Building a PC...

jakelm

Building an inexpensive PC for my son.

Picked out a few items from www.Geeks.com

Case:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BLK-CPXMAN-02

CPU:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=P43200E478

MB:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=P4M80-M4-R

The case reads at the bottom of its description, "supported motherboards", but doesnt list motherboards supported. How do I find out what mother boards it supports?

The P4 should work well with this motherboard I have picked out, shouldnt it?

I already have Geforce graphics PCI and SoundBlaster sound card PCI.

Also the board doesnt show (other than "up to 2g" DDR) what pin the RAM cards need to be. Am I missing something or is this a very vague description of these items?

Thanks

Jake

P.S I'm trying to build something decent for under $200

edbert

The motherboard will fit just fine. The case accepts ATX motherboards and the one you selected is the ATX size.

The processor will work just fine, but since it is a refurb you will need to get a heat sink and fan for cooling. Heat sink and fan

According to Newegg, you will need 184 pin Dual channel DDR400 SDRAM. Like this, get 2 for 1GB, cheaper than a 1 gig stick.

jakelm

Thanks Ed.

The CPu specs say it come with a heatsink and cooling fan.

Additional Information:


Product Requirements:
Motherboard that can run a Pentium 3.20 GHz 800 MHz CPU
Heat Sink and Fan

If not, I'll go with this one:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SP481S8&cat=FAN

jakelm

What is the difference in "Prescott" or any of the other names? Does it matter as long as the socket is correct?


Also Kingston and Simple Tech, the Simple Tech is so much cheaper.

edbert

I think you may be misunderstanding that. Look up one bullet point at the Package Includes info. Generally refurbs are processor only, just a chip in a box. Do you already have a hard drive picked out as well?

zingo

That is the cheapest set of components I've ever seen... amazing.
The Modo fits in the case no problem; mATX boards fit in an ATX case. The P4 fits on that board so your good to go there, and the board also has enough slots for your 2 PCI components. The memory stats are a little lacking, but not suprising for the price of the board. When you get the board, it will have all the RAM specs in its paperwork. I would wait to buy that part of the system until you get the board and can determine what you need. Your local computer shop will have cheap RAM options for you at that point. I hope this helps.

edbert

The names are the different models of the chips. Yes they do mean something, but I don't know unfortunately.

jakelm

This RAM card seems faster:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=512DDR3200-N

jakelm

edbert wrote: »

I think you may be misunderstanding that. Look up one bullet point at the Package Includes info. Generally refurbs are processor only, just a chip in a box. Do you already have a hard drive picked out as well?

Using my current WD 80G I have already

Systems

jakelm wrote: »

Thanks Ed.

The CPu specs say it come with a heatsink and cooling fan.



If not, I'll go with this one:

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SP481S8&cat=FAN

Don’t buy Prescott, that proc is fundamentally flawed. I still have 3 PC's with a 3.0 and 3.4 ghz and have given away 2 more 3.0 and 2.8 ghz versions.

This proc just about killed Intel and allowed AMD to dominate for a good 2 years. I can state this as an absolute. I live 20 miles from Intel and I have a lot of friends in many different positions at Intel.

Go AMD in that class such as:

Asus a8n-SLI 939 pin
AMD X2 4200 939 pin

I just bought that AMD chip on new egg for $80.

The best example I can give is thisL

2 PC's build pretty much the same in my house:

Prescott 3.0 GHZ P4
AMD 4400 X2

Both on Asus boards with Asus Probe.

The Prescott runs at 125f full time. The fans are always at full throttle and they sound like trains on stock fans.

The AMD x2 (Which IS dual core) runs at 95 degrees on stock fan.

The performance in that market is dominated by AMD.

Now if you were looking at newer procs, no doubt about it, Intel Core 2's dominate in performance and heat.

PC's Ive built for home use (not work) in this segment:

P4 Prescott 2.8 / Asus MB
P4 Prescott 2.8 / Asus MB
P4 Prescott 3.0 / Asus MB
P4 Prescott 3.0 / Asus MB
P4 Prescott 3.4 / Asus MB

AMD 3500+ 939 / Asus MB
AMD X2 4200+ 939 / Asus MB
AMD X2 4400+ 939 / Asus MB

jakelm

Ok...

I have the case w PS, MBoard, CPU, heatsink w/fan, and these RAM cards: http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=512DDR3200-N

I think I'm done, for only $218.

That price is not including what I paid for the GC and SC.

sucks2beme

I know you're trying to go cheap, but quiet is where it's at.
I'm tired of living in a wind tunnel. Maybe you are too?
Use the Antec cases. Not cheap,but you'll be amazed at
how it DOESN'T sound!

jakelm

From Geeks, what would you all recommend as for CPU for my mother board?


My son and I do some gamming. And watches DVD's on the PC.

jakelm

sucks2beme wrote: »

I know you're trying to go cheap, but quiet is where it's at.
I'm tired of living in a wind tunnel. Maybe you are too?
Use the Antec cases. Not cheap,but you'll be amazed at
how it DOESN'T sound!

I did look at those, but the one I picked out can't be any louder than the Dell 2100 I have now.

jakelm

Pentium has a 478 socket, what is the same socket for an AMD?

edbert

Try this out. A little cheaper, better quality components for reliability and it should be faster.

Oh yeah, this is from Newegg. The processor is a dual core and even though it's OEM, you can add a 2 year warranty for an extra $20.00 and you are still close to the same price.

jakelm

Hmmmm.... Thanks Ed.

All I need is a case.

Systems

edbert wrote: »

Try this out. A little cheaper, better quality components for reliability and it should be faster.

Oh yeah, this is from Newegg. The processor is a dual core and even though it's OEM, you can add a 2 year warranty for an extra $20.00 and you are still close to the same price.

This is a perfect setup ^^^

jakelm

I didnt see any cool cases in my price range @ newegg. I guess I will just go with my original case from Geeks.

jakelm

edbert wrote: »

Try this out. A little cheaper, better quality components for reliability and it should be faster.

Oh yeah, this is from Newegg. The processor is a dual core and even though it's OEM, you can add a 2 year warranty for an extra $20.00 and you are still close to the same price.

I know this is problably a dumb question, but, how much better is this from the Dell 2100 I am currently using?

edbert

Use this simple example

Bose is to Polk as Dell 2100 is to new setup

jakelm

edbert wrote: »

Use this simple example

Bose is to Polk as Dell 2100 is to new setup

WOW.. Thats pretty close in quality.....:p

jakelm

Thanks for all your help...

Pretty good for $200...

Of corse I'm saving alot beings I already have the GC and SC and monitor and everything else...

I was going to shop Dell, but I dont need all the other junk Dell thows in.

jakelm

Ok. Just ordered the hardware Ed recommended from newegg and the case I picked out from geeks. Everything should be here by the weekend.

Thanks for everyones help.