First new computer in 5 years - approval?

ski · 07-15-2006, 01:04 PM

I come seeking G|A-community approval on my first stab at selecting components for a new desktop. I have an Inspiron 9300 notebook which I do most of my internet browsing, chatting, WoW-playing on. So the goal of this system is to be a box that can play games pretty well (FPS on laptop is rough), with the backup purpose of storing bills, spreadsheets, and other office type things. All prices/items are from Newegg.com, and I include rebated-price in the totals since I'm diligent about submitting them

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 2000MHz HT Socket 939 - $109
Mobo: ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX - $80
RAM: CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) - $148
Video: HIS Hightech Radeon X1800GTO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (can unlock to 16 pipes) - $140
Case: Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 - $100
Monitor: ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen - $205

Total shipped is around $800 (after rebates).

I have hard drives, CD/DVD drives, keyboard and mouse already.

Am I lacking anywhere big? I like widescreen (my last 2 laptops have been), but should I look at getting a 20", or a different brand?

Airencracken · 07-15-2006, 01:06 PM

Well for one apparently price cuts for all 939 procs are coming soon so you may want to hold off for a bit.

IrishSS · 07-15-2006, 04:48 PM

Yeah, I just read that AMD is cutting prices across the board in response to Intel's release of the new Core 2 chips. This is supposedly happening within the next two weeks.

LPMiller · 07-15-2006, 04:53 PM

the 3800 dual core x2 should be 180 bucks come july 23rd or so. Not buying a dual core chip after then would be unwise indeed. You've held your smoke this long man, go just a wee bit longer and discover the love that is dual core.

ski · 07-15-2006, 06:26 PM

I had my eye on X2 3800+ originally when I was thinking about getting a long term investment machine.

Any major caveats on the other components I picked out?

redcolours · 07-15-2006, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski

I had my eye on X2 3800+ originally when I was thinking about getting a long term investment machine.

Any major caveats on the other components I picked out?

yeah - get a raptor!

AlpineJay · 07-16-2006, 04:31 PM

looks good. no desire to go Conroe, though?

zero2dash · 07-17-2006, 09:09 AM

(Joining the protestors)

Dude, at least wait for cpu price drops and/or Conroe.

I think you'd be better off buying the low end Conroe (E6300) for $183. Check Anandtech's benchmarks; it beat almost every A64 X2 chip in the majority of the tests and it'll only run you a little more than you were willing to pay for that.

I was looking at cases not too long ago and saw that one and I read some of the reviews of it on NewEgg; I see a lot of complaints about it on there. Check out some of the reviews there before buying it. I don't remember what the complaints were, I just remember seeing a lot of them.

Airencracken · 07-17-2006, 11:06 AM

I really like my cooler master centrioun case. Way slick and good cooling.

LPMiller · 07-17-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero2dash

(Joining the protestors)

Dude, at least wait for cpu price drops and/or Conroe.

I think you'd be better off buying the low end Conroe (E6300) for $183. Check Anandtech's benchmarks; it beat almost every A64 X2 chip in the majority of the tests and it'll only run you a little more than you were willing to pay for that.

I was looking at cases not too long ago and saw that one and I read some of the reviews of it on NewEgg; I see a lot of complaints about it on there. Check out some of the reviews there before buying it. I don't remember what the complaints were, I just remember seeing a lot of them.

It beats them in benchmarks, but in real world usage, the performance difference is very small, at least according to hardocp. Get a dual core, but just grab whatever is cheapest at the time - it won't make that huge a deal in the long run.

ski · 07-18-2006, 09:26 PM

Places that have the E6300

I'm not seeing many of the popular stores. Newegg didn't come up with anything either. Hmm.

Grubbie · 07-18-2006, 11:30 PM

I just saw the updated price cuts by AMD and all I gotta say is DAMMMMNNNNN!

A Amd x2 5000+ for 282. Wowzers.

I will probably still go with the E6600 for my new computer as it is a great price for the performance.

zero2dash · 07-19-2006, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski

Places that have the E6300

I'm not seeing many of the popular stores. Newegg didn't come up with anything either. Hmm.

