Hi
First of all, I'd like to thank you for your help. I really will appreciate it. I've been getting help at an overclocking forum as well, but i'd like to see what you guys think.
I'll try to be to the point of what i want and need, but i usually ramble, and it is 3:30 am which i'm sure will aid my rambleness (as it is now)
Basically, I'm looking for a cheaper PC that will be stable, yet fast. The PC will not be able to be overly loud because i do do some hobbyist recording (acoustic and electric guitar...and my some god awful vocals as well).
Currently I'm running an old PIII 600 MHz computer, which is getting passed on from me, so i won't be able to salvage anything from it (except i might take out the sound card because i like it so much, just a SB live value, but to me it is great).
Initially I was trying to stay under $600 for everything including the monitor, but that is fading/has faded away. My current specs (if purchased on newegg.com) seem to hit about $600 for the computer only.
Without any further ado, this is my current (yet flexible) specs.
**********
Modem (gotta love rural areas...just thought it'd be funny to post this first)
$11
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=1&item=25-134-001
Case
400WATT - PSII/PSIII / P4ATX400W (A+GPB Single fan) $46.50 + 10
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=1&item=11-192-001
Mobile Athlon XP 2400+, 266FSB, 512K Cache – OEM
$78
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-400&depa=0
ABIT nFORCE 2 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "NF7" -RETAIL
$75
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=0&submit=Go&description=N82E16813127144
Video Card
POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 9600 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R96-C3" –RETAIL
$90
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-222&depa=1
RAM
2 stick : 2 X $55 = $110
Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-150-563&depa=1
New Hard Drive - $95
Western Digital Special Edition 120GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD1200JB, OEM Drive Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-118&depa=1§ion=3
*******
I'll probobly get a DVD/CD-RW combo from lite on too. I was going to get 2 separate drives, a DVD and a CD-RW for burning speed reasons...then i realized that i'm used to burning at 2X...so even if i have to swap disks, it'll seem jaw droppingly fast to me.
Basically, I'm wondering what you all are thinking about what i have so far. Ohh, i suppose i should mention, that they convinced me (as of right now) to go with the 2400 mobile instead of my original CPU idea of a 2500 barton, because the mobile can run just as good (better actually) when over clocked, then the 2500 barton, plus the mobile gives off less heat then the barton because of the lower voltages.
So I am thinking that i can overclock the mobile to 3200 specs (conservative compared to the overclocking done on the other board for the mobiles) while just using a quieter CPU fan (someone on the other board offered me the stock AMD barton heatsink and fan for $5 + shipping)
Gaming isn't a huge issue. i have mostly older games, but i'm sure if i find the money, i'd like to pick up a few new fangled ones (probably when they are few fangled in the clearance rack though haha). Most of the power i need is for emulation that requires a mostly CPU workout.
I'm hoping that that system would run fairly quiet on this setup. I would be willing to buy some extra fans too (4 more are supported by the case), if possible, they'd be quiet fans.
About the power supply, thats kind of a gray area. Website have been saying that this supply is average, or decent. I'm hoping it would hold up since i don't plan to overclock the chip too much, (relatively speaking). Some people on newegg have claimed to even overclock the barton 2500 to 3200 specs on the stock voltage, so i hope i can do the same.
GRANTED that i can do it, lol. Because, of course this is my first time building a PC, let alone overclocking one. I consider myself fairly mechanically inclined, being a mechanical engineering student, and having worked in an autobody shop for years, but *cue redneck voice* these them there micrachips have a lotta doo-dads on them.
Ahem, sorry. I am anxious to learn and save some money in the process though.
Oh, i suppose i should say that i am planning on buying WIN XP PRO from my school for $10. They have some licensing thing that i can buy any of the software they use for cheap, at least 1 copy, heh. I wish i could simply import my WIN98SE onto the new computer and magically it would work, but i don't think that could happen. Instead i figure i'll have to try to just but my current hard drive in the new computer as a slave and try to copy all my files over. I have a feeling getting my acid pro songs to be in there correct format is going to be a niiiiightmare....if even possible.
Oh, and i suppose i should say that i'll need to have the system built by around may 5th, because i'll be leaving michigan to go to florida for the summer to do intern work. Makes me think i better get my butt in gear, no?
Ok, sorry for the rambled post. I do appreciate any help, advice, or personal experience. Thank you for the help. I hope I didn’t forget anything it is late.
Lol, well I found out that the daily backup takes place at 4am…I’m glad I copied the text into the clipboard before I posted (yahoo mail tends to make doing that a habit).
