Making a new Computer Youself

Void Dragon

I need to make a new computer, as my current laptop is dying. Since I haven't made a computer myself since before graphics cards were discrete components, and I'm thinking of doing things I haven't done before, like loading Linux in dual-boot, my friends suggested I post the current specs online at a board I trust and ask for opinions before I put in the order.

Can anyone tell me if this is good? Also, Prices?

Newegg.com

Qty. Product Description Savings Total Price
1 LITE-ON LightScribe Black 20X DVD±R Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write Black IDE Model LH-20A1H-186 - Retail
Item #: N82E16827106045 $39.99

1 GIGABYTE GZ-XA1CA-STB Black Front bezel : Aluminum Body : SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811233006 $89.99

1 SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP - OEM (I left this in for emergencies)
Item #: N82E16821103116 $6.99

2 Seagate Barracuda ES ST3320620NS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148215 $189.98 ($94.99 each)

1 EPoX EP-MF570SLI Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813123005 $139.99

1 SAPPHIRE 100166L Radeon X1650XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail (Has Linux Drivers)
Item #: N82E16814102068 $137.99

1 BFG Tech BFGR650PSU ATX 12v 2.0 / EPS 12V 650Watts Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817702003 $119.99

1 Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2K2/2GR - Retail
Item #: N82E16820134384 $139.99

1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA4600CUBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103751 $189.00

Subtotal: $1,053.91

I also think I should get the 2 year replacement plan for the motherboard and the video card, only $40 each.

Thanks. Any Help would be appreciated.

Comments, Suggestions, Flames Welcomed

HMTKSteve

Before graphics cards were discrete components???

Graphic cards have been discrete since the days of the IBM XT.

Apreche

The replacement plan is a ripoff. Your motherboard and video card each come with a manufacturer's warranty. If they don't work, you can get a new one for free, why pay $40? Maybe if you are stupidly rich it doesn't matter, but $40 is a whole video game. I wouldn't trade a whole video game for effectively nothing.

Also, while that Radeon card has Linux drivers, they suck. If you are planning on running Linux, I can not recommend an NVidia card more highly. Trust me. The lack of suffering is worth it. If you aren't going to do Linux, it doesn't really matter.

Lastly, why are you getting a floppy drive? When was the last time you ever used a floppy disk? It's completely useless, even for "emergencies". You'll be taking up a spot in your case that could be better filled with a hard drive. Also, the ribbon cable for the floppy drive will be the only one in your whole case. Why ruin a ribbon-free case with a floppy drive?

Take the $40 for the replacement plan and the $7 for the floppy drive and get yourself a USB thumb drive instead. The motherboard you have selected is capable of booting from USB. There is no emergency that will require a floppy drive that USB drive will not solve equally well. If your USB dies, like Rym's, get a new motherboard instead of dealing with a floppy drive.

Void Dragon

So what would be a good choice for a video card in this price range? All of my friends use ATI, so I can't get a recommendation for an nVidia locally.

Apreche

So what would be a good choice for a video card in this price range? All of my friends use ATI, so I can't get a recommendation for an nVidia locally.

Just pick one. They're pretty much all the same. All you have to do is check to make sure it's a PCIx16 card so it will work with your system. Also make sure it has the output ports you want, do you want 2 DVI ports? One DVI and one VGA?

Once you've figure that out, it's just a matter of money and performance. Spend more money, get a faster card. Spend less money, get a slower card. There really isn't a reason to have a 3D card if you aren't gaming, so look at the recommended system requirements of the games you plan on playing and get a card that beats those requirements. Don't buy the newest card on the block though. The prices are just insane.

Void Dragon

About the graphics card comment: I meant before you cared. The screen was still green and black.

Void Dragon

Here's What I think I'm going with. I dumped the floppy Drive cause there's no point, and went to nVidia so I'd have no Linux troubles. Don't know the brand, though, so if they suck, let me know. I'm planning to order this afternoon.

1 LITE-ON 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black SATA Model SH-16A7S-05 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106047 $31.99

1 GIGABYTE GZ-XA1CA-STB Black Front bezel : Aluminum Body : SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
Item #: N82E16811233006 $89.99

2 Seagate Barracuda ES ST3320620NS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822148215 $189.98 ($94.99 each)

1 EPoX EP-MF570SLI Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813123005 $139.99

1 XFX PVT73GUGD3 GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150182 $142.99

1 BFG Tech BFGR650PSU ATX 12v 2.0 / EPS 12V 650Watts Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16817702003 $119.99

1 Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2K2/2GR - Retail
Item #: N82E16820134384 $139.99

1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+(65W) Windsor 2.4GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADO4600CUBOX - Retail
Item #: N82E16819103749 $189.00

Subtotal: $1,043.92
Shipping: $32.52
Grand Total: $1,076.44

Apreche

Now that's a pretty happening computer right there. Very similar to what I would order myself. With the weird branded stuff, the worst that can happen is the part just doesn't work. If it doesn't work when you get it, return it to Newegg. if it breaks in the future, manufacturer's warranty ftw.

Also, does that mobo have onboard sound, network, etc? Did you make sure that those things have Linux support? Gotta check these things, especially the sound cards.

Andrew

Don't intel chips work better with nVidia boards? Or am I completely wrong? I do know that the Intel Dual Core chips have perform better than the AMD X2.

HMTKSteve

Computer? Just get an abacus and an etch-a-sketch... That's all the technology you need!

Besides, if you buy it now it will only go down in price next month...

Void Dragon

Should I get the newegg "net replacement plan" on any of these? Or should I just go with the manufacturer's warranty? $40 for 2 years.

I checked, the motherboard is Linux compatible. Onboard sound and networking.

Apreche

If I had $40 to spare I would get a CPU that was $40 faster or a hard drive $40 bigger.

Void Dragon

Thanks for the help. I'm ordering the system above, with just the manufacturer's warranty.

Jason

I could shit in a box and slap a warranty on it, but it would still just be shit in a box.

HMTKSteve

I would have to agree with Scott. If you have the extra money buy better stuff. If it is going to break it will likely happen within the first month while you are still covered by the manufacturers warranty.

Think back to a motherboard from two years ago. Is it still worth $40?

HMTKSteve

I could shit in a box and slap a warranty on it, but it would still just be shit in a box.

What kind of warranty?

Rym

I could shit in a box and slap a warranty on it, but it would still just be shit in a box.

You can stick your head up a butcher's ass... Wait...

Jason

Tommy Boy is perhaps the most underrated movie of our time. It's a classic morality tale wrapped in a shiny coat of fat and masturbation jokes. I wish they would review it on Movies You Should See.

Void Dragon

Having gone through my software, I have realized that I don't have a copy of my anti-virus software with me. Anybody know any good web downloads?
(Obviously, download on old computer and thumbdrive over.)

Apreche

If you are using Windows on a secure network and you aren't dumb enough to download anything bad, then you don't need an anti-virus. If you install an anti-virus program you don't need, it will just eat up your system resources. If you find a Windows that needs to be scanned for viruses and evil you can use Trend-Micro Housecall to search it one time. If you are using a Linux computer and you want to search for viruses in e-mails or perhaps a thumb drive that was in a Windows machine, you can use clamav.