Keep looking around, it may take a few days or a week for stores to start showing stock. I do know that NewEgg is now listing the Core 2 Extreme, so at least *some* stock is trickling out (or at least the listings for the upcoming stock).

The only problem you may have is that AFAIK the only manufacturer supplying working boards for Conroe chipsets at this time is Intel, so you won't be able to use SLi or Crossfire with them right now. That being said - maybe if you're going for gaming primarily, maybe an A64 X2 would be the better bet for you after all.

Grubbie · 07-20-2006, 12:25 AM

I think the boards will become easily available with a good mix come early august. Last I read is the nvidia nforce5 mobos will be coming out early august.

Jane83 · 07-20-2006, 12:48 AM

Macs Rule!

ski · 07-26-2006, 06:22 AM

WOW. You guys were right. I didn't think the prices would shoot down so fast, thought it would take until mid August.

Now I'm looking at the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ for $199 shipped at Newegg. Also saw a X2 4600+ for $239 shipped, but haven't checked this store's ratings yet.

ski · 10-08-2006, 12:20 PM

1) What's the difference between ATX and ATX12V power supplies? Im not sure which one I need.

2) Here's the lineup:

CPU - AMD X2 4200+ Dual Core - $183 shipped
Mobo - ASUS A8N5X nForce4 - $81 shipped
RAM - OCZ DDR400 PC3200 1GB - $108 shipped after rebate
Video - BFG Tech GeForce 7600GT 256MB - $149 shipped
Power - Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-430 ATX12V 430W - $60 shipped
Case - Cooler Master Black Mid ATX - $61 shipped

I also need to pick up a monitor...
Widescreen Monitors at Newegg
Some brands Ive heard of, others I havent, but there are a lot with hundreds of 5/5 reviews. Any recommendations?

Sources:
CPU Benchmarks
Video Benchmarks

Markel · 10-08-2006, 03:24 PM

It is surprising how fast prices have dropped. I really took a hard look at the FX-55 for $139 (after $50 discount with code "amdrocks") that Newegg is offering, but I've got a socket 754 MB.

gear02 · 10-08-2006, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ski

1) What's the difference between ATX and ATX12V power supplies? Im not sure which one I need.

2) Here's the lineup:

CPU - AMD X2 4200+ Dual Core - $183 shipped
Mobo - ASUS A8N5X nForce4 - $81 shipped
RAM - OCZ DDR400 PC3200 1GB - $108 shipped after rebate
Video - BFG Tech GeForce 7600GT 256MB - $149 shipped
Power - Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-430 ATX12V 430W - $60 shipped
Case - Cooler Master Black Mid ATX - $61 shipped

I also need to pick up a monitor...
Widescreen Monitors at Newegg
Some brands Ive heard of, others I havent, but there are a lot with hundreds of 5/5 reviews. Any recommendations?

Sources:
CPU Benchmarks
Video Benchmarks

Get a Dell LCD. They're not the best, but they're pretty damn good. I love my 2 widescreen monitors.

zippyjuan · 10-08-2006, 11:02 PM

If you haven't looked at them, www.zipzoomfly.com is an excellent place for things too.

Maarchk · 10-09-2006, 10:45 AM

Is it silly to go the OC route?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116001
+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128025
=
http://www.gotapex.com/hardware/1374...-to-4-ghz.html (Cheap Processor overclocked to 4 GHz)

Any thoughts? Other than that i was thinking the same setup as Ski.

Edit: oh well, i'm in... hope this works out

ski · 10-30-2006, 09:46 PM

I ended up going with:

AMD 4200+ Dual Core
1GB x 2 Corsair 800MHz RAM
MSI Motherboard
Radeon X1900 GT 256MB Sapphire video card
250GB 16MB buffer WD Hard Drive
22" Acer widescreen monitor

I LOVE it. The monitor has one dead pixel you can see when you watch a widescreen video, that's it. Thanks much for the advice !

cheapchinese · 10-31-2006, 04:40 PM

y didn't you wait for black friday?

BobyJo · 11-01-2006, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maarchk

Is it silly to go the OC route?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116001
+
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128025
=
http://www.gotapex.com/hardware/1374...-to-4-ghz.html (Cheap Processor overclocked to 4 GHz)

Any thoughts? Other than that i was thinking the same setup as Ski.

