Building a PC

[SpiderPig_Squad]

These are parts i am planning to put together to make a gaming PC, right now since this is my first PC, and my pockets pretty small, i just want to confirm with you guys if these are good parts to buy...i plan to upgrade as i get more and more money, but for now i just want to know if these parts are compatible...

These are the parts i plan to order for my PC

--2GB RAM, DDR2

http://www.newegg.com/Prod
uct/Product.aspx?Item=N82E
16820231098#spec

--MOTHERBOARD, LGA775, ATX

http://www.clubit.com/prod
uct_detail.cfm?itemno=A483
0994&CMP=OTC-Adwords&gclid
=CNmzy-_DzI0CFQlQWAod-VB0M
Q#

--PSU, 480W, Dual fan

http://www.geeks.com/detai
ls.asp?invtid=PSOM480&cat=
CAS

--OPTICAL DRIVE, DVD-ROM, CD-RW

http://www.shopping.com/xP
O-Sony-CRX-300A-CRX300A

--HDD, 500GB

http://www.staples.com/web
app/wcs/stores/servlet/Sta
plesProductDisplay?storeId
=10001&productId=147050&ts
=1185663700780&cmArea=SC3%
3ACG18%3ADP1928&catalogId=
10051&langId=-1&specTabId=
1#desclink

--CPU, Core 2 Duo, 2.66GHz, LGA775

http://www.directron.com/b
x80557e6750.html

-CASE, ATX/M-ATX

http://www.tigerdirect.com
/applications/SearchTools/
item-details.asp?EdpNo=143
5578&Sku=D15-2026

yeah, i looked around for these parts so i could get the cheapest for the best price...right now i just want something to be but together and working, then ill work on buying a better processor, a nice vidcard etc.

[odannyboy000]

Fix your links.

[SpiderPig_Squad]

FIXED LINKS


These are parts i am planning to put together to make a gaming PC, right
now since this is my first PC, and my pockets pretty small, i just want to confirm with you guys if these are good parts to buy...i plan to upgrade as i get more and more money, but for now i just want to know if these parts are compatible...

These are the parts i plan to order for my PC

--2GB RAM, DDR2 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098#spec)

--MOTHERBOARD, LGA775, ATX (http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A4830994&CMP=OTC-Adwords&gclid=CNmzy-_DzI0CFQlQWAod-VB0MQ#)

--PSU, 480W, Dual fan (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PSOM480&cat=CAS)

--OPTICAL DRIVE, DVD-ROM, CD-RW (http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Sony-CRX-300A-CRX300A)

--HDD, 500GB (http://www.staples.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StaplesProductDisplaystoreId=10001&productId=147050&ts=1185663700780&cmArea=SC3%3ACG18%3ADP1928&catalogId=10051&langId=-1&specTabId=1#desclink)

--CPU, Core 2 Duo, 2.66GHz, LGA775 (http://www.directron.com/bx80557e6750.html)

-CASE, ATX/M-ATX (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1435578&Sku=D15-2026)


yeah, i looked around for these parts so i could get the cheapest for the best price...right now i just want something to be but together and working, then ill work on buying a better processor, a nice vidcard etc.

[saphalline]

Ok, this needs a lot of work...

Let's assume a budget of "minimum", ie, cheapest possible gaming system:

CPU - $95 - Intel Pentium Dual-Core E2160 Allendale retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116036)

mobo - $95 - Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3L P35 chipset retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059)

RAM - $110 - Crucial Ballistix 2GB kit DDR2-800 4-4-4-12 retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820146565)

Vid Card - $90 - EVGA GeForce 7600 GT PCIe x16 retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062)

HDD - $95 - WD 400GB SATA 300 w/16MB cache OEM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076)

Optical - $33 - Asus 18X dual-layer DVD burner w/LightScribe retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135149)

PSU - $65 - Thermaltake 450W ATX 3.2 retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153057)

TOTAL = $583, so far, not including shipping.

