Starting the build.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: Starting the build.

I am looking to build my own computer. I have most of the parts picked out for my computer except I am having trouble figuring what monitor to get. Ideally I would like to spend less than $200 on a monitor. I've liked how Dell's ultrasharp monitors look.

The processor that I think I am going to get is this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115029. So if anyone knows of a good motherboard (better quality, highly regarded brand) that would go along with it, that would be great.

BurkeViper · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

As far as a monitor, the CRT monitors (cathode ray tubes) are inexpensive. However a flat screen monitor will cost more. Some flat screens may still have lag/ghosting issues, but this is rare nowadays and usually very minimal.

As far as a motherboard, I'm partial to ASUS and EVGA. I've got an EVGA videocard and haven't had any problems with it. I've had 2 Gigabyte motherboards in the past and they've both crapped out on me. Ended up frying both my processors too. Just my 2 cents.

I'd also like to know what else you've decided to pick out for your computer as far as RAM wise and videocard. These are important sometimes when finding a motherboard. Just want to make sure you have PCI-express and if you can run dual channel.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 18, 2008 7:17 pm Post subject:

Sound Card - Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card

Power Supply - Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU ATX 12V 2.0 500W Power Supply

Processor - Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 Conroe 2.66GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E6750

Video Card - EVGA 512-P2-N757-TR GeForce 8600GT 512MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card

Hard Drive - Western Digital Caviar RE WD2500YS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive

Ram - CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4

Case - Rosewill R5605-BK Black 0.8mm SECC cold rolled Steel ATX Mid Tower

DVD/R Drive is a plextor

Right now without a monitor and mobo the computer is looking to cost me under 900!

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

On the subject... what would you guys suggest in the way of a 20-22" flat panel? I am thinking of getting two new ones... would you need decent video card to support dual-screen with that setup?

kdip · Posted: Jan 24, 2008 8:02 pm Post subject:

wakeboarderdave1, I am using a SLI ready ASUS motherboard with an EVGA 8800GTS SSC and it runs great. My friends EVGA motherboard failed under a stress test when the company was testing his computer. Good call on the 8800GT, they are better then most of the 8800GTS and a lot less expensive.

ontrider, I bought a Samsung 22" Samsung 226BW 22IN Widescreen LCD Monitor 2MS VGA DVI-D HDCP. It has got a lot of good reviews on it. And for the dual moniter setup, I am pretty sure you need a decent graphics card.

JRW160 · Soul Rider Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 367 City: Huntsville

You can run dual monitors with pretty much any video card available today. I run dual monitors with my 5 year old gf4 4200. It's a pos compared to almost any card you can buy now.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

^ agreeed.

Dual monitor can be run with even the crappiest video cards. Which will work fine for most.

What is the computer going to be used for? Gaming? Video editing? Just browsing the web & school work?

Anyhow, I really like the Viewsonic monitor I picked up at Costco. 19" wide for $200. Best bang for the buck I have seen while remaining with a trusted manufacturer.

Dpierce37 · Ladies Man Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 7659 City: Austin

wakeboarderdave1, Have you factored in an O/S, a keyboard and mouse and other accessories?

Also, I would bump that puppy to 4 gigs of ram....its cheap right now.

Mine would have been almost int he 800 range if not for the o/s and wireless keyboard/mouse.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 25, 2008 1:43 pm Post subject:

I have a mouse and I am getting a gaming keyboard and windows media center. The grand total of the monster sits at almost 1400 right now. Sad

kdip · Posted: Jan 25, 2008 5:09 pm Post subject:

Yeh go with the 4 gigs of ram, I have 4gbs and it runs fast and hasn't been slow. yet.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 27, 2008 11:31 am Post subject:

alright i think i have down what I am going to be getting for my pc. here is a link to the new egg cart.
http://tinyurl.com/2y68ao

Grand total is a little over 1500, way more than what I initially wanted to spend. After talking with some people on newegg, I decided to get a better PSU and vid card. here's a chart showing the comparision of my original selection (8600) and my new (8800) while playing bf2142 and the choices are listed in blue.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/graphics_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=1057&model2=1058&chart=277