Edit: oh well, i'm in... hope this works out

The DFI new Intel boards are available, just a tad more than a Gigabyte.
Since ASUS owns Gigabyte now, I suspect they are the low end mfg now.

ski · 11-02-2006, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cheapchinese

y didn't you wait for black friday?

Only thing you can really get at a Best Buy/Circuit City is Hard Drive, Optical Drives, and maybe RAM (but probably not the 800 MHz kind) on Black Friday. I've been shopping BF deals for... 7 years now? And there's never really hot door-buster deals on things the average consumer wouldn't purchase at one of those stores.

07-15-2006, 01:04 PM	#1
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	First new computer in 5 years - approval? I come seeking G\|A-community approval on my first stab at selecting components for a new desktop. I have an Inspiron 9300 notebook which I do most of my internet browsing, chatting, WoW-playing on. So the goal of this system is to be a box that can play games pretty well (FPS on laptop is rough), with the backup purpose of storing bills, spreadsheets, and other office type things. All prices/items are from Newegg.com, and I include rebated-price in the totals since I'm diligent about submitting them CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 2000MHz HT Socket 939 - $109 Mobo: ASUS A8N5X Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 ATX - $80 RAM: CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) - $148 Video: HIS Hightech Radeon X1800GTO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 (can unlock to 16 pipes) - $140 Case: Antec LifeStyle SONATA II Piano Black Steel ATX Mid Tower 450Watt SmartPower 2.0 ATX 12V V2.0 - $100 Monitor: ViewSonic VA1912wb Black 19" DVI 8ms Widescreen - $205 Total shipped is around $800 (after rebates). I have hard drives, CD/DVD drives, keyboard and mouse already. Am I lacking anywhere big? I like widescreen (my last 2 laptops have been), but should I look at getting a 20", or a different brand? __________________ And closer...

07-15-2006, 01:06 PM	#2
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 6,681	Well for one apparently price cuts for all 939 procs are coming soon so you may want to hold off for a bit. __________________ "I remember my first orgasm, I just wish someone was there to share it with me..."11-05-2003 05:33 AM - Topane They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. - Benjamin Franklin Religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, & the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opiate of the masses. - Karl Marx Hell is other people - Jean-Paul Sartre

07-15-2006, 04:48 PM	#3
IrishSS Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: NoVa Posts: 2,644	Yeah, I just read that AMD is cutting prices across the board in response to Intel's release of the new Core 2 chips. This is supposedly happening within the next two weeks. __________________ Spigs, you MFR#1N!

07-15-2006, 04:53 PM	#4
LPMiller Chief News Editor & Master of His Domain Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Minnesota Posts: 8,161	the 3800 dual core x2 should be 180 bucks come july 23rd or so. Not buying a dual core chip after then would be unwise indeed. You've held your smoke this long man, go just a wee bit longer and discover the love that is dual core. __________________ lpmiller Chief News Editor Nobel Prize Nominee Reverend in the Universal Life Church Once Shot A Man For Snoring Too Loud Way Too Lazy To Change His Signature "The strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I can't, and the incapacity to tell the difference." - Calvin and Hobbes

07-16-2006, 04:31 PM	#7
AlpineJay Commander Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Medford, MA Posts: 1,011	looks good. no desire to go Conroe, though? __________________ If con is the opposite of pro, then what's the opposite of progress?

07-15-2006, 06:26 PM	#5
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	I had my eye on X2 3800+ originally when I was thinking about getting a long term investment machine. Any major caveats on the other components I picked out?

07-17-2006, 09:09 AM	#8
zero2dash Commander Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Fenton, MO - but I wish I was at the beach. ANY beach. Posts: 1,367	(Joining the protestors) Dude, at least wait for cpu price drops and/or Conroe. I think you'd be better off buying the low end Conroe (E6300) for $183. Check Anandtech's benchmarks; it beat almost every A64 X2 chip in the majority of the tests and it'll only run you a little more than you were willing to pay for that. I was looking at cases not too long ago and saw that one and I read some of the reviews of it on NewEgg; I see a lot of complaints about it on there. Check out some of the reviews there before buying it. I don't remember what the complaints were, I just remember seeing a lot of them. Last edited by zero2dash : 07-17-2006 at 09:15 AM.

