Help with building a System

[Malgavito]

What's up all...
I am going to be building my own system,
What do you guys think of this... it is my first, so comments please, and a little help

thanks

Case: Matrix MA Full Tower Case
65$
PowerSupply: Antec LS 400
49$
Chip: Barton Core Athlon XP Either 3000+ or 2800+
3000 = 253$ 2800 = 177$
Mobo: Abit Kd7 Socket a ATX 333FSB and DDR400
79.99 (80) (Mobo is where I am not so sure and would need some help)
Memory: 513MB Kingston (for now) DDR400
89.99 (90)
Video Card: Soundblaster Live
$30
Graphics Card: Radeon 9500 Pro
$95
Hard Drive: Western Digital WD1200JB 120GB 7200rpm ICE w/ 8mb buffer
$126
CDROM: Black Samsung SM-352 52x24x52 CD-Rw 16X DVD Rom
79.99
Floppy: Sony MPF920
11.99
Fan: I need some help with this one, I don't knwow what to look for in a fan, And don't know how much

to cool.
I was looking at this
Antec Transparent LED Lighted Fan
19.99

Total is about 824$ but with the barton 3000 it is 900
Then Ill probably get teh Kogi 15' LCD for like 240

and that will raise it to 1075, or 1150...
So what do you guys think? Good prices/bad? Make changes or sugestions please.

 

[vaporize]

where did you get the "radeon 9500 pro" for $95?
-everything else seems fine, maybe a better mobo and corsair for $5 extra?

 

[paperfist]

I'd get a nForce2 motherboard, something like a Epox 8RDA+ ($85) or Abit NF7-S ($120) and use the onboard sound which is better then the sound card you have listed.

What are you going to use the system for? A Barton 2500+ is a steal atm for $95 and isn't that much slower then the ones you listed. If you go retail on the CPU you can use the HSF that comes with it or switch to something like a Vantec Aeroflow.

Not sure about the case, you have a link for that? Kingston RAM isn't bad and their HyperX is pretty nice stuff, Corsair is even better but IMO not really needed unless you plan on overclocking (same for HyperX).

I haven't used or heard much about Samsung drives before, Lite-on makes some good ones. I don't think they have a combo drive, but you could get a Lite-on DVD & burner for the same cost as the Samsung. Just a thought.

 

[KingSVT]

sounds good to me for a first
but yeah definetly a better mobo and mem

 

[x3m]

Looks good, but replace the motherboard with on with nForce2 chipset, as the Abit NF7-S or the Asus A7N8X DeLuxe (~$120-130), and skip the sound card you have chose, because the built-in on those boards are better ...

And I'd go for the Barton 2500+ and save som money.

If you take a nForce2 motherboard (i.e those I listed) you better take two memory sticks, because that will increase the performance due to nForce2 uses Dual Channel technology. 2x256Mb Corsair PC3200 may be suitable?

For cooling, it's recommended with one fan to blow air into the case (in the front of the case), and one fan to blow out the hot air (at the backside of the case, high up becasue you know hot air raises). And of course you will need a heatsink and a fan to the processor. A SLK-800 or a AX-7 combined with a Enermax 80mm (adjusteble speed) is my choice.

/x3m

 

[Malgavito]

Thanks everyone
Um the radeon 9500
I can get a hook up on that, retail version

Everything else is OEM

About that 2500 Barton, Would the 2 make a dif? With the differing FSB's?
Just wondering...
Also about the mobo, I don't really know much about how to choose one, or what is a good one, a little help on there..

And thanks you guys about the corsair hint... I didn't know it made a diff..
Thanks for all the comments

 

[Malgavito]

oh, and about the dual 256. Would you still suggest it if i was going to go to 1 gig memory.
I plan to do that, but not right when I build the system.

 

[ScrapSilicon]

Originally posted by: Malgavito
oh, and about the dual 256. Would you still suggest it if i was going to go to 1 gig memory.
I plan to do that, but not right when I build the system.

grab a 512 stick then grab a matching(preferably same manufacturer,etc.) stick later...

 

[Malgavito]

thanks scrap, that is what i was planning to do

and 3xm thanks for the info
dumb question, but why do you suggest nForce?
and what diff does corsair make...
sorry guys, and thanks for your help

 

[Malgavito]

Oh,
here is that case i was talking about

This store is near where I live

http://www.directron.com/ma01bd.html

Also, where do you guys get your parts?

 

[tommie]

..the nforce2 boards are definetly the way to go, dual channel, 400fsb. fastest amd platform right now. soltek makes a great one for $80 sl-frn2-rl

tommie j

 

[shud]

Originally posted by: Malgavito
Thanks everyone
Um the radeon 9500
I can get a hook up on that, retail version

Ugh, man. Wish I had a hook up like that. :/

 

[Malgavito]

Thanks

And do you guys just use newegg.com
Or is ther anything better or as good?

 

[Malgavito]

and one question
on the Barton 2500 vs the 2800

Will the cache differences make an impact?

 

[Tavoc]

I would also suggest the Barton 2500+ and Epox 8RDA+ Combo. I have personal experience with the combo and it works great. For memory I would suggest Kingston Hyper X PC 2700 or PC3200.


I havent found a better online retailer than Newegg.