Starting on a new computer.

[vernarial]

I am getting ready to buy components to build a new puter. I don't really have a budget as I will be buying the parts over a period of a month or so, so price is not really a concern. I don't plan on spending more than maybe 1500, but if I go over that I won't be worried. I mean I am gonna look for good deals and sales.
What my main concern is I want to build something that is future friendly. I don't want to have to upgrade everything in a few months. I want something that I will be able to integrate future upgrades and technologies easily. So I need some specific advice on parts. The case is easy. I need some opinions on motherboards and processors mainly, but also I would like to know the best company to buy a good reliable Hard Drive, Power Supply, and RAM. Stressing Reliable.

[RipperRoo]

to be honest with 64bit architecture just around the corner any board you get now will be outdated in under 6 mths, saying that, a lot of the parts you do buy could be reused in a later upgrade.

for ram, its gotta be Crucial.com and for a power supply jab-tech have an excelnt range, the vantec stealth, for example.

[LPDad]

for $1500 you should be able to build 2 GREAT computers.

[rastagard]

For reliability Pentium 4

For raw power and less money the verdict seems to be Athlon. Especially among gamers.


I just built my system using the P4 2.6 ghz w/800 mhz FSB. It really screams for me, but I never play games. But I can tell you it renders instantly for me in Adobe. DC could speak to Adobe better than me, as I am sure he works his Adobe much harder than I do.


I have used WD and Maxtors and had problems with both until I built the new system with a bigger well ventilated case. I want to try a Seagate Serial ATA as my next drive.


I bought the Abit AS7 mobo and have been happy with it. All in all, my new system has not given me a lick of trouble from the first bootup.


Have fun Vern, I had a blast building mine and am itchin to do another.............

[LPDad]

Great company to buy from (many Items= free shipping)
www.NEWEGG.com
www.crucial.com <-- yep, get your memory here

..gotta agree with www.jab-tech for cables, Thermalright SLK-800U Heatsink (unless you plan on watercooling, go for the very best..which is very affordable and also quiet if matched with the correct fan...just ask berks), and other goodies to make things look interesting.

[RipperRoo]

Originally posted by rastagard
Have fun Vern, I had a blast building mine and am itchin to do another.............

This is the reason i have three systems

[Dr. Avery]

Anytime you are searching for components, make sure you take a run through http://www.pricewatch.com

I have found some amazing deals there. Like any other purchase, it is necessary to do your research before buying from any vendor they advertise. But once you know exactly what you want, it is possibly the best place to go.

Pricewatch isn't a seller themselves, rather they accept quotes on products from a range of vendors from across the U.S.

The vendor is required to list a maximum price for their products, that being equal to the product price + the maximum possible shipping cost. Usually the product we be a few bucks less.

I never buy anything computer related without taking a look at pricewatch first.

Usually I end up going through a pricewatch vendor for my purchase.

[Dr. Avery]

That aside, if you are looking for advice on specific parts, I can only help from an AMD perspective.

The thing about processors, as well as all computer components, is that the best value is never the top of the line item. You pay a premium to have the 'best'.

Example:

Right now, a bare 2.1 Ghz Athlon XP 3000+ 400fsb Barton is running for around $269

the step up to a bare 2.2 Ghz Athlon XP 3200+ 400 fsb Barton will cost you $437.

That is an extra $168 for only 100 mhz difference - in other words, it is a rip off.

In my opinion, the 'sweet spot' for price / performance ratio is the 2.083 Ghz Athlon XP 2800 333fsb barton for $160. It does have the slower 333 FSB, but its clock speed is nearly the same as the considerably more expensive XP 3000+. But in the long run, the 400Mhz FSB chip will serve you for a bit longer and will get better performance.

These are all bare OEM processors. You will probably want to go for a retail box processor (they come with a heatsink and fan, and a 3 year warranty)

Whether you decide on a 333fsb or 400fsb you should pick RAM to match that speed. There is no choice but DDR. That is pc3200 RAM for a 400 mhz fsb, or pc2700 for a 333 Mhz fsb.

