Starting Fresh

Yup..I'm here for some more help/advice. I am building a new computer, and want it to be fast for the internet mainly. I don't do gaming either I do use some programs like Photoshop though for instance..that's really it. Just an internet guy really. I have come up with a list of parts, and need advice. I'm also on a budget since I'm just 15 and my mom will only spend so much money on me..haha I am getting my parts from Tigerdirect and Factorydirect only!

Tell me what you think, and what is really crappy and if i'm getting ripped off. Remember..if you give me advice on parts..only tiger or factory direct. Also, advice on cases [I don't care about looks..just quality]!!!

PCU + MOBO Combo: MSI 915P Neo-F Intel Socket 775 ATX Motherboard and an Intel Celeron D 345 3.06GHzProcessor (3.1 lbs) $216

HARD DRIVE: Maxtor / 80GB / 7200 / 8MB / SATA-150 / OEM / Hard Drive (Refurbished) (3 lbs) $68.00

MEMORY: 512MB DDR MEMORY PC3200 (400MHz) $49.00

CASE: Just4PC ATX Mid Tower Case with 350Watt P4 Ready Power Supply (17 lbs) $48.00

OR ATX MIDTOWER 350W P4

FANS: 80mm Low Noise Case Fan with 12" Cable (1 lbs) $5.00 EACH

ALREADY HAVE KEYBOARD, MOUSE, FLOPPY, DISK DRIVE, SPEAKERS, MONITOR

Thank You!

Ryan

 

Also...still looking at video cards...does my combo come with onboard one? If not..what should I get..remember..not a gamer..and on price limit

 

I wouldn't recommend that processor for anything else except web browsing, bare that in mind.

 

want to be more specific?

 

What I mean is, Celeron's are slow. They generally have small caches (where information is stored before it is processed by the CPU).

Look here: scroll down to bottom: http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1710640&Tab=2&NoMapp=0
It says the cache is 256kb. A faster processor would have 1mb-2mb cache.

 

oh ok.. I see...hmm..do you ahve an recommendations..I just don't want to spend too much..like $230 is the most i'd go for with a combo

 

Check these out: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1163902&CatId=0
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1532887&Sku=CP2-P4-506 C

Only a little bit more money but so much better performance.

 

Hmm..those look decent. I remember most people said all I mainly need is 512kb cache for good speed on what I am looking for. See anything of 512 that is good? Or is 512 just bad

 

to be honest 1mb is better and you won't find any 512kb ones for much less than that one. I dont know though, have a closer look around the site, see what you find.

 

Hmm..that one really does look like one of the cheaper ones. I think that package looks good...just might need to tone other things down with it at a total of $240

 

Is a P4-2.4Ghz533 CPU + ASRock S478 MB for $200 any good?

 

You wont see any performance difference between a 2 ghz and 3ghz cpu for just web browsing

IMHO you should get the best deals you can find and use the money you save to upgrade your broadband connection as this will be the bottleneck while web browsing,even a quite old low spec machine can load a page in milliseconds while your connection may take 1-2

I

 

My net is fast..like on this pc I click..and in like 1 second I am on a new page..i love it! Rogers High Speed Cable is good for me...I don't understand.

I still need to know if saving 40 bucks on this Is a P4-2.4Ghz533 CPU + ASRock S478 MB for $200 any good? is worth the risk instead of the other mobo and pcu

 

You might try something like this...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131549

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103606

Total is about $210 and you'll get better performance than all of those other options plus it has onboard video.

P.S. It's also 64-bit compatible for the future

 

Also, I wouldn't recommend ASRock. Stick with a good brand name motherboard like ASUS, Abit, MSI, or Gigabyte.

 

thanks wyatt...btw..i don't shop at newegg....just tiger and factory direct sry

 

Just being honest m8 ,its not up to me to decide when you need a new computer I hope I didnt give that impression I'd love to give you buying advice but I aint sure whats a good deal over the pond

My only point is you wont see any speed improvement over the computer your using now if this is an upgrade it seems that way as you already have the other parts

Just something to think about before you blow all your Moms cash

 

Also, one other thing I just noticed. Don't get that hard drive. If you'd be willing to deal with a rebate or two, you can get a 250Gb drive for that price. I just bought a 250Gb Maxtor with 16Mb of cache from CompUSA for $79 after rebate a couple weeks ago. Check the Best Buy/Office Max/Circuit City (or whatever is around you) ads each week. They always have some hard drive on sale.

