Larian Studios Forums General Chat Chat (Anything) Nero's trying to build a new computer: The thread

Ok everybody I need help and instead of priating another thread I thought I would make my own.

In June I get promoted and it happens to come with a hefty pay raise (about 700$ a month)

Since my computer now cant play any of the new games Ive been buying I think its time for a new one.

Heres my plan: (keep in mind I only have a limited understanding of hardware and drivers and such)

2.0 AMD Dual Core Processor
250-300 Gb internal harddrive
1-2 Gb RAM
ASUS EN7800GT DUAL/2DHTV/512M Dual Geforce 7800GT 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Dual Core Video Card (copied from new egg(I have no idea what this means)


I know Ill need a new case and powersupply.

What am I missing to build this thing? Dont worry not building it on my own, I have computer nerd (bigger computer nerd) friends that are going to help.

Thanks

It's an ASUS card, with two cores (pretty much like a dual core processor). 7800GT referrs to the cardtype so to speak (aren't there 7900 cards out?), 512 to the graphicmemory size. PCI Express referrs to the bus (ie the way between the card and the processor. There is nothing better than PCI Express today). x16 means... something, dual core means it has two cores. Pretty much standard stuff. Oh and GDDR3 referrs of the tecnique used to build the graphicmemory. There is nothing than DDR3 out today.

I'd wait with a new computer until AMD comes out with support for something better than DDR btw.

Wee, I can help <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/delight.gif" alt="" />. (I might not have been that helpfull, but still <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />...)

Übereil

OK I think I am more confused... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" />

Let me explain what I am looking for. I want a PCIX system that has dual core capability with a great graphics card. That way the current config will last me a while and when it starts getting slow I can throw another graphics card in to keep it going.

Hopefully that makes things a little clearer...

Nice system so far....

Things to look for...

Powersuply... dont go lower than 450 watts... i dont worry about brand... but thermaltake/antec will help to keep heat problems away, as well as they are very silent.

case... i like antec for noise reasons... they have some lovely designs too. thermaltake has some lovely designs too as well as some of the aluminium cases on the market.

2-4 gig memory, i feel is too much initially. go for 1 gig... if you have a dual memory motherboard, your DDR400 will run at 800 if you have 2 x 512 mb dims

Since you will be building your computer yourself, DONT get a SATA hard drive... stick to IDE its a mission to install windows onto it.

Dont bother with a cd writer... just get a DVD writer from the start. the lightscribe dvd writers are now available... so you can label your dvd's in the writer already. no markers neede to write on it.

IF you do get a stiffy drive (not that i can immagine why), rather get on with built in card reader. it takes the same space, is a fraction more expensive and makes cameras a breeze.

since you building the co,puter yourself... DONT put in water cooling... its overrated, and dual core processors are not known for heat problems in anycase... no matter what they say about the non-conductive fluid in the water coolers... it SHORTS out MOTHERBARDS when it leaks... and they DONT have warantees on leaks, and they void the warantees on the rest of your computer in case of a leak or even a airlock (just like with a radiator, it wil cause your pc to overheat if there is a single bubble in it.)


hmmm what else... motherboard should have the following...

32x PCI xpress (before anyone jumps on me because there is no such thing... what i mean is... BOTH pci xpress slots run at 16x, so when you have 2 cards in it performs at 32x. normal motherboards only run at 16 max... 2x8 speed...
dual channel ddr slots (this makes your memory run twice the speed when you have 2 of the same modules)
i can say it should have SATA. its not a must now, but will be with future operating systems (after win 64)

the rest is standard on most boards.

nice graphics card...

if you are worried about heat issues... then check out the super silent antec range of fans... also plan how you want your airflow to be... ie. in through the front, out the back, or in through the side and out the back and front (this one works well with more than 2 hard drives )

By the way, with most cooling units you have to decive : better cooling or silent computer ? There are some which can do both, I think, but I'm not bsolutely sure about that ...

I have 2 HDs: a Raptor and a big storage HD. Faster that way.

@alrik

if you want both cooler and silent, then you have a choice of thermaltake or antec. the rest are jet engines <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

in anycase, i dont like a computer to run at 10 degrees... its not optimum temperatures... cpu temp should be between 27 and 45, motherboard should be between 22 and 38... slightly higher is fine... but lower i dont like... but if anything goes over 60 there is something wrong... or you should consider getting a better cpu fan...

Doesn't getting ordinary ATA mean that you'll get slower HDs/coolingproblems (due to the wide cord)? And what's the problem with installing Windows on a SATA contra doing it on an ATA HD?

And isn't it smarter to wait for AMD to start supporting something above DDR before buying a new comp? If I'm not totally wrong (something I'm acually quite open for <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />) that shouldn't be in too long. If I'm not totally wrong, an AMD processor with DDR3 is better than the same AMD processor with only DDR.

