Also if you have 256 ram, you need to get another stick that is similar to that one. So it would be another stick of 256, not 512. I doubt you have 4 dimm sockets, probably two on your mobo. SO that means you can get 512 ram, or you could replace all your ram by getting 2x 512 sticks.
In the past, computer cases were all very similar Clones of the same boring, beige box. With all of the choices available today, this is no longer the case, and people can use their systems chassis as a means to express themselves and to set their system apart from the rest. Although appearance may be a big one, it isnt the only factor in the selection process and the following items should be considered when shopping for a new computer case.
1. Form Factor
There are different sizes of motherboards, which in turn require different cases to house them. Case form factors share the names of the motherboards they support, and some of the common ones include ATX, Micro ATX (mATX), FlexATX and Mini ITX. ATX motherboards are perhaps the most common, and the largest of the four, measuring at most 12 x 9.6 (305mm x 244mm). A Micro ATX board is at most 9.6 x 9.6 (244mm x 244mm), a FlexATX is 9.0 x 7.5 (229mm x 191mm) and a Mini ITX comes in at a tiny 6.7 x 6.7 (170mm x 170mm). ATX and mATX are by far the most popular motherboard sizes for consumer motherboards, and hence, most cases are made to support one or both of these sizes.
A mATX motherboard can obviously fit in a smaller enclosure than an ATX motherboard, and therefore there are different size cases available to match. The larger cases are generally downward compatible with smaller form factor motherboards, but the opposite is not true. For example, someone with this Amptron mATX motherboard could save a few inches and install it in this 14.25 tall mATX case, or pick something like this black ATX case that stands just a bit taller at 16.5.
Many branded systems (ones that you may buy prebuilt and with preinstalled software) are usually a combination of a standard form factor (such a mATX) with some type of proprietary design (usually in the front panel switches and cabling) and buying a new case for these types of motherboards can be tricky. Some branded systems also use lesser used form factors such as NLX and LPX (which employ riser cards for the expansion slots) and finding replacement cases for these type of systems can be a very difficult and pricey endeavor.
A smaller system may be desirable where space is tight, but larger form factor cases provide more room for multiple drives and other peripherals, and a smaller motherboard may be better suited to a larger case in a system such as this.
2. Size
Size may go along with form factor in many respects, but even while considering cases of the same form factor, there can be variations in size in a few respects. Areas where size can vary are in overall dimensions, the number of exposed 5.25 and 3.5 bays, and the number of internal bays.
ATX cases obviously need to be large enough to hold an ATX motherboard; some are just large enough, while others seem cavernous in comparison. If a case needs to fit under a low shelf, or between items of a certain width, it is important to choose an appropriately sized case. Cases come in two basic configurations when it comes to their size and shape, either desktop or tower. Desktop cases are wider than they are tall and are oriented so the motherboard lays flat, while tower cases have the motherboard standing upright, and come in three basic heights mini tower, mid tower, and full tower. Tower cases are more common these days, and currently the only style in the Computer Geeks case inventory.
The number of exposed drive bays is generally in direct proportion to the overall size of the case. A higher number of exposed 5.25 bays may be desirable for those with more than one DVD or CD drive, removable drive racks, and fan controllers. Exposed 3.5 bays are generally occupied by floppy drives, Zip drives, fan controllers, and things like this 9-in-1 Card Reader, and in most cases you may get one or two of these bays, maximum. This case is very similar in appearance to this other one, but they have one difference that may prove to be a huge factor. They both have four exposed 5.25 bays, but one has two exposed 3.5 bays while the other only has one. If a user had a floppy drive and the 9-in-1 card reader, they would either have to choose to install only one, or use an adaptor and take up one of their 5.25 bays.
Internal bays are generally reserved for hard drives, and systems with multiple drives require the necessary space. So, if a user decided he really wanted a yellow colored case, but needed room for five hard drives, he would be forced to choose this one (5 internal drive bays) over this one (4 internal drive bays).
3. Cooling
Cooling is a critical feature to consider when selecting a computer case. High end systems can generate a good deal of heat, and the case needs to be adequately cooled to keep the system running and stable.
The basic configuration for case cooling involves having one intake fan on the lower portion of the front surface, and one exhaust fan higher up on the rear surface. This allows cooler air to be drawn in, passed over the various heat generating components, and exhausted out the back. There are many other cooling configurations available that may provide improvements in terms of cooling performance and noise.
