Building a new PC

[poopiebottoms]

I'm building myself a new PC, and wanted to get some opinions and thoughts from the computer-saavy folks out there.
I have some great Plextor CD and DVD drives and a monitor that I plan on keeping. I'm replacing/upgrading a Dell Dimension 4100 (circa 1/2001).
I use the PC for audio processing, disc-burning, some gaming and programming. It will be a dual-boot Windows 2000/ Linux box.

My questions are:
1. Where's a good place to read up on technologies and maybe find a tutorial?
2. What are some good Motherboards and board manufacturers?
3. What CPU do you recommend?
4. Is there a good tutorial on the different types of RAM? Will my RAM work in the new board?
5. Video/ Audio card recommendations?
6. Will a new ATX board fit in my Dell tower?
7. Where are some good sites/places to buy this stuff?
8. I'm pretty good at technical things, but how hard is it to install a CPU into a board, and how do I make sure they'll work together?

Thanks, Your help is appreciated.

[zagman76]

My questions are:
1. Where's a good place to read up on technologies and maybe find a tutorial?

I like http://slashdot.org - they have some hardware sections in there, but really it's more of an all-in-one tech site. I also like http://www.tomshardware.com/ - excellent reviews, previews.

2. What are some good Motherboards and board manufacturers?

I like Abit (http://www.abit-usa.com/) and ASUS (http://www.asus.com/)

3. What CPU do you recommend?

AMD (http://www.amd.com/us-en/)... anything AMD...


4. Is there a good tutorial on the different types of RAM? Will my RAM work in the new board?

http://www.crucial.com/index.asp - excellent site on computer memory.

5. Video/ Audio card recommendations?

I would go with either a RADEON or ATI card. Both are most likely on Tom's Hardware...

6. Will a new ATX board fit in my Dell tower?

It should... however, for like $50 or less, you can probably get a decent "beige-box" case, works well especially if you're not into "tricking it out". THe only thing is that you'll also need to get a Power Supply.

7. Where are some good sites/places to buy this stuff?

I always comparison shop at http://www.pricewatch.com

8. I'm pretty good at technical things, but how hard is it to install a CPU into a board, and how do I make sure they'll work together?

It's very simple, and usually most CPUs come with instructions. At pricewatch, you can usually find CPU/MoBo combos there, so you'll know that the processor you're getting will work with the board you're getting (and many sites will plug the CPU in to certify it before shipping)

Thanks, Your help is appreciated.

No Prob! Hope this helps! Let me know how it goes!

[HowardsYamBag]

Answer these three questions as detailed as you can:

1) What will you be using the PC for?
2) What is the most you are willing to spend on the PC?
3) For that price, are you including mouse, keyboard and monitor or will you recycle your current ones?

[poopiebottoms]

Answer these three questions as detailed as you can:

1) What will you be using the PC for?
2) What is the most you are willing to spend on the PC?
3) For that price, are you including mouse, keyboard and monitor or will you recycle your current ones?

PC will be for audio processing (wav to flac, etc.), light gaming (I'm a mild gamer), and programming. I do a lot of C/C++/Java stuff, and am getting into Maya for graphics.

I have roughly $600~$800 to spend.

I'll be definitely be recycling the keyborad, mouse and monitor, as well as the optical and floppy drives, and potentially the hard drives.

I'm focusing my cash on motherboard, CPU, and tower/power supply, and anything else you guys might think of that I've missed.

Expandability and upgradeability is important.

Thanks for all those links and advice too, Zagman. How do you get your sig to show IP/browser/OS info. what is the script?

[zagman76]

i'm glad that you found the links helpful! my sig pic with the info is hosted here: http://www.danasoft.com/

i wish i could take credit for it... but i can't... it's probably a perl script on their end...

[Smoke]

I'm too lazy to quote everything.

2. What are some good Motherboards and board manufacturers?
What he said, ASUS is my fav. If you can afford it, go PCI-Express based.

3. What CPU do you recommend?
Anything but a Celeron. AMD and Intel's main lines are pretty damn close in price/performance. I'd lean toward 64-bit AMD chips.

4. Is there a good tutorial on the different types of RAM? Will my RAM work in the new board?
Most likely not. If you're getting a new board the newer (faster) memory will be a good upgrade.

6. Will a new ATX board fit in my Dell tower?
Possibly. I really like Dell's current cases, but the front panel connectors won't fit your new motherboard. If you get a good case a good power supply will come with it.

7. Where are some good sites/places to buy this stuff?
Newegg.com

8. I'm pretty good at technical things, but how hard is it to install a CPU into a board, and how do I make sure they'll work together?
Installing a CPU is pretty easy, the heatsink is usually more work. If you have a local shop they can walk you though what processor goes with what boards. If you're getting an Intel you need a board designed to take an Intel chip and vice versa.

I would suggest getting a board with SATA so you can get a nice fast hard disk and not have to worry about adding it in with the optical and hard disk drives you already have. Also, I'd suggest keeping Windows and Linux on seperate drives.

[RandomNY]

Some good comp sites for info.

www.hardocp.com (check the forums you need to register)
www.anandtech.com
www.newegg.com(great prices and quick shipping)

---------------------------------------------------------------------
You can get a "FOR DUMMIES" book on PC's at the library, if you don't want to buy.

My fav mobo is ABIT
My fav ram is MUSHKIN or CORSAIR
Plextors are great
i'll post more later... The motherboard might fit in your case.. the real problem will be the new POWER SUPPLY you will have to buy. Dell's power supply's a made speacial for DELL so they probably won't be compatible, with the new mobo, and will most likly be underpowered anyway.