Obviously there are more components to pick out. The case you linked to looks good, but only because it's cheap. :p Just FYI, though, the reason we all shop at only one or two online stores is because shipping is cheaper with multiple items! Plus, some of those stores you picked out are less than ideal, either because of reputation or exhorbitant prices.

This gives you a place to start, though.

[SpiderPig_Squad]

thank you so much, viewing that list shows me that i really didnt shop around well. damn, u must be a pro lol, those are cheap and reliable(from looking at the reviews) i will probably take some of those items to my list...

what other parts am i missing?

lol, i really am new to this...thanks for the advice, plz help meee!!

[saphalline]

u must be a pro lolHaha! Yeah, I guess you could say that...

System design is complex. Building is no more difficult than riding a bike by comparison.

What else... Well, depending on the final case decision, you may need more case fans to keep everything from overheating. Gaming hardware today produces so much more heat than it used to - the PSU alone can no longer handle cooling duties. You must have case fans! Usually, at the minimum, one up front for intake & HDD cooling, and one in back for exhaust. The case you picked out is nice because it has a side window and fan for only $30. And while the fan is not ideally placed, it's only $30! :p Some allowances have to be made for budgets.

Other things you will need:

- Operating system. Do you have a spare copy of Windows to slap on here? Or will you need to buy WinXP Pro or Vista Home Premium 64-bit, or whatever?

- Peripherals. Most gamers make the mistake of spending over $1000 on their system and then try to play games with a cr@ppy $35 wireless keyboard/mouse combo. :rolleyes: You want to play with the big boys & girls?? Try getting a real mouse (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/mice_keyboards/devices/135&cl=us,en) and keyboard (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/gaming/pc_gaming/mice_keyboards/devices/180&cl=us,en)!! :cool:

- Monitor. Do you have one? And more importantly, is it any good? LCD or old CRT? Can it at least play games at 1280 x 1024? Or are you stuck with a tiny beige beast that's turning yellow? 17" LCD monitors are relatively cheap these days, and more than up to the task of gaming and watching movies. Don't jump on this unless you need to, or unless you have the extra money. A small budget has its limits, and spending less than you thought is always nice! ;)

[SpiderPig_Squad]

yah, i totally 4got bout the OS, im going with XP, not that buggy vista

i do have a 20" sony screen gatherting dust.

Updated List

-Mobo: GIGABYTE $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059

-Vidcard: EVGA $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062

-HDD: Western Digital $95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076

-Opt.Drive: ASUS $33
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076

-Case: Xman $54
http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=236&s=969&ID=38239&P=F

-PSU: Omega $14
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=PSOM480&cat=CAS

-CPU: Intel Core2 Duo $208
http://www.directron.com/bx80557e6750.html

-RAM: G.Skill $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspxItem=N82E16820231098#spec

$679

what do you think?

[saphalline]

The RAM link is broken for some reason. Is it DDR2-800 with CAS4 and all that?

You need to buy a better PSU. A $14 PSU is about as useful and reliable as a rice-paper viewport on a submarine!! Remember that every component plugs into the PSU, so if it dies a horrible death with sparks and fire, you can expect to buy all new parts again! Protect your investment by locking down the power aspect - high quality PSU and at least a surge protector, if not a UPS w/power regulation.

Other than that, it all looks good. Although I will say that any extra money left over should go to a better vid card. The one I picked out initially is about as low as you can go and still have a "gaming system". :D So if you can spend any more money in that area, you'd improve your gaming experiences greatly. Just FYI.

[SpiderPig_Squad]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098#spec
^if u want to see, thats the fixed link for the RAM, and yes it is DDr2-800 wit CAS4

hmm, my MAX budget is around $725 (including shiiping & evrything) so i think i can get a bettr PSU. hows the one below?

-Rosewill 500W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182004)

i think its a good PSU, just want your take on it.

[saphalline]

The RAM you linked to is actually only 5-5-5-15, but it should be fine. I couldn't find better RAM at 4-4-4-12 for that price, and the 1GB kits are too expensive to consider.

That PSU is merely OK, but at least it's better than a cr@ppy $14 PSU! :p If you can afford the one I linked to, though... that would be better.

