Component list for a new PC; This Good to Go?

[SOCR]

My current computer is suffering a midlife crisis, and I was putting together components for a new one. I'm fairly green coming from the angle of hardware, and I was wondering if what I've listed below was a decent setup (All components are linked to, and my current price is from, Newegg.com)

ATX socket AM2 motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130123R), supports 8GB RAM and SATA (although I'm not concerned about SATA or hard drives at all really, I'll be reusing my old drive)
WAS LOOKING FOR: anything with 4 USB slots, 8GB total ram capacity (and four slots for RAM) and PCI-Ex16. Not really heavy criteria I suppose.

the 'Big Buy' I was concerned about for the package; Radeon HD2600PRO (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102152), 512MB. This is what I need the PCI-Ex16 for.
WAS LOOKING FOR: Radeon card, middle-range performance, a fairly new design with a large amount of memory.

Power Supply (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817709011) To be honest, I haven't the foggiest what I have to look for in the power supply for this, I just went for something low-priced with decent reviews apparently designed for the general type of my board.
WAS LOOKING FOR: Haven't a clue.

2 1GB RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820161030) Nothing special, I guess. Was looking, again, for price.
WAS LOOKING FOR: Cheap 2GB of RAM

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+ 2.8GHz Processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103242) Self-explanatory, I guess.
WAS LOOKING FOR: AMD processor, in the 2.6-3GHz range

Cooling Fan (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185125) Again, I guess self-explanatory. Was just as clueless as looking for Power Supplies.
WAS LOOKING FOR: Something that would be good enough for the processor, and fit without much fuss.

That order comes to, including shipping, $314.07. Which is great, considering my budget is $315. I'm not worried about a hard drive, I'll be reusing the one I currently have. I also already have a monitor, a GREAT set of speakers, keyboard, USB mic, game controllers, etc. I am lookign for strictly the machine itself, I already have the other bells and whistles. The case this will be going into is an OLD thing, I don't remember exactly but the motherboard I pulled out of it had what was state-of-the-art at the time; a 500MHz AMD processor. When I gutted it a month back and had access to some power supplies lying around, it looked like I would have trouble getting the power button to work correctly, it was directly connected to the power supply as a switch instead of connecting, what I guess is common now, to the motherboard. But the case isn't much of a concern, it's going to be temporary until I can make a new one, or at least alter the old one to my tastes (Which would be my first case job, and it being the cause I joined this wonderful site*.) If any of you have suggestions for a better system, please, suggest away, as long as it's within $315 when you include shipping, and it's centered around the 2.8 GHz processor and the HD2600.

Comments, advice, and suggestions greatly desired, and first post ftw? (please, move this thread and shoot me if it's in the wrong forum)


*PS: If you were wondering why I was looking at what I assume is a pretty decent powered vidcard for an otherwise very cheap budget-toeing system is because the most stress this computer will be used for is 3D modeling and rendering, I was planning to do CAD program work to design a new case once I get the thing running, and preferably design it around the old frame.

[Bopher]

I'll give you the same tidbit I was given by Drumthumper when building mine. For your PSU which will be running all the time you want kinda hefty. If that even right. Basically you dont want it to feel cheap when you pick it up. I was pointed to this PSU (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171013&Tpk=Rp-600-PCAR)
and really liked the feel when I pulled it out of the shipping box. Looked good went into my Dell 2400 case easily.
With your CPU I thought you said no dual-core but the AMD Athlon X2 is the Dual core. Drop the X2 and you'll get the single core. Right now I'm running an Athlon 64 X2 4800 and loving it.
Anyway. Those are my 2 cents. Like I said and some others will too, beef up the PSU cause thats whats keeping everything running for you.

[SOCR]

With your CPU I thought you said no dual-core but the AMD Athlon X2 is the Dual core. Drop the X2 and you'll get the single core. Right now I'm running an Athlon 64 X2 4800 and loving it.
Anyway. Those are my 2 cents. Like I said and some others will too, beef up the PSU cause thats whats keeping everything running for you.



Oh wow, thanks for pointing that out, and it brings up a question; I was pointed to single-core because I was told that XP home edition would not work as well if you used dual-core. Is this true?

[doug91]

I'm not so sure about the windows XP myth. In my opinion its a bunch of hogwash. A dual core should work fine on XP, I've never heard what you described. I am not very familiar with AMD chips, but the one you picked seems to be fine.
The PSU however looks like and accident waiting to happen. It is extremely cheap for the wattage supplied. Two things I don't like about it: It only has one +12 rail. You need more than one nowadays, it ups efficiency and reliability. Also, the cables supplied are not sufficient. 4 molex barely covers case fans and drives. Also, no PCI-e power cable is a problem.

