Author Topic: I'mma make a computer. (Read 10206 times)

Eiii · « **on:** July 01, 2006, 03:41:04 AM »

I've found as of late that my current computer has grown grossly inadequate. So, I'm looking into building a new one.

I'm better versed in software when it comes to dealing with computers, so I don't know much about the hardware side of things-- I know basically what I'll need, but have no clue how to put it together.

So, I need somewhere that can tell me what to do to put together a good gaming computer, and recommend where to look for some parts. Searches have turned up stuff that looks pretty out of date and unreliable, but I don't know all that much. Can anyone here help? Well, you can, but will you?

EDIT: Yeah, I looked around on NewEgg and made a list of parts. Yeeeeah... that's about all. I assume I'll need to check if they're all compatable with each other, something I'm not sure how to do.

XtremeBain · « **Reply #1 on:** July 01, 2006, 08:29:02 AM »

Here's a guide from Tom's Hardware from June 12th. I don't know if it's exactly what you're aiming for, though.
Link: Your DIY 4 GHz Dual Core Gaming Rig For $720

It might be a good point of reference to take a look at the Guides over at Sharky Extreme. They've got a Value Gaming System guide for May '06 and a High End Gaming System guide for March '06. You can follow up with their June price guides to adjust the costs a little and use newegg.com or whatever for actual figures.
Link: Sharky Extreme Guides

If there's any other sites that frequently offer similar guides, post them up. They're always an interesting read.

TinMan · « **Reply #2 on:** July 01, 2006, 01:23:12 PM »

Here's my partslist: http://neonpulse.net/2006/04/02/new-computer/
You're in time to go AM2, I was too early

jitspoe · « **Reply #3 on:** July 01, 2006, 01:23:50 PM »

Re: Your DIY 4 GHz Dual Core Gaming Rig For $720

Wow, that's like everything I wouldn't do in a machine.
- ATI Radeon = suck.
- Overclocking that much = shortens component lifespan.
- Raid 0 = lose one drive, you lose everything.
- Water cooling = not portable, and plenty of room for disaster if there's a leak or something.
- ASRock mobo = super budget. Probably won't work.

Personally I'd go with a single core opteron and an nVidia card. I've had my new machine for a few months now and haven't had a single lockup or blue screen. My previous ATI system had all kinds of problems and I was lucky if I could play a whole round without it freezing up.

Here's the details on my machine: http://dpball.com/forums/index.php?topic=1468.0 -- I have 2 gigs in it now, though. 2 1gb chips in dual channel is the fastest.

TinMan · « **Reply #4 on:** July 01, 2006, 01:28:47 PM »

4 1gb chips in dual channel is the fastest.

wait! no, a huge cluster of boxes with 4 1gb chips in dual channel is the fastest.

Eiii · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2006, 01:40:37 PM »

Yeah, I don't really want to overclock and don't like water cooling. You and I are alike, jits. I also am all about the nVidia. I'll post my note-taking Notepad thingy... now.

Quote

RAM:
2 GB
~$200

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227210 - $190

Vid Card:
Nvidia
OpenGL 2.0
~$300

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814150149 - $300
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814139004 - $270

Hard Drive:
>250 GB
~$100

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822144701 - $90

MotherBoard:
*AMD*/Intel ?
PCI Express x16
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813135220 - $87
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131524 - $110

CPU:
AMD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103603 - $123

CD-ROM:
CD/DVD RW
~$40

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131031 - $36

Case:
Mid-sized tower?
~$100 (or less)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129017 - $130
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811119094 - $75
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144105 - $58

Power Supply:
12V@26A
24-Pin
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182009 - $55

EDIT: ^not up to date. See my most recent post.

jitspoe · « **Reply #6 on:** July 01, 2006, 01:52:48 PM »

Quote from: TinMan on July 01, 2006, 01:28:47 PM

4 1gb chips in dual channel is the fastest.
wait! no, a huge cluster of boxes with 4 1gb chips in dual channel is the fastest.

Negative. The overhead for extra chips actually slows it down. I had 3 gigs (2x1gb, 2x512mb) and it was slower than 2 gigs, so I just removed the extra chips. Unless you're actually using that much memory, which is unlikely, then you're hurting yourself.