There might be a few more ways to squeeze the cost down, too. A lesser CPU would be my first suggestion. While that E6750 is an awesome CPU, you don't need all that power. An E6420 or E6550 would do you just fine and are a bit cheaper.

[SpiderPig_Squad]

i thought a higher clocking number on the RAM would mean better...

about the CPU, i want anything above 2.1GHz. and yeah, for my budget i overkilled. this would be nice:
-Intel Core2 Duo E4500. 2.2GHz (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115031)

yet, looking around i found this little nugget:
-Intel Pentium D930. 3.0GHz!!! for $150 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116238)

but after seeing that, im wondering, is a dual-core better? even if it runs at less GHz?

[saphalline]

Ah, you've fallen into the clock speed pit! ;)

Clock speed means jack-squat these days! A Core 2 Duo at 2GHz is going to slam a Pentium D 3GHz into the ground!! Especially as it pertains to gaming and cooling issues, Core-based CPU's are far superior to the old NetBurst CPU's (ie, Pentium 4, Pentium D, etc). Notice that the new "Pentium Dual Core" CPU's are Core-based, however. Tricksie Intel...

So if you're concerned about performance, any Core 2 Duo with a model number of E6xxx is going to be among the best for gaming right now. Even the old E6300 is a fair performer and certainly has plenty of power for Crysis. The lesser E4xxx series are... well, lesser! Less cache, less FSB speed, less clock speed. Which means that a 2.2GHz E4xxx CPU is going to perform worse than a 2.0GHz E6xxx CPU. Confusing, isn't it? :rolleyes:

[SpiderPig_Squad]

lol, yeah i seem to get it, i see now how it was sooo cheap.

here's my new list:

-Mobo: GIGABYTE $95 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059)

-Vidcard: EVGA $90 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130062)

-HDD: Western Digital $95 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076)

-Opt.Drive: ASUS $33 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136076)

-Case: Xman $54 (http://www.pacificgeek.com/product.asp?c=236&s=969&ID=38239&P=F)

-Rosewill 500W (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182004) $43

-CPU: Intel Core2 Duo E6550 $180 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030)

-RAM: G.Skill $90 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231098#spec)

TOTAL: 680

yo saph, what do you think? thank you SOOOO much for your help. I am forever in your debt, and in my own:p.

[saphalline]

Ummm... you remember you need an OS (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116059), right? I prefer XP Pro, but if you're on a budget... I won't say it because I can't bring myself to ever recommend XP Home. I'll just leave the choice up to you. Don't tell me if you pick Home, though!

Everything else looks good, though!

[SpiderPig_Squad]

Wow, thank youu sooo much. im just gonnna order in a bit, ill tell you how it all turned out later.

EDIT*

now that you have brought up OS's, and i was going to order-well you dont want to hear it. i found this: http://cdxsoftware.com/default.aspx?107=223&104=2480

its too good to be true, is that a trusted vendor?

[SpiderPig_Squad]

aktually, nvm. my friends givin me pro 4 free

[odannyboy000]

I'd go with an optical mouse over laser any day of the week. I have a Logitech MX518 mouse. It is great for gaming.

[saphalline]

I'd go with an optical mouse over laser any day of the week.I'm not sure what you mean by this. Laser mice are optical, just like LED mice. They both have a CMOS camera and a light source. Are you talking about lesser optical mice or laser-based optical mice specifically?

[odannyboy000]

In my experiences laser mice do terribly for gaming...(although it was a WIRELESS laser mouse).

[saphalline]

Admittedly, not all laser-based optical mice are gaming-worthy! I have only used ONE such mouse: Logitech's G7. Also, there are very few laser-based optical mice in general that are gaming-worthy, and they can all be named on a Post-It note!

I'm using the original Logitech G5 right now, with plans to buy a second one shortly (for my new game-testing Linux box). Actually, I'll probably move the one I have over to the Linux box and use the new one on my main gaming machine, but either way!

[SpiderPig_Squad]

ok, i said i would update yall on how its going....its not good...look @ this thread

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=58692