V DOWN FOR CURRENT SPECS V



As some of you know, I have been planning to build a computer this summer for some time. I plan on ordering the parts about May 5th or so so they will arrive before exams and vacation.

As far as I know, my budget is about 1500 (I pay 1000 my parents pay 500 since we need a new computer anyways =P)

Here is a list of main parts that I hope to have and also a list that I have made that contains all those parts.

Note, I chose some of these based on reviews (seeing which had the most reviews than which had the best reviews out of those)

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current specs
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https://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/PublicWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=6228147&WishListTitle=Computer+build

Processor: AMD 5200 x2 or greater. I want to get AMD because I think it will have a greater chance that I will be able to upgrade the processor without getting a new motherboard. I read somewhere that all AM3 processors will be backwards compatible with AM2, but not not the other way around. http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103759

GPU: A dx10 Nvidia card, something that will be able to run Crysis, GOW, and UT3 at high settings =D http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16814130082

Case: NZXT Lexa case http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811146018

Motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131011

PSU: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16817139002 Read the review from HardOCP that Klr posted, seems like a pretty good PSU

RAM: 2gb ddr2 800 sdram http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145168

HD: 320 gb hd http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822148140

Disk drives: Got 2 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135146

Monitor: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16824002122

And Windows Vista Premium OEM, not sure about the

I think I am going to order an anti-static band while i'm at it, is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899888207 ok? OOOOR I might just get a small kit like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16899888202

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current specs
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All help is appreciated Wink

EDIT: Also, I have heard that there will be a price drop on AMD chips April 7 Smile

EDIT2: Updated part list, take a look at the link to, its updated.
Looks great! I really like the case and that video card, HOLY $*#@!
Thanks, I am hoping that I can build it correctly though... It would realllllly suck to screw it up Razz

If anyone sees any compatability problems PLEASE POST! Thanks!

Oh yeah, and by the way, the price drop will be the 9th, not the 7th
"
Effective April 9, 2007 AMD will reduce suggested prices on select processors sold through authorized distributors.

AMD X2 Series:

6000+ - 49%
5600+ - 43%
5200+ - 24%
5000+ - 26%
4800+ - 38%
4400+ - 30%
4000+ - 28%
3800+ - 27%
3600+ - 22%

AMD FX Series

FX-74 - 20%
FX-72 - 25%
"

Because of this I might be able to upgrade to 5600 or 6000 Shock
Nice, and I highly doubt that you will screw it up. I do not think I see any compatibility problems, but I have only built one computer so don't look at me for much help. Wink
Ok, I think that the one that will help the most will be Klr though Wink

The am2 6000 x2 chip's price will basically be cut in half Shock
There is no AM3, at least not that I have heard of - not sure where you got that....

The motherboard is a little lacking, though. Try to get one with a 590 SLI chipset (higher performance, more features). There is only one IDE channel because everything is switching to SATA - it has absolutely nothing to do with USB whatsoever (not sure where/how you made that connection...) I personally love my ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe WiFi, although it was $200+ when I bought it, newegg now carries it for $185. I still urge you to look into a 590 SLI powered mobo though, especially if you plan to keep it around for a while.

I'm not too thrilled about that PSU - it doesn't seem all that great. If you can scrap up the difference, this one will be much, MUCH better. Of particular importance is that this PSU put out 620 watts (100% load) at 45c while maintaining over 80% efficiency - not something many other high-end PSUs can claim, much less budget junkers like the one you were looking at - note the 45c part, as most PSUs are rated at 25c (or thereabouts), which is unrealistic and boosts the rated power substantially: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139002 - review of it here: http://enthusiast.hardocp.com/article.html?art=MTMwMSwxLCxoZW50aHVzaWFzdA==

RAM looks fine - good choice there. Same with the video card. I'm personally not a fan of the case you picked, but its got plenty of airflow and should please you - assuming you like the way it looks, that is. Hard drive looks fine as well, although I prefer the Western Digital drives myself - but they are more or less the same

Ditch that DVD burner - get one that uses SATA. SATA is so crazy better than IDE, you'll be kicking yourself for sticking with that huge, gray beast of a cable instead of the sleek sexiness of the SATA cord Razz especially since there are now quite a few of them and they aren't much more than the IDE variants: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000100005+1038406820&Subcategory=5&description=&Ntk=&srchInDesc=

