Computer Help! (where is Vader?)
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,079
Likes: 0
From: Pikesville, MD
Originally Posted by 31Charlie
If I could affoard that I would rather buy an Alienware. I couldn't spend that much on a Dell
That would be like buying that $80,000 VW. Sure its a nice car, but its still a VW.
31C
That would be like buying that $80,000 VW. Sure its a nice car, but its still a VW.
31C
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: FL
That dell will cost a fortune though. It won't be worth it at any speed. The upper end Alienware stuff falls into the same category.
Ok, I'm not having the time I thought I was gonna have to spend on this. So, some quick points to make.
1. The socket AM2 amd chips are comig out in the near future. This will be a 940 pin socket but NOT compatible with current 940 pin chips/boards (AMD Opteron). The current 940 pin stuff is for servers mainly. The current personal systems are 754 and 939, both will not have any further chips made for them once the AM2 chips hit the market. I believe the current high and AMD chips (Athalon 64 FX60 and X2 4800+) are the end of the road for 939. Another important point with the AM2 is it will utilize DDR2 memory. The current 939 boards use DDR. Make sure you are getting the right memory as they are NOT interchangable. The main difference between DDR and DDR2 is that 2 is able to achieve hgiher speeds. DDR tops out at 600mhz and DDR2 tops out at 900mhz. This is only important if you want to overclock the machine. If you don't then the stock pc3200 (400 mhz) stuff will work.
2. PCIexpress is what you want. It's actaully getting hard to find an AGP board any more. Regardless, AGP is yesteryear tech. You don't want it because they aren't making high end video cards for it any more.
3. There's 3 variations of motherboards out there. Standard PCIe, PCIe Crossfire (ATI chipset) and PCIe SLI (Nvidia chipset). Crossfire and SLI allow you to run two video cards together to increase performance. The main difference between the two is with Crossfire you can run any two video card with the same series video processor (i.e. x1800pro with an x1800xt) whereas SLI requires the same EXACT video cards to run together. This might change in the near future. I wouldn't count on it though.
4. You want a motherboard with SATA150 or SATA 3.0 Gb/s. The later is twice as fast in theory, but in reality it's hardly any faster. In the future 3.0 might push beyond the limits of 150, so try and get a 3.0 Gb/s board if you can. If not, no big. All SATA capable motherboards will have standard IDE on them as well so you can run your old CD ROM's and hard drives if you need to.
5. Get a case with 120MM exhaust/intake fans. It pushes more air and is quiter. buying a case and power supply seperately is better. You'll want at least a 500watt power supply. Don't cheap out on the power supply either. You can get a good psu for $40ish but it's a crap shoot. I can point you too a decent one if you want that's not too expensive. Otherwise 80-100 will get you a good PSU.
6. If you're gonna overclock get yourself an after market heatsink. Thermalright xp90 is a great one. Use Arctic Silver 5 as your thermal compound. It's a good idea to even use this on a stock heatsink.
I "think" that covers the main points. Pardon my spelling and such, I'm out of time for now.
Ok, I'm not having the time I thought I was gonna have to spend on this. So, some quick points to make.
1. The socket AM2 amd chips are comig out in the near future. This will be a 940 pin socket but NOT compatible with current 940 pin chips/boards (AMD Opteron). The current 940 pin stuff is for servers mainly. The current personal systems are 754 and 939, both will not have any further chips made for them once the AM2 chips hit the market. I believe the current high and AMD chips (Athalon 64 FX60 and X2 4800+) are the end of the road for 939. Another important point with the AM2 is it will utilize DDR2 memory. The current 939 boards use DDR. Make sure you are getting the right memory as they are NOT interchangable. The main difference between DDR and DDR2 is that 2 is able to achieve hgiher speeds. DDR tops out at 600mhz and DDR2 tops out at 900mhz. This is only important if you want to overclock the machine. If you don't then the stock pc3200 (400 mhz) stuff will work.
2. PCIexpress is what you want. It's actaully getting hard to find an AGP board any more. Regardless, AGP is yesteryear tech. You don't want it because they aren't making high end video cards for it any more.
3. There's 3 variations of motherboards out there. Standard PCIe, PCIe Crossfire (ATI chipset) and PCIe SLI (Nvidia chipset). Crossfire and SLI allow you to run two video cards together to increase performance. The main difference between the two is with Crossfire you can run any two video card with the same series video processor (i.e. x1800pro with an x1800xt) whereas SLI requires the same EXACT video cards to run together. This might change in the near future. I wouldn't count on it though.
4. You want a motherboard with SATA150 or SATA 3.0 Gb/s. The later is twice as fast in theory, but in reality it's hardly any faster. In the future 3.0 might push beyond the limits of 150, so try and get a 3.0 Gb/s board if you can. If not, no big. All SATA capable motherboards will have standard IDE on them as well so you can run your old CD ROM's and hard drives if you need to.
5. Get a case with 120MM exhaust/intake fans. It pushes more air and is quiter. buying a case and power supply seperately is better. You'll want at least a 500watt power supply. Don't cheap out on the power supply either. You can get a good psu for $40ish but it's a crap shoot. I can point you too a decent one if you want that's not too expensive. Otherwise 80-100 will get you a good PSU.
6. If you're gonna overclock get yourself an after market heatsink. Thermalright xp90 is a great one. Use Arctic Silver 5 as your thermal compound. It's a good idea to even use this on a stock heatsink.
I "think" that covers the main points. Pardon my spelling and such, I'm out of time for now.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 335
Likes: 0
I didn't understand half of what you said previously but I can still build a computer 
Just don't buy your parts off the back of a truck and you're half way there.
Just don't buy your parts off the back of a truck and you're half way there.
Last edited by kretinus; Feb 17, 2006 at 10:28 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 765
Likes: 0
From: FL
Here's what I wouold look at if I were to build a machine at this moment. Thise would be a gaming machine through and through.
motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131584 96.99
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131524 118.99
processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103546 463.00
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103547 359.00
Newegg doesn't show it but a thermalright xp90 CPU heatsink is one of the best $30-50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007 5.99 (the best there is)
Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227219 182.84 (after rebate)
video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102610 312.00 (for use with a crossfire board)
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130256 250.00 (after rebate) - for use with SLI motherboard - this would be my choice right now.
power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817167012 100.99
Jsut about anything in this price range should be good. I have an XG 500W that is rock solid. It's $50, but I would suggest a 600 watt to future proof a little. Video cards draw LOTS of power these days.
Everything else is a pick you poison kinda thing. Case, hard drives, etc.
motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131584 96.99
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131524 118.99
processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103546 463.00
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103547 359.00
Newegg doesn't show it but a thermalright xp90 CPU heatsink is one of the best $30-50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007 5.99 (the best there is)
Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227219 182.84 (after rebate)
video card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102610 312.00 (for use with a crossfire board)
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130256 250.00 (after rebate) - for use with SLI motherboard - this would be my choice right now.
power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817167012 100.99
Jsut about anything in this price range should be good. I have an XG 500W that is rock solid. It's $50, but I would suggest a 600 watt to future proof a little. Video cards draw LOTS of power these days.
Everything else is a pick you poison kinda thing. Case, hard drives, etc.
