Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

After taking hand-me-down computers from friends for the past several
years, I've finally decided to take the plunge and build my own
monster for the first time.

My present dinosaur is:
Intel 200MHz
4MB Diamond Stealth II video card
2 HDDs ~1GB each
Soundblaster 16 (I think -- it was ripped from an old 486)
64MB RAM
Windows 98SE

Very little could be salvaged from this system, so I'm keeping it
intact and starting from scratch, except for a spare floppy drive I
have sitting around, current monitor, keyboard and mouse. Obviously
_anything_ I end up building would be a vast improvement. I have no
need for brand-spanking-new, whiz-bang, overclocking, souping up,
etcetera. I just want a sturdy system I can hopefully count on for a
few years, with good parts that can be the basis for future upgrades.

Budget is about $400-500.
The machine would mostly be used for internet, graphics/photo editing
(for digital camera), simple sound editing, and older games (my
grandest designs are on The Sims and Ultima VII-IX -- likely no
MMPORPGs or recent 3D games). Sometime in the future I'd also like to
add a TV tuner for video capture.
I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).

Reading here has been very helpful, especially the advice given to not
break the bank with motherboard/processors since upgrade of one will
more than likely mean upgrade of the other. But can the same be said
for video cards? That's where I'm needing the most advice. I'd like
to be able to get a card that can last through a couple of
processor/mobo upgrades if possible...but I have no idea which one
might be best for that.

I'm going with an AMD processor, considering a Sempron. I'm not
locked in to any particular one because of my uncertainty about the
video card...and of course video card choices depend on the
motherboard. It's all very Escherian. So can anyone suggest a good,
forward-designed video card for my desired activities that would go
with an AMD-compatible motherboard, hopefully less than $150?

Or is this an impossible order to fill?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks so much!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Go to tigerdirect.com or newegg.com

the operating system will probably be your biggest set back as far as
price goes.

be sure to buy a case with adequate ventilation and be sure it is
designed for your mobo--i.e. AT; ATX; micro ATX.

DRG



Michelle wrote:
> After taking hand-me-down computers from friends for the past several
> years, I've finally decided to take the plunge and build my own
> monster for the first time.
>
> My present dinosaur is:
> Intel 200MHz
> 4MB Diamond Stealth II video card
> 2 HDDs ~1GB each
> Soundblaster 16 (I think -- it was ripped from an old 486)
> 64MB RAM
> Windows 98SE
>
> Very little could be salvaged from this system, so I'm keeping it
> intact and starting from scratch, except for a spare floppy drive I
> have sitting around, current monitor, keyboard and mouse. Obviously
> _anything_ I end up building would be a vast improvement. I have no
> need for brand-spanking-new, whiz-bang, overclocking, souping up,
> etcetera. I just want a sturdy system I can hopefully count on for a
> few years, with good parts that can be the basis for future upgrades.
>
> Budget is about $400-500.
> The machine would mostly be used for internet, graphics/photo editing
> (for digital camera), simple sound editing, and older games (my
> grandest designs are on The Sims and Ultima VII-IX -- likely no
> MMPORPGs or recent 3D games). Sometime in the future I'd also like to
> add a TV tuner for video capture.
> I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).
>
> Reading here has been very helpful, especially the advice given to not
> break the bank with motherboard/processors since upgrade of one will
> more than likely mean upgrade of the other. But can the same be said
> for video cards? That's where I'm needing the most advice. I'd like
> to be able to get a card that can last through a couple of
> processor/mobo upgrades if possible...but I have no idea which one
> might be best for that.
>
> I'm going with an AMD processor, considering a Sempron. I'm not
> locked in to any particular one because of my uncertainty about the
> video card...and of course video card choices depend on the
> motherboard. It's all very Escherian. So can anyone suggest a good,
> forward-designed video card for my desired activities that would go
> with an AMD-compatible motherboard, hopefully less than $150?
>
> Or is this an impossible order to fill?
>
> Any advice appreciated. Thanks so much!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

v wrote in message <_Fwue.1179$5w3.404@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com>...
>Michelle wrote:
>> I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).
>
>the operating system will probably be your biggest set back as far as
>price goes.
>
>DRG

