n00b questions

[Flame3230]

okay, i want to build my own super pc, but i am clueless. i read everything, but i am at a loss of understanding with all the different components. i would be happy if someone could just give me a list of components to make an awesome gaming computer with good memory, and i can go from there.

[jclaydon]

One of the first questions someone who knows about parts is going to ask you is what is your budget?

So we might as well get that one out of the way right now.. :)

-James

[iiiprimeiii]

intel e8400 cpu-- 239.99
gigabyte p35c ds3r mobo-- 144.99
corsair 520hx psu--114.99 after mir
evga 8800gt video card--239.99 after mir; evga has 90 day step up program

depending on if ur running 32 bit OS get 2gb ram and 64 bit OS you will need 4 GB of ram. corsair xms2 is good memory for gaming and is also fairly decently priced.2gb-- 34 after mir and 4gb 114

case, monitor, dvd/cd drives, hard drives, etc up to you. i recomend getting sata drives because in my opinion it makes cable management much easier. the ide ribbon cables are also ugly if u choose a case with clear side panel.

all these prices from newegg.com
dont know if this fits ur budget, but if not there are a few tweeks u can make to lower costs. hope this helps :D

[Flame3230]

Well, i dont really have a budget, cause im gonna get as much as i can off ebay from people who sell em cheap, ie. the antec case thing, 19.99 on ebay :) And y comp right now has some parts i can take, like cd burner, decent ram cards, and i will use the same hard drive, so i just want to get a slave drive for memory upgrade

[shyster]

I do not know what your current ram cards are, but unless they are ddr2 they are probably not good enough, and will not work with a newer motherboard, especially if you are trying to build a gaming computer.

Hard drives are cheap you can get like 500GB for $70. I say this because using your old hard drive could cause problems, since every other component in the computer will be new, all your loaded drivers could possibly freakout. But it would save on buying an OS so you can do it if you want.

On a personal level, I do not know what type of computer you are running now, but I just feel that having all new things for a new computer, especially the one you build for the first time is a beatiful thing.

Other than that Iiiprimeiii's recommendations are pretty good.

[Flame3230]

i have right now a 2001 dell comp, and i think the ram cards wont work in a new one, and why should i try because 2 cards give me a whopping 528 mb of ram:rolleyes: and i was hoping to be able to keep all my files, but now i have a solution, so ill go with a new start

and im cofused, will an antec sonata 2 or 3 fit the mobo listed above, or do i need a different case to fit it?

[RickyTick]

Hello Flame.

I bet that's a Dimension 4300 or 4400. I have a 4300 that I bought in 2001.

Shyster is right, you're not going to be able to use the old parts out of that old pc. Storage and Ram is very cheap these days, so you can save money in other places if you need to.

The Sonata III is a very popular case, and will work just fine with that P35 motherboard.

[Flame3230]

What kind of ram is compatible though? i was lookin online and a site said be sure it is compatible for your mother bord, so that just blew my mind

so here is my list so far:
intel e8400 cpu
gigabyte p35c ds3r mobo
corsair 520hx psu
evga 8800gt video card or GeForce 9600 GT 512MB if its compatible
100 gb hard drive
Vista OS (i really wanna play Halo 2)
at least 2 Gb ram
Antec Sonata 3 case

am i missing anything, i already have most other things like mouse and monitor

[shyster]

If all you want to do is keep all your old files, you should just be able to connect the two lan cards together and pull the files from the old computer onto the new one. If you do that you will probably lose your settings, but those are easy enough usually to change back.

As for the exact process of doing it I cannot help you because I have not done it in years, but you can find resources with a google search. That is also what I plan to do when I get my new computer up and running.

[RickyTick]

What kind of ram is compatible though? i was lookin online and a site said be sure it is compatible for your mother bord, so that just blew my mind

so here is my list so far:
intel e8400 cpu
gigabyte p35c ds3r mobo
corsair 520hx psu
evga 8800gt video card or GeForce 9600 GT 512MB if its compatible
100 gb hard drive
Vista OS (i really wanna play Halo 2)
at least 2 Gb ram
Antec Sonata 3 case

am i missing anything, i already have most other things like mouse and monitor


Go to Gigabyte's website and I'm sure you'll find a list of compatible ram. You should see something like DDR2 800 (PC6400)

I went to Corsair.com and used their Memory Configurator for your motherboard and got this...
Corsair TWIN2X2048-6400C4DHX

[Flame3230]

ok, i think i have everything handled, jjust one more question, can i use any hard drive, or does it need certain specs, more specifiaclly, wil a hrad drive with these specs work?
Maxtor 250GB DiamondMax Plus 21 SATA II 300 Hard Disk Drive 8MB Cache 7200rpm

and thank you so much everyone for your help:D

[chunkylover53]

Dude, the Sonata III is for old men like me. I have it, and it's a nice understated look. But if your gonna buy the 520HX PSU anyway, why not get a nice gaming case that doesn't have a PSU in it already that will end up in a closet?

Lots of the guys around here swear by this case, and if I was allowed (that's right, I said allowed:D) to have one I would. Plus it'll save you ten bucks...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021&Tpk=antec%2b900

[Flame3230]

:eek: youre right, that thing is a beast and it is so mine:)

[RickyTick]

okay, i want to build my own super pc, but i am clueless. i read everything, but i am at a loss of understanding with all the different components. i would be happy if someone could just give me a list of components to make an awesome gaming computer with good memory, and i can go from there.

So if you're interested in a awesome gaming computer / super pc, then ditch that 9600GT and go for the 8800GTS 512, and check out the Western Digital Caviar SE16 500gb hard drive.

[Flame3230]

so i take it that you can put any hard drive, like the 500 gb one? I never would imagine using that much memory, it wouldbe a HUGE upgrade from my 30 gb hard drive now

[chunkylover53]

No, not really any drive on any board. But for the one your looking at, any SATA-300 hard drive would be fine.

The Maxtor you pointed out earlier is fine, but I second RickyTick. Storage is so cheap right now, why not spend the extra $25 to get the 500GB? You can use the $10 you saved on the case. ;)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

[Flame3230]

i am content now, i went on google shop, made a list woth the least expensive stores, and all in all it will cost 766 or less, depends what ebay is doin.

plus, i found a $40 one of those hard drives versus the $100 one

almost forgot, can i play blu ray and hd on my 2001 disk drive?

[Barrister73]

You need a special Blu Ray (or HD) drive to play those disks. Those drives are rather expensive for now. If you really want to be able to do that on your computer, I would suggest waiting for HD to officially die off so Blu Ray becomes much cheaper due to increased mass production.

MRR

[Flame3230]

thank, now i know everything i need

nix that, i am now havin troubles finding RAM cards:(

ive read the memory compatibilty chart for the mobo, but i still cant figure out wat i need or how to find it, but i do know it uses ddr2 and it has 4 slots, where i will put 4 2gb cards in

[iiiprimeiii]

4 2gb cards?????:eek: :eek: so u want 8GB of ram???? thats quite a bit i would stick with 2 2gb sticks if u plan on a 64 bit os. u already have os and most ur parts picked out??? heres some good ram

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=50001666+40000147&Manufactory=1666&SubCategory=147&SpeTabStoreType=0

[Flame3230]

gotta, i wasn't sure on ram, so i figuerd id just max out and not have to worry later, but ill stick with my plan of getting 4 1 gig corsair cards of ebay:) but i also have all my other parts chosen

oh yeah, and im super lucky cause the case i want off ebay is being sold from the same city im in, so that saves me a 30 bucks 4 shipping