Need Advice New PC

Okay, well..yup it's that time of year when you need to buy a new PC for your room after fighting with a crappy 200mb piece of..yeah. Anyways...I have done some searching and need some advice. Basically, I'm just this 15 year old kid that wants to surf the net, quickly, and do some programming like photoshop or w/e. I made this list, and I need to know whether or not it will run fast, or slow..and if i'm getting ripped off. All prices are Canadian!

MY PC: NEW BUILDING

CPU + Motherboard: Biostar P4M80M4 Via Socket 478 MicroATX Motherboard and an Intel Celeron D 350 3.20GHz Processo6 $176.000

RAM: Kingston 512MB CL2.5 PC2100 DDR 266MHz Memory $60.00

Hard Drive: Maxtor / 80GB / 7200 / 8MB / ATA-133 / OEM / Hard Drive $80.00

CD-Drive: Liteon 52x Black CD-ROM OEM Drive $22.00

Floppy Drive: Have

Graphics Card: Could I save money and use my old nVIDIA RIVA TNT2 M64

Sound Card: Have one.

PC Case: Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Front USB & Audio Ports and 450-Watt Power Supply $53.00

Monitor: 17 LCD [Have]

Mouse: Microsoft Optical Laser [HAVE, not USB]

Keyboard: [HAVE, not USB]

Total Cost including tax: $453.000

 

lol, I can't seem how to edit my post...

EDIT: ahh..after i posted..you can edit this one..but not the first post

Anyways..I can also use a different CD-Drive that I have and save myself $25.

[ TDK CDRW321040B ]

Device Properties:
Driver Description (CD-Rom Drive)
Driver Date 11/05/98
Driver Provider Microsoft
INF File MSCDROM.INF

Optical Drive Properties:
Manufacturer TDK
Device Type CD-RW

Writing Speeds:
CD-R 32x
CD-RW 10x

Reading Speeds:
CD-ROM 40x

Device Manufacturer:
Company Name TDK Electronics Corp.
Product Information http://www.tdk.com/dvdburners
Firmware Download http://www.tdk.com/support

 

get sum better RAM, pc3200 will do much better and is the standard for modern computers and is about the same price, check newegg.com for some corsair valuselect or sumthing cheap since ur not gaming. 512mb should do fine for what ur gonna do. Also, why the micro atx mobo if you are getting a full sized case?

ps. newegg.com is much cheaper than any other online computer parts place. thats where pretty much everyone on these forums, including me, get their stuff

 

I will check out newegg.com.. btw...is my mobo smaller than what I got for the box. What is the correct size? Microtower?

I checked out newegg...are they only in the US? I am in Canada

 

Maybe I can go with http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1645703&CatId=0
and then keep the same case

 

I'm in Canada as well and buy most of my computer parts at HL technology and Ncix. Both excellent companies, hhttp://www.ncix.com/ ttp://www.hltechnology.com/

 

heres a couple of prices from HL.
hard drive, maxtor sata 80 gig 70.00
amd 64 3000+ socket 939 185.00
gigabyte mb uli chipset 80.00
memory 512 3200 50.00
lg dvd burner 16X 46
As you can see by my sig I am partial to amd...just a sample of prices. You have to be careful shopping at tiger.ca i hear they charge a brokerage fee at the border a percentage of what you buy.

 

yes, i believe they ship to canada. And yes, that mobo will fit your case. If you wanted to keep the smaller one, just look for some micro atx cases.

Actually i just checked your case specs and micro atx motherboards WILL fit in that case. So, i guess its just your preference.

 

DON"T USE TDK!!! Read my post...http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=80261...I have a TDK CD-Burner that suddenly stopped working. The disk tray won't open and it thinks that it is a Floppy Drive

 

If you plan on doing any video editing or even picture stuff then you will probably want something better than a riva (very old and outdated). Just get a cheaper modern card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130207

 

Okay.. so I think I will drop tigerdirect..and stick with the 2 companies you gave me. So time to start over..lol, doesn't matter..have a long time to decide. If I want a fast computer...what speed of processor should I get? Like it doesn't have to be blazing speed..but I'm on Rogers High Speed Cable, and I want my net to be fast. So like at least 2.- GHZ or something?

 

I checked new egg and they only ship to usa and purto rico. Unfortunatly for us. Take your time and ask lots of questions , people are only happy to help you. I'll spend a couple of hours or so for friends when I build for them and give them opitons and then it takes a few weeks for them to make decisions. There are alot of combinations you can put together for decent prices. good luck on your build SM

 

Could you possible answer my question above please.?

 

sorry i was typing a reply same time as you. I like the socket 939 amd 64 3000+ great chip and reasonably priced. They numbers are suppose to mean it is like a p4 3 gig. You could get a mb with onboard vid If you don't game much and always upgrad to a new pci express card later.

 

Okay, I don't need a great PC, b/c I'm just 15..but I like my computers..and I spend decent time on it. I just need to know.. are these any good at all?

http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=03116

or

http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=03106

Like one is 200 MHZ more.. and like $20 more too. So are either of these good?

