Thinking of building my first PC...Need your tech input......

[Denvers Dawgs]

So as of right now I am going with these parts (not all from tigerdirect, just using its site for the specs/images)

1. This Case Antec NSK 4400 Black/Silver

2. This CPU - Pent D 940 for $191. Will this work on the following MOBO?

3. This MOBO -Intel D945GPMLKR Intel Socket 775 MicroATX Motherboard

4. This CPU fan - Masscool 8W501B1M3G / Socket 775 / Intel Prescott / Copper Core / CPU Cooling Fan

5. This Power supply - Ultra/V-Series/500-Watt/ATX/120mm Fan/20/24-Pin/SATA Ready/Power Supply

6. RAM - Crucial 1GB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz Memory (2x512, because I have been told, and read that (2)512 sticks, is better than (1)1GB stick) Now I have the option for 64Meg x 72 or 64Meg x 64? What the heck is this? And which do I want?

So what else would I need to complete this build?

-1 more 80mm fan (whats a good brand for 80mm, and is quiet?)
-WinXP Home SP2
-Seagate 80GB for OS
-Seagate 250 or 320 2nd drive
-keyboard/mouse/monitor (already own)
-Dvd drives (already own)

I don't need any special video or audio cards, because the MOBO has them on it (I don't game so those basics will do)

That's all I can think of, but again this is my first attempt at a build so please, tell me if I missed something.

[budz]

Here's some reviews on that motherboard from newegg.com

http://www.newegg.com/Product/CustRatingReview.asp?Item=N82E16813121018

Are you definite on buying the barebones from Tigerdirect? I'd suggest you buy the components separately from like Newegg.com or other online retailers like Computergate.com. I've never used INTEL motherboards. Take a look at Newegg on the selection of motherboards for Socket 775 Intel processors.

[jagabo]

Newegg also has lots of barebones systems you can start with:

http://www.newegg.com/ProductSort/Category.asp?Category=3

That way you'll know the case and motherboard work together.

Monarch has an interactive system configurator that you can use whether you buy from them or not:

http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=COM

[Denvers Dawgs]

Are you definite on buying the barebones from Tigerdirect? I'd suggest you buy the components separately from like Newegg.com or other online retailers like Computergate.com. I've never used INTEL motherboards. Take a look at Newegg on the selection of motherboards for Socket 775 Intel processors.

No i'm not thinking of buying the barebones kit any more. I'm going to do a from scratch pc build. I'm not buying all the parts form tigerdirect. I was just using those links as references to what I plan on doing. I'm definitely going to shop around for parts prices.

The reviews for that mobo have now scared me. I wasn't going to have a floppy drive installed, but people say you have to flash the bios before it will even install xp? I am not that advanced for something like that.

Can anyone recommend a good intel motherboard that will work with the Pentium D 940?

Also do I need some kind of themal grease?

[jagabo]

If you get a boxed retail CPU it will come with a heat sink and thermal pad or compound. If you get an OEM CPU you will have to supply your own heat sink and thermal compound. Even with the retail CPU you might want to get a better cooling solution.

In general Asus motherboards are pretty good. Abit has a good reputation too.

All the Core 2 Duo stuff should start appearing tomorrow.

[Denvers Dawgs]

ok.....will they be much more expensive than say the Pent D940 ($191)?


Argh.......so much to understand about building a PC, I remember why I've always liked HP's so simple, and never had a problem....

[kschang]

ANY new CPU will be MUCH more expensive than current ones, THEN you see the price drops.

[Denvers Dawgs]

Ok the one thing I still haven't been able to pick up is, after I decide on which Processor I want. How do I then figure out which mobos it will work with?

[kschang]

You may want to see if a local shop can build it for you. Just give your specs to them and see what kind of price they can give you, assembled and ready to go. Pick out your components first, of course. But don't order anything yet until you decide.

In San Francisco, a local shop just charges about $50 to assemble a PC based on your specs of parts (but you pay their part prices, which really ain't that bad, not Newegg cheap, but cheaper than CompUSA and such). You may want to see if a local PC shop can do something similar.

