Is this a good setup???

[dcsonic2k]

I'm fairly experienced at computers and hardware, but have never before ventured in to the area of building my own PC, mostly cause I didn't have the cash. Well now, I'd like to build my own. I'd like it to be easily upgradable and be able to support me for a long time.

Please give me any comments on this setup and any ways I can make it better/cheaper/faster/etc...

Motherboard: Asus K7V
Memory: 128MB Mushkin Budget PC133
Floppy: Teac FD-235HF 1.44MB
Hard Drive: IBM 75GXP 30GB
CD/DVD: Toshiba SD-R1002 CD-RW/DVD
Case: Enlight EN-7237
Video Card: Hercules 3D Prophet II GTS 32MB
Processor: AMD Athlon K7 700MHz
Sound Card: Sound Blaster Live! X-Gamer
Modem: Hawking 56K PCI
OS: Quadruple Boot WinME(Games)/Linux/BeOS/Win2KPro
Monitor: KDS 17" 1288x1024
Speakers: Klipsch ProMedia

Is this a fairly good setup? I'd appreciate any feedback, particularly on the motherboard, RAM and the AMD processor and how they work together. I've tried to find some of the cheapest prices by looking on pricewatch and ibuyer.

Please ICQ/private message/reply with any comments.

Thanks,
--dcsonic2k

EDIT: Changed Hard Drive, Added Sound Card

 

[Crypticburn]

Personally, I dont like onboard sound, and personally I dont like Maxtor, and 3 OSes = triple boot, but other than those personal problems, I like it, although I'd prefer to go the Athlon Thunderbird route myself....

 

[Wizkid]

Get the Creative GeForce 2 instead and use the extra money to buy an SB Live!

 

[Rankor]

Search the forum on postings re: Problems with Herc's GTS2 2D.

If you intend to go w/the KDS 17", I highly recommend the AV-7TF w/c is the 17" KDS w/the Sony Trinitron tube.

On board sound can be spotty. You'll notice a difference when playing games. I recommend a SB Live! value board if the onboard sound isn't up to par.

Haven't heard of Hawking for the modem.

 

[dcsonic2k]

The Hawking Modem is on the first page of Computers4SURE's Modem Section. I hadn't heard of them either, but I just need a modem that will work OK for a few months, cause by then I should have broadband.

 

[mpitts]

I would defintely spend the extra cash and get at LEAST the Sound Blaster Live! Value. And for my money, I would go with the IBM 75GXP series of hard drives.

BTW, what is the speed of the CPU?

 

[dcsonic2k]

The Klipsch ProMedia Speakers are Surround Sound, correct?? What kind of a sound card do I need for that?

 

[Rankor]

If you're using the modem for at least a couple of months, I recommend getting a cheap-hold-me-over brand model.

If that's modem's reasonably-priced, get it.

 

[brennan]

I definitely concur with mpitts on the IBM HDD thing. I just got an IBM 75gxp (30 gig version) and it's the finest computer component I've personally ever bought. Far faster than other HDDs I've used (though a friend who has one of the new Maxtor's loves it and supposedly they're fast), and it's extremely quiet. Plus, I hear the new Maxtors don't like RAID and have a hard time with odd bus speeds (read: don't like overclocking), so you may want to look into that. The IBM is supposedly among the best for overclocking, and my OCing results have been stellar.

-brennan

 

[dcsonic2k]

Ok, everybody. I changed the hard drive to the IBM 75GXP and added the SoundBlaster Card...
Anything else I should change??
BTW - I'll probably end up buying the monitor on sale locally, so it probably won't be the KDS one, unless I can't find a sale.

--dcsonic2k

 

[Crypticburn]

mpitts - he said "Processor: AMD Athlon K7 700MHz"
I say, go socket A t-bird if you can. I agree with Rankor.... trinitron tube please

And I noticed you added linux.... beautiful... what flavor are you thinking of? On my sys I'm going RH linux/win98(or ME)/win2k I was thinking about BeOS, but I dont know how much I will use it.... also I was considering going unix (FreeBSD) but I think linux will be nice.

I highly recommend the SB Live range of cards.... they're wonderful, as for Vid card, I really wasnt paying attention but I want the Geforce 2 GTS, why? because it rules.... but I dont have the $$$ and my TV/capture card isnt here

just my 2 cents