[LeperMessiah]

I'm not so sure about the windows XP myth. In my opinion its a bunch of hogwash. A dual core should work fine on XP, I've never heard what you described. I am not very familiar with AMD chips, but the one you picked seems to be fine.
The PSU however looks like and accident waiting to happen. It is extremely cheap for the wattage supplied. Two things I don't like about it: It only has one +12 rail. You need more than one nowadays, it ups efficiency and reliability. Also, the cables supplied are not sufficient. 4 molex barely covers case fans and drives. Also, no PCI-e power cable is a problem.

the man said Hogwash. this is serious business.

but to OP, what a deal on the motherboard. i spent close to $90 on a MSI board that only supported socket amd 754 and 2gb ram...it was the only thing i could offord at the time and i was desperate. the only socket 754's out there to my knowledge are AMD Sempron, so i was stuck getting a low budget Sempron. i guess thats what i get for buying a MB in a darn store.

im actually going to buy that motherboard as soon as i get some money. i dont think that board has on-board video, so i'll have to get a graphics card...i cant wait until i get some cash.

[SOCR]

Thanks to those people pointing at the power supply. I COULD have made one myself, but I have absolutely no rust in my ability regarding the construction of anything more complicated than say, a clock. However, once I get ahold of it, I might be able to see what I could do to improve what's already there. And for that price buying two in case I screw one up is much better than leaving it as-is and potentially taking something more valuable with it when it goes down. What are common problems with cheaper power supplies?

I WOULD simply opt to spend more on a better power supply, but I have exactly 93 cents of leeway right now, I think it'd be better to get the cheap supply and tinker with it until I have enough money to get another one than simply wait off on the whole system for now, the computer I'm on is four or five years old and wasn't of the greatest quality even when I got it. I'm planning on using this machine later, so I don't want it crapping out just yet.




EDIT: Apparently that sweet motherboard deal for some reason is no longer a valid purchase, so I went and found this. (http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813130065R) I hope when they get it back I don't have another item on the list out-of-stock. Does the micro-ATX board mean the standard ATX power supply will no longer work?
EDITEDIT: Was looking for a cheaper fan to balance out the cost of the more expensive motherboard. does this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835230003) look like it'd be good? The review says it's great but it's just one review, and it IS a little smallish looking

[OhSnapIt'sLuna]

Thanks to those people pointing at the power supply. I COULD have made one myself, but I have absolutely no rust in my ability regarding the construction of anything more complicated than say, a clock.

Come on now SOCR, you're in electronics for heavens sake! And you said Yeager has a confidence problem. Pfft. :lick:

[Luke122]

What are common problems with cheaper power supplies?


Escaping smoke, arson, random hatred toward components, etc.



I WOULD simply opt to spend more on a better power supply, but I have exactly 93 cents of leeway right now, I think it'd be better to get the cheap supply and tinker with it until I have enough money to get another one than simply wait off on the whole system for now...


If you go to a single core cpu, does that give you enough cash to get a better PSU? I would definitely go for something better.. Even a step down in the GPU to get a more solid PSU might be a good idea.


Does the micro-ATX board mean the standard ATX power supply will no longer work?

Not at all.. just means that the size of the motherboard is smaller. Components are basically the same. :)

[SOCR]

If you go to a single core cpu, does that give you enough cash to get a better PSU? I would definitely go for something better.. Even a step down in the GPU to get a more solid PSU might be a good idea.

Well the largest single-core I can seem to find is 2.6, that's at the very bottom of the range I want, However the one thing I am NOT changing is the Video card, it's the whole reason I'm getting this newer computer. But either way, is that dinky heatsink I have selected as an alt any good for EITHER processor?

[Luke122]

OK, how about this:

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813128045

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16814102152

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817148027

CPU: (2.4, not 2.6)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16819103868

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820161030

CPU Fan: (not really needed, since the CPU is retail, but it's a good one)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835185125

Total: $286.94 before shipping+tax

You might want to double check compatibility of the cpu and mobo though, since I know (.) <-- that much about AMD cpu's. I'm an Intel guy. :D

[SOCR]

OK, how about this:

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16813128045

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16814102152

Power Supply:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16817148027

CPU: (2.4, not 2.6)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16819103868

Ram:
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16820161030

CPU Fan: (not really needed, since the CPU is retail, but it's a good one)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?item=N82E16835185125

Total: $286.94 before shipping+tax

You might want to double check compatibility of the cpu and mobo though, since I know (.) <-- that much about AMD cpu's. I'm an Intel guy. :D

Thanks for the layouts, it looked all good to me but the fact the motherboard only had 2 RAM slots. However I found a motherboard extremely similar (when I was looking it came down to that one and the one I ended up selecting), so if the only major difference is decreasing the CPU I guess I can go with that and get the souped-up power supply anyway. Thanks.

[doug91]

I would really recommend a dual-core. I'm guess you want that graphics card for gaming? AMD processors kinda suck right now. The single-core basically sit there and twiddle there thumbs. The dual core will give a noticable performance increase, and it won't break the bank.

A cheap PSU can cause very big to very little problems. I could just overheat or break. It can also short out, overload, or spike, which will damage and kill your motherboard and processor.

Also, that new motherboard you selected runs with a slower FSB than the older one. All this means is that the processor you chose will run at a slower speed than its designed to. If you stick with that board, save money and get a processor with lower FSB. (The FSB is how the CPU communicates with the motherboard)

[Bopher]

XP Pro runs fine on my system. But I'm not sure about the myth of Home not running on a Dual Core. The stock fan works good for me too. my temps usually run somewhere between 20C and 35C on the stock cooler. But you may want to beef it up some seems you're going to be running CPU crunching software and that suckers going to be pulling load all the time. All I do is play my games and internet on this machine.

