New PC

[xLastShotx]

Hi, I'm planning on building myself a new pc this week, because my current pc is starting to get to slow for me (it can't even play The Sims 2 at low settings without locking up), I have picked out some parts but I am not shure if I should go with them or not, im on a pretty tight budget. Here is the list of parts:
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535)
Motherboard: BIOSTAR N4SLI-A9 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138253)
RAM: A-DATA 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR SDRAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820211013)
Graphic Cards: eVGA Geforce 6600GT 128 GDDR3 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130214)
Case: XION Black XION II XON-101 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811208005)

Im gunna use my old harddrive and cdrw drive, Is this a good setup? Will all these parts work well together? And will the power supply that comes with that case be good enough to power that system (im planning on buying another one of those graphics cards later to run SLI)?

My current system is listed below:
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2600 core Barton fsb 333
Motherboard: FIC AU13
Graphic Card: ATI ALL-IN-WONDER 9000 64mb
RAM: Mushkin PC2700 512DDR SDRAM

[saphalline]

Welcome to the PC Guide Forums!! :D

Have you looked at my sticky (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=39018) yet? I wouldn't recommend that RAM. And if you're really that tight on your budget, maybe you should drop down to a cheaper system?

As for the power supply that comes with the case, not a chance! I don't trust bundled PSU's for anything but older secondary systems. Gaming systems deserve better. Check my sticky for high quality PSU's - but I warn you, they aren't cheap.

How much money do you have to work with?

[xLastShotx]

I Have About 450 dollars max and thats kinda pushig it rite now, I Found a power supply that would work but theres no way I could afford that also id have to save up for it later, if I can't get all the parts then i will just buy what I can now and save up for the rest later.

[saphalline]

if I can't get all the parts then i will just buy what I can now and save up for the rest later.Not the best idea. Computer components aren't exactly a good investment. New stuff is always coming out, and the old stuff is always coming down in price. If you can't afford it all at once, just wait. It's cheaper that way in the long run.

The PSU issue is a sticky one. You can try using the one that comes with the case. I definitely wouldn't recommend it, and I will warn you about frying all your parts, but it's your call.

If this PC is for gaming, I would suggest dropping down to a Sempron64 system and getting a better vid card. You won't get SLI support, but it doesn't exactly sound like you can afford it anyway.

[xLastShotx]

If I get the Sempron do you think I should get this MoBo: EPoX EP-8NPA SLI ATX (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123257) Its not to much more expensive than the other one but this is SLI capible, so I could buy a second card later so I can run SLI later without having to change everything again later.

[saphalline]

Hmmm... Yes I suppose that one would work, if you're really on an SLI trip. And by going with a Sempron-based system, you'll be shaving off nearly $100 just on the CPU alone. The lack of RAM slots is sad, so you may have to adjust your RAM spending and consider a single stick of 1GB rather than 2 x 512 (unless you don't expect to ever need more than 1GB total).

Why are you so intent on SLI, anyway?

[xLastShotx]

I don't have to have SLI, I just wan't somthing that won't have any trouble playing new games, I'm sick of my All-In-Wonder 9000 it only runs at 4x in the AGP slot. What parts would you recomend? I Just need a MO-BO, CPU, Graphics Card, Case, and PSU; The Less it cost the better.

[saphalline]

You need RAM, too, right?

$73.49 - Gigabyte GA-K8NE (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128308), NForce4-4X, Socket 754

$75.50 - Sempron64 2800+ retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104245), Socket 754

$76.76 - Patriot Signature Series 1GB kit (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820220057), 2 x 512MB, PC3200

$163.99 - Sapphire Radeon X800 GTO 256MB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102602), PCIe x16

$75.98 - Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937), 500W, ATX 3.0

Total = $465.72

Case is your choice. You can shave $40 or so by going with a GeForce 6600 GT, but I wouldn't recommend it. The Radeon X800 GTO is much more powerful. Or you could go with the 6600 GT and that other SLI mobo. That would work, too.

It's up to you, but you're right - that budget is extremely tight. Especially for gaming. Another $100 would go a long way towards buying more performance.

[xLastShotx]

I think I need ram, would my Mushkin PC2700 512mb DDR work in that mo-bo? If It does that would save me 76 bucks, I could always buy more ram later.

[saphalline]

Oh yeah! There you go! Just use that RAM for now. It will work fine. Not much total RAM, but it will get you by for now.

Ok good, that saves a nice chunk of money right there. Can't think of anywhere else to save money, though. A 6600 GT will beat the $#*^ out of a Radeon 9000, if that makes a difference. Don't know if you've ever used a "real" gaming system before, or seen one in action, but the vid card makes the most difference. That's why I picked the Radeon X800 GTO - better than the 6600 GT and not a whole lot more expensive. I may be picking up one of these for myself on my next upgrade.

[xLastShotx]

I have played BF2 and Call of Duty 2 on my uncles pc he's got a Gateway 7200xl which has the x800 graphics card in it, and that system is amazing although he wants to get a newer system.

[saphalline]

Oh cool! Which X800 does he have? There are about 8 versions with the title of "X800" in them somewhere. :p That's why it's important to know about hardware. Or rather, that's why I'm here.

[xLastShotx]

I Have a pretty new Antec SL350 Power Source (http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=25350) Power Source, do you think I could get by using this one, also I don't really need a new case I could use my old one, nothings rong with it, I would just have to change the fans in it.

[xLastShotx]

My Uncle has this exact PC >This One< (http://reviews.designtechnica.com/review2305_specs11534.html)

[saphalline]

That PSU is seriously pushing it. I don't know if it would even power-up that new hardware. You can try it if you really have no choice, but if it doesn't work, you'll have to wait for a new PSU to be delivered. I always hate waiting for just one part. It's annoying.

Oh he has just the regular X800, huh? Your X800 GTO will be a bit better. :D With only 512MB of RAM and a slower CPU to start with, your gaming performance will be ever so slightly less than your uncle's PC. But then again you'll probably end up spending a fraction of what he paid for his! :cool: It pays to build your own gaming system.

[xLastShotx]

Do you think theres a big deference between an 800Mhz FSB and a 1000Mhz FSB? lol yeah he paid full price for that pc he got it when it came out I think it cost him like 2 or 3 grand

[saphalline]

That gets into CPU microarchitectures, and I'm pretty sure you don't want to go down that rabbit hole (http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=34050) yet. For your benefit I'll keep it simple and just compare CPU's.

That Sempron64 2800+ is slower than that P4 Prescott 3.4GHz of his. For the purposes of gaming, the Sempron64 2800+ performs about as well as a P4 Prescott at 2.9-3.0GHz.

[xLastShotx]

That Processor will still perform way better than what I have now. Thanks for your help, Its hard to find people who are willing to help as much as you did.

[saphalline]

Help is what we pride ourselves on around here. Don't be afraid to ask more questions.

Also, don't be afraid to check out some of the other sections of the forums. We've got a lot of really knowledgable people around here who can help you with everything from storage/partition tips to security crack-downs to trying your hand at Linux. I'd suggest a perusal through a few threads in those areas if you have the time. Security in particular is recommended these days, and getting some tips on how to partition and manage your hard drive for the new installation on your new system would also be worthwhile (you can also get some back-up tips before you have to reinstall Windows).

[xLastShotx]

Alrite Thanks Alot

[xLastShotx]

Should I Spend 50 Dollars extra on the CPU and get the AMD Sempron 64 3400+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104231) instead of the AMD Sempron 64 2800+ (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819104245)? is 600mhz worth 50 dollars?