One way to decrease noise, and perhaps move more air, is for a case to use 120mm (4) fans instead of the usual 80mm (3) fans, as larger fans dont need to spin as fast to push the same volume of air. This A-Top Z-Alien utilizes a 120mm exhaust fan that also features another key feature to good cooling. The fan grill is very open, meaning that there will be minimal resistance to air flow and reduced noise as the air rushes past it. Many fan grills are made from perforating the cases sheet metal, and they do not provide enough open area for good airflow.
Another approach to better cooling is to throw more fans at the heat. This Matrix case adds another fan to the side panel which will draw cool air in right on top of the processor and video card, two of the hotter items in a system. Other cases will add an exhaust fan to the top of the case, which pushes the heat out just like a chimney.
No matter the approach, cooling is one area that needs close consideration when it comes to cases intended for todays high powered systems.
4. Installation Features
Installing a system into a case can be a time consuming affair, which can become annoying to those who find themselves in a continuous cycle of upgrading. Many cases now include convenient features to make installation much simpler, and far less time consuming
Some of these convenient installation features include a removable motherboard tray, removable drive cages, tool-less expansion card mounts, tool-less side panels, and tool-less drive rail systems. Being able to remove the motherboard tray and drive cage makes it easier to work on those specific areas in the open, and having a tool-less system for mounting drives or cards means there is no need for screws or a screw driver. Definitely time savers!
Although the listing on the Computer Geeks site does not specify it, this X-Blade ATX case features both a removable drive cage and tool-less drive rail system, according to this review.
5. Convenience Items
It is not enough for a case to house a computer system any more, it now needs to multi-task. Having regularly used connections on the front or top of the case is one common convenience feature that many people look for. Cases such as this A-Top Z-Alien model let users forget about the annoyance of reaching around the back of their case to plug things in, as USB, Firewire, headphone and microphone jacks are located on the top.
Other cases are available that take convenience to another level by including clocks, digital thermometers that monitor specific components, and fan controllers to help maintain a healthy balance between noise and cooling performance.
6. Style
A few years ago cases only came in one color and one basic style plain beige boxes. If youre nostalgic for the olden days of computer cases, Computer Geeks still has one for sale in this style, the KG-200. But cases now come in styles from mild to wild, and in a whole rainbow of colors. Some have large windows in the side panel to show off the cases insides, some include special lighting effects, and some have appearances that might scare the kids. At this point there seems to be few limits in case design, but there are always classically styled cases in updated color schemes for those who want something modern looking, but nothing too intense.
7. Power Supply
Many cases are sold with a power supply included, but this power supply might not be the correct one for the system to be installed inside of it. An adequate power supply needs to be chosen to meet the demands of the system, and this may very well mean buying an additional power supply to replace the one included, or selecting a different case with a more appropriately sized power supply.
For example, someone may decide their high end gaming system would go well in this black ATX case, but the included 300W power supply may not be strong enough for a top notch graphics card, multiple drives, water cooling, and other power hungry peripherals that might be installed.
Final Words
There are many factors that go into selecting an adequate case for a computer system, including the seven mentioned above. What may wind up being the most important factor was not discussed, but can hopefully be addressed by balancing the importance of these factors price. Computer cases can cost anywhere from several dollars to several hundred dollars, meaning that a tight budget may decide which of the other features is really all that important
another article from techtips bimonthly newsletter.
Zao, if you are keeping the motherboard you have now then you can't get the 5700. Stick with what Rabid suggested. It's good advice. Also, getting a 5700 wouldn't make any sense for you because your processor would bottleneck the hell out of it. That means your processor isn't good enough to use the Video card to its full potential. Again, stick with what Rabid said.
3) HD: Western Digital 40 gb, 7200 rpm IDE HD with 8mb cache
4) Graphics: ATI Radeon 9600 XT
I need advice on trying to decide what motherboard and case I should get. (The case only because I want to make sure the motherboard fits in the thing...) I'd prefer to spend a bit under $100 on the motherboard but if that's a terrible idea I'm open to a slight increase in price. As for the case, the lower the price the better; physical appearance really isn't a concern, but good cooling and power supply would be nice. Anyways, any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Well some good motherboard manufactuers are Abit and Asus. You can do some serching at newegg.com to see what the price ranges are. As far as your case goes, any case that supports ATX form motherboards (which is just about all the cases out now) will be what you need to get. Antec sells some very good cases and you can find some Antecs with a power supply included. Antec is also a very good powersupply manufactuer. I would suggest just looking around newegg.com, zipzoomfly.com, or even tigerdirect.com. With cases you'll find most will be compatible with any ATX motherboard, it really just comes down to taste. If you can I would suggest making sure you get a good powersupply as a bad one can really F up your parts. Good luck!