 

Just curious, why not Newegg? I shop there all the time and love it!

 

unfortunatly new egg does'nt ship to canada

 

Tiger direct is a fairly terrible site to be perfectly honest. Most of the stuff is very expensive in comparison to Newegg.com. Of course if there's another reason, that's fine.

http://3btech.net is also a fine site. I think they do ship to Canada.

 

Okay..I will check that site out..and yes..NewEgg is just too far away I will also look for deals on hard drives. Btw...the new pc i am replacing isn't for the one I am on now where I said the net is like 1 second click...that's my moms pc. I am replacing the one in my own room...b/c sucks major

 

Okay...I remember the pcu + mobo together was 240...how does this combo sound? http://3btech.net/amdat6434moc.html I just have to make sure they DO ship to Canada.. or this one for the same price http://3btech.net/amdat64mococ.html

Which one is better..mainly for speed..or overall quality?

 

bump, just need to know if those ^ are good

 

Either of those would be acceptable, but if I were you, I'd look for a motherboard with an nForce 4 chipset rather than a VIA one.

 

They're about equal in the areas where you're going to see it. So I'd go with the first because the processor is faster. And if you're going to buy your mobo from them, they've got some very nice cases as well, just a thought.

 

Triax...do you know if they ship to Canada? I can't find anything under their technical support..but i did e-mail them..waiting for reply

 

I don't off hand, but if UPS ships to you, they should, since that's who they ship with. I live in Michigan, so I can't be certain, but...

 

Newegg ships with UPS now too.

 

I'd forgotten about that.

 

wow..I have now realized that Newegg doesn't ship to Canada supposedly..so i just did a google search for canadian pc stores..lol..and found something..and I'm near it. Please tell me if these are any good..remember...I just want speed for browsing and a few software progams...ms office, photoshop [maybe] and will be running on XP Home...also tell me if there's anything bad about them that I should realize..and I think they are compatible with eachother...Canadian prices...

CPU: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006768&cid=CPU.84

or

http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=007801&cid=CPU.84

MOBO: http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006330&cid=MB.157

The CPU's seem similar to me..but which one is better? same price..am I getting ripped off here?

Also...what are the top RAM companies? can someone list like the top 5 quality ones...

 

If I may add my 2-cents pertaining to the case. The case may be okay, but be careful of the power supply that comes with it. Normally there are cheap and don't last too long and if it goes 'south' there's a good possibility that it could take your computer with it. Like I said, the case may be fine, but I'd invest in a more stable power suply. I realize that you are on a budget, but investing in a good power supply now could save you from numerous problems later on.

 

Oh..I am really starting all over again...with new stores...and am getting a more expensive case likely....I am worrying about pcu's and mobo's right now...and need to know about the ones above ^.

 

Get the first CPU and that mobo it's a decent combo.

 

a friend of mine from canada says to check here as well:

http://www.canadacomputers.com
and comstore168 on ebay.

 

I've been on the receiving end of the powersupply problem. Took my processor with it.

In any case, I'd go with the first processor, or these:

CPU:http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=006028&cid=CPU.611

MOBO:http://www.canadacomputers.com/index.php?do=ShowProduct&cmd=pd&pid=008049&cid=MB.693

You'll spend another twenty dollars, but you'll save later when you don't have to replace the processor as often. Besides the fact that it's a better processor, and the mobo supports more expansion of memory, which is a location you will see some benefit from.

 

I would agree with Triaxx2.

The AMD is a better processor and the socket 939 mobo offers greater longetivity.

 

Triaxx...when you say the power supply problem..and toasting your CPU...

I've never had that happen to me with any of my 3 pc's... Would the first cpu get ruined quickly?

 

The powersupply had been in for about a year and a half, and the processor was starting to go anyway, but near as I can tell there was a surge inside the supply itself, and that killed the processor, without harming the mobo. Odd I know.

As for the processor, I've had trouble with every single Intel Processor I've ever had, but not a peep out of the AMD's except when the powersupply went. Be warned, they do run hotter than Pentiums, but I think it's a fair trade off.