 

I havn't built with any semprons but from what I have read guys like em. They have 256 kb L2 cache just like the old xps had, and I found them plenty quick for anything Iwas doing, half the cache of the regular 64 chips. He has a combo with motherboard and a sempron 2600 sempron for $145, board has onboard vid. Its under motherboards bundles

 

hmm..is this it? If this one is good, I will take it likely http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=05393

Or is this one a lot better for like 13 bucks.. http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=05303

 

the foxcon motherboard with the 2600 sempron processor with it. Pretty good deal. If you want to read up on what people think of products I like to go to newegg.com and check out the reviews. I usually get a basic idea whether or not it is a good part, and see if people have had issues as well. Shop around, Ncix has good deals as well. You can ask questions at HL at the bottom of the page and Larry will usually get back to you within hours with an answer. Gotta crash check back in tomorrow, keep us up to date on how your build goes. SM

 

Okay, so..I need some more advice. If I want a faster PC, which one should I use... http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=05393 or http://www.hltechnology.com/one_prod.php?pid=05303 for $13 more

 

Also..Steve M...for on hltech...is it possible to buy stuff w/o credit number? Like on Tigerdirect you can print off this thing an mail it. My mom doesn't like giving her number online because she's afraid..lol.

 

Hey again...i've been searching around. Does this PCU/MBoard combo sound any good? http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=BI2600

I'm just shopping somewhere a little closer to me..b/c they have 9 stores in Ontario where I am! This is pretty cheap, and in my price range...so is this any good?

 

Hi, a few things. This one AMD Sempron 2600+ skt 754 with Foxconn 760GXK8MB-RS SIS760GX SKT754 2DDR 3PCI 1AGP8X motherboard 64Bit Ready comes with a cpu. The one that costs 13 dollars more doesn't. Also, the other one is PCI-E. Which means you would definately need to get a new video card. If you decide to get a new video card then getting a motherboard that supports PCI-E would be the better choice. I personally would go with the second one and get a new video card. That board also has four memory slots. Which is better if you want to add memory.

 

Dawn. When you say second one..do you mean the one on the second page? or the one that I posted on pg 2 from factory direct. I mainly want to know about the one from factory direct b/c my mom works in woodbridge, and we live about 45 mins away so it is very convienent rather then vancouver..lol.

Also, yes I am getting a new video card no matter what. I found a few 32 or 64 ones... i don't care much about them..b/c i'm not a big gamer..but they are like 25-40 bucks depending on 32/64

 

Also..which video card is the best..all the same price.

http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=AT3000

http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=AT7500

http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=GF3210

 

Hi Ryan..Glad to see you have been shopping around. I live in Ontario as well and I have bought parts for 7 computers from HL. I have not had any problems with using my credit card as I think that is all he accepts but not really positive, you save on the pst when you shop outside the province and that usually pays for the shipping. I find parts from BC much cheaper than the local Mom and Pop shops. You must have a local store close to you which you can deal with and ask for information face to face, and maybe get a good deal. HL also has a rig with free shipping and put together for you with no os for under $400. The more you search the more you will learn, thats how I started.

 

your looking at some pretty outdated cards there ryan. You may be better off saving the 40 bucks and getting a Motherboard with onboard video. Then upgrade later when you save up some cash.

 

Thank Steve.. btw.. does this pcu/mboard look any good? http://www.factorydirect.ca/catalog/...p?pcode=BI2600

I can always got more expensive for cards if needed

 

the biostar has onboard video as well as a mobile xp2600. Great chips for overclocking. I am still running my m2500+ at over 3200+speeds. If you run at stock speeds you will be fine with stock cooler, and depending on the bios you may or may not be able to overclock. The semprons replaced this chip, but still a great chip. So slap in some ram and your ready to go.

 

sweet..I am looking at anywhere from 512 to a gig of ram..any special type that you recommend? I am think to start at 512..if needed I can always add more. Does this bundle need a special type..i think just ddr right? Also, when you say onboard video card... are you saying that i might as well stick with it..rather than spending 40 bucks on some other one? I don't care much about them.

 

get some name brand memory..start with 512 ddr 2700 -333speeds same as your processor. Kingston value,Ocz, corsair. I like Ocz great for overclocking. If you buy a board with video , try it you can always upgrade. It would be as good as the video cards you were looking at.

 

its the biostar M7vig400, new egg has reviews on it, if your interested

 

Sorry, I was referring to the one from HLTechnology. Whatever you go with, just make sure you get the right type of videocard.

 

Okay...so after all this..do you guys think http://factorydirect.ca/catalog/product_spec.php?pcode=BI2600 is the right combo for me? I want my pc to be pretty fast, mainly for my rogers high speed net, also for some programs like photoshop maybe. I am also looking anywhere from 512mb to 1g of memory. Also, how much wattage to do recommend in my case? 350?