I would also suggest if at all possible investing in at least an 80gb hard drive. You'll really thank yourself down the road for getting the extra space.
yea in the end i sticked with rabids idea, but im kinda considering of getting like a new processor and motheboard with it just to improve my PC a little bit more. (im guessing im guna go with the AMD 2500+) and with a AMD motherboard, but i cant consider anything yet, ima see how my RAM and graphics card is doing at the moment.
I did a bit of looking on newegg.com and found these two motherboards within my price range:
1) ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL 2) ABIT "NF7-S" nForce2 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL
Of these two, which do people suggest I get? They're both around the same price so I just need to know which is a more reliable motherboard that performs better. Thanks again.
Originally posted by pagzafer I did a bit of looking on newegg.com and found these two motherboards within my price range: 1) ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL 2) ABIT "NF7-S" nForce2 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL Of these two, which do people suggest I get? They're both around the same price so I just need to know which is a more reliable motherboard that performs better. Thanks again.
If you plan on ever upgrading your rig after building it then stay away from socket A and get something with a higher pin count like the 939. I'd suggest the Asus A8V Deluxe.
"Don't blame me, I voted for Badnarik." http://www.lp.org Still waiting for my next mmorpg... A definition of 'munchkin', origin forgotten: "A player who, when told that the game will involve political intrigue in 15th-century Italy, insists on playing a Ninja." -isomeme
WARNING: Spelling and grammatical errors intentionally left in document to test for Anal Retentive Trolls.
"The key to wasting time is distraction. Without distractions it's too obvious to your brain that you're not doing anything with it, and you start to feel uncomfortable." - Paul Graham http://paulgraham.com/hs.html
5)Lite-On Silver ATX Case with 400W P4 Ready Power Supply and Front USB Ports, Model "HT 761S" -RETAIL
The case is what I'm most weary of, it's only $35 but it's gotten a lot of really good reviews so I'm not too terribly worried. If anyone has any suggestions that wont raise the price too much (it's just over $500 as I already have the video card) they'd be greatly appreciated. Also, what should I look into as far as cooling goes? Thanks again.
Originally posted by pagzafer Ok, I've been taking peoples advice so far and have come up with this:1) Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM Drive Only 2)Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail 3)ASUS "A8V Deluxe" VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL 4)AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail 5) ATI Radeon 9600xt 5)Lite-On Silver ATX Case with 400W P4 Ready Power Supply and Front USB Ports, Model "HT 761S" -RETAIL The case is what I'm most weary of, it's only $35 but it's gotten a lot of really good reviews so I'm not too terribly worried. If anyone has any suggestions that wont raise the price too much (it's just over $500 as I already have the video card) they'd be greatly appreciated. Also, what should I look into as far as cooling goes? Thanks again.
That is a 754pin processor, use this processor in it's place.
"Don't blame me, I voted for Badnarik." http://www.lp.org Still waiting for my next mmorpg... A definition of 'munchkin', origin forgotten: "A player who, when told that the game will involve political intrigue in 15th-century Italy, insists on playing a Ninja." -isomeme
WARNING: Spelling and grammatical errors intentionally left in document to test for Anal Retentive Trolls.
"The key to wasting time is distraction. Without distractions it's too obvious to your brain that you're not doing anything with it, and you start to feel uncomfortable." - Paul Graham http://paulgraham.com/hs.html
If the case is only $35 the power supply is probably a little weak. Just go ahead and buy an Antec, Thermaltake, etc. power supply. There only about $30-50 and you'll thank yourself later. Other than that I like your setup. Very good stuff.
I took your advice as far as getting the higher-pinned processor, but the $35 case supposedly has a decent (400w) and reliable (based on the all positive five-star reviews at new egg) power source. Do you still think I should go for the Antec/Thermaltake?
I would still say yes but sometimes you just come across a good deal. Look at the reviews by users and compare their parts to the ones you are going to get. Generally the better the parts the better the power supply should be. If there seems to be alot of good reviews concerning the power supply, then go ahead. It's really up to you. Like I said sometimes you can just find a good deal so it may be a good way to go. It really comes down to your budget. If it would really be a strain to pay anymore money then just stick with the one included with the case.