You can get an inexpensive case for $50 bucks that is pretty good quality.

I'll write more later, right now I'm going to kill people on HALF-LIFE2 DEATHMATCH

[HowardsYamBag]

PC will be for audio processing (wav to flac, etc.), light gaming (I'm a mild gamer), and programming. I do a lot of C/C++/Java stuff, and am getting into Maya for graphics.

I have roughly $600~$800 to spend.

I'll be definitely be recycling the keyborad, mouse and monitor, as well as the optical and floppy drives, and potentially the hard drives.

I'm focusing my cash on motherboard, CPU, and tower/power supply, and anything else you guys might think of that I've missed.

Expandability and upgradeability is important.

Thanks for all those links and advice too, Zagman. How do you get your sig to show IP/browser/OS info. what is the script?

OK, head over to www.zipzoomfly.com

Here is what I would pick out if I were building a PC for those needs on your budget:


AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Skt 939 & MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum nForce3 Ultra Skt939 Motherboard - $351.99

Patriot PDC1G3200LLK 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Memory Retail - $185.00

Antec Solution Series SLK2650BQE Quiet Mid Tower Case (Black) Retail
w/350W Power Supply - $63.00

Aerocool Aerofans X-Static - The Noise Killer Retail - $12.99

Chaintech AA5700UA GeForce FX5700 Ultra AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI - $169.99
------------------------------------------
Total plus shipping - $782.97

Now, that comes in just under your $800 limit.

While that might be pushing it, take my advise and don't go 90% of the way. If you are going to spend a large sum of money on a decent upgrade, don't castrate it by trying to cheap out on a crucial item...

If you want to run Linux, stay away from ATI, believe me, NVidia beats them in Linux support hands down. Hell, if you run a distro like Suse, it is easier to install and set up the 3D accelerated drivers than it is in Windows...

[NightStalker3]

thats a really nice build for that price

[HowardsYamBag]

thats a really nice build for that price

Yesh, I do this all the time...

He can later upgrade to more RAM, a faster video card next year when 6800 Ultra cards are going for $159 and he can triple his video performance, etc...

He will have support for SATA and RAID, and that Socket 939 board should support the dual-core processors that AMD will be releasing later this year...

No platform is futureproof, but this route has legs...

If he goes with Intel, Intel is already well onto Socket 775, and that means he needs PCI Express card, and DDR2 memory, which means more cashm better cooling, etc...

I did forget the sound card. The mobo has ok sound built in, but he might want a better card... An M-Audio Revolution 7.1 can be had for like $75...

[Red_State_Rube]

I"m suprised noone has mentioned www.newegg.com

[Hummercash]

OK, head over to www.zipzoomfly.com

Here is what I would pick out if I were building a PC for those needs on your budget:


AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Skt 939 & MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum nForce3 Ultra Skt939 Motherboard - $351.99

Patriot PDC1G3200LLK 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel Memory Retail - $185.00

Antec Solution Series SLK2650BQE Quiet Mid Tower Case (Black) Retail
w/350W Power Supply - $63.00

Aerocool Aerofans X-Static - The Noise Killer Retail - $12.99

Chaintech AA5700UA GeForce FX5700 Ultra AGP 8X 128MB DDR Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI - $169.99
------------------------------------------
Total plus shipping - $782.97

Now, that comes in just under your $800 limit.

While that might be pushing it, take my advise and don't go 90% of the way. If you are going to spend a large sum of money on a decent upgrade, don't castrate it by trying to cheap out on a crucial item...

If you want to run Linux, stay away from ATI, believe me, NVidia beats them in Linux support hands down. Hell, if you run a distro like Suse, it is easier to install and set up the 3D accelerated drivers than it is in Windows...
i agree w/ most of that... just a few suggestions.

check out anandtech hot deals forums first, you can usually find hard drives free after rebates on there. also good deals on RAM and video cards and sometimes mobo/cpu deals too.

http://forums.anandtech.com/categories.cfm?catid=40

the price on that nvidia card is pretty high considering you can get a 6600gt for $195 after rebates here: http://www.buy.com/retail/Product_jump.asp?sku=10387999&dcaid=1688

and as far as online stores to order from, newegg hands down. they may not always have the absolute lowest prices but they're usually in the top 3 w/ lowest price... but what is really amazing about them is their shipping. SUPERB SHIPPING AND CUSTOMER SERVICE!

i have things to do today, but ill price you out a system later tonight with all the prices from deals i find and whatnot... and ill even post links for you since everyone else is too damn lazy ;p


.//chris

EDIT: oh and zagman, ati is the company, radeon is the line of cards... and anyone who thinks crucial is a good place for RAM is retarded. man i love busting your balls... see you in pt tonight ;p

[HowardsYamBag]

Actually, Crucials new Ballistix line of memory sticks are very good.

As for the 6600GT, I agree, but I was really trying to keep him in budget. That card puts him over $800 and does not include shipping yet.

Depending on where he lives, he might do well to find a place like Fry's... They just opened one up in Atlanta about 20 minutes from my house, and it rocks. It's the Home Depot of electronics... You walk in, and there is literally a wall of high end motherboards, all the popular models, and stacks of chips, everything and anything you can imagine...

And their prices are pretty much in line with Newegg.

I like Newegg, I have spent well over $6,000 with them over the past couple years, but ZipZoomFly sometimes has better deals.

I rarely order online anymore, because Fry's usually carries what I need.

I just picked up a Samsung 16x dual-layer DVD burner, black, with Nero Express 6.3, DVD Copy2 and several other software titles for like $60 plus tax...