have some good speakers a. ^ b. yup c. Linux is great but with compatibility probs (games) d. power supply is very inportant (video card, stability) e. np f. ^. g. as long as you (or someone else) installs it right yes ps. Cooling is inportant (cpu, gpu) buy a cheap case fan (if not includit with case)
Basically what everyone's been saying so far seems ok. I would go ASUS on the mobo For hard drives, since you have the sata on the board , make use of it. Get two 10k sata drives, and one any size you like Ide drive. (I am running two WesternDigital 74gb 10k sata's and one 200gb 7200 Ide drive) For a case, get a brand name, Thermaltake make great cases. For a power supply, I would say no less then a 600w. How much money do you have to spend? If you want something that's going to be pretty much high end now for 2 or 3 yrs at the end of which will probably be standard your going to spend $2k easy.
get dual channel ram!!! doubles the effective speed of your computer assuming the processor can keep up with what your doingm, but hey you have an FX 51 so you should have no problem. EDIT: also you don't need a sound card, that mobo has onboard audio, unless you do alot of sound work you should be fine.
c. What about Linux? It sounds intriguing, but can I run games and photoshop on it? - well , linux is trying to get more games compatible on Linux , there are old games that now release in Linux so i think the games wont be a problem , but you better ask a Linux user cuz i have windows , i odn't have a clue for photoshop , maybe chack this site out http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT7770280571.html
Hmmm for your HD I really suggest you get over 150GB. 80GB can be taken very very quickly. Also for your SoundCard, I suggest you go with something like Creative Audigy 2. If you got the cash get Audigy 4.
whats the point having a sound card when the motherboard is already built in sound channels...well if you want a 5.1 surround sound then yes you need a sound card. make sure you have teh ubber leet speakers. i would get asus A8N deluxe because its the best cheapest motherboard out there. for graphic card, i would suggest you to get 6800 or 6600 because its good enough to play alot of games in high setting. right now its too early, the only best grpahic game in pc is battle field 2 and thats nothing compare to 7800, so if you buy now then there is hardley any use of that power until you wait for a game next year. so i suggest get lower cards then soon after get 7800 because it will get cheaper as time past. OR you can do dual GPU, BUY a8n sli deluxe with 2 geforce 6800 ultra or GT and it is a little bit more powerful and cheaper then 7800, buying one pci e card wont last long as sli pci e mobos.
well, then 7.1 should need sound card...well w.e sound card is useless i would spend that money to buy something else, like fans and stuff.
Reccomendation look around for computer shows where they sell the parts totally separate and alot of people throw in cases for free and fans too. I got a computer that is now only about 2-4 months outdated and it was only 720 dollars.. Hope I helped.