I just went to newegg and looked at the case you're going to get. The power supply seems to check out. I think you'll be ok going with that one.
LOL I SAW A NEC COMPUTER FOR SELL hhahah i saw it at this computer fair place and it was for 40 bucks lol and he had like 39 of them and they all went in 2 hours
*cry* I've decided that Christmas is the worse possible day to try and order something off of newegg... Their site will barely even load up it's so bogged down. Oh well, guess there's always tomarrow.
im got a radeon 9800pro for christmas and on the box it requires a 300watt psu or higher , my psu is atx 300 so im asuming thats 300watts but ive heard that it will lock up after awhile , will my machine do such? thanks for your help
Originally posted by navras im got a radeon 9800pro for christmas and on the box it requires a 300watt psu or higher , my psu is atx 300 so im asuming thats 300watts but ive heard that it will lock up after awhile , will my machine do such? thanks for your help
after extensive amounts of time
by that I mean more than 8 hours of straight gaming without a reboot...etc.
straight gaming as i was playing hf2 for 8 hours, but what if my computer was on but not doing nothing? would i be better off buying a new psu? or should i just get a radeon 9600xt will that play hf2 and doom3 and games like that on high graphics?
will a 9600xt still play all the new games as hf2 doom3 etc. on good graphics because idont want to spend all my money from christmas on a video card, lol. right now im mainly playing WoW and i need a better video card for that but i wanna get hf2 but not sure if the 9600xt will play it if its on medium or high graphics thats cool but i dont like the lowest.
Originally posted by navras will a 9600xt still play all the new games as hf2 doom3 etc. on good graphics because idont want to spend all my money from christmas on a video card, lol. right now im mainly playing WoW and i need a better video card for that but i wanna get hf2 but not sure if the 9600xt will play it if its on medium or high graphics thats cool but i dont like the lowest.
yeah, i'm pretty certain a 9600xt would play games like that, because i have a Geforce4 Ti4400 and i still play those games at playable frame rates. I'm thinking about spending my christmas money on a new graphics card also...but i'm not certain yet. Also i play hl2 on 1024 x 758 on highest detail AA off
Alright, here's my deal. I want to save up money for a gaming computer of my own, and I want it to be able to run anything...Half Life 2, Doom 3, Everquest 2, you name it...Anyways, I made a list of everything I planned out, and I need advice on what to change, and if everything is compatible with each other. Thanks in advance guys. By the way, this is all in Canadian, from a Canadian website. I don't care about the prices so much as the performance/compatibility.
2.66 GHz Processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB/7200 RPM Hard Drive, CD/DVD Burner, Windows XP Professional, Surround Sound w/ Headset, 19 Inch Flat-Screen Monitor, 256 MB Video Card, 3.5 Inch Floppy Drive, Optical Wireless Mouse, 450 Watt Power Supply
Abyssknight you need at least a gig of ram to be able to run eq2 with little lag and the fx 5700 card is complete card. I would aim more for an amd 64 2800+ 1 gig of ram and a 9800pro/6600 gt. The is no need to get an xp professional since it wont affect gaming performance what so ever so you might as well save the 50 bucks and use it to cover the cost of upgrading from half a gig to a gig of ram.
Yeah, I knew I need a gigabyte of RAM but that's the type I'll be using, so I'll just double up on that.
I'm running Professional on this computer right now and for some reason, I like it better than the Home edition...something about it that seems easier to use...oh well, I'll downgrade to Home and save the 50 bucks.
So...switch to XP Home Edition, add 512 MB RAM, get an AMD 64 2800+ processor, and switch the GeForce 5700 LE for a 6600 GT.
Other than that, does everything seem good? Like, sound card, speakers, hard drive?
Comments
Also if you have 256 ram, you need to get another stick that is similar to that one. So it would be another stick of 256, not 512. I doubt you have 4 dimm sockets, probably two on your mobo. SO that means you can get 512 ram, or you could replace all your ram by getting 2x 512 sticks.
EQ2 Qeynos Guild- http://www.imperium-arcanum.com
In the past, computer cases were all very similar Clones of the same boring, beige box. With all of the choices available today, this is no longer the case, and people can use their systems chassis as a means to express themselves and to set their system apart from the rest. Although appearance may be a big one, it isnt the only factor in the selection process and the following items should be considered when shopping for a new computer case.
