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Buying a new computer


paul_wilson

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I got a job at the start of these holidays and have saved roughly $1000 AUD so far, and im looking to buy a new computer. Im gonna keep my old moniter, keyboard, mouse and speakers, so now i need the rest :P

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was looking into a Dell package though I've been told they dont have good graphics cards so im just gonna build one up from the ground (not personaly, id probly kill all the components).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I need help with all the parts i need to get, not necessarily brand names, though recomendations would be much appriciated. As i said im on a $1000 budget, and im looking for it to play new games ie: Battlefeild 2 and such.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is what i can think of so far;

 

 

 

Power supply/tower thingo

 

 

 

Motherboard, no idea on any specifics i need on this

 

 

 

CPU, im thinking AMD 2.8ghz or so.

 

 

 

RAM, 512mb but there is two types isnt there?

 

 

 

DVD drive

 

 

 

Network/family card

 

 

 

USB ports

 

 

 

Universal media reader, those things with the ports for all the flash cards and stuff

 

 

 

Hard Drive, 60-80gb.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any recomendations on brands, and if you live in Melbourne, places to buy from, would be great. Thanks :D

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http://au.pricespy.biz/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Excellent site that has price listings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.msy.com.au is a decent shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As far as components go, I'd have to suggest a few.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMD 3200+ 64

 

 

 

Gigabyte K8V939 Ultra

 

 

 

Sapphire Radeon X800 GTO

 

 

 

Corsair Value DDR400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Those are pretty much the staples for a decent computer, try and look for 430W or higher PSUs, and don't use SHAW brand PSU's, they have a compatibility issue with the X800 GTO.

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Unless you plan on overclocking there is no chance of getting a 2.8ghz AMD CPU on your budget. I would build partly on what Chaosbringer suggested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0GHz Socket 939

 

 

 

This is good CPU for its price, not much point to get a faster one on your budget. The money is better spent elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motherboard: You would require a Socket 939 motherboard, with a nForce4 ultra chip in it (nForce4 SLI are also worth looking at). Quite a range of decent ones. I would suggest a few when I get free time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAM: There are many types of ram, not just two. I suggest you purchase 2x512mb or 2x 1GB. The type of ram should be PC3200 DDR400 SDRAM. You should also purchase value ram.... no point in buying the expensive stuff unless you plan on overclocking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DVD drive: Should be able to get a Dual Layer 16x for only a few dollars more then a standard DVD drive. BENQ and Liteon are good brands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Network/family card: You should be able to get a network card slot intergrated into the motherboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USB ports: ditto

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Universal media reader: There are a huge range of such readers, I had a look at the ones on aussie pricespy but I am familiar with few of them. Quite amazing how much the hardware selection differs between Aussie and New Zealand pricespy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hard Drive: For hard-drives space is quite cheap now, do not consider anything less then 80GB, although they remain quite cheap up to about 200GB.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphics card: The most important parts for good game preformance. The following 3cards should be considered. Try and get the best card you can afford. If required brand advice can be given. Make sure the cards are PCI Express.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geforce 6600GT ($170.00+)

 

 

 

Radeon X800GTO ($260.00+)

 

 

 

GeForce 6800 GS ($315.00+)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Power supply: Probably a good idea to buy a quality power supply. I suggest looking at the following brands Enermax, Antec, OCZ... Slightly worst but still good brands include AcBel and Thermaltake.

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For ram, wouldn't you recommend ddr2?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From what I read both are very simalar.... I would dig up more info on it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit: DDR2 is slightly cheaper, it is worth considering.

 

 

 

from MSY Technology.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DDR2

 

 

 

Corsair 1GB DDR2 RAM Value PC4200 A grade Memory 2x 512MB $112.00

 

 

 

(From what I read no good for overclocking but fine otherwise)

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DDR and DDR2 are different standards and are not per default compatible. The current implementations of the AMD64 platform do not support DDR2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah for a AMD system DDR2 is not currently supported. Must have thought this was the Intel system slayerspud is building in his thread.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was looking at motherboards and was wondering if a "Gigabyte GA-K8N SLI nForce4 SLI ATX" would be ok? i have no idea about this so im being carful before i buy. I want to get the AMD athalon 64 3200 2.0ghz, is it compatible?

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cool thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So how does this look?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMD Athalon 3200+ 64 2.0ghz

 

 

 

2x 512mb PC300 DDR400 SDRAM

 

 

 

Radeon X800 256MB PCI Express

 

 

 

Gigabyte GA-K8N SLI nForce4 SLI ATX

 

 

 

Maxtor 80GB 7200rpm Serial ATA

 

 

 

400 Watt powersupply and case thinger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anything clash there?

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I got a 128mb Radeon 9800 pro when i got my Dell a few years back. I wouldnt have said that was a crap card.

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"We don't want players to be able to buy their way to success in RuneScape. If we let players start doing this, it devalues RuneScape for others. We feel your status in real-life shouldn't affect your ability to be successful in RuneScape" Jagex 01/04/01 - 02/03/12

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more HD space. i know you're gonna peer to peer and 80gb is nothing then...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

concider 200gb hd, they are cheap enough. no point on getting a 80gb even if you don't do warez. it'll just get full and then you'll be sad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oh and make sure to buy kingston RAM, or any other one that offers lifetime warranty for their chips. Wouldn't be the first (nor 2nd, 3rd etc) DDR chip that breaks down after 1 hour use.

Whoever appeals to the law against his fellow man is either

a fool or a coward.

 

Whoever cannot take care of himself without that law

is both.

 

For a wounded man shall say to his assailant:

"If I live, I will kill you, If I Die, you are forgiven."

 

Such is the Rule of Honor.

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Yes, should be fine, but i dont see the point in getting an SLi unless you really, really intend to use it now or upgrade it in the future so you can utilise all of its potential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I often find that SLI boards are cheaper then ultra boards in this part of the world. Their only downside is one less PCI slot. I have aslo heard people claim that SLI boards are often better quality (although never seen any proof, although that applies to any opinion on quality)...

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