[budz]

Denver Dawgs I've learned that no matter what fastest CPU is on the market whether it's a INTEL or AMD, the newer ones like CONROE will be pricey when they are first released. My suggestion is to keep within the budget that you've set for yourself. As soon as you get one of the fastest CPU 6 months later a faster one will become available. Other members have posted that staying a few steps behind the fastest processors is a good idea. I have to agree with them because otherwise one will forever be spending big bucks to keep up with the latest/greatest/fastest processors that become available. 4 months ago I bought a AMD 64 Venice 3200+ processor with a Biostar motherboard that would be able to use a DUAL AMD 64 processor as well. I figured when the prices of AMD 64 DUAL core processors drop I could easily upgrade to one without buying a new motherboard.

If you decided on getting a INTEL 775 socket processor then you'll have to find a motherboard that is compatible with it. Just look for the specs on a motherboard if it uses INTEL socket 775 processors. Asus is a good brand although a few months ago I did have to rma one of my P4 motherboards via telephone which was a pain. But that was just a isolated incident. I once rma another ASUS mobo via email and got a RMA number in days time. Take a look at the reviews that customers have left on Newegg.com and also do a google search for motherboard reviews.

Take your time in deciding what processor and motherboard you want. Are you sure you aren't interested in a AMD processor? The prices of AMD processors will drop tomorrow! Yipee for me!!!!

[Denvers Dawgs]

I just don't know anything about AMD, I have always had intel, and understand their power (3.2Ghz, 2.8Ghz, etc.) I have no idea what a fast amd would be? Don't get the 3200, 4200, etc. Which would be equivelant to a 3.2 intel?

I do thank both budz and redwudz for their patience and help with my serious lack of internals of PCs

I have about $7-800 to spend in total for the PC

Which of these would you get?
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 3800+
or
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 4200+

[jagabo]

I just don't know anything about AMD, I have always had intel, and understand their power (3.2Ghz, 2.8Ghz, etc.) I have no idea what a fast amd would be? Don't get the 3200, 4200, etc. Which would be equivelant to a 3.2 intel?

The Athlon 64 X2 3800+ or 4200+ will have about the same performance as the Pentium D 940:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/21/the_mother_of_all_cpu_charts_2005/
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=2795&p=1
http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/cpu/display/core2duo-shootout.html
http://www.hardware.fr/articles/623-1/intel-core-2-duo-dossier.html

Of course, performance varies from program to program so look for benchmarks of the software you'll be running. All the hardware review site have covered the Core 2 Duo with comparisons to the A64 and PentiumD in the last few weeks.

Q1000 pricing of the A64 series is expected drop to the following in the next few days (this represents ~50% price cuts):

A64 X2 5000+ $282
A64 X2 4600+ $224
A64 X2 4200+ $175
A64 X2 3800+ $149

I've had a 3800+ in one of my computers for a year or so now. I've been quite happy with it even though it's coupled with a second rate motherboard.

If I was putting together a computer today I'd... well I'd wait a month or two to see what happens with Core 2 Duo (and C2D motherboard) prices.

[budz]

I do thank both budz and redwudz for their patience and help with my serious lack of internals of PCs

I have about $7-800 to spend in total for the PC

Which of these would you get?
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 3800+
or
AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 dual-core processor 4200+

Your welx! I'm thinking about getting the AMD 64 X2 dual core 3800+ when the price drops. I have a pc to build for someone so I may just sell the AMD 64 socket 939 Venice 3200+ processor that I have. Then buy the AMD 64 X2 dual core 3800+ processor.

For a budget of $700-$800 you can build a decent computer for your video encoding and photoshop stuff. I don't do gaming which is why I haven't purchased a PCI-E Video card for my AMD 64 socket 939 Venice 3200+ pc. The motherboard has decent video for encoding video. This AMD 64 socket 939 3200 pc boots up windows very quickly.
As I mentioned take your time in deciding what processor you'll want. Tomorrow is the big day when some of the prices of the AMD processors will drop.

If time is of no essence then take kschang's advice and wait to see what prices the INTEL conroe processors will be a few months from now.

[jagabo]

AMD's new Q1000 pricing:

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Corporate/VirtualPressRoom/0,,51_104_609,00.html

A64 X2 5000+ $301
A64 X2 4600+ $240
A64 X2 4200+ $187
A64 X2 3800+ $152

A little higher than the rumors I posted earlier. These are PIB (retail, processor in a box, including heat sink and fan) prices. Maybe the earlier prices were bare OEM CPUs.