1. Form Factor
There are different sizes of motherboards, which in turn require different cases to house them. Case form factors share the names of the motherboards they support, and some of the common ones include ATX, Micro ATX (mATX), FlexATX and Mini ITX. ATX motherboards are perhaps the most common, and the largest of the four, measuring at most 12 x 9.6 (305mm x 244mm). A Micro ATX board is at most 9.6 x 9.6 (244mm x 244mm), a FlexATX is 9.0 x 7.5 (229mm x 191mm) and a Mini ITX comes in at a tiny 6.7 x 6.7 (170mm x 170mm). ATX and mATX are by far the most popular motherboard sizes for consumer motherboards, and hence, most cases are made to support one or both of these sizes.
A mATX motherboard can obviously fit in a smaller enclosure than an ATX motherboard, and therefore there are different size cases available to match. The larger cases are generally downward compatible with smaller form factor motherboards, but the opposite is not true. For example, someone with this Amptron mATX motherboard could save a few inches and install it in this 14.25 tall mATX case, or pick something like this black ATX case that stands just a bit taller at 16.5.
Many branded systems (ones that you may buy prebuilt and with preinstalled software) are usually a combination of a standard form factor (such a mATX) with some type of proprietary design (usually in the front panel switches and cabling) and buying a new case for these types of motherboards can be tricky. Some branded systems also use lesser used form factors such as NLX and LPX (which employ riser cards for the expansion slots) and finding replacement cases for these type of systems can be a very difficult and pricey endeavor.
A smaller system may be desirable where space is tight, but larger form factor cases provide more room for multiple drives and other peripherals, and a smaller motherboard may be better suited to a larger case in a system such as this.
2. Size
Size may go along with form factor in many respects, but even while considering cases of the same form factor, there can be variations in size in a few respects. Areas where size can vary are in overall dimensions, the number of exposed 5.25 and 3.5 bays, and the number of internal bays.
ATX cases obviously need to be large enough to hold an ATX motherboard; some are just large enough, while others seem cavernous in comparison. If a case needs to fit under a low shelf, or between items of a certain width, it is important to choose an appropriately sized case. Cases come in two basic configurations when it comes to their size and shape, either desktop or tower. Desktop cases are wider than they are tall and are oriented so the motherboard lays flat, while tower cases have the motherboard standing upright, and come in three basic heights mini tower, mid tower, and full tower. Tower cases are more common these days, and currently the only style in the Computer Geeks case inventory.
The number of exposed drive bays is generally in direct proportion to the overall size of the case. A higher number of exposed 5.25 bays may be desirable for those with more than one DVD or CD drive, removable drive racks, and fan controllers. Exposed 3.5 bays are generally occupied by floppy drives, Zip drives, fan controllers, and things like this 9-in-1 Card Reader, and in most cases you may get one or two of these bays, maximum. This case is very similar in appearance to this other one, but they have one difference that may prove to be a huge factor. They both have four exposed 5.25 bays, but one has two exposed 3.5 bays while the other only has one. If a user had a floppy drive and the 9-in-1 card reader, they would either have to choose to install only one, or use an adaptor and take up one of their 5.25 bays.
Internal bays are generally reserved for hard drives, and systems with multiple drives require the necessary space. So, if a user decided he really wanted a yellow colored case, but needed room for five hard drives, he would be forced to choose this one (5 internal drive bays) over this one (4 internal drive bays).
3. Cooling
Cooling is a critical feature to consider when selecting a computer case. High end systems can generate a good deal of heat, and the case needs to be adequately cooled to keep the system running and stable.
The basic configuration for case cooling involves having one intake fan on the lower portion of the front surface, and one exhaust fan higher up on the rear surface. This allows cooler air to be drawn in, passed over the various heat generating components, and exhausted out the back. There are many other cooling configurations available that may provide improvements in terms of cooling performance and noise.
One way to decrease noise, and perhaps move more air, is for a case to use 120mm (4) fans instead of the usual 80mm (3) fans, as larger fans dont need to spin as fast to push the same volume of air. This A-Top Z-Alien utilizes a 120mm exhaust fan that also features another key feature to good cooling. The fan grill is very open, meaning that there will be minimal resistance to air flow and reduced noise as the air rushes past it. Many fan grills are made from perforating the cases sheet metal, and they do not provide enough open area for good airflow.
