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Building a PC


Gradia

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I'm sick and tired of using this crappy Harvey Norman computer package (Which is very bad for games), so I decided to save up some money and buy a new PC. My friend suggested this: (Australian dollars)

 

 

 

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(+ A 40gig harddrive or something)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seem's good (I'm not good with computers) and in my price range (< 2000). I need a computer that'd be able to run online games (WoW, Guild wars and such) without major lag.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any suggestions?

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You'll want to get a better graphics card. For a start, the one you have on there won't go in the motherboard you have selected - get something like a 7800GT.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The CPU you have selected isn't particularly good value for money, and is somewhat out of line with the rest of the system.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get bigger than a 40GB hard drive, go more along the lines of 250GB (best value for money at this time).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also you will need to get a power supply, ones that come free with cases are no good.

Some people are changed by being a moderator. I wouldn't be.

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Now youve got to remember this is the australian currency that we are working with, hence the higher prices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A 7800GT can cost anywhere from $600AUD or more, which is nearly half of his highest budget (< $2000) so it might not nessecarily be a good choice money wise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, which state do you live in and would you be prepared to build your own computer from scratch or do you have a freind or family member that could assemble it for you? Are you able to re-use your current monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers or do you want all those to be new?

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Now youve got to remember this is the australian currency that we are working with, hence the higher prices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yep, $2000 AUS is around $1400-1500 American dollars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, which state do you live in and would you be prepared to build your own computer from scratch or do you have a freind or family member that could assemble it for you? Are you able to re-use your current monitor, keyboard, mouse and speakers or do you want all those to be new?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I live in NSW, and either I or my friend would assemble it. I've already got monitor/keyboard/mouse/speakers that are all fine. (Though a new monitor would be nice :D)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get bigger than a 40GB hard drive, go more along the lines of 250GB (best value for money at this time).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I see what you mean about best value for money, since a 40GB HD is $70, and 250GB is $150. (Thought I'd never need a HD that big :lol:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks all, I'll keep on looking I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What about this?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Graphics Card: XpertVision GeForce 7800GT 256Mb PCI Express - $504.70

 

 

 

Processor: AMD Athlon64 4200 Dual Core Socket 939 CPU - $556.40

 

 

 

RAM: 2 Corsair Value Select 1Gb PC3200 DDR400 C3 RAM - $256.80

 

 

 

HD: Samsung SpinPoint 120Gb 7200 rpm IDE HDD - $106.40

 

 

 

Sound Card: Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic - $264.10

 

 

 

Case: Thermaltake Soprano 430W Black Midi Tower - $148.50

 

 

 

(Around $1800)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I just need a motherboard.

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Here is a rough plan of a system which can be built for under your budget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All parts selected from 'MSY Technology '.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 3800+ 2.0GHz Socket 939

 

 

 

$435.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OCZ PC3200 A grade Memory 2x 512MB

 

 

 

$127.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forsa Nvidia GeForce GF 7800GT PCI-Express Graphics Card

 

 

 

$425

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Asustek A8N-E nForce4-Ultra Socket 939 ATX

 

 

 

$142

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Western Digital 160GB 7200rpm Serial ATA

 

 

 

$115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thermaltake Mambo Black Tower case w Thermaltake Silent 430Watt PSU

 

 

 

$95.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total: $1339

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* The purchase of a good brand PSU might be wise.

 

 

 

** A different video card could be worthwhile. (I might research more into this if I get the time)

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AMD Athlon 64 4000+ - $508.20 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_27_29&products_id=11476

 

 

 

Asus A8N-E motherboard - $157.30 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_36_63&products_id=16007

 

 

 

Western Digital 250Gb SATA Hard Disk - $163.90 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_107_22&products_id=5884

 

 

 

Kingston 1Gb PC3200 DDR Ram - $136.40 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_23&products_id=16856

 

 

 

XFX GeForce 7800GT 256Mb (PCIE) - $520.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_26&products_id=17797

 

 

 

Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS - $165.00 - http://www.centrecom.com.au/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=93_42&products_id=4038

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total - $1650.80

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So youve got about $350 left over to get a case, power supply and other things you might want. Also, im pretty sure that they ship to any where in Australia so that buisiness should be able to get it to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One thing i need to ask, will you need a copy of XP or do you already have one you can use. Because if you dont, you might need to reconsider some choices to fit XP into your budget. Getting a slightly slower CPU and video card is something to consider if you need to get a copy of XP.

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Stuart, sorry, but that site seem's like a rip off. The GFX card is more expensive, and the processor isn't as good.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I think I've decided to go with this:

 

 

 

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/7817/comp7ry.png (+ Another 1gig RAM, which = $1800)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The motherboard has a intergrated soundcard, and is compatibly with the CPU, and GFX card (At least I hope so :?). (http://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_ ... SK8AA-8KRS) The 250GB harddrive, I have no use for it what so ever. 2gigs of RAM for games in the future (Better of buying now when I have the money)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't have a "legal" copy of windows, and I really don't want to spend another $100-200 on it.