First of all, I'd like to thank you for your help. I really will appreciate it. I've been getting help at an overclocking forum as well, but i'd like to see what you guys think.
I'll try to be to the point of what i want and need, but i usually ramble, and it is 3:30 am which i'm sure will aid my rambleness (as it is now)
Basically, I'm looking for a cheaper PC that will be stable, yet fast. The PC will not be able to be overly loud because i do do some hobbyist recording (acoustic and electric guitar...and my some god awful vocals as well).
Currently I'm running an old PIII 600 MHz computer, which is getting passed on from me, so i won't be able to salvage anything from it (except i might take out the sound card because i like it so much, just a SB live value, but to me it is great).
Initially I was trying to stay under $600 for everything including the monitor, but that is fading/has faded away. My current specs (if purchased on newegg.com) seem to hit about $600 for the computer only.
Without any further ado, this is my current (yet flexible) specs.
**********
Modem (gotta love rural areas...just thought it'd be funny to post this first)
$11
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=1&item=25-134-001
Case
400WATT - PSII/PSIII / P4ATX400W (A+GPB Single fan) $46.50 + 10
http://secure.newegg.com/app/CustratingReview.asp?DEPA=1&item=11-192-001
Mobile Athlon XP 2400+, 266FSB, 512K Cache – OEM
$78
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-400&depa=0
ABIT nFORCE 2 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "NF7" -RETAIL
$75
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduct.asp?DEPA=0&submit=Go&description=N82E16813127144
Video Card
POWERCOLOR ATI RADEON 9600 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R96-C3" –RETAIL
$90
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-131-222&depa=1
RAM
2 stick : 2 X $55 = $110
Buffalo Technology 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-150-563&depa=1
New Hard Drive - $95
Western Digital Special Edition 120GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD1200JB, OEM Drive Only
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-118&depa=1§ion=3
*******
I'll probobly get a DVD/CD-RW combo from lite on too. I was going to get 2 separate drives, a DVD and a CD-RW for burning speed reasons...then i realized that i'm used to burning at 2X...so even if i have to swap disks, it'll seem jaw droppingly fast to me.
Basically, I'm wondering what you all are thinking about what i have so far. Ohh, i suppose i should mention, that they convinced me (as of right now) to go with the 2400 mobile instead of my original CPU idea of a 2500 barton, because the mobile can run just as good (better actually) when over clocked, then the 2500 barton, plus the mobile gives off less heat then the barton because of the lower voltages.
So I am thinking that i can overclock the mobile to 3200 specs (conservative compared to the overclocking done on the other board for the mobiles) while just using a quieter CPU fan (someone on the other board offered me the stock AMD barton heatsink and fan for $5 + shipping)
Gaming isn't a huge issue. i have mostly older games, but i'm sure if i find the money, i'd like to pick up a few new fangled ones (probably when they are few fangled in the clearance rack though haha). Most of the power i need is for emulation that requires a mostly CPU workout.
I'm hoping that that system would run fairly quiet on this setup. I would be willing to buy some extra fans too (4 more are supported by the case), if possible, they'd be quiet fans.
About the power supply, thats kind of a gray area. Website have been saying that this supply is average, or decent. I'm hoping it would hold up since i don't plan to overclock the chip too much, (relatively speaking). Some people on newegg have claimed to even overclock the barton 2500 to 3200 specs on the stock voltage, so i hope i can do the same.
GRANTED that i can do it, lol. Because, of course this is my first time building a PC, let alone overclocking one. I consider myself fairly mechanically inclined, being a mechanical engineering student, and having worked in an autobody shop for years, but *cue redneck voice* these them there micrachips have a lotta doo-dads on them.
Oh, i suppose i should say that i am planning on buying WIN XP PRO from my school for $10. They have some licensing thing that i can buy any of the software they use for cheap, at least 1 copy, heh. I wish i could simply import my WIN98SE onto the new computer and magically it would work, but i don't think that could happen. Instead i figure i'll have to try to just but my current hard drive in the new computer as a slave and try to copy all my files over. I have a feeling getting my acid pro songs to be in there correct format is going to be a niiiiightmare....if even possible.
Oh, and i suppose i should say that i'll need to have the system built by around may 5th, because i'll be leaving michigan to go to florida for the summer to do intern work. Makes me think i better get my butt in gear, no?
Ok, sorry for the rambled post. I do appreciate any help, advice, or personal experience. Thank you for the help. I hope I didn’t forget anything it is late.
Lol, well I found out that the daily backup takes place at 4am…I’m glad I copied the text into the clipboard before I posted (yahoo mail tends to make doing that a habit).