Jensen · Posted: Jan 27, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

i just built a new computer also, heres my specs

processsor - intel quad core q6600
motherboard - xfx 780i 3way sli board
video card - xfx 8800gts 512mb
power - thermaltake 700w
ram - 2gbs of gskill ddr2 800 with low cas latency 4-4-4-12
hard drive - western digital 150gb raptor, and another 500gb hard drive
zalman heatsink

grand total 1500ish
shutting down this computer to fire the new one up, time to install windows xp pro, screw vista

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

re: monitors, keep your eye out for sales. lcd widescreens are so cheap now and there are always a brand or two on sale. i bought 2 - 22" lg widescreens @$199/ea.

ontrider · Ladies Man Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 16491 City: Russia

jumalian, what kind did you get? I keep seeing those cheap but there are regular and ultrasharps... can't tell if there is actually that much difference because the prices are so similar.

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

L226WTQ-BF

review here

honestly though, i based my purchase on price and performance i witnessed at the store. sure, stores normally bump up the saturation and sharpness when displaying monitors, but mine is as good at home as it was at the store (if not better).

BurkeViper · Posted: Jan 27, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject:

Sorry for the delay, haven't been able to stay on the computer for more than 30 minutes now that schools been starting back up.

However, I am curious like chavez, what is the purpose of this setup? You don't need to spend $1500 for a computer that's just going to surf and send e-mails

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 27, 2008 5:24 pm Post subject:

play games(2142), use photoshop and other web development programs. I want to get something that I am not going to have to upgrade anytime soon. On my brothers comp I was tired of always lagging and having crappy/jumpy graphics when I played. Figured I would buy something better than he has.

kdip · Posted: Jan 27, 2008 10:39 pm Post subject:

wakeboarderdave1, I love the online stats that BF2/2142 have. They tell you everything about everymap, kit, gun, vehicle, etc....

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 5:59 am Post subject:

The monitor that I am going with is a 22" Hann-G.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824254020&Tpk=Hanns-G%2b22

PimpinD2 · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 6:24 am Post subject:

Not a big fan of Hann-G.

Check out this Acer screen, i got mine for $179 each on Black Friday, picked up two.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16824009094

Also, are you going to be running Vista or 64bit XP? If not then dont bother getting 4 gigs of ram since Win XP Pro can only see about 3 gigs of it. If you plan on upgrading to the newer OS soon then by all means get the 4gigs.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 6:46 am Post subject:

I was acctually considering purchasing that monitor as well D2. I'm going to be running XP Media Center I think. I would like to have Vista, but don't really see a need for it now. It's 2 years away from all the bugs being worked out. Plus there is rumors of a new Windows 7 coming out either next year or the year after. Looks like Windows is trying to get back to putting out a new OS every 3 years. I to think the wait to put out Vista killed its chances.

http://www.eggxpert.com/forums/thread/251533.aspx

Dees · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 7:14 am Post subject:

Acer 20" LCD for 199
Acer 19" LCD for 189
Samsung 19" for 179 after rebate
Viewsonic 17" for 139 after rebate

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?CatId=12&CMP=ILC-FPM-LCD

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

i wouldn't get the hannsg. i've seen it...looks like poo.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 12:17 pm Post subject:

jumalian · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 7625 City: san diego

i don't know but i'm partial to lg, samsung and dell.

chavez · RIP MHL 04/25/1958 - 01/11/2006

The Dell monitors we have at the office are actually rebadged Samsung units. They all look great.

BurkeViper · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject:

If you're going to be getting an LCD, I'd suggest Samsung or Rosewill. Had success with both brands.

Since you're going to be playing games, you'll be wanting a screen with a quick response time, so the lower the number next to the 'ms' the better (and more expensive). I also suggest reading reviews and see if anyone mentions ghosting. If they do, probably not a monitor you're wanting.

kdip · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject:

Yeh I have a 2MS samsung. Works great at looks good.

wakeboarderdave1 · Posted: Feb 03, 2008 5:26 pm Post subject:

I've got my monitor in hands now and have been using it over the weekend. I got the Acer 22" that D2 suggested and I love it thus far. I have been using it all weekend. Hopefully the rest of the computer comes by tomorrow. Does anyone know if UPS does shipping in between your destination over the weekend? Like from one depot to the next?