Advice on a new computer

[Anime Kidd]

I'm looking around for a new computer to replace to old clunker I have now. Its mainly gaming, especially large multiplayer games like Battlefield 1942. I've decided on AMD, but as I know very little about computers, I want suggestions, advice, etc on everything. Two things to keep in mind is (1) I'm trying to keep the price tag under 750 US, 800 if possible and (2) I don't want to upgrade for another few years.

• CPU - AMD XP2000+
• Motherboard - Asus A7N8X Deluxe
• Memory - 1x 512mb PC2700
• Cooling Fan - Thermaltake Slim Volcano8
• Hard Drive - Maxtor 80gb
• Drives - Samsung 52x24x52 CDR, Samsung 16x DVD, and the good 'ol 1.44mb Floppy!
• Video Card - Chaintech GeForce FX5200 128mb
• Sound Card - Creative SBLive! PCI 5.1
• OS - Win XP Home
• Etc. - Creative Inspire 2.1 3 pc. speakers, optical mouse, LAN card, and keyboard.

So far the price comes to about 745 US.

Now on to the questions!
1. - What about the memory? Whats the difference from, say PC2700 and PC3200? I suppose its the memory speed, but I'm not sure. I know the motherboard has something about it that limits what type you can have.
2. - Is 512mb good enough for games these days?
3. - Is 300 watts good enough for the system? I've heard that if your computer can't get enough power it freezes and such.
4. - Whats a good cooling fan/system?
5. - I've heard that the A7N8X Deluxe is the best gaming board. Is there a different motherboard that is just as good as the Asus A7N8X but cheaper? I now there is a non-deluxe 'Pure' vesion, a stripped down 'X' version, and another that has one with integrated video, audio, and lan (the VM version?).
6. - With the case I chose (5-1X Case2000 MidATX), would heat be a problem?
7. - Whats a Serial ATA Hard Drive? I know its supposed to have faster transfers or something.
8. - Is this a good system for gaming, especially playing a massive 32-player Battlefield 1942 game on full graphics settings? Would it run Half-Life2 at a good FPS? (I know it aint out, but just want adivce on this as well)
9. - What is the CPU speed of an AMD? I know the listed XP number is supposed to show that it can compete with an Intel CPU of that speed, (the XP2000+ can compete with the P4 2ghz) or am I wrong on this?

In case anyone wants to know, I'm going through Infotechnow.com's 'Customize Your Own' for the price, but the choices are limited compared to their product catalog. The actual store is about an hour drive away and I've heard good things from friends about them.

 

[Psionicist]

1. PC2700 = 333 MHz DDR (166*2), PC3200 = 400 MHz DDR (200*2). You will only need PC3200 if your motherboard supports it.
2. Yes.
3. Depends on the quality of the PSU but I don't think you will have any problems.
4. Spire Whisperrock IV. For less than $20 USD and cooling capacity to keep my barton 2500 @ 2300 MHz it's a steal.
5. Correct. En equally good motherboard is the Abit NF7-S v2.0. It should be reasonably priced.
6. I don't think so.
7. It is an interface for disk drives, such as normal "parallell" ATA. New hard disk supports SATA. I wouldn't bother with SATA right now.
8. Sorry, but definitely not. The graphics card is actually worse than GF4 MX cards. I would seriously consider a Radeon 9600 Pro -or- 9600 XT -or- 9800 (estimated: $130 - $210).
9. 1667 MHz.

 

[Anime Kidd]

Thats for the answers.

I always wondered how the FX5200 compared to the GF4 MX cards, but I could never find a side-by-side comparison. So if I drop the FX5200, what are some other options out there under $100?

 

[gariig]

Don't skimp on the video card. If you want a gaming rig this is the most important part. I would look at the Radeon 9600s..they are a good "budget" gaming card.

Gariig

 

[Anime Kidd]

Edit -----

Well I looked around again and noticed that the FX5200 is pretty much useless nowadays, as well as most Nvidia cards, and the 9600 is the way to go. Also found out some other things, but seeing how that place I want to get it from doesn't carry any of it, Im pretty much outta luck. The only computer place around here is selling the 9600 at 190-200. I know there are some places that you can get stuff cheap online, but I don't like the idea of me trying to install a new piece, but rather have someone who knows what their doing give it a shot.

 

[gariig]

When building, did you factor in the cost of someone doing this?

 

[Anime Kidd]

I was hoping to have them build it for me. I never really considered the added cost though. If they can assemble it, I wouldn't mind paying for it. I know people say its pretty easy, but Im just afraid I would do it wrong or snap something.

 

[mps42]

new system

I am assuming you are replaceing everything. Following that assumption, heres your pricing breakdown:
Case: Antec SX630II Case (PP303XP PSU) - $65
CPU: AMD Athlon XP 2500+ Barton - $86
Cooling: ThermalTake Volcano 9 - $18
Motherboard: MSI K7N2 Delta-L - $82
Memory: 512-MB (2x256-MB) Corsair PC3200 DDR - $94
Hard Drive: 80GB Western Digital SE - $75
Video Card: Sapphire Radeon 9600 Atlantis Pro - $150
Monitor: Samsung 955DF - $190
Sound Card: 6-Channel Integrated - $0
Speakers: Logitech Z640 6-Piece Speaker System - $60
CD/DVD-ROM: LITE-ON 48x24x48x16 Combo Drive - $55
Communications: Onboard LAN - $0
Mouse: Microsoft Intellimouse Optical - $15
Keyboard: Microsoft Multimedia Keyboard - $15
Operating System: Windows XP Home - $84
Floppy: Panasonic, TEAC, etc. - $8

Total: $997 (unassembled)

You aren't going to save that much between the 2000+ and the 2500+, maybe 10 - 15 bux. The MB I have spec'd here has most, if not all of the features of the Asus and is cheaper by about 20 bux.
You can save $200 by NOT buying the monitor, kb, and mouse and another 90 by not buying XP (use 98 or whatever you have now).
That would bring your total to around 710 dollars. If it was me, I would use the money to get a "real" soundcard and LAN card.
Hope this helps.

 

[Anime Kidd]

That setup looks good. Yeah I could save more money by not getting a keyboard and monitor, but having an optical mouse would be nice. I could also save a bit more by gettng the Logitech Z320 3-pc speakers. As for the sound and LAN cards, I would get them anyways as I wouldn't want to stress the MB any further then it has to.

If its fairly easy to put the thing together, I could save a bit more, but I have no idea about the actual process. Is there a site that gives general step-by-step instructions and the Dos and Donts of putting together one's first computer?

 

[gariig]

Actually, I believe the onboard sound and LAN is faster because it can use the motherboard FSB and not the PCI FSB. The Nforce2 codec isn't that bad, just more limiting. Unless you need 4.1/5.1 and headphones in at the same time or getting some nice soundblaster I wouldn't worry about it. Go check www.anandtech.com and see what they say in reviews of NForce2 boards.

I would suggest the MX Duo from Logitech..wireless keyboard and rechargable cordless mouse, very good if not the best out there. Amazon has it for $75.

Gariig