Edit: For an extra $20, you might as well get a DVD burner, and why did you have to put that stuff in code tags. The links don't work. I have a seasonic power supply. They're a little pricey, but I heard they were the best, and I haven't had any problems with it.

SkateR · « **Reply #7 on:** July 01, 2006, 02:02:26 PM »

Is the operton better than the ahtlon. I planned on getting a dual core athlon most likely

Eiii · « **Reply #8 on:** July 01, 2006, 02:05:32 PM »

I used code because I like the font. Fine, I'll change it.

And yeah, those SeaSonic power supplies are 'a bit' pricy. If there are less expensive alternatives I'd be glad to hear about them...

Until then, is a 20+4 connector the same as a 24 connector? Despite math telling me yes, logic tells me no.

TinMan · « **Reply #9 on:** July 01, 2006, 02:09:30 PM »

The Dual-Core Athlons run well, and Jits, some people do use all that and wouldn't be able to do what they do at 2Gigs

1 .heard bad reviews from friends on that "elitegroup" mobo brand, but the reviews on it look good (all my friends are ASUS and SOYO fanboys)
2. corsair has some cheap ram if you're not an ocz fanboy
3. the 7900GT is cheaper than that card, so I don't know why you'd get an older model

4. AMD is a very good choice

and whatever you do with your ram, never have 3 chips, either go with 2 or 4, having 3 kills the dual-channel speed.

Eiii · « **Reply #10 on:** July 01, 2006, 02:20:18 PM »

Quote from: TinMan on July 01, 2006, 02:09:30 PM

3. the 7900GT is cheaper than that card, so I don't know why you'd get an older model

Yeeeeeah, that's why I came here. So, now I have to decide between video cards. I'm blindly looking at these three:
Vun.
(Not so much, due to lack of reviews)
Too.
(Looks great, but the loud fan thing kinda turns me off)
Free.
(Yay?)

Quote from: TinMan on July 01, 2006, 02:09:30 PM

and whatever you do with your ram, never have 3 chips, either go with 2 or 4, having 3 kills the dual-channel speed.

Yeah, I'm having two 1 gigs.

Quote from: TinMan on July 01, 2006, 02:09:30 PM

4. AMD is a very good choice

Too bad.

TinMan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 01, 2006, 03:12:01 PM »

You mean you're going Intel? What's the point in that?

Eiii · « **Reply #12 on:** July 01, 2006, 03:15:56 PM »

I... was... being sarcastic?

No, I just haven't gotten any sleep in 22 hours. Forgive me.

TinMan · « **Reply #13 on:** July 01, 2006, 03:39:32 PM »

You are forgiven.

jitspoe · « **Reply #14 on:** July 02, 2006, 02:42:15 AM »

The 7900 didn't exist when I built my machine. It would probably be the more logical choice now. I'm actually quite satisfied with what I have. It's been a few months, and the prices really haven't gone down any.

And Opterons are better than Athlons. They're server-grade. More cache and more thorough testing, which means they're more likely to overclock well (and just work well in general). When I got mine, the prices were about the same, so it was really a no-brainer.

Eiii · « **Reply #15 on:** July 02, 2006, 12:49:27 PM »

The Opterons look kinda expensive. Is what I have right now for the motherboard good? I also realized I don't have a CPU yet. I should probably get one.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103603
Looks to me like that would work...

EDIT: modified list o' parts to reflect changes...

TinMan · « **Reply #16 on:** July 02, 2006, 02:52:53 PM »

For the motherboard/CPU comparability you just make sure that the sockets are the same, most motherboards actually have a list of compatable CPUs in their specs area.
Like my CPU is socket 939, so I bought a socket 939 motherboard for it.
Some Opterons are socket 939 and some are 940.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_939
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socket_940

My Athlon 64 4200+ Dual-Core runs fine, I still haven't hit 100% CPU usage without trying to.

Eiii · « **Reply #17 on:** July 02, 2006, 02:58:30 PM »

Yeah, I read about that some. It seems everything is 939.

I found a power supply that should work. Will it?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817182009

EDIT: Oh, and should I get a sound card, or will the onboard card do?

TinMan · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2006, 03:02:33 PM »

That looks good to me, it has 24 pins and has SATA power on it.

Eiii · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2006, 03:05:14 PM »

And the 12V@26A my video card needs.

Btw, what's SATA?