Computer Help?

[Dsn4001]

I've decided with this set up:



COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722516DLA380 (0A31637) 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

XFX PVT42EUDE3 Geforce 6800 XTreme 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

ATRIX PSCI-500BLK ATX12V 500W Power Supply

G.SKILL Value 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model F1-3200PHU1-1GBNT

ECS C19-A SLI (1.0A) Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI XE ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 533MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core,EM64T Processor Model BX80551PE2666FN

For a total of $639.

Please see if anything is wrong or if you could make it even better for cheaper.

 

[Luckyboy1]

The problem with upgrading your mommaboard will be the OEM programming that came with the Sony. It will go looking for a Sony bios before you can reformat.

 

[johnnyMon]

Changing the motherboard would be pretty involved. You would have to reinstall Windows and all your applications. A new motherboard would most likely require a new CPU. A powerful graphics card might require a new and more powerful power supply. If it were me, I would rather eat rice and beans for a few months (don't forget your vegetables, too) and save up for a new machine. You could build a machine pretty cheaply.

 

[DaveSimmons]

What is the processor, and do you know what kind of memory?

You can get a new case, PSU, motherboard, A64 socket 939 processor for a little over $300. With memory and a 7600GT graphics card about $600.

 

[Dsn4001]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
What is the processor, and do you know what kind of memory?

You can get a new case, PSU, motherboard, A64 socket 939 processor for a little over $300. With memory and a 7600GT graphics card about $600.

Sadly, I have no clue on where to start on building a computer.

While I know how to build a computer, I'm not sure what motherboard would be best when making one.

EDIT: Where should I go looking if I want to make my own computer?

 

[Luckyboy1]

EDIT: Where should I go looking if I want to make my own computer?

Here. Read these forums and articles at this site and then expand from there. Building your own PC is a basic life skill everyone should know.

 

[Dsn4001]

Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
EDIT: Where should I go looking if I want to make my own computer?

Here. Read these forums and articles at this site and then expand from there. Building your own PC is a basic life skill everyone should know.

I mean, what site to buy from? Also what is a good case to start out with?

 

[Luckyboy1]

There are many to buy from. Don't worry about the where so much as the what and read Luckyboy's Guide For Complete Users. Google for Luckyboy and it's your first choice.

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

also you'll invalidate your sony's OEM XP.
which means you'll need to buy a new copy of windows.

 

[Nick5324]

Originally posted by: Dsn4001

Originally posted by: Luckyboy1
EDIT: Where should I go looking if I want to make my own computer?

Here. Read these forums and articles at this site and then expand from there. Building your own PC is a basic life skill everyone should know.

I mean, what site to buy from? Also what is a good case to start out with?

Both answers in one link

 

[DaveSimmons]

newegg.com is one good source. If you don't mind waiting longer then ZipZoomFly.com and MWave.com are also decent but with lower reputations for customer service.

A basic system would be
$50 Antec SLK3000-B case
$50 Fortron FSP power supply
$83 Asus A8N-E motherboard
$119 Athlon A64 3000+ retail box ($152 for 3200+)
$72 I GB PC3200 DDR Kingston RAM (or others $70-100) (or 2 GB kit as 2x1 for $140-200)
$189 eVGA 7600GT (or about $300 for 7900GT)

$90 Windows XP OEM (or $150 for XP Pro)

 

[Dsn4001]

I've decided with this set up:



COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UW Black Aluminum Bezel, SECC Chassis ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 HDT722516DLA380 (0A31637) 160GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

XFX PVT42EUDE3 Geforce 6800 XTreme 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card

ATRIX PSCI-500BLK ATX12V 500W Power Supply

G.SKILL Value 1GB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model F1-3200PHU1-1GBNT

ECS C19-A SLI (1.0A) Socket T (LGA 775) NVIDIA nForce4 SLI XE ATX Intel Motherboard

Intel Pentium D 805 Smithfield 533MHz FSB LGA 775 Dual Core,EM64T Processor Model BX80551PE2666FN

For a total of $639.

Please see if anything is wrong or if you could make it even better for cheaper.

 

[DaveSimmons]

That D805 2.66GHz is much slower than even an A64 3000+ in games, plus it runs hot. It also isn't fast enough to drive a 7900GT class card at full speed if you upgrade your video later (an A64 3200+ should be enough for a 7900GTX).

Click the CPU tab and read some P4 vs. A64 benchmarks. I say this typing on one of the last good P4 CPUs, a 3.2C Northwood.

That P4 motherboard uses DDR2 RAM not DDR1.

The 6800 instead of the 7600GT will probably mean lowering settings to run well at 1024x768, but it is $90 cheaper after rebate.