Helpful purchase advice needed on a PC build project

  • Thread starter Thread starter Davek
  • Start date Start date
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Davek

I'm retiring in a few days and my wife & children are
encouraging me build my dream computer as a retirement gift.

For months now I've read reviews and also been a part of
these news groups (and posted a number of questions that
you've all been very kind to patiently answer). Right now
I'm getting ready to finally order the components to build
the "Dream Machine" and try to get the
most-bang-for-the-buck. Would you mind looking over the
components and let me know if you have any suggestions or
comments on the items? It would be especially helpful to
know if you've had problems with any of these components.
This will be my home computer that's used for work and play.
I use my computer for programming, web application
development, gaming, DVD & music, school homework (I attend
the local college as an applied computer science major). TIA.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8KNXP, Intel 875P
Case: (I built my own case from scratch)
Monitor: Samsung LCD 191T (Black) 19" LCD Retail
Processor: Pentium 4 / 2.4CGHz 512k 800 MHz FSB - RETAIL
HSF: Zalman CNPS7000-Cu Pure Copper CPU Cooler
Video: SAPPHIRE RADEON 9800 128MB Non Pro DVI/TV 8X
Sound: VOYETRA TURTLE BEACH SANTA CRUZ - OEM

RAM: CORSAIR XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, (Twin Pack)
1GB(2 x 512MB) 2x(64MX64) PC-3200C2PT With Platinum - Silver
Heat Spreaders. Retail

HDD's: 2 - Western Digital 120GB SATA WD1200JD 7,200 RPM 8MB
Hard Drive OEM

FDD: (forgive me, I'm an "old geezer" who still likes having
a floppy drive :-)
SAMSUNG 1.44MB BLACK FLOPPY DRIVE Model# SFD321B/LBL - OEM

Power Supply: Antec 480W Power Supply TRUE480

DVD burner: Plextor DVD+R/RW IDE Drive Model PX-504A-SW Retail

CDRW: PLEXTOR Black PX-W4824TA/SW-BL/ 48x24x48 CD-RW - RETAIL

Speakers: Monsoon MM-2000 5 PC Flat Panel Speaker System

Laser Printer: Samsung ML-1710 Laser Printer
Photo Printer: Canon i850 Bubble Jet Photo Printer - RETAIL
Scanner: Canon CanoScan 5000F USB Flatbed Scanner - RETAIL
Camera: CANON PowerShot S400 4.0MP Digital Camera Retail

Memory card reader: USB-2 FLASH 6-1 RDR IWILL Model CR620
Retail 6-in-1 Memory Card Reader/Writer

Compact flash card: Dane-Elec 256MB COMPACT FLASH
COMPACTFLASH MEMORY CARD TYPE I - RETAIL

UPS: Belkin 1200VA UPS

Router: Linksys BEFSX41 Broadband EtherFast Cable/DSL
Firewall Router with 4-Port Switch/VPN - RETAIL

TIA
- Dave Kistner
 
most-bang-for-the-buck whenever you say this here, (pc-homebuilt) the
AMD'rs will pounce....its like their slogan ;^)

Case: (I built my own case from scratch) well thats a new one....PSU is
new?
NM seen the listing for the PSU....cool

Not a fan of gigabyte, but there are far worse boards out there, I take it
there was something included with this board that made you go for it.

No need for any superman coolers for it , the stock one is more than
adequate.


Speakers: Monsoon MM-2000 5 PC Flat Panel Speaker System, these are great
...if you can still find them, I did find a couple of listings while trying
to find the web page for monsoon for someone...it looks like they have
dropped the computer line of speakers and gone all automobile.

What operating system will you be using? 1 gig of ram will need some
registry/tweaking before it will be used properly.

Much you will not be able to do without ANY type of floppy, so geezer it up,
still need those bad boys...regardless of the age of the tech.


ehhhh just my two sense, I normally let the crazy modders answer these
posts, just to see what crazy road they will try and take you down.
 
Sony makes a DVD+/-RW, and a couple other companies are supposed to be on
the verge of releasing there own. I would consider one that will handle both
formats.

Take a look at the Cyberpower UPS- great unit, excellent customer support.
I've been running mine for about 6 months with no problems.

Fitz
 
| Sony makes a DVD+/-RW, and a couple other companies are supposed to be on
| the verge of releasing there own. I would consider one that will handle both
| formats.

