Vote on my planned computer...

[nimit]

This is the computer I am planning on building this christmas break...in 2 weeks. Please vote as to what you think about it!

MSI Pro2-KT266A chipset motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1700 (i'm planning on using the heat sink provided by the retail package)
512 MB PC2100 DDR RAM (2 sticks of 256)

40GB 7200RPM IBM Hard Drive
60GB 7200RPM IBM Hard Drive (already had this)

19'' DELL trinitron monitor (already had this)

eVGA Geforce2 MX400 64mb video card
24x10x40 Plexwriter CD-RW
16x sony DVD ROM
Soundblaster Live 5.1 with LIVE DRIVE +remote
Enlight atx 300watt case.
microsoft internet keyboard, optical mouse

all of this for exactly $963.00 (including shipping, taxes etc.)

Tell me what you think, if you have any suggestions, etc...
I'll be using this system mainly for programming, web design/photoshop, little gaming here and there...etc.

thanks!

Nimit

 

[Kell]

I'd change the motherboard to an EPoX 8KHA+ myself--performs rather better, is somewhat more mature product, and EPoX has never, ever failed me.

I'd also narrow your choice of hard drives down a bit. IBMs are fantastic hard drives, but stay away from 75GXP series drives--there's currently a class-action lawsuit going against IBM for high failure rates of the 75GXP line. IBM 60GXPs work great though.

 

[Scitex]

Looks good to me......almost what I've got here except I'm using Maxtor 60gb, GF2 Ti and XP 1600+ running at 1540. I'm getting over 10,000 on 3DMark2000.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

<< This is the computer I am planning on building this christmas break...in 2 weeks. Please vote as to what you think about it!

MSI Pro2-KT266A chipset motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 1700 (i'm planning on using the heat sink provided by the retail package)
512 MB PC2100 DDR RAM (2 sticks of 256)

40GB 7200RPM IBM Hard Drive
60GB 7200RPM IBM Hard Drive (already had this)

19'' DELL trinitron monitor (already had this)
>>

All good IMO


<< eVGA Geforce2 MX400 64mb video card
24x10x40 Plexwriter CD-RW
16x sony DVD ROM
Soundblaster Live 5.1 with LIVE DRIVE +remote
Enlight atx 300watt case.
microsoft internet keyboard, optical mouse

all of this for exactly $998.00 (including shipping, taxes etc.) >>


The video card is a little weak for my tastes.
I would go for Lite-On CDRW and DVD instead of Plextor and Sony. Plextor costs too much and the Lite-On DVD is better known for being able to assist in making valuable back-ups of more copy protected CDs.
Spend the money saved on the CD-RW to get a slightly upgraded case with a little bit more powerful power supply like the ENLIGHT EN-7237AZ MEDIUM TOWER which has a 340 W PSU and only costs about $13 more.

 

[propellerhead]

I just purchased parts for a similar system from Newegg. I went with the EPoX 8KHA+ mobo. They have a Leadtek GeForce3 for $181. I got that in place of a GeForce2 that wasn't that far in price.

 

[nimit]

here is the trouble:

I've already bought everything except the sound card and CPU.

I've bought everything from www.z-buy.com and www.newegg.com

Are these stores good about returns? would it be too much trouble?

and about the power supply...will 300 watts not be enough? or are you telling me to get more just to be safer?

I won't be doing any overclocking for the record. Thanks.

 

[l2aider1]

Not bad, I too would go with the 8kHA+. I got mine from new egg, and haven't had a problem since, plus its cheaper. I have both motherboards and the epox is much faster, but if your going with msi for the raid then its a good system. I too think the graphic cards a little weak. I would try and step it up to a Geforce2 Ultra or a Geforce 3 Ti200 for 179$. You can overclock the Ti200s to a Geforce 3 and higher from what I've heard. I would go with a Pioneer, their DVD drives are the best. And if its not too much difference maybe a better PSU. I got an Antec 1040B with a 400w psu for only 113$.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

<< here is the trouble:

I've already bought everything except the sound card and CPU.

I've bought everything from www.z-buy.com and www.newegg.com

Are these stores good about returns? would it be too much trouble?

and about the power supply...will 300 watts not be enough? or are you telling me to get more just to be safer?

I won't be doing any overclocking for the record. Thanks. >>


If you have already bought the stuff, then I wouldn't worry about returning it, but why did you ask us now if the purchases are already made? 300 Watts should be sufficient, but if you end up with a lot of devices/fans/etc inside it is always nice to have more power just to be on the safe side.

 

[Killrose]

Get rid of the MX400. Get something better. If your not a gammer than get something that looks good. Like the Ati LE/VE series.

Get the VisionTek Geforce2 for $65.00 at Newegg. At least you will have a decent gammer card.

 

[CStroman]

For what you plan to do with it, it should be fine. I would get a better heatsink, though.