07-17-2006, 11:06 AM	#9
Airencracken Admiral Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: California Posts: 6,681	I really like my cooler master centrioun case. Way slick and good cooling.

07-18-2006, 09:26 PM	#11
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	Places that have the E6300 I'm not seeing many of the popular stores. Newegg didn't come up with anything either. Hmm.

07-18-2006, 11:30 PM	#12
Grubbie Captain Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Redmond Posts: 1,596	I just saw the updated price cuts by AMD and all I gotta say is DAMMMMNNNNN! A Amd x2 5000+ for 282. Wowzers. I will probably still go with the E6600 for my new computer as it is a great price for the performance.

07-20-2006, 12:25 AM	#14
Grubbie Captain Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Redmond Posts: 1,596	I think the boards will become easily available with a good mix come early august. Last I read is the nvidia nforce5 mobos will be coming out early august.

07-20-2006, 12:48 AM	#15
Jane83 Commander Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: S. Pasadena Posts: 1,452	Macs Rule! __________________ stupid sexy flanders

07-26-2006, 06:22 AM	#16
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	WOW. You guys were right. I didn't think the prices would shoot down so fast, thought it would take until mid August. Now I'm looking at the Athlon 64 X2 4200+ for $199 shipped at Newegg. Also saw a X2 4600+ for $239 shipped, but haven't checked this store's ratings yet.

10-08-2006, 12:20 PM	#17
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	1) What's the difference between ATX and ATX12V power supplies? Im not sure which one I need. 2) Here's the lineup: CPU - AMD X2 4200+ Dual Core - $183 shipped Mobo - ASUS A8N5X nForce4 - $81 shipped RAM - OCZ DDR400 PC3200 1GB - $108 shipped after rebate Video - BFG Tech GeForce 7600GT 256MB - $149 shipped Power - Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-430 ATX12V 430W - $60 shipped Case - Cooler Master Black Mid ATX - $61 shipped I also need to pick up a monitor... Widescreen Monitors at Newegg Some brands Ive heard of, others I havent, but there are a lot with hundreds of 5/5 reviews. Any recommendations? Sources: CPU Benchmarks Video Benchmarks

10-08-2006, 03:24 PM	#18
Markel Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 11,733	It is surprising how fast prices have dropped. I really took a hard look at the FX-55 for $139 (after $50 discount with code "amdrocks") that Newegg is offering, but I've got a socket 754 MB. __________________ stay low... keep moving...

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10-08-2006, 11:02 PM	#20
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,756	If you haven't looked at them, www.zipzoomfly.com is an excellent place for things too. __________________ I add new pictures to my photo gallery pretty regularly. You can see them here if you are interested: http://www.pbase.com/jeffryz

10-09-2006, 10:45 AM	#21
Maarchk Rear Admiral Upper Half Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Where the east meets the west. Posts: 3,066	Is it silly to go the OC route? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116001 + http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128025 = http://www.gotapex.com/hardware/1374...-to-4-ghz.html (Cheap Processor overclocked to 4 GHz) Any thoughts? Other than that i was thinking the same setup as Ski. Edit: oh well, i'm in... hope this works out __________________ "The girl is crafty like ice is cold." "I left my heart in san francisco... And my liver at Moe's Tavern." A real friend is one who listens to you as much as they talk to you. Last edited by Maarchk : 10-09-2006 at 03:27 PM.

10-30-2006, 09:46 PM	#22
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	I ended up going with: AMD 4200+ Dual Core 1GB x 2 Corsair 800MHz RAM MSI Motherboard Radeon X1900 GT 256MB Sapphire video card 250GB 16MB buffer WD Hard Drive 22" Acer widescreen monitor I LOVE it. The monitor has one dead pixel you can see when you watch a widescreen video, that's it. Thanks much for the advice !

10-31-2006, 04:40 PM	#23
cheapchinese I love free! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: LA, California Posts: 2,998	y didn't you wait for black friday?

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