Übereil

well for starts i have a Xion case i don't remember the specific one(its a different name but looks the same instead different color) but here is a picture that matches exactly what i have except mine is black instead of silver

here is their site for the cases just in case no pun intended <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />
http://www.xionusa.com/product-case-Xion2.html


the case should come with a powersupply
ps i got my stuff from newegg as well
it good to buy most of your stuff from one company for warranty issues
im not sure if you guys remember my issues with my PNY nvidia card
i go with asus nvidia cards now

most of it is asus, my memory is corsair(corsair is cheap and may not be good but its ddr better then sd ram <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />)

[1] buy your case mine was expensive but it looks so cool

[2] buy your mother board, get the best potato you can get! Your motherboard determines what kind of memory you will be required to buy, what socket processor will fit your board, i have socket 939 <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> you can always upgrade your processors and video cards get your board first and make it count

[3] you need to buy memory for your mother board cause it doesn't come with any and it can run pretty expensive

[4] you need to get your processor that fits your motherboard only certain ones will fit you need to know what socket you have also most games that are coming out now like Oblivion the min req is a processor clocked at 2ghz so don't worry i have a 2ghz too but the reality is maybe the min req for future games will increase then me and you will both be screwed and have to buy new processors
anyway get what you can with your money if there is any rebates and so forth

you can also try compusa or micro center
not sure if they have these places in your state, they are purly computer stores
i live in the usa im sure you do to if i recall, check your yellow pages

[5] extra money for fans on your rig, the cooler your rig the longer it is supposed to last (which may or not be true but its best to be on the safe side no?) things over heat things go bad

in any case i bought 1 extra fan, giving me 3 fans that imate a blue glow a regular one on the processor heat sink and one on the graphics card i also have blue wire mesh to go around all my cords, something you can look into
when i turn the lights off the whole damn case is glows blue its pretty cool

*edits post and sneaks in some heat sinks for your memory sticks* they clamp on don't worry the only delicate part of the assembly process is hooking up your processor, once you clamp that sucker in don't remove it!*

[6]more extra money maybe a new monitor, plasma, lcd ???, i have a 17inch lcd analog monitor

i found out long ago if you don't have a good sound card, it slows down your frame rates, i have onboard sound, i know we all know onboard stuff is not good but hey its free and it doesn't bug me don't bother with the sound card if your tring to conserve cash

hope this helped you get organized somewhat good luck &
best wishes ps i have serial ata on my rig with xp home

true enough, Virgo, a hardware accelerated soundcard is a hundred times at least better than those pathetic on-board soundchips.

if u don't want to spend too much on a soundcard, just get the old trusty SoundBlaster Live series. even a Value works beautifully. just mke sure u get the latest driver/patch for it since the initial one is quite buggy. to be on the safe side, there is a WDM version so it's completely barebone driver. i am using a Live Digital Edition now. if Audigy's cheap & affordable to u, why not? but i haven't tried this one so i can't tell how well it works. still Creative soundcards are among the best in the market so u can hardly go wrong there.

another good thing about getting a Soundblaster Live series card, especially Digital Edition or better, is that it supports 5.1 channel sound, all hardware accelerated (no need to beg for processing cycles from CPU).

just a warning: don't ever get Extigy! well unless u plan to use that for your laptop exclusively though in a way it's a bit of a waste. Extigy is clunky to handle as it's a fully external unit & since it's a USB device essentially, it can be very slow as it's only USB1.1 & not 2.

as for the rest of the things, i think u will do well to listen to Lady Rain. she's a professional.

@ janggut

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ROFL.gif" alt="" /> professional??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/silly.gif" alt="" /> i just work with the stuff... i didnt design anything...

another point to stay away from external soundcards / extigy... i have one.... in windows it works fine.... the MOMENT i go into any game.... it distorts.... the driver handling is )#@($)@#($@_up... "excuse the language there". so the moment i play games, i switch back to my onboard sound....

When it comes to memory, i do agree to get the heat-sinks for it... it makes a huge difference... and its easy to clip on.

the easiest way to make sure that you get the right CPU, memory and add-ons for your motherboard, is just TELL the sales person that it must be compatible with your motherboard.

as for the SATA windows installation.... you need to supply the windows setup with extra drivers the SATA drives... which shouldnt be a problem.... EXCEPT that the manufacturers tend to ZIP it on the CD, so you cant just point it to the location, you first need to use another pc to extract it to stiffy, (and there are a few on the cd, but only 1 will work, depending on your specific SATA chipset.

another thing that makes it a bigger hassle to install onto a SATA drive, is the fact that windows setup doesnt ASK you for these drivers, it flashes a message for a second stating that IF you want to use extra drivers, you must fress F6 (IIRC)... i missed that a couple of times before i saw it.

And amazingly enough... SATA drives run hotter than normal IDE. and you can buy round IDE cables, though, if you fold the cables neatly, ribbon cables dont hinder the airflow.

oops! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" /> sorry Lady Rain, didn't finish that one there - she's a professional Puter Handler. also a professional in sarcasm. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/evilgrin1.gif" alt="" />

aaah! Jangg .... you know what they say about that .....
"Sarcasm is the lowest form of Wit, but the highest compliment to Humour" <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

Ok now I am thoroughly confused... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ouch.gif" alt="" />I think it is time to do some reading... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shhh.gif" alt="" /> quiet in the library

If you knew Swedish, you could have read my site, but since you don't... In Sweden we have a serie of books called easy pocket, which has a book about computers, but I don't know if you have those in the US. If you do, I recomend it though <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />.

Übereil

@ Mea

Heheheh you almost have it right....

I cant remember who the bigshot was that i am quoting... but i will try my best to find out....

When confronted about a sarcastic answer he gave in a public interview, he was scolded that:

"Sarcasm is the lowest for of wit"

he promtly replied, saying (with a sarcastic grin):

"Thats O.K.... Wit is still the highest form of humour <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />

now ho was that man..... i remember that he was close to his 50's or 60's when he said it.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/think.gif" alt="" />

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/offtopic.gif" alt="" />
Sounds to me like Robert A. Heinlein :GrandMaster of Sci-Fi rip

Anyone know if there is an English version of the books Ube was talking about?

If Übereil can provide you with the publisher's name, it could be that the publisher also sells it translated in other countries ...