Another approach to better cooling is to throw more fans at the heat. This Matrix case adds another fan to the side panel which will draw cool air in right on top of the processor and video card, two of the hotter items in a system. Other cases will add an exhaust fan to the top of the case, which pushes the heat out just like a chimney.
No matter the approach, cooling is one area that needs close consideration when it comes to cases intended for todays high powered systems.
4. Installation Features
Installing a system into a case can be a time consuming affair, which can become annoying to those who find themselves in a continuous cycle of upgrading. Many cases now include convenient features to make installation much simpler, and far less time consuming
Some of these convenient installation features include a removable motherboard tray, removable drive cages, tool-less expansion card mounts, tool-less side panels, and tool-less drive rail systems. Being able to remove the motherboard tray and drive cage makes it easier to work on those specific areas in the open, and having a tool-less system for mounting drives or cards means there is no need for screws or a screw driver. Definitely time savers!
Although the listing on the Computer Geeks site does not specify it, this X-Blade ATX case features both a removable drive cage and tool-less drive rail system, according to this review.
5. Convenience Items
It is not enough for a case to house a computer system any more, it now needs to multi-task. Having regularly used connections on the front or top of the case is one common convenience feature that many people look for. Cases such as this A-Top Z-Alien model let users forget about the annoyance of reaching around the back of their case to plug things in, as USB, Firewire, headphone and microphone jacks are located on the top.
Other cases are available that take convenience to another level by including clocks, digital thermometers that monitor specific components, and fan controllers to help maintain a healthy balance between noise and cooling performance.
6. Style
A few years ago cases only came in one color and one basic style plain beige boxes. If youre nostalgic for the olden days of computer cases, Computer Geeks still has one for sale in this style, the KG-200. But cases now come in styles from mild to wild, and in a whole rainbow of colors. Some have large windows in the side panel to show off the cases insides, some include special lighting effects, and some have appearances that might scare the kids. At this point there seems to be few limits in case design, but there are always classically styled cases in updated color schemes for those who want something modern looking, but nothing too intense.
7. Power Supply
Many cases are sold with a power supply included, but this power supply might not be the correct one for the system to be installed inside of it. An adequate power supply needs to be chosen to meet the demands of the system, and this may very well mean buying an additional power supply to replace the one included, or selecting a different case with a more appropriately sized power supply.
For example, someone may decide their high end gaming system would go well in this black ATX case, but the included 300W power supply may not be strong enough for a top notch graphics card, multiple drives, water cooling, and other power hungry peripherals that might be installed.
Final Words
There are many factors that go into selecting an adequate case for a computer system, including the seven mentioned above. What may wind up being the most important factor was not discussed, but can hopefully be addressed by balancing the importance of these factors price. Computer cases can cost anywhere from several dollars to several hundred dollars, meaning that a tight budget may decide which of the other features is really all that important
another article from techtips bimonthly newsletter.
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Zao, if you are keeping the motherboard you have now then you can't get the 5700. Stick with what Rabid suggested. It's good advice. Also, getting a 5700 wouldn't make any sense for you because your processor would bottleneck the hell out of it. That means your processor isn't good enough to use the Video card to its full potential. Again, stick with what Rabid said.
Well, after doing a bit of research I've decided to attempt and build my first computer. So far I've decided on:
1) CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+
2) Ram: Mushkin Dual Pack 184-pin 1gb (512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
3) HD: Western Digital 40 gb, 7200 rpm IDE HD with 8mb cache
4) Graphics: ATI Radeon 9600 XT
I need advice on trying to decide what motherboard and case I should get. (The case only because I want to make sure the motherboard fits in the thing...) I'd prefer to spend a bit under $100 on the motherboard but if that's a terrible idea I'm open to a slight increase in price. As for the case, the lower the price the better; physical appearance really isn't a concern, but good cooling and power supply would be nice. Anyways, any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Well some good motherboard manufactuers are Abit and Asus. You can do some serching at newegg.com to see what the price ranges are. As far as your case goes, any case that supports ATX form motherboards (which is just about all the cases out now) will be what you need to get. Antec sells some very good cases and you can find some Antecs with a power supply included. Antec is also a very good powersupply manufactuer. I would suggest just looking around newegg.com, zipzoomfly.com, or even tigerdirect.com. With cases you'll find most will be compatible with any ATX motherboard, it really just comes down to taste. If you can I would suggest making sure you get a good powersupply as a bad one can really F up your parts. Good luck!
