Desktops forum: Ideas for buidling your own PC

do u want a small compact media center pc? if u do get a shuttle case....if not whichever case u like then

amd athlon 64 3000+ or higher
mobo nfoce 4 one
nec dvd burner drive
wd 250gb 7200rpm
power supply- antec, ocz, thermaltake, enermax, etc. at least 450 watts
ram- 1gb pc3200 corsair xms performance
gfx card i would recommend an aiw card from ati
and get a media card reader
oh yah and win. media center 2005

You could try the HDTV Wonder by ATI, but I don't know alot about TV tuners. The case: Are you going to upgrade: More CD/DVD drives? More HDs? If so I would go for the full. If your fine with your current rig, then a mid is fine. Also I think that a Full-Tower case would have better cooling. Also the AIW cards by ATI have some TV Tuner capabilites.
-Ibrahim

How come you aren't going for a SATA interface? I'm surprised, as most people despise IDE, but there isn't anything wrong with IDE or Ultra-ATA IMO.

Also, I would note that people have had software problems with Windows Media Center and ATI All-In-Wonder cards. I personally would just buy a TV tuner card and graphics card seperately. Or maybe it's just becuz I don't like ATI, lol. It is also possible to buy just the ATI card and XP Home. Windows Media Center is ''over-hyped'' and has some issues like everything else from Microsoft lol. With the ATI software you will have the same capabilities as Media Center. Plus you will save $$$.

Since you desire dual-core, with your socket 939 MOBO you can eventually upgrade to an AMD Athlon X2 cpu when the prices go down. So building your PC with an AMD Athlon 64 3000+ socket 939 is a good idea. It is a lower-end cpu and you do not need to spend $$$ on a 3500+ when your going to upgrade to dual-core.

Good RAM and PS supply choice

Thanks everyone for all of your feedback. It's been very helpful. Do you think I'm getting the best bang for my buck? I'm only looking to spend around $1500 on set up. What do you think I can cheapen up on?

Thanks.

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amd athlon 64 3000+ or higher = $379

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1178777&CatId=0

Sony CD / DVD- Rom Drive = 16.50

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101129

LightScribe DVD Burner = $73

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827140007

wd 320gb 7200rpm SATA = $173

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144394

power supply- Antec TruePower 2.0 - 550 Watt.
= $110

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103933

ram- 1gb pc3200 corsair xms performance = $133

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450

Video Card - SAPPHIRE 100116SR Radeon X800XL 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card = $379

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814102548

TV Tuner - eVGA NVTV Single TV Tuner Card = $65

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1160568&CatId=0

Sound Card - Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS PCI Sound Card = $86

win. media center 2005 = $126

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16832102311

Case = $140

http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811133143&CMP=OTC-Froogle&ATT=Thermaltake+SHARK+VA7000BWA+Black+Aluminum+ATX+Full+Tower+Computer+Case

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Total = $2060

I know a guy who can build this system for half the price. I guess that's the price you have to pay for making yourself feel so macho man.

There's a cheese stick in every croud.

Surely I build my computers just to watch the hair on my knuckles grow.

Forget about the sense of accomplishment, the satisfaction of doing it myself and getting it right. Not to mention all I've learned about computers in the process.

Who lifted the rock to let this pop tart out?

Are these even in the same category? If so, which is better?

Look forget Tiger Direct, for the best service stick with Newegg, Zip zoomfly and chief value. Do the research by reading reviews on the components. Excellent processor choice with the Asus mobo, What? LightScribe DVD Burner, who cares, you wait half hour for an image and HP drives are crap, get this Liteon drive http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106967
Get off the tiger direct kick unless you just like poor service and paying more for it. Why not get your video card from newegg, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130203 you save $8 from tiger direct after mail in rebate and shipping, is it worth the hassle? Check this wishlist out, http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/Wishlist/WishShareShow.asp?ID=628301&WishListTitle=
Dual core? Who cares right now, Wait until prices come down in 2 years, you'll want a new system anyway.

Hi Guys,

I just finished a computer similar to the parts you suggest. I agree with the components, but, your estimated prices are a little high. I completed mine for under $700.00.

Your much better off buying a case with the power supply you want included. My case and a 485 watt power supply at Tiger Direct cost $49.95.
Also, it had a 100% rebate. I know that that is not always available.

I've found from experience that Tiger Direct and New Egg are about the best sources on line. Tiger seems to have the best sales. Also, Computer Geeks are pretty good. You know the old saying: It pays to shop a round.

Goodluck with your build. If you have an older computer, you'll be amazed with the speed.

Jack (bad penny)

Look at the Coolermaster. I used one last month, and the tooless design and front ports work well.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119077

some raid makes access faster while other config. is mostly for redundancy

IF you're doing it from scatch its a heck of a lot easier than rebuilding. Make sure to get a cabinet type that will fit the mother board type such as an XT type ,micro ATX or AT ...It was a good thing I had the motherboard book, told me what type and size, I felt I was restricted to that, but the Computer cabinet I have could have taken the largest mobo without a problem - even the different mountings were marked for both mobo types!, but to me this was the key issue - to be able to drop in a motherboard replacement (4 studs and 3 re-uasable plastic support tabs)-that done I was up and running after processor with heatsink and fan, and RAM installation,......NEWEGG is positively great, delivery always on the money thru Fed-Ex, wait for the month end sales - very good deals, you can also read reviews on each product, most customers write about other components they matched stuff up with and how those work , this will give you plenty of ideas of what to buy and what will work together as soon as you plug it in. Beware, some components do not work well together in many cases that have been documented, there have been motherboard chipset issues with Hard Disk drives and bios setups that you can read about on websites such as techreport.com/reviews and techspot.com as well as informit.

CPU= AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB 512KB L2 Cache Socket 939 Processor - Retail Box Model # ADA3500BPBOX.
CASE= TITAN550 550W RETAIL - PSU is required for MB
MB= ASUS A8NSLI deluxe
RAM = 2 GB Kingston (1 gb / Stick)
HDTV=ATI HD all in Wonder (comes with remote)
Graphics=ATI RADN X800XL 256MB 100-43551 (PCI Express)
HD=2 MAXTOR 300GB Serial ATA Ultra 16 (16MB cache) 7200 RPM (Allows for RAID 0/1 (I'm thinking of 2 more for RAID 5) - That's right I'm thinking of having more than 1 TeraByte of disk space at Home!
DVD Burner = AOPEN 16X DVD Dual Layer Write with Nero & WINDVD Software
However I'm thinking about the NEC from New Egg.
OS= Win XP PRO (Thinking about Vista (Longhorn)).


If you already have your own burning software then get Neweggs NEC DVD burner for $45 (or less). It's a bargin!
BTW the MB comes with Norton Anti-Virus packaged in it.
The ATI RADEON X800XL is capable of displaying true HD and comes with HD Cable and is compatible with ATI's Crossfire (ATI's version of SLI (Serial Link Interface)).
The ATI HD All in Wonder allows S-Video/Cable and Antenna Input and acts as a PVR (TIVO without a charge!)
With this MB you need 2 sticks of RAM PC3200 to make it work right (I chose 2 GB Kingston 1GB / Stick)
The ANTEC Case comes with a 550 12V ATX Power Supply (has 24 pins to power PCI Express on Mother Board and it is Required).
This is a Gaming machine, Audio/Video machine and Server (the MotherBoard has 2 Gb LANs)!
New egg is the place to go!