[budz]

Newegg hasn't dropped the price on the AMD 64 X2 3800+ yet. It's still listed as $289.00. I wonder whether or not they will follow AMD's price drop. Only online retailer that has dropped the prices is mwave.com but I wouldn't buy from them if someone paid me. Bad experiences from them in the past.

[budz]

Hawaii time is now 9:51 a.m. Whoas! Newegg.com has just dropped the price on the AMD 64 X2 3800+ to $169.00! Whoas!!!!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562

[jagabo]

And I forgot, Core 2 Duo has been delayed by four days:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/cpu/display/20060630083800.html

[Denvers Dawgs]

ok so what motherboard (that has built in audio/video) is recommended for use with an AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor 4200+ and that will fit in the Antec NSK 4400 Black/Silver

[budz]

For that AMD 64 X3 4200 dual core cpu you could get a BIOSTAR TFORCE 6100 MICRO ATX socket 939 motherboard which has video built into the board or you could get a ASUS A8N5X ATX motherboard which does NOT have built in video so you'll need to get a PCI-E video card. The BIOSTAR is a smaller motherboard which will fit in that Antec NSK4000 computer case as well as the ASUS.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138264

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131569

I have the BIOSTAR one in a small form factor pc. It works well and have had no problems with it. Since the price of the AMD 64 X2 3800 cpu dropped I may purchase it and use it on that BIOSTAR motherboard.

[Denvers Dawgs]

For that AMD 64 X3 4200 dual core cpu

You do mean the x2 right? haha....

[budz]

yuh, typo i meant X2!!!

[budz]

Okay now I have it straight the BIOSTAR TForce 6100 socket 939 does support AMD 64 X2 DUAL CORE processors.

http://www.biostar-usa.com/mbdetails.asp?model=tforce+6100-939

[TBoneit]

Or the Foxconn AKA Winfast with Nvidia chipset. Their 6100K8MA works Ok. I have one home and sold one in a inexpensive system.

[ViRaL1]

6. RAM - Crucial 1GB PC4200 DDR2 533MHz Memory (2x512, because I have been told, and read that (2)512 sticks, is better than (1)1GB stick) Now I have the option for 64Meg x 72 or 64Meg x 64? What the heck is this? And which do I want?

x64 is regular Non-ECC memory which most non-server motherboards use, x72 is ECC (Error Checking and Correcting) memory. Chances are you don't need that and it's probably more expensive, so I'd go with the x64 memory.

[jagabo]

If you are going the A64 X2 route you should get a socket AM2 motherboard rather than socket 939. Socket 939 has reached the end of the line.

Also note that socket 939 uses DDR memory, AM2 uses DDR2 memory. The difference in performance between the two isn't substantial but the whole market is moving to DDR2.

There's no need for a micro ATX motherboard if you're using a normal ATX case.

Unfortunately, both AMD and Intel are going through architectural changes now so putting a system together is more complex than usual.

[jagabo]

"Beginner's Guide to Motherboard Selection"

http://www.tomshardware.com/2006/07/26/beginners_guide_to_motherboard_selection/

[KBeee]

<snip>

Unfortunately, both AMD and Intel are going through architectural changes now so putting a system together is more complex than usual.

You're right about that.
The new Core 2 Duos look to be the the coolest processors on the block right now, but M/B support is lagging with only 2 or 3 boards supporting them at the moment.
It'll probably be about a month before a greater choice of motherboards arrives, and makes building a computer with a C2D a viable option.

[Nelson37]

If you are waiting for the best prices, you will never buy one.

Set a budget, pick a time frame. Go 2-3 slots below the top-of-the-line, simply watching prices for a while will tell you why. Unless you have big bucks to spend for extra performance.

Once you buy, this is very important, STOP looking at prices for at least a year or so, or until you are ready to upgrade again. You will just depress yourself all to hell with what you could have saved if you had waited just a little longer.

Dvorak - "The computer you REALLY want has ALWAYS cost $5,000.00"

[INFRATOM]

For building a good stable machine CPU, motherboard and RAM must be matching. If you have never build a system I suggest to go with the list from TOM's hardware or Anantech. After you added up all parts that you need + tax and shipping also check against a bargain price from Dell most likely you see a comparible price OS included. I have some rules for building a computer .. don't compromise on quality and build ..for more than your needs are because upgrade is expensive and part replaced goes to waste.