I would also suggest if at all possible investing in at least an 80gb hard drive. You'll really thank yourself down the road for getting the extra space.
yea in the end i sticked with rabids idea, but im kinda considering of getting like a new processor and motheboard with it just to improve my PC a little bit more. (im guessing im guna go with the AMD 2500+) and with a AMD motherboard, but i cant consider anything yet, ima see how my RAM and graphics card is doing at the moment.
but thnx for the help everyone
Playing-Pristontale[Archer]
Testing-None
Quit-Runescape,Helbreath.
I did a bit of looking on newegg.com and found these two motherboards within my price range:
1) ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL
2) ABIT "NF7-S" nForce2 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL
Of these two, which do people suggest I get? They're both around the same price so I just need to know which is a more reliable motherboard that performs better. Thanks again.
if price isn't a factor, i'd try lookin at the nforce3 motherboards. But if it is, IMO i'd get the ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400.
If you plan on ever upgrading your rig after building it then stay away from socket A and get something with a higher pin count like the 939. I'd suggest the Asus A8V Deluxe.
"Don't blame me, I voted for Badnarik."
http://www.lp.org
Still waiting for my next mmorpg...
A definition of 'munchkin', origin forgotten: "A player who, when told that the game will involve political intrigue in 15th-century Italy, insists on playing a Ninja." -isomeme
WARNING: Spelling and grammatical errors intentionally left in document to test for Anal Retentive Trolls.
"The key to wasting time is distraction. Without distractions it's too obvious to your brain that you're not doing anything with it, and you start to feel uncomfortable." - Paul Graham http://paulgraham.com/hs.html
Ok, I've been taking peoples advice so far and have come up with this:
1) Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD800JD, OEM Drive Only
2)Mushkin Dual Pack 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail
3)ASUS "A8V Deluxe" VIA K8T800 Pro Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL
4)AMD Athlon 64 3000+, 512KB L2 Cache 64-bit Processor - Retail
5) ATI Radeon 9600xt
5)Lite-On Silver ATX Case with 400W P4 Ready Power Supply and Front USB Ports, Model "HT 761S" -RETAIL
The case is what I'm most weary of, it's only $35 but it's gotten a lot of really good reviews so I'm not too terribly worried. If anyone has any suggestions that wont raise the price too much (it's just over $500 as I already have the video card) they'd be greatly appreciated. Also, what should I look into as far as cooling goes? Thanks again.
That is a 754pin processor, use this processor in it's place.
"Don't blame me, I voted for Badnarik."
http://www.lp.org
Still waiting for my next mmorpg...
A definition of 'munchkin', origin forgotten: "A player who, when told that the game will involve political intrigue in 15th-century Italy, insists on playing a Ninja." -isomeme
WARNING: Spelling and grammatical errors intentionally left in document to test for Anal Retentive Trolls.
"The key to wasting time is distraction. Without distractions it's too obvious to your brain that you're not doing anything with it, and you start to feel uncomfortable." - Paul Graham http://paulgraham.com/hs.html
If the case is only $35 the power supply is probably a little weak. Just go ahead and buy an Antec, Thermaltake, etc. power supply. There only about $30-50 and you'll thank yourself later. Other than that I like your setup. Very good stuff.
I would still say yes but sometimes you just come across a good deal. Look at the reviews by users and compare their parts to the ones you are going to get. Generally the better the parts the better the power supply should be. If there seems to be alot of good reviews concerning the power supply, then go ahead. It's really up to you. Like I said sometimes you can just find a good deal so it may be a good way to go. It really comes down to your budget. If it would really be a strain to pay anymore money then just stick with the one included with the case.
I just went to newegg and looked at the case you're going to get. The power supply seems to check out. I think you'll be ok going with that one.
LOL I SAW A NEC COMPUTER FOR SELL hhahah i saw it at this computer fair place and it was for 40 bucks lol and he had like 39 of them and they all went in 2 hours
im got a radeon 9800pro for christmas and on the box it requires a 300watt psu or higher , my psu is atx 300 so im asuming thats 300watts but ive heard that it will lock up after awhile , will my machine do such? thanks for your help
after extensive amounts of time
by that I mean more than 8 hours of straight gaming without a reboot...etc.
http://www.facebook.com/murtb
straight gaming as i was playing hf2 for 8 hours, but what if my computer was on but not doing nothing? would i be better off buying a new psu? or should i just get a radeon 9600xt will that play hf2 and doom3 and games like that on high graphics?
well..I have a 9800XT on a 420 psu, and I still have problems.