The latest greatest Debian 'Sarge' GNU/Linux is $25.us, CDr/DVD, shipped to
your doorstep.
<G>
http://linuxcdrs.com/

--
Bob R
POVrookie
--
MinGW (GNU compiler): http://www.mingw.org/
Dev-C++ IDE: http://www.bloodshed.net/
POVray: http://www.povray.org/
alt.comp.lang.learn.c-c++ faq:
http://www.comeaucomputing.com/learn/faq/

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

BobR wrote:

> v wrote in message <_Fwue.1179$5w3.404@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com>...
>
>>Michelle wrote:
>>
>>>I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).
>>
>>the operating system will probably be your biggest set back as far as
>>price goes.
>>
>>DRG
>
>
> The latest greatest Debian 'Sarge' GNU/Linux is $25.us, CDr/DVD, shipped to
> your doorstep.
> <G>
> http://linuxcdrs.com/

Delivered straight to the system for *free* over the internet but a high
speed connection is recommended unless you are a very, very patient person.

>
> --
> Bob R
> POVrookie
> --
> MinGW (GNU compiler): http://www.mingw.org/
> Dev-C++ IDE: http://www.bloodshed.net/
> POVray: http://www.povray.org/
> alt.comp.lang.learn.c-c++ faq:
> http://www.comeaucomputing.com/learn/faq/
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

David Maynard wrote in message <11bm9fto6a9gd4d@corp.supernews.com>...
>BobR wrote:
>> v wrote in message <_Fwue.1179$5w3.404@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com>...
>>>Michelle wrote:
>>>
>>>>I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).
>>>
>>>the operating system will probably be your biggest set back as far as
>>>price goes.
>>>DRG
>>
>> The latest greatest Debian 'Sarge' GNU/Linux is $25.us, CDr/DVD, shipped
to
>> your doorstep.
>> <G>
>> http://linuxcdrs.com/
>
>Delivered straight to the system for *free* over the internet but a high
>speed connection is recommended unless you are a very, very patient person.

With my current set-up/ISP, I could get the *first* ISO (there are ~14) for
about $600.us!! <G>
$25 vs. $8400, snail-mail looks good to me! :-}

For those that don't know, GNU/Linux is free. You are only paying for
burning/media/shipping/donation to *org/downloading.
You can get a bootable, non-hard-drive-tampering CD for $1.00(or DL it).
Look up Knoppix. It's a great way to try out GNU/Linux without having to
install anything.
--
Bob R
POVrookie

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

BobR wrote:
> David Maynard wrote in message <11bm9fto6a9gd4d@corp.supernews.com>...
>
>>BobR wrote:
>>
>>>v wrote in message <_Fwue.1179$5w3.404@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com>...
>>>
>>>>Michelle wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).
>>>>
>>>>the operating system will probably be your biggest set back as far as
>>>>price goes.
>>>>DRG
>>>
>>>The latest greatest Debian 'Sarge' GNU/Linux is $25.us, CDr/DVD, shipped
>
> to
>
>>>your doorstep.
>>><G>
>>>http://linuxcdrs.com/
>>
>>Delivered straight to the system for *free* over the internet but a high
>>speed connection is recommended unless you are a very, very patient person.
>
>
> With my current set-up/ISP, I could get the *first* ISO (there are ~14) for
> about $600.us!! <G>
> $25 vs. $8400, snail-mail looks good to me! :-}

No offense but $600 for 700 meg is an outrageous ISP.


> For those that don't know, GNU/Linux is free. You are only paying for
> burning/media/shipping/donation to *org/downloading.
> You can get a bootable, non-hard-drive-tampering CD for $1.00(or DL it).
> Look up Knoppix. It's a great way to try out GNU/Linux without having to
> install anything.
> --
> Bob R
> POVrookie
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

> After taking hand-me-down computers from friends for the past several
> years, I've finally decided to take the plunge and build my own
> monster for the first time.
>
> My present dinosaur is:
> Intel 200MHz
> 4MB Diamond Stealth II video card
> 2 HDDs ~1GB each
> Soundblaster 16 (I think -- it was ripped from an old 486)
> 64MB RAM
> Windows 98SE
>
> Very little could be salvaged from this system, so I'm keeping it
> intact and starting from scratch, except for a spare floppy drive I
> have sitting around, current monitor, keyboard and mouse. Obviously
> _anything_ I end up building would be a vast improvement. I have no
> need for brand-spanking-new, whiz-bang, overclocking, souping up,
> etcetera. I just want a sturdy system I can hopefully count on for a
> few years, with good parts that can be the basis for future upgrades.

