New Computer

[Techy Geek]

Ok, here's the specs for the new computer I'm building:

case = http://www.microdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?ProductID=2640&GroupID=8

mobo (sweet board) = http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=9802&GroupID=527

CPU = http://www.microdirect.co.uk/ProductInfo.aspx?ProductID=9858&GroupID=569

CD drive = http://www.chillblast.com/product.php?productid=16441&cat=128&page=1

hard drive = http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.asp?sku=122429&cks=ASS&assoc=D8029637-0DDA-48DA-9BA1-03B0D58EDEA7

Memory = http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/memory/ocz_el_ddr_pc_4800_dual_channel_platinum_elite_edition

GPU = http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/prod...2hvd19wcm9kdWN0X292ZXJ2aWV3&product_uid=64954

monitor and keyboard switch = http://www.maplin.co.uk/Free_UK_Del...5776/Sitecom_2_Port__USB_KVM_Switch_35776.htm

I want to know 3 things:

1. Is it all compatible, if I was to stick that all together as is, would it work?

2. I THINK that the motherboard is RAID compatible, if I was to buy another hard drive, would I be able to get RAID 1 working without buying anything else?

3. If 2 is yes, how??

many thanks in advance

 

[onimusha]

first of all get a amd 64 x2 if you like games, if you dont like games stick with that pentium 4 you are getting. you are ruining your gaming experriance by getting that pentium 4, but oh well its up to you.

 

[draconum]

Ok, well to help you out a bit, I personally wouldn't go with a pentium chipset just because I hate them (heh), but also they're not the best for gaming. If you planning on doing quite a bit of gaming I would personally look at a MSI, gigabyte, asus, Epox and DFI Motherboard, all good brands as well for AMD processors. As for AMD processors go, get a new X2 dual core one, they're pretty much the standard that you want to buy now. But if you want to go with a pentium chip, it doesn't seem as though your RAM would work with the motherboard, it seems as though the motherboard is 240pin Ram, and the ram your looking at is 184pin, you'd have to look at getting DRR2 ram for that motherboard. But everything else looks good, but I would also say get a different Powersupply other then the one that comes with the case because they're usally budget powersupplies, and well if that thing blows you have a chance of everything else getting fried which I'm sure you wouldn't want happen. So look at getting a powersupply as well. Other then that it looks really good, I can't really answer the question about the harddrive because (even though I know alot about computers) I haven't figured out what raid actually is (OMG!!??) so yeah.


Chris

 

[Techy Geek]

great! Thanks, I'm going to stick with Pentium, as I game very rarely (if ever) and I use lots of CPU intensive programs such as Flash and Maya, these are hungry muddapookers so I need the raw power an Intel offers.

Bit hacked off about the RAM, I spent ages looking for that chip, and its kickass, oh well!

I will look into getting another PSU

Can anyone else tell me about RAID

 

[Techy Geek]

Ok, quick tutorial about RAID, just for you draconum http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAID.html
I intend to get RAID 1, as I have had previous bad experiences with hard drive failures (an absolute tragedy, lost all my music and programming, hours of work...gone) I would also like to take this opportunity to say that DONT GET RAID 0, I have had my hard drive fail twice in as many years, sure its a rubbishy one in a laptop, but I wouldnt like to double the chances, (4 times in 2 years would be awful).

yeah, i know, I hate to double post, and I shoulda edited, but i forgot about that

 

[Kuberr]

I think X2 is better than the P4 because it has a integrated memory controller. Also, unless you have the EE version of the Pentium D, it won't have Hyper-Threading, which takes the oomph out of Intel.

 

[draconum]

The pentium will be fine right now, but when Vista comes out, more and more people should start using AMD processors because of the 64bit dual coreness , plus I dought that it wont take very long before the triple core comes out for computers comsidering thats whats in a xbox 360 (yes a triple core processor).
But yeah it's good for now, but in the future when vista comes out and more and more programs start going 64bit, go with AMD.


Chris

 

[aaron12345]

Actually, the Pentium Ds lost much of their edge in content creation (multi-threaded) applications to the AMD X2. Take a look at the benchmarks in this review and see what you think: http://www.tomshardware.com/cpu/20050509/index.html With the board you picked out, nothing additional is needed for raid, and all you have to do to set it up is on boot-up press whatever "f" key it tells you to and follow directions.

 

[Techy Geek]

I think X2 is better than the P4 because it has a integrated memory controller. Also, unless you have the EE version of the Pentium D, it won't have Hyper-Threading, which takes the oomph out of Intel.

yeah, but I was unable to find a EE version with dual core, thus taking out even more "oomph" as you put it. Dual core without HT is better than single core with HT. Unless anyone can find me a dual core with HT with a 775 core.

I will never switch to AMD, they are evil...

With the board you picked out, nothing additional is needed for raid, and all you have to do to set it up is on boot-up press whatever "f" key it tells you to and follow directions.

excellent, RAID1 coming my way

 

[99nasha]

Your card is AGP whereas your MOBO is PCI-E...So either find a new board or card