Building a PC, need help PLEASE!

[IJustAte]

Well, 2 PCs, actually. My girlfriend wants me to build her a computer, and so I'm going to use a bunch of parts from my current computer in hers, and upgrade mine. Price is definitely an issue, I don't have much money to spend. The girlfriend's computer doesn't need to be very good, she just wants a new case (she refuses to use a USED case) but she wont know the difference if everything inside the computer is used. I need help deciding what to buy, what's compatible with what, etc. Here's what I have in mind right now:

Computer 1 (mine):
Case: Enlight 7237 (300W) -- Already have this. Do i need to upgrade?
CPU: Haven't decided on this (help?)
Motherboard: Need help deciding this too
Memory: Right now I'm using Micron 256MB DIMM PC133. Should I upgrade this?
Hard Drive: Western Digital 75GB 7200 (the one from Best Buy)
Video Card: Probably the GE Force4 Ti4200 128MB from Best Buy
Sound Card: Need help deciding this too

Computer 2 (the GF's):
Case: Don't know... something cheap, hopefully?
CPU: Intel Pentium III 866 256K 133MHz (the one I'm using now)
Motherboard: Asus CUSL2-C Pentium II/III Socket 370 333-933Mhz i815EP Chipset (the one I'm using now)
Memory: probably the K-Byte 256MB PC133 SDRAM that comes with the hard drive from Best Buy, if this will work.
Hard Drive: IBM 45GB 7200 (the one i'm using now)
Video Card: ATI Radeon 32mb DDR Ram 4x AGP 147MHz (the one i'm using now)
Sound Card: Philips Rhythmic Edge (the one i'm using now)

If anyone can give me advice on what to buy, without spending too much, that would be great. Thanks!

 

[foofoo]

hi,
welcome to the forums.

Price is definitely an issue, I don't have much money to spend.

i hear you. for a relatively cheap upgrade, but one that'll last a while, i'd be tempted to go for a new nforce2 mb. it has excellent built in sound and lan.

how about:

mb - epox EP-8RDA+ $118
processor - AMD Athlon XP 2000+/266 FSB Processor CPU - 2000+/ 1.67GHz -Retail Box $93
memory - Samsung Original DDR333 PC-2700 256MB CAS2.5 $69

all prices from newegg.com

you could give the other 256 mb pc133 to your gf, i wouldnt get a mb that takes pc133 now.
you might also want to look into the hot deals forum. there are some sweet deals on cdrw drives going on now if you need one (or 2).
good luck

 

[IJustAte]

Ok, thanks for the advice. I forgot to mention I already have 2 CD-RW's (a Sony 12x and a Cendyne 48x.. I'm probably gonna keep the Cendyne for myself, although I don't know if it's very good quality)
I also should've mentioned that for my pc, I'd like a decent sound card. I'm going to be using it to transfer vinyl records to .wav files. But you say I can get a motherboard with really good onboard audio?
And what about cases? Can/Should I keep my Enlight? And what about a cheap, decent case for the GF?
thanks!

 

[IJustAte]

Can anyone help me on this? I need to decide on a cheap, decent case. thanks!

 

[foofoo]

hi,
the sound on the nforce2 is as good as the audigy to my ears.
if you are looking for a grat and cheap case, i'd go for the
CHIEFTEC Beige Chasis (Mini-Mid Tower) Model DH-01W 450W 450W AMD approved Power Supply $ 55.00
at newegg.com
great case and good ps for really cheap.
good luck

 

[Lars]

Originally posted by: IJustAte
Can anyone help me on this? I need to decide on a cheap, decent case. thanks!

I use this case.

PSU is good enough for my XP 2000+.

 

[loafbred]

I started last week with a retail-box XP 2100+ from Googlegear for $98 w/ free 2-day shipping. I was hoping to run it for a while with my KT133a m/b and SDRAM, but it caused memory errors, common to this board version. Monday, I bought an Epox 8K5A2 (KT333) and 256mb Samsung 2700 (yes, it's genuine Samsung dimm, single-sided) from New Egg for $160. I already had a big Antec case and TruePower 430 p/s. I'm running the ram synced at 266, with next to fastest memory timing (CAS 2 & 4-way interleave) and it's a big improvement over the KT133a/SDRAM @ 2-2-2 that I had - improved from 7400 3DMarks to 9500, using a GeForce3 @ 250/540. I also tried the RAM asynched at 333 with same timings, and it was stable, but no faster. The cpu runs default speed (1.73 GHz) with only 1.60v core, but needs 1.75 to run at 1.85 GHz. I'm leaving it at default for now. I had some stability problems with the VIA version 443 4-in-1 drivers, but the 442 version is working great, so I'll break out Memtest86 again and try memory at "precharge" 5T and "command rate" 1T.