Building a new PC

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-01-29 01:43am

Piece by piece. Here's the current selection. I'll be getting this whenever my tax refund gets back. Everything is from Newegg at the moment. C&C please.

Shuttle SN95G5 $305
Athlon 64 3500+ OEM $259
ATI Radeon 9800Pro AIW $254
Sapphire ATI Radeon X800 SE $310.50
Corsair 512MBx2 DDR400 $134
Samsung 160GB 7200RPM 8MBcache $89
Seagate 200GB 7200RPM SATA NCQ $135
Lite-On Combo Drive $38.50

Viewsonic G90fb monitor $209
Logitech Z-3e speakers $55
Some sound card $?
Total: $1446 + ? + s/h

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2005-01-29 02:22am

If you are looking to save cash try getting a less expensive brand of memory.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-01-29 02:50am

InnocentBystander wrote:If you are looking to save cash try getting a less expensive brand of memory.

Never never never!

In other news, Switch that Seagate with a SATA drive(SN95G likes them better)
Kick out the extra $50 and get an Radeon x800

Other than that its fine

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-01-29 03:16am

Mr Bean wrote:
InnocentBystander wrote:If you are looking to save cash try getting a less expensive brand of memory.
Never never never!

In other news, Switch that Seagate with a SATA drive(SN95G likes them better)
Kick out the extra $50 and get an Radeon x800

Other than that its fine

Samsung, not Seagate. But I'll think about switching with a SATA. The SATA version is only $4 more IIRC...

As far as the video card goes, I kinda want the TV tuner, but the X800 is a whole bunch faster. Have to think about it. On the gripping hand, it's only the SE version which is $50 more on newegg.

Anyone have suggestions for the sound card? Or should I deal with the built in sound.

Hmm... I should probably say what I plan to use the computer for... um... everything sounds about right. Games, playing music and movies, CG. I'd like to be able to use it as a PVR too, but I'll need a TV capture card for that.

As far as memory goes, I stand by that decision. Crappy memory is the cause of way too many problems. In any case, it's some of the cheapest 1GB packs of RAM on there.

Hmm... After consideration, Vid card, HD changed... I didn't know you could get a 5 year warranty on a Hard drive still...

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-01-29 03:40am

Beowulf wrote: Samsung, not Seagate. But I'll think about switching with a SATA. The SATA version is only $4 more IIRC...

Shuttle likes SATA drives more than it does IDE drives, just something I've experence, as I take every oppurtinity to break my computer to make sure I know how to fix it

As far as the video card goes, I kinda want the TV tuner, but the X800 is a whole bunch faster. Have to think about it. On the gripping hand, it's only the SE version which is $50 more on newegg.

Since you only have the two slots that is a problem, ATI does make a wonderful super duper TV/HD/Record/Tivo external box for Firewire/USB 2.0 for an extra $80 and it fits perfeclty onto of the Shuttle case

Anyone have suggestions for the sound card? Or should I deal with the built in sound.

Creative finaly made a Decent External sound card, either
A. Use your second slot for a TV Tuner card get an extra Soundcard
B. Use it for a good old OEM Creative Augiy 2 and get that nifty External TV Tuner

Sleep time now, will find the externals in question later

Melchior · Post by **Melchior** » 2005-01-29 04:24pm

Is the CAS of that RAM 2?

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-01-29 04:26pm

Melchior wrote:Is the CAS of that RAM 2?

2.5

DaveJB · Post by **DaveJB** » 2005-01-29 04:55pm

Mr Bean wrote:Kick out the extra $50 and get an Radeon x800

The X800 is PCI-Express only. I think what you're thinking of is the X800 Pro.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-01-29 05:22pm

DaveJB wrote:
Mr Bean wrote:Kick out the extra $50 and get an Radeon x800
The X800 is PCI-Express only. I think what you're thinking of is the X800 Pro.

x800 x800Pro eh

Melchior · Post by **Melchior** » 2005-01-30 06:13am

Beowulf wrote: 2.5

Depending of what you think that you will be doing with this pc, it could be a good idea to spend some more money on better ram and some less on a sound card/speakers.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-01-30 08:21am

Melchior wrote:
Beowulf wrote: 2.5
Depending of what you think that you will be doing with this pc, it could be a good idea to spend some more money on better ram and some less on a sound card/speakers.

You don't spend less on Sound as there is at this point pretty much only one real soundcard maker and it has one real current gen product

Melchior · Post by **Melchior** » 2005-01-30 08:33am

Mr Bean wrote:
Melchior wrote:
Beowulf wrote: 2.5
Depending of what you think that you will be doing with this pc, it could be a good idea to spend some more money on better ram and some less on a sound card/speakers.
You don't spend less on Sound as there is at this point pretty much only one real soundcard maker and it has one real current gen product

Does he need a current generation Audigy?
Maybe.
If he doesn't, he can spend less.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-01-30 03:50pm

I was thinking of changing the RAM out to mushkin CL2 Blue dual pack, which would add another $60 to the price tag.

What's really the difference between sound cards anyway, if they all play the sound correctly?

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2005-01-30 06:57pm

Beowulf wrote:I was thinking of changing the RAM out to mushkin CL2 Blue dual pack, which would add another $60 to the price tag.

What's really the difference between sound cards anyway, if they all play the sound correctly?

Quality, for starters. There is a distinct and noticeable difference between my motherboard's onboard sound and my Turtle Beach Santa Cruz sound card.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2005-01-30 07:27pm

Beowulf wrote: What's really the difference between sound cards anyway, if they all play the sound correctly?

Preformance, In the old days it mattered ALOT as in like 20% preformance increase by turning off the sound or a 18% increase using the first Sound Blaster Live VS onboard

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2005-01-30 08:06pm

Creative Labs has effectively destroyed innovation in consumer sound. They remain the best cards for gaming -- however, other cards like the M-Audio Revolution have better sound quality.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2005-01-30 08:13pm

I'm also skeptical as to whether going from a CAS of 2.5 to 2 is really worth $60.

Also, if you buy that A64 OEM, you'll need to buy a heatsink.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2005-01-30 08:21pm

Uraniun235 wrote:I'm also skeptical as to whether going from a CAS of 2.5 to 2 is really worth $60.

Also, if you buy that A64 OEM, you'll need to buy a heatsink.

I'm not sure about the memory...

As for the A64. I won't have to buy a heatsink. It comes with the case/motherboard.