 

ryan , did you happen to see the computer for sale at hl on the right side of the main page for $365 socket 754 2800+. free shipping . check it out. already assembled, case and powersupply I have used for 6 builds. just another option

 

thanks for tellin me that

Hmm..it looks decent..i just want more than 256 ram...i could always customize or upgrade...but then again I'm not looking to get my pc immediately..so that deal may be gone by the time I am ready to get one. Steve...do you think that sempron pcu and biostar combo is what i really need..and will get the job done...? Also... should I get a 350W w/ dual fan? Also, I would suppose when u get a hard drive..there are like 1', 2.5', 3.5', you get the size that it says...so if the case supports 3.5'..then you get a 3.5' hard drive correct?

 

he has a special shipping pc's all the time. You can alwas take out the keyboard,mouse speakers and upgrade to more ram..The amd mobile chips were made for laptops. They are unlocked, when I put mine in it only ran at 800mhz , 8X100, now I have it running at multiplyer of 11 X200. 2.2mgz. If that biostar board has no overclocking in the bios the chip will not run to it potential. so I am not to sure on that one now. unless other members have used that board before. 2.5 inch hard drives are for laptops, pc's use 3.5inch

 

I sent an e-mail to HL...just to get them to answer a few of my ordering questions..even though they have a help i wanted a more indepth answer. Also..Steve...does HL offer PCU/MBoard bundles?

EDIT: NVM..found the bundles

 

the foxconn motherboard comes with a cpu,its a sempron 2600 a bundle deal, the ecs is just the motherboard no cpu, so you would have to also buy a cpu and the cheapest 939 chip there is $185 so those two would cost $347

 

do u think the foxconn bundle is better than the other one at factorydirect.. the biostar bundle?

 

Hey Steve Max..or any other HL Tech buyer. Is it possible to buy something from then by sending in a mail in thing? Like on TigerDirect you can print off this paper and send it to them through the mail. My parents don't give their credit card numbers over the net because of security..well mainly my mom. I just need to know if you can do it w/o giving card number.

 

if you look at the website under customer care,payment options he has money orders and prepaid personal checks but takes 5 days to clear. so there some options for you Ryan..

 

Okay...but if you choose that as payment..u still have to give ur card

 

If it were me I would build this computer....

Motherboard- ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 Socket 939 ATX AMD - 68.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081
Ram- 512mbs- 32.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820223009
AMD 3200+ socket 939- 169.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535
Case and Power supply - 44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811147016
hard drive 160 gbs- 50.00
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1477506
NEC black dvd combo drive - 39.88
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827152058
Graphics card- Freetech v3-128n volari 128mb - 24.50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814271001

Total- 424.11
Total with my recommended upgrades (mentioned later) - 557.59
Now to explain...
The RAM/memory that I used is DDR400 which is much faster than you DDR266 which you listed. It is also cheaper.
The processor is an AMD 3200+ socket 939 which should be much faster than the processor you picked and since it uses socket 939 it can more easily be upgraded compared to the socket 478 intel processor you picked.
The Motherboard that I picked most importantly has a 1000mhz fsb which is faster than the one you picked and it also has pci-express which will come in handy incase you want to upgrade graphics cards as pci-express is the format by which all new graphics cards will be made. (it also has agp to support older cards)
The hard drive that I picked is 160gbs running at 7200rpms which is normal speed and much bigger than the one you picked out.
The case in my opinion looks better and the power supply it comes with may be smaller in watts but it is more reliable and 400watts is more than enough power to supply a machine like this.
I picked a DVD combo drive which means it can read dvds, cds, burn cds, and burn dvds. This is because you get a lot more and its only a tiny bit more expensive.
The graphics card is much better than the one you already own and at 25 bucks its a bargain. It will be fine for general internet surfing and mild game playing but you can always upgrade to a newer graphics card at any time. Such as this one... Nvidia 6600 256 mb http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814135193
For an extra 100 dollars you could be playing new games such as BF2 counter strike source and tons of others at high graphics. You could also buy a radeon 9800 256mb pro which has served me well or go all out and buy a nvidia 7800gtx.
Another cheap upgrade you could throw in is for an extra 32.50 you could have a gig of ram which you would want to accompany your new graphics card if you got one.
To sum this computer up it is faster, more reliable, better looking, larger for storage , and most importantly its upgradeable so you wont have to go looking for a new computer within the next 6 weeks. Just add a newer part and go.
For comparison I am running an ibm 2.8ghz pentium 4, 80gb hard drive, 1gb ddr333, 533mhz motherboard, radeon 9800 pro 256mb, and dvd combo drive and I play bf2 on high settings with some of the stuff turned up even more and cs:source at highest. My computer is old and is soon to be replaced but just for comparison your build would be much much faster than mine (if you got the graphics card and ram).

Happy building.

 

I love everything but the MOBO, I hate ASrock, unreliable at best. MSI, ASUS (the high end of asrock) Even soyo to save a few bucks. I am behind you 100% on the 939 dual core board, my next new system will be one.

 

Since somebody doesnt like asrock motherboards this motherboard should do...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813130520
also that one has onboard graphics which eliminates the need for a graphics card. Only problem is it is going to be very compromised graphics requiring upgrade almost immediately if you plan on playing just about any game that isnt 4 years old. I still recommend the asrock motherboard with the graphics card but I have never had an exprience with that particular company. Also this board doesnt support older video cards but its all up to your preference.