LiteOn has one out now, model LDW-400D. It's about $240 including shipping from
Newegg. I haven't seen it yet, but it should be great if it's anything like
their CD-RWs.

Larc



§§§ - Please raise temperature of mail to reply by e-mail - §§§
 
Dave,

0. 8KNXP is reliable, at this point the bios needs fixes, but works well
within its limitations:
Gigaraid (ITE) raid is slow,
Has trouble detecting SATA boot devices.
Cant boot off SATA if an IDE disc is in Primary IDE.

1. The pure copper zalman exceeds Intel's weight recommendation and offers
only marginally better cooling than the AL-CU hybrid. The AL-CU hybrid is at
Intels weight limit (according to the zalman site). Either way both are
excellent.

2. Go for a +- DVD burner.

3. Rounded Floppy cable.

4. Backup? On DVD?

5. OS? If you are going to install XP, make sure you put SP 1 in straight
away (for USB2 & patches).

6. Memory: PC3200, you will not get any over clocking out of it.

7. 2.4GHz CPU - shop around, the price difference between this and the 2.8
is marginal. 16% performance increase is worth the effort.

Considered a dual? They *are* a dream.

- Tim
 
most-bang-for-the-buck whenever you say this here, (pc-homebuilt) the
AMD'rs will pounce....its like their slogan ;^)
Click to expand...

Simple fact of the matter is, that at this point in time, it's true! ;-)
 
| > most-bang-for-the-buck whenever you say this here, (pc-homebuilt)
the
| > AMD'rs will pounce....its like their slogan ;^)
|
| Simple fact of the matter is, that at this point in time, it's true!
;-)

If it is true, I can't see it. Need too much extra cooling etc.
 
| > most-bang-for-the-buck whenever you say this here, (pc-homebuilt)
the
| > AMD'rs will pounce....its like their slogan ;^)
|
| Simple fact of the matter is, that at this point in time, it's true!
;-)

If it is true, I can't see it. Need too much extra cooling etc.
Click to expand...

Simple math m8, here in Oz, and these prices are boxed CPUs, with *perfectly
adequate* stock cooling, taken from a single reputable supplier:

Celeron 2.2Ghz AUD$137
AthlonXP 2200+ AUD$143

Now, be objective about this, which of the above do you think would be the
better performer? ;-)

Then again, if you want the lowest spec'd P4, the 2.4Ghz, you'll have to
shell out AUD$331 at the same place. Now, do you honestly think the P4's
performance will be more than twice that of the Athlon, or the Celeron for
that matter, commensurate with it's price??? :-)

Look, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Intel processors, or that
they don't have the higher-end performance market licked, but it's an
undeniable fact that for entry-level, bang-for-buck stuff the ball's still
in AMD's court! Do the math! ;-)
 
Simple math m8, here in Oz, and these prices are boxed CPUs, with *perfectly
adequate* stock cooling, taken from a single reputable supplier:

Celeron 2.2Ghz AUD$137
AthlonXP 2200+ AUD$143


told ya
 
wayne said:
I would up the processor to one that can take advantage of hyperthreading.
2.4 is really the bottom of the line as far as speed goes.
Click to expand...

The 2.4C that the o/p is talking about *does* have hyperthreading. And
considering how easily it overclocks (if the o/p wanted to) it seems to
represent really good value.

SteveH
 
unless you're planning on using ECC ram the 875P boards are a waste of money
as, depending on the manufacture, they offer nothing over the 865PE boards.
take a look at the Albatron PX865PE Pro II. with the money you save you'll
be able to get a faster processor.

i don't know about the SATA drives but the ATA WD JB drives are about the
loudest ones out there. if noise is a concern you may want to stop by
www.silentpcreview.com and have a look around.

you could get a 4x NEC 1300A DVD+/- RW drive for less than the plextor,
about $140, it's arguably the best DVD writer available right now.

also the lite-on CDRW drives are pretty much the drives of choice. in some
ways they're even better than plextor for significantly less money.

i would certainly choose an APC UPS over a Belkin.
 
Simple math m8, here in Oz, and these prices are boxed CPUs, with
*perfectly
adequate* stock cooling, taken from a single reputable supplier:

Celeron 2.2Ghz AUD$137
AthlonXP 2200+ AUD$143


told ya
Click to expand...

No point being parochial when money's involved IMHO, best value for money
gets me everytime! The moment that's a P4 with HT you'll see one in my
system pronto! ;-)
 
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