Put Linux on it and fool around with it?

> Budget is about $400-500.

Now, that's a tight budget! Could there possibly be a little more?

> The machine would mostly be used for internet, graphics/photo editing
> (for digital camera), simple sound editing, and older games (my
> grandest designs are on The Sims and Ultima VII-IX -- likely no
> MMPORPGs or recent 3D games). Sometime in the future I'd also like to
> add a TV tuner for video capture.
> I'll also be moving up to Windows XP Home (probably OEM).

With new power, you might end up getting a newer game eventually. Never
build a system based on todays needs. Think of the future and your money is
more wisely spent...

> Reading here has been very helpful, especially the advice given to not
> break the bank with motherboard/processors since upgrade of one will
> more than likely mean upgrade of the other. But can the same be said
> for video cards? That's where I'm needing the most advice. I'd like
> to be able to get a card that can last through a couple of
> processor/mobo upgrades if possible...but I have no idea which one
> might be best for that.
>
> I'm going with an AMD processor, considering a Sempron. I'm not
> locked in to any particular one because of my uncertainty about the
> video card...and of course video card choices depend on the
> motherboard. It's all very Escherian. So can anyone suggest a good,
> forward-designed video card for my desired activities that would go
> with an AMD-compatible motherboard, hopefully less than $150?
>
> Or is this an impossible order to fill?

Glad you want AMD!

Let's look at a good setup for the money:

Video card: eVGA GeForce 6600GT - $150
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130220

Motherboard: MSI K8N Neo Platinum (nVidia nForce 3 250GB) - $100
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813130457

CPU: Athlon64 2800+ - $127 <--- Why buy Sempron when a real Athlon 64 is
this cheap?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103485

Memory: Corsair ValueSelect 1GB (2x512) - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145526

DVD/CD burner: LiteOn 1693S - $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827106988

Case: Antec Sonata - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129127

HDD: Western Digital SATA 160GB 7200RPM - $89
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6822144152

Not including shipping, your at $694. Now, this is a very nice system. These
are top quality parts from very reputable manufacturers. It's on an older
socket 754 platform, but still viable, it has a genuine Athlon64 processor,
a nice, fast video card, lots of memory for your photo editing, good sized
hard drive and a nice, fast dual layer DVD burner, all on a once premium
motherboard from a 1st tier supplier. It also has a very nice, fashionable,
and quiet, Antec Sonata case with a good 380 watt TruePower genuine Antec
power supply. This is more than your $400 -$500 budget but it's also a lot
more computer than you could ever buy at that price range. I could have
found a lesser motherboard for a couple of $ less, and actually got a
Sempron for another couple of $ less, etc, etc., but they're little less
money, but a lot less in performance than you could expect from these parts.

You could get a cheap system on sale somewhere from eMachines or Compaq, as
you can get something comparable with a monitor and lots of installed
software for less. However, you'll likely get a very low-end graphics card,
a Sempron processor, a smaller, slower hard drive (non-SATA), unlikely
you'll get a dual layer DVD burner, and they're bound to have skimped on the
power supplies and quality of the case.

In the end, if you're willing to part with a few more $$$, build something
like above.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

> The latest greatest Debian 'Sarge' GNU/Linux is $25.us, CDr/DVD, shipped
> to
> your doorstep.
> <G>
> http://linuxcdrs.com/

Or absolutely free via download... )

I just installed the Sarge/Stable recently on my Athlon XP machine.
Suweeeet! Not for the novice, though... Mandriva would probably be better
for a beginner, and it too, is a free download.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

> For those that don't know, GNU/Linux is free. You are only paying for
> burning/media/shipping/donation to *org/downloading.
> You can get a bootable, non-hard-drive-tampering CD for $1.00(or DL it).
> Look up Knoppix. It's a great way to try out GNU/Linux without having to
> install anything.