 

[nimit]

<< For what you plan to do with it, it should be fine. I would get a better heatsink, though. >>



would the heatsink that comes with the retail not be enough? I'm running on a tight budget of a $1000 but i can stretch it a bit if its definitely worth it.

The reason I posted even though I had already purchased most of the parts is because I just found this board, so I kinda wanted to get an idea on how my decision was and whether I did anything fatal that would require returning the parts. Thanks for all your help really!

 

[SuperPickle]

<< would the heatsink that comes with the retail not be enough?! >>



I run a 1.33@1.4 with a Thermalright SK-6/Delta 7K in a moderate to poorly ventilated case and my temps approach 50 degrees at full load depending on ambient (kinda hot). I would expect your processor and case would produce similar heat--IMHO, heat that I wouldn't trust a stock HSF to disipate.

 

[CStroman]

<<

<< For what you plan to do with it, it should be fine. I would get a better heatsink, though. >>



would the heatsink that comes with the retail not be enough? >>



Retail will do what it needs to do. Getting a non-retail heatsink is just what I'd do.

 

[nimit]

so, is there any benefit then to buy a retail version of a processor?

Is the 3 year warranty worth it...and is there anything in the retail box that would be necessary that I wouldn't get in an OEM? I ask this obviously because an OEM is cheaper.

Also, what specific heat sink do you think I should get? I don't want to spend too much money, and since I won't be overclocking, I don't need anything too fancy either. I'm pretty new to hardware so i'm not too sure.

Thanks!

 

[Razl]

I wouldn't sweat the OEM vs retail thing. I'm comfortable with OEM because electronics tend to either work forever or fail right away. OEM saves you some cash and spares you the fancy boxing.

I wouldn't also worry right now about the standard HSF. After setting it all up, check your temps at idle and full load. If you don't lock up or your temps are in check, no need spending more cash if you don't plan to OC it! Nice rig overall, be proud!

 

[FlippyBoy]

one more vote for changing the mx400 to something better.

 

[Wind]

So have u buid & fire it up ? Everything OK ?

Ur setup seems goo for the price u r paying. The only concern for me is the PSU being 300W & u chunk quite a bit of component in there. Well, if ur new PC got no probs...don't bother.

 

[nimit]

I went ahead and stayed with the mx400 because its cheap and I don't really care that much about the quality of my video. If i decide I need more, I"ll just wait some, and by the time I want a geforce3 or something, the prices of that will have dropped a lot causing there to be no real price difference if i upgrade later. Right now i think my mx400 will do.

Also, no, I haven't built it up yet, I"m still at college, I have 5 finals this coming week so i'm studying hard for them, but I will build it as soon as I get home.

By the way, I went ahead and ordered the CPU and sound card today so they'll be at home by the time i get there, I got the XP 1700 and the soundblaster live 5.1 with remote and live drive.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

What kinda of speaker set-up do you have? Or are you planning to run it through a A.V. reciever or something?

 

[nimit]

Um, hmm, I have altec lansing surround sound speakers with subwoofer. I don't know what an AV reciever is. But i'm getting the live drive mostly for the remote, and having the headphone/microphone/and other jacks in the front of the computer instead of the back. why do you ask?

 

[mboy]

Price wise, you should be able to do a bit better. I would AX that mx400 and fast. Go ebay it and get your money back. Go buy used GTS or Ultra in the FS/FT forum for $60 or so (replaced my mx200 on Little Dawg's rig and went from 2100 to 4300 on 3dmark2001 and was WELL worth it.
I would also get the Antec SX case either 635, 840 or the one I am getting for the new Little Dawg Rig. The ANTEC SX1040, THE BEST case money can buy. Also get yourself an Alpha 8045 HS, you wont be sorry!

 

[Frontrunner]

Weak video card. I have a GTS and it would be alot better. Not much difference in price though between the MX and GTS but a bigger performance gain. Try a GeForce 3 to help out that MHZ. Then you got a system. Ah the days when my computer was the baddest computer on the block. Shoot that was yesterday. Technology

 

[nimit]

A lot of you are telling me that I need a new video card. but can someone tell me what the real difference would be (other than playing games) with the card I have planned and a better card? And even in the games, a geforce 2 is not too bad, pretty nice actually. I just wanted to stay under the 1000 mark.

ALSO, recently, I found a new rebate on my plextor drive (and a better price on the sound card) so the total $ for the computer is now $963

 

[gtd2000]

Get the GTS-V card from Newegg.com it's US$65 + US$5 for shipping - maybe even free shipping now - will outperform the MX card and probably be around the same price too

 

[Acanthus]

my suggestion, change mobo to an Nforce architecture model, it gets roughly MX performance and great integrated sound, and for an extra $8 you can throw on an ethernet controller. Also AMDs stock heatsinks suck bad, i would highly reccomend a Thermalright SK-6 with a good fan.