So I guess you're better off going with a higher psu, but it's not going to make that much of a difference.
I personally am disappointed with the catalyst drivers.
http://www.facebook.com/murtb
will a 9600xt still play all the new games as hf2 doom3 etc. on good graphics because idont want to spend all my money from christmas on a video card, lol. right now im mainly playing WoW and i need a better video card for that but i wanna get hf2 but not sure if the 9600xt will play it if its on medium or high graphics thats cool but i dont like the lowest.
yeah, i'm pretty certain a 9600xt would play games like that, because i have a Geforce4 Ti4400 and i still play those games at playable frame rates. I'm thinking about spending my christmas money on a new graphics card also...but i'm not certain yet. Also i play hl2 on 1024 x 758 on highest detail AA off
Alright, here's my deal. I want to save up money for a gaming computer of my own, and I want it to be able to run anything...Half Life 2, Doom 3, Everquest 2, you name it...Anyways, I made a list of everything I planned out, and I need advice on what to change, and if everything is compatible with each other. Thanks in advance guys. By the way, this is all in Canadian, from a Canadian website. I don't care about the prices so much as the performance/compatibility.
2.66 GHz Processor, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB/7200 RPM Hard Drive, CD/DVD Burner, Windows XP Professional, Surround Sound w/ Headset, 19 Inch Flat-Screen Monitor, 256 MB Video Card, 3.5 Inch Floppy Drive, Optical Wireless Mouse, 450 Watt Power Supply
$1249.77
Case/Power Supply
Diablo ATX Mid-Tower Case with 450Watt Power Supply, Front Neon Lights, Front USB and Audio Ports $49.97
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=720575&Sku=D15-1010
Motherboard/CPU
Soyo P4VTE Socket 478 Motherboard and Intel Celeron D 330 2.66GHz Processor $161.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1105675&Sku=MBM-P4VTE-330
Hard Drive
Maxtor 80GB / 7200 / 2MB / ATA-133 / EIDE Hard Drive $91.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=440429
Video Card
eVGA GeForce FX 5700 LE / 256MB DDR / AGP 8X / VGA / DVI / TV Out / Video Card $152.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1009368&Sku=E145-5704
Memory
Ultra 512MB PC3200 DDR 400MHz Memory $69.97
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=586829&Sku=ULT30215
Operating System
Microsoft Windows XP Professional OEM Version $179.97
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=335900&Sku=M17-7502
CD/DVD Drive
Sony DRU710A / 16x4x16x DVD+RW / 8x4x16x DVD-RW / 2.4x DVD+R DL / 48x24x40x CD-RW / Dual / Nero Software / DVD Burner $109.97
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1045578&CatId=89
Sound Card
Chaintech 7.1 Channel PCI 24HT-S Sound Card $33.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=23680&CatId=107
Mouse
Kensington / 72216 / Pilot / Wireless / Optical / Mouse $35.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1085670&CatId=1285
3.5 Inch Floppy Drive
1.44 MB Floppy Disk Drive (Black) $26.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=313606&Sku=TC1-6000%20BL
Headset
Inland USB or Battery Powered Bass Vibration 6000 Headset with Volume Control $31.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=541488&CatId=390
Speakers
RWTI Cintre RW-6510 6 PCS Surround Sound System $53.99
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=672370&CatId=492
Monitor (The monitor I'll leave out until the end, 'till then I'll use a crappier 15-inch one)
Viewsonic G90FB / 19-Inch / 1920 x 1140 / 0.21mm / Black / PerfectFlat CRT Monitor $249.97
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=415291&Sku=V18-5008%20B
Yeah, I knew I need a gigabyte of RAM but that's the type I'll be using, so I'll just double up on that.
I'm running Professional on this computer right now and for some reason, I like it better than the Home edition...something about it that seems easier to use...oh well, I'll downgrade to Home and save the 50 bucks.
So...switch to XP Home Edition, add 512 MB RAM, get an AMD 64 2800+ processor, and switch the GeForce 5700 LE for a 6600 GT.
Other than that, does everything seem good? Like, sound card, speakers, hard drive?
By the way, why should I get the AMD Athlon 64 2800+, http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1017848&CatId=1181 instead of this one, http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1105675&sku=MBM-P4VTE-330, a mobo with an Intel Celeron D 330, which is a gigahertz faster, and almost half the price?