Or...SimplyMepis, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or PCLinuxOS... Great CD based distros.

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Ruel Smith" wrote:
> > For those that don't know, GNU/Linux is free. You are only
> paying for
> > burning/media/shipping/donation to *org/downloading.
> > You can get a bootable, non-hard-drive-tampering CD for
> $1.00(or DL it).
> > Look up Knoppix. It's a great way to try out GNU/Linux
> without having to
> > install anything.
>
> Or...SimplyMepis, Ubuntu, Kubuntu, or PCLinuxOS... Great CD
> based distros.

I’ll add some comments on the video card department if you don’t mind.

I recently got a Geforce4 Ti4200 for $75 Canadian (that might be like
$60 US). In terms of performance, it’s hard to beat for the price.
Next logical move up really would be either an ATI 9800 Pro or a
Geforce 6600 GT. The 6600 GT for the price is hard to beat and also
has Directx 9 compatibility and compatible with Shader Model 3. So,
it’s more future proof than a Ti4200. The Ti4200 runs better with
Directx 8.1 (google Directx 8.1 and the word alibre for a link to
Microsoft website to download Directx 8.1, the one on download.com is
a carp). The Geforce 6200 is the cheapest for a PCI-E motherboard.
But you may see lag in current/future games.

BTW, Western Digital Caviar hard drives are real silent and cool
running.
Antec and Enermax make pretty good power supplies. I have an Enermax
noisetaker 420 watt power supply that can be used on 20 or 24 pin
motherboards. (20 pins older, newer are 24 pins) It’s also
PCI-Express ready and SATA ready.

--
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Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
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Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

forumposter32 <UseLinkToEmail@HardwareForumz.com> wrote:

>I’ll add some comments on the video card department if you don’t mind.
>
>I recently got a Geforce4 Ti4200 for $75 Canadian (that might be like
>$60 US). In terms of performance, it’s hard to beat for the price.
>Next logical move up really would be either an ATI 9800 Pro or a
>Geforce 6600 GT. The 6600 GT for the price is hard to beat and also
>has Directx 9 compatibility and compatible with Shader Model 3. So,
>it’s more future proof than a Ti4200. The Ti4200 runs better with
>Directx 8.1 (google Directx 8.1 and the word alibre for a link to
>Microsoft website to download Directx 8.1, the one on download.com is
>a carp). The Geforce 6200 is the cheapest for a PCI-E motherboard.
>But you may see lag in current/future games.

Thank you so much for these recommendations -- it's just the type of
info I was looking for. I still have quite a bit of looking around
and research to do before I make my decision, but you've been a great
help in that.

>BTW, Western Digital Caviar hard drives are real silent and cool
>running.
>Antec and Enermax make pretty good power supplies. I have an Enermax
>noisetaker 420 watt power supply that can be used on 20 or 24 pin
>motherboards. (20 pins older, newer are 24 pins) It’s also
>PCI-Express ready and SATA ready.

This is also very helpful. Thanks again!

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

"Ruel Smith" <NoWay@NoWhere.com> wrote:

>Put Linux on it and fool around with it?

I very well may put Linux on in addition to the more familiar Windows
environment.

>> Budget is about $400-500.
>
>Now, that's a tight budget! Could there possibly be a little more?

I wish. As it is, I'm begging, borrowing, and stealing (well, maybe
not stealing) the $400-500.

>With new power, you might end up getting a newer game eventually. Never
>build a system based on todays needs. Think of the future and your money is
>more wisely spent...

This is sage advice, and your recommendation of parts for a slightly
more expensive system is very helpful. It may be a while yet before I
can actually invest in the upgradables (motherboard, processor, etc.),
and by then prices may have fallen a bit to where I can swing it.
Either way, you've given me another angle to consider. Thanks so
much!

<snip>

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt (More info?)

Matt <matt@themattfella.zzzz.com> wrote:

>Michelle wrote:
>
>> Budget is about $400-500.
>
>Best Buy has the Western Digital 160 GB hard drive for $50 after rebate
>this week. You will not find a more reliable drive. See
>techbargains.com. Follow rebate directions to the letter. If you can
>wait, you might see this drive even chea