Next to your processor, your RAM is the most important thing in the PC. If you have lots of good ram, it will speed up everything you do. If you have slow, or too little RAM, or both, it will slow down everything you do.

RAM is the only component I recommend going top end with. It is the only component that is worth going top end with. At this point in time, 1 GB is a pretty good minimum to buy, and will serve you well for a few years yet, but if you can swing it, max out your motherboard with 2 or 3 GB. Espescially if you do a lot of gaming, high order mathematics, server applications, multitasking, media editing, or run windows XP

Here's a neat trick to help you with motherboard shopping for an AMD processor:

If it doesn't have an nForce2 chipset, don't even look at it. I like my MSI K7N2 board. Easy to overclock (and it unlocks the multiplier for you), and good documentation. The dual memory controllers allow for amazing ram utilization. I hear good things about Epox (for overclockers), and Abit motherboards as well.

After that, make sure to get yourself a decent video and sound card. Unless you get a soundstorm certified board

You can probably recycle your cd/dvd drives and writers straight into the new machine.

With your hard drive, make sure you are getting a 7200 RPM if you go the IDE route.

If you want to really impress the neighbors though, the Seagate 10,000 RPM 4.5 GB cheetah can be had for as little as $20 a pop. get 20 of those for $400 (and the scsi controllers and cabinets you'd need) and you'd have the fastest 90 Gigs on the block. And as long as we're dreaming, I want an 8 way opteron setup...

That's about all the parts advice I have - hope it helps.

al

[rastagard]

This is really neat and something I almost forgot about. After you have finished your price shopping visit these sites. They have special discount promotional codes that vendors have, and not always advertised on the site. They list almost all the vendors I have ever checked and the promotions are very often good in conjuntion with all other special deals. I saved a ton on my video card this way.


Here are the sites;


Current Codes.com

CoolSavings.com

DealCatcher.com

eDealFinder.com

[Dr. Avery]

Nothing like the thrill of shopping (even vicariously) for computer stuff, eh guys? The sweaty palms, the hours of tireless research, we eat it up.

We really are just a bunch of geeks

[rastagard]

The only thing that could make it any better is shavin a few extra bucks off the already good deal ya just found! LOL

[technobeast]

Anyone for an advice? I am from Bulgaria and don't have credit card and don't want to pay too much for s&d. Where to buy from then? It's pretty expensive here (compared to pricewatch.com) and if I find some good things abroad (US) how should I proceed to make it most cheaper to deliver? Any advice at all for buying in Eastern Europe? Or Europe at all?

[vernarial]

OK. Thanks for all the advice so far.

So really if I want to be ready for the future I should buy a motherboard that will accept 64 bit processors. As far as performance how would a AMD Athlon XP™ 3000+ "Barton" 333 FSB PROCESSOR stack up to a AMD Opteron Model 140 1.4GHz 64-Bit PROCESSOR? The price difference is not that much. As far as 64 bit goes would I want to go with a dual processor set-up? It would be more expensive, but would I really need that much CPU power in the next few years?
I have heard alot about Serial ATA hard drives, but don't acually know anyone that has tried it. Is it actually that much better, besides getting rid of the ribbon? I was thinking I would like to try it.

[vernarial]

I've pretty much been convinced to go with 64 bit technology(mobo & cpu). I just don't know if dual or single processor is the way to go. I've also pretty much decided on serial ATA. I'd still like your opinions on both subjects though.

[rastagard]

My opinion is that you are going with the state of the art technology. As such, you are, to a large degree, breaking new ground. It is gonna be up to you to tell us what you think.............


As far as the single or dual processors go, I have no idea really. I guess it all depends on what you're gonna do with it. I am sure others can give you some advice there.


I also know DC has a serial ata drive, so maybe he can fill ya in on that. I am real excited to find out about the 64 bit stuff though, so make sure to keep us posted on that.............