Monitor: Highly, HIGHLY recommend the NEC 90GX2 ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Description=90gx2&x=0&y=0 ). Its 19", $210, and looks spectacular. Although many monitors claim single-digit response times (this one has rated of 4ms), I can tell you I have seen ZERO ghosting in games OR movies. I'm using one right now, and I can't wait till I can get a second one (it's making this 17in CRT I had been using look like utter crap). My dad is hoping that I leave it here when I go to college so he can use it (heh, yeah right Razz ), and my friends are always drooling over it. Bright, crisp, clear - worth every penny, especially since NEC has amazing customer service. I had one dead pixel and they cross shipped a brand new one to me and paid shipping both ways, so all it cost me was the paper to print out the label and the gas to drive it to a fedex store.
On the am3, I read an article somewhere and also found an article on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AM3 and also http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3169
Search am3 on google and a few links come up, and I am pretty sure its true.

I will take a look and replace the motherboard and psu, thanks.

I do like the case and one reason that I chose those drives were because they actually had a silver front Razz
I am open to suggestions about a different case though.
But both those drives where IDE - avoid it like the plague and get a SATA drive instead. Just trust me on this one Wink

Besides, it doesn't matter what color the drives are, as they will be hidden by the door on the case Razz
Ok, thanks Smile

I will add 2 sata drives later, I gtg right now.
here is another thing on color, how often do you look at the tower, and do you really think it is going to effect the machine? My parents computer is beige, but the DVD burner is Black on it, looks out of place, but ah well.
Ok, I'm getting 2 of these drives http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135146

And your right, it won't really matter.
Looks like a solid drive - hope you like it. Although I'm partial to the faster plextor burners, they are like $50 more than the Asus you picked out. I think a couple people here bought the Samsung SATA burner, and I have a friend who did as well - its not bad.
No problems here with the SATA samsung. My motherboard doesn't recognize it for the alarm clock feature, but I haven't messed with it so there's a good chance it's my fault.

As for the case, I love the looks of it. I would have got that one, but it pressed my budget a little too far.
Surprised I just realized that while that costs less than 1500 with all that (not tax though), I don't have Vista in there Sad

Should I get OEM or upgrade?
32-bit OEM is what I would go with, although I guess if you are adventurous you could get the 64-bit OEM. But either way, get the OEM edition unless you plan on swapping out the motherboard a whole bunch Very Happy (not likely with a $180 mostly future-proof board w/ a nForce 590 SLI chipset)
Kllrnohj wrote:
32-bit OEM is what I would go with, although I guess if you are adventurous you could get the 64-bit OEM. But either way, get the OEM edition unless you plan on swapping out the motherboard a whole bunch Very Happy (not likely with a $180 mostly future-proof board w/ a nForce 590 SLI chipset)


Why wouldn't I get 64-bit?
Driver support is spotty to put it nicely Very Happy not to mention other core changes that render some programs inoperable - more so than 32-bit Vista, and I heard something about a kernel-level lockout that is supposed to help stop viruses, but also ends up locking out most anti-virus software - but I'm not sure if that "feature" made the cut.

EDIT: Oh, and I heard you can only use WHQL-certified drivers with the 64-bit version of vista (a major limiting point for things like, say, TILP)
Sounds like a good enough reson for me! Any reason why I WOULD get it?
Slight speed improvement (64-bit calculations are faster than 32-bit calculations), supports 4gb+ of RAM (instead of the ~3gb max in XP), more 'future-proof' (face it, 64-bit is the future - the question is whether or not you want to be an 'early-adopter' - aka, a beta tester Very Happy ) I mean I've been using 64-bit since I got this computer (something like 6-7 months ago) - but this is with Linux where 64-bit support is excellent and driver support is plentiful
Kllrnohj wrote:
Slight speed improvement (64-bit calculations are faster than 32-bit calculations), supports 4gb+ of RAM (instead of the ~3gb max in XP), more 'future-proof' (face it, 64-bit is the future - the question is whether or not you want to be an 'early-adopter' - aka, a beta tester Very Happy )


I *might* get ultimate upgrade edition so I can reinstall it as 64 bit when more 64 bit programs come out... Depends though, I can get 32 bit ultimate oem for 200 Wink
  
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