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Ehhh... Galaxy don't sound like a very reputable brand to me, never even heard of them to be honest. Ive heard of Foxconn though and they seem to make OK products, but they just seem a little off to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the some of the parts i picked, they might be a bit more expensive than some of the ones you listed but they are brands people have probably heard of. They are known brands which is why the price is a bit higher. Usually the rule is you get what you pay for, and if you pay that little bit extra, you'll get a better product.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, the processor i listed might not be as good at first glance, but in many of the video game bench marks which were done by Tom's Hardware Guide, they showed that the 4000+ did better than the 4200+ X2, thus why i listed it. The 4000+ did better in video game benchmarks than the X2 4200+ and you said at the start of the thread you wanted to play games with out lag, so it seemed logical to me to choose a processor that didn't lag in games.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever though, its all up to you in the end, I'm just giving you some tips. I would really look into that Foxconn mobo and that Galaxy card, as they don't sound like very reputable brands to me.

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if u can spend just ova 2000 like 2300 tell me or i can give u specs i had a kick [wagon] computer built for me for this price at a shop and u could even do it cheaper if u made it ureself let me know i live in NSW aswell. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oww and ull want a bigger harddrive then 40gig im using 2x 150gig harddrives

Aussie Aussie Aussie,

 

:D

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if u can spend just ova 2000 like 2300 tell me or i can give u specs i had a kick wagon computer built for me for this price at a shop and u could even do it cheaper if u made it ureself let me know i live in NSW aswell. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

oww and ull want a bigger harddrive then 40gig im using 2x 150gig harddrives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm getting a 120GB harddrive, anything else would just be a waste of money. I think I've chosen my parts now, but thanks anyway.

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I highly suggest you get either Western Digital or Seagate brands for the hard drive.

 

 

 

Specs seem fine, it's just you want to get known good brands for your hardware.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post the final list so we can have a final look over it ;)

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Motherboard: Foxconn NF4SK8AA-8KRS Socket 939

 

 

 

Processor: AMD Athlon64 4200+ Dual core Socket 939

 

 

 

RAM: Corsair 1GB PC3200 DDR400 C3 x 2

 

 

 

HD: Seagate 200GB 7200 rpm SATA

 

 

 

GFX Card: XpertVision GeForce 7800GT 256Mb PCI Express

 

 

 

DVD-RW: Samsung black 16x DVD+/RW dual layer burner OEM

 

 

 

Cases: Thermaltake Soprano 430W Black midi tower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll add in the prices later, going to bed.

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With regards to Galaxy branded video cards, they are generally excellent quality products. Although, they do not seem to over clock their products unlike XFX (also high quality). So high quality but standard performance sums up galaxy.

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Well there you go, i learnt something.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was an unknown brand to me, so i wasnt so sure, but Militaris usually knows what he is talking about so you might as well go for it.

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Okay well, went to a few different forums and finally got this:

 

 

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte K8NF-9

 

 

 

CPU: AMD Athlon64 3800+ X2

 

 

 

GFX: XpertVision GeForce 7800GT 256Mb

 

 

 

RAM: Corsair 1GB PC3200 DDR400 (Two of them)

 

 

 

HD: Seagate 120GB

 

 

 

DVD RW: Pioneer DVR-110D

 

 

 

Case: Antec Sonata II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anywhere between $1800-1900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, where should I buy the parts from? I find http://www.vtechindustries.com.au to have low prices.

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If I was you I would spend a few dollars more and purchase a

 

 

 

XFX GeForce 7800GT 256Mb instead of the one from XpertVision. The XFX one is factory overclocked (so it is under warranty) and XFX generally has one of the better software bundles. In my opinion differently worth the extra $25 or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I would pick http://www.vtechindustries.com.au , because arc does not appear to stock the XpertVision 7800GT (or the XFX one). Although, it can be worthwhile to purchase video cards from a seperate shop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because I have nothing better to do, I decided to summarise the noteworthy different 7800GT options which I found using Aussie pricespy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cheapest 7800GT in aus seems to be s Forsa ($425.00), I know little of that brand. I would suggest buying the 2nd cheapest cards which are from Microstar or Leadtek ($445). Both of these are good highly respected brands, and should include good bundles and warranty. All three cards are priced that at MSY Technology (dunno how trustworthy that store is).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The lowest priced XpertVision 7800GT ($486) is from H B Outlet. It costs $504.70 from vtechindustries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cheapest XFX 7800GT is priced at $495.00 and is available from two stores at that price. It sells for $529.00 at vtechindustries.

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gtx is better then GT, gt are [cabbage] waste of money, use onboard or something and wait for the gtx to come down.. gt is seriously [cabbage]. iv got one its not all its hotted up to be and i wish i didnt waste my money.. extra $500 after buying my 6600GT 256 card that was great and worth the money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

galaxy are new to australia, they make good cards verry high quality compaired to most the others.

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Okay well, went to a few different forums and finally got this:

 

 

 

Motherboard: Gigabyte K8NF-9

 

 

 

CPU: AMD Athlon64 3800+ X2

 

 

 

GFX: XpertVision GeForce 7800GT 256Mb

 

 

 

RAM: Corsair 1GB PC3200 DDR400 (Two of them)

 

 

 

HD: Seagate 120GB

 

 

 

DVD RW: Pioneer DVR-110D

 

 

 

Case: Antec Sonata II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anywhere between $1800-1900.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, where should I buy the parts from? I find http://www.vtechindustries.com.au to have low prices.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No offence but if your getting a system capable of gaming get a bigger HD or a seconday HD.

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