first build help

[TRDCorolla1]

This is the exact model I have. It's a Chaintech. Remember, that I bought this close to a year ago. YOu may not want to use this if you want higher end boards. This is considered a "cheapy":

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-055&depa=0

Now, I wouldn't really recommend this even though this satisfies me. My new system will have a much better board.

 

[jaysal555]

or one that u recommend for n4su 2, madden,and other games like that.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

I would get the geforce FX 5x00 series or higher. For ATI, get the RADEON 9700's or higher. Whatever you can afford. You will kick ass with a 9800 Pro. That will allow you to play Doom 3 with optimal performance. Get good processor and system memory too.

 

[jaysal555]

heres my final list, what ya think? budget is $1200

ASPIRE X-Navigator Case and 500W Power Supply $160
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=11-144-089&DEPA=1

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, Socket 939 64-bit $250
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-502&depa=1

GIGABYTE NVIDIA nForce4 Mobo $135
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-268&depa=1

Corsair Value Select 512MBx2 DDR $145
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-440&depa=1

Western Digital 120GB ATA Hard Drive $90
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-151&depa=1

Gigabyte GeForce 6600 GT PCI Express Video Card $195
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produ...ductCode=322245

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black $65
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=27-152-032&DEPA=0

SONY Black 16X DVD-ROM Drive $30
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=27-101-124&depa=1

SONY Black Floppy Disk $10
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-103-116&depa=1

Logitech Cordless Optical Keyboard & Mouse $45
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=211089

Logitech X-530 5.1 Black Speaker System $60 http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProdu...-121-118&depa=1

Arctic Silver Thermal Compound $13
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-100-007&depa=0

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Those all look good to me. The graphics, I would go with Nvidia's GeForce FX or 6800 line. The 6600GT is a bit low. Don't forget your cables and other accessories. The processor was exactly the one I plan on getting without breaking an arm and a leg.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Oh, if I were you I would set up SATA RAID 0 for max performance. You'll need it when you get those games going.

 

[TRDCorolla1]

with the specs you have now you'll be ok. It's fully capable of playing any game out there without worries. The specs I mentioned will improve your performance more. I would build your system.

 

[jaysal555]

"Don't forget your cables and other accessories"
where can i get these?
"I would set up SATA RAID 0 for max performance"
how do i do that?

 

[TRDCorolla1]

Your motherboard comes with a single SATA cable. If you want RAID, you'll need another one. You have one floppy and one IDE cable already so you'll also need an extra IDE for your DVD ROM. Use the other one for the DVD+RW. I would get these and he mounting screws for some of your drives at a local computer shop. They're cheap.

RAID 0, I have never set one up before. I plan on doing that as well next month sometime when I get my new system built. Your motherboard supports RAID 0 so that's good. I guess you just plug in the two SATA drives, put the Windows XP CD and start installation. Press F6 during the process to load software for RAID from a disk it comes with. Once, that's installed, you have to configure your drives in Windows Computer management. That's where it gets tricky. Hope someone will respond about RAID0.

 

[jaysal555]

thanks i found the cables on newegg. about the mounting screws, the case/drives dont come with these?