upgrade - all new hardware

[spaceAlien]

I am going to upgrade my Win98 machine by buying all new hardware.

I have been shopping at www.allstarshop.com (http://www.allstarshop.com) and have come up with the
following list:

Superpower Zephyr Desktop ATX Case w/200W Power $47.00
MSI K7T Pro 2-A Socket A VIA KT133 ATX AGP Motherboard $111.75
AMD Duron Processor - 750MHz Socket A (Retail) $90.00
128MB SDRAM 16Mx64-7.5 PC-133 3.3V Unbuffered DIMM $48.95
Western Digital 20GB Caviar 7200RPM ATA/100 Hard Drive (BARE) $111.00
CD-RW Drive 4x4x24 Mitsumi Int. ATAPI (White Box) $96.50
Floppy Drive 1.44MB 3.5" Panasonic Int. Ivory (Drive Only) $9.95
Diamond SupraMax 56 V.90 PCI Data/Fax Internal (White Box) $22.75
ATI XPERT 2000 PRO 32MB AGP 4X (White Box) $82.00
ViewSonic 17" E70 $186.00
Microsoft IntelliMouse PS/2 (Bulk) $11.50
Microsoft Natural Elite 104-key PS/2 (Brown Box) $16.25
-------
Subtotal $833.65

Questions:
* Is allstarshop a good place to buy? They have all the parts, good prices, a fast web site, but not great selection ??
* I really want a desktop with horizontal 3.5 bays - this is the best they have
* mobo has: AGP 4X , ATA 100 , on board sound -- looks like a good deal ? Should I consider a Micro ATX mobo ???
* How do I check if the SDRAM is compatible with the mobo?
* video -- seems like I need 32MB + AGP4X ??

Notes:
* The only brands I know + like are Western Digital and ViewSonic
* I want a cd-rw, but have no idea what brand to buy
* ditto with the modem, fdd
* I have replaced a cpu (set jumpers, etc) but have never built a peecee from pieces like this

TIA for any advice --
grins

[Paleo Pete]

Don't know about allstarshop, haven't dealt with them, so I can't say anything concerning reliability either way. Most of the prices look good, match or beat CSO (http://www.computersurplusoutlet.com).

Most of the components look ok, I would definitely stay away from that modem, it's PCI which means winmodem, and that's the worst kind. Look around for a hardware based modem, it will cost a bit more, but will be much better in the long run. ISA modems are almost always hardware modems, if the board you plan to use has an ISA slot. Many still do, but they are being phased out in favor of PCI.

The power supply will be a bit weak for the components you want to run, look for at least 250W, and I would go with 300W if possible. I don't think 200W will handle the system you're planning to build.

I would also stay away from a motherboard with onboard anything. It's getting hard to find non-integrated motherboards, since most major manufacturers tend to build with major computer companies in mind, not home builders, but onboard sound or graphics can run into problems later if you want to upgrade.

Pricewatch (http://www.pricewatch.com) also has many sites listed that have good prices. The prices you posted look good, if you can find out they are a good outfit, go for it.

------------------
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[spaceAlien]

Hey Pete,

Thanks for your advice -- I really appreciate it.

Are all PCI modems WinModems?

Cheers --

[blazer2boy]

Here are a few sites that I use.
www.Buy.com (http://www.Buy.com) and www.ibuyer.net. (http://www.ibuyer.net.)

I just bought a 128Mb ram from buy.com after the $20 mail in rebate
the price is under $39.00.

Also check the shipping costs you would incure as this will add to your
cost.

Good Luck

[Randy_tx]

Not all PCI modems are software based. My favorite is any PCI modem with the Lucent chipset. I've run tons of modem tests in the last 2 yrs and Lucent is tops. Good luck

[spaceAlien]

OK -- Here's what I find --

I want newest features :
AGP 4X, ATA/100, P133, 200Mhz FSB, etc

But newest mobos have *no* ISA and I can't find a PCI modem that isn't WinModum http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

What's the Answer?

*** D-Link 56K V.90 USB Modem ***

This is an external modem, but NO POWER BRICK !!! Takes 950mw from USB !!

Blue Skies ...

[Shi]

see if this board isn't what you are looking for? http://www.motherboards.com/catalog/product_info.php?category_id=4&index_id=7&subcategory_id=&products_id=347&
its socket A, ultra ata100/66/33, 200/266 fsb, agp2x/4x, 5 pci/1 isa, pc-100/133, and supports 1.5G mem(3 168 pin dimm's)
seems to be like the next step up from what you had.cost is more($151 vs. $111), but look around some and it may be lower...this is only the second site i looked at...its made by abit and theres a review i believe of the hardware on site...oops no there isn't...that was another board i guess. look around a bit more....hope this will help a bit...im a newbie but i just matched features you asked for

[Shi]

duh! i forgot the part i started the post for. i agree with pci modems are hard to work with....i ended up taking mine back and trading it for el-cheapo best data 56fw-isa with rockwell chipset(i think it was $27 at Best Buy)and have had it for almost a year now....its a great modem..going to dsl this year, but im definately connecting faster than most of my friends on a dial-up(consistantly connecting at 48-51kbs)

[Paleo Pete]

A bit more info to help figure out and avoid winmodems. Hardware modems can be found in PCI form, but it's not easy.

Check the box. A CPU requirement means winmodem. That's the CPU requirement for the software to run. Hardware modems have no CPU requirements, they run on a processor of their own, rather than dragging yours down.

LTwinmodem, HSF or HCF always means software modem. PCI modem usually does too, when winmodems got a bad name, (for very good reasons) the name PCI modem was adopted to fool the consumer.

Lucent invented the winmodem, if they make a hardware based modem I don't know about it. Then again, I haven't even taken a second glance at anything that says Lucent on it in 4 years...The main problem with the LT winmodem is it was designed to "talk" to other Lucent modems, and most ISP's don't use them. So you log on, your modem finds it can't talk to the server and disconnects. Then you're at a friend's house posting a question here... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

Epinions (http://www.epinions.com/cmhd-Modems-All-3Com_56K_Winmodem(r)_PCI_Faxmodem) Several opinions about the 3Com software modems, with some pretty good explanations of the problems involved and reasons for them.

Beware Soft Modems (http://www.56k.com/reports/winmodem.shtml) from 56K.com has some pretty good info too.

I found a half dozen other links the first time the winmodem issue came up, and have never been able to find them again, but I'm still looking.

The board Shi posted above looks pretty good, price is decent, even though a bit more, and Abit is a well known and reputable company.

------------------
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

[spaceAlien]

greetingsEarthlings --

I want to thenk averybody for all thier help --
it is very much appreciated.

The order has gone -- here are notes:

* I had a slimline desktop at the last place I worked, and liked it -- micro atx has limited mobo options --
Went with a mid-tower in the end.

* Got a 750 TBird rather than a Duron based on advice from a P.F.Y. who works for me

* Went with the D-link external USB modem -- I'll be interested to see how a usb device with no power brick performs...

* got 16MB video rather than 32MB -- decision based on ignorance http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

* bought everything through the one supplier -- allstarshop

Thanks again for everyone's help

spaceAlien