[SOCR]

I would really recommend a dual-core. I'm guess you want that graphics card for gaming? AMD processors kinda suck right now. The single-core basically sit there and twiddle there thumbs. The dual core will give a noticable performance increase, and it won't break the bank.

No, I wanted the graphics card for modeling and rendering, actually. This computer wont be expected to do much in the way of games, Battlefield2 and Age of Empires III will be the most stressing thing it'll go through, and the 2.2GHz AMD I use right now handles them fine.

[J-Roc]

I set up XP home on a friends amd dual core. No problems what so ever.

Also, dont retail processors come with a heatsink and fan? you could put that cash into a better cpu rather than an aftermarket cooler.

Here is a better cpu. Its a dual core 4200+ which should run circle's around your single core of the same speed. It says its comes with the HSF so i guess some dont.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103243

I would personally recomend a slower dual core over a single core rated at a higher Ghz. Since you'll be rendering and using auto cad, i would strongly recomend it.

[Bopher]

If the motherboard can take it for the $20 of the fan and $5 more you could go as high as the 4800 for $85. Thats what I got, 2.5 and it runs so nice.

[Luke122]

So there you have it. :)

Lose the cpu cooler I suggested (you can always get it later on if you want/need), go with the better CPU/motherboard, and still be within your budget. :D

[SOCR]

Decided on this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103030R), it says the HS and fan are included.

[doug91]

That processor is good, but like I said if you still want to buy the motherboard you talked about before, the processor will run slower than it is designed to. (the cpu is 2000mhz HT, while if I remember the board is only 800mhz HT)

Also, you run some risk buying an open-box processor, but I'm sure newegg's quality standards are very high here.

[SOCR]

How much will that difference affect speed?

[doug91]

Well I am not an AMD guy. From what I know about AMD chips, the difference in speed (2000 mhz vs. 800 mhz) it would probable halve your performance. There aren't really any benchmarks like this but the HT (hypertransport) on AMD is how the CPU communicates with the rest of your system. So the slower it is, the slower overall performance is :(

[SOCR]

It makes a note next to the 800 like (1600), which value is accurate? Because if that works there are chips in the affordable range that get 1000 (2000) so would do fine.

[doug91]

The values you want to compare are the HT speed. Don't worry about the MTs speed. Also, look here: http://www.msicomputer.com/product/p_spec.asp?model=K9NBPM2-FID&class=mb for CPUs the board supported. The processor you chose isn't supported by this board. :o

[SOCR]

Supports Athlon 64 X2 CPU: 3800+, 4000+, 4200, 4400+, 4600+, 4800+, 5000+, 5200+

From the link you sent.

[doug91]

I looked on the thread, and thought you posted that you were buying a 5400+?

[SOCR]

I looked on the thread, and thought you posted that you were buying a 5400+?

yeah, it's been changing as the thread goes on.

[doug91]

well if you buy the 5400 its not compatible according to the site. Also, the site may be listing older i.e. slower models of the cpus.

For example, AMD doesn't really make 800mhz HT processors anymore. The best course is to curb some other costs and spring for a motherboard supporting at least 1000mhz HT.

[SOCR]

well if you buy the 5400 its not compatible according to the site. Also, the site may be listing older i.e. slower models of the cpus.

For example, AMD doesn't really make 800mhz HT processors anymore. The best course is to curb some other costs and spring for a motherboard supporting at least 1000mhz HT.

Tried this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138077), it says 1000 and has what I was looking for, but that puts the motherboard at 50.

The prices are slowly cramming everything out! Curse my small budget!

[ghstbstr65]

You could try the AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Black edition.... It sells at 2.6Ghz. But on tom's hardware they got it up to 3.1Ghz comfortably without changing the voltage. It's $99. Then you just need a cpu fan/heatsink.

[doug91]

The 5000+ HT speed is 2000. Those motherboards are way above SOCR's budget.

But on tom's hardware they got it up to 3.1Ghz comfortably without changing the voltage.
With a small budget, and not very high quality parts I really would not recommend any overclocking at all.

Try ebay or amazon for a cheaper motherboard. Otherwise, start saving your spare change. :)

[SOCR]

the Opterons are within that range and the speed I like, but they're more expensive, will the performance be that much better if I just wait and save?

EDIT: Is
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819105019
compatable with
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138077 ?

The processor isn't listed but it's the same socket and HT speed, I'm not sure.

[doug91]

I don't think so. I'm pretty sure the Opertons are being phased out by AMD, at least for desktop lines. They're mostly workstation CPUs I think. You're better off getting an Athlon X2, it sucks up less power and might even give more performance than the Opterons.

The thing with AMD is that the clock speeds aren't so relevant. That's why their models are like 4200+ and 5000+. Because of how AMD works, the clock speed isn't very important. The model numbers serve to say that the performance is similar to an Intel processor with clock speed of 4.2 ghz or 5ghz. Of course with the Core 2 duos, thats an overstatement, but you catch my drift.