http://www.newegg.com/software/?DEPA=6
Best deal I could find. New Egg is where I go to get all my computer crap. I'm pretty sure they have a building service too. Though I never looked into it, I just do all my computer modding stuff myself. (It ain't that hard! :biggrinpi )

Don't install used lubes.

Also, avoid static at ALL COSTS when handling the internals like the motherboard. etc. One little spark cause you're wearing grandma Flo's christmas sweater can fry the entire board and ruin it.

I want to build a computer too, but I'm so broke these days I'm going to have to buy the parts one or two at a time until I have enough components to build it. This may take a few months. I am thinking about starting off with a case, a monitor, dvd-burner, etc. and get the video card, motherboard and processor last so I can make sure I have the latest and greatest when I actually build it.

I'm debating on whether to use AMD Athlon 64 FX 55 or the Intel Pentium 560 3.6GHz. The AMD is better of the two and in February when Microsoft releases it's 64-bit version of XP, that performance gap will only increase. The problem is the Athlon is $850 and the P4 is $450. Athlon also has a MUCH higher bus speed available than Intel. I'm hoping between now and the time I build it, the price will drop on the Athlon. If not, I may go with the Pentium.

I want to go with the largest SATA drives I can afford. I want to get a really nice video card, 2GB of really fast ram, etc.

I'd like to have a very reliable high performance gaming/video editing/etc. machine.



Whenever I build a machine I try to get the very best so I can go longer without doing an upgrade.

Cellar donors have at this point donated almost enough to build a new system so the Cellar can live safely on its own machine, albeit a slower one. I'll report further when this comes along.

How much to retain the speed, UT? :eyebrow:

I build 'em hardy. Speed isn't the major factor in web applications. An AMD 2600 will do.

Ah, yes hardy will be important while your on those world tours fending off the groupies. :thumbsup:

I know we had a thread discussing video cards a little while back, but I'll throw my two cents in on this anyhow. Me and my buddy both run ATI 9800 Pro video cards. And let me tell you, these things are beautiful! They come w/ dual moniter support so my buddy can play Doom III FLAWLESSLY on one screen and do his 3d animation work on the other one, at the same time.
I about drooled when he showed me this.
The 9800 Pro has the beef to run Doom III and Halo and isn't goin anywhere fast. So my advice to you, forget the hugely expensive ones w/ 256 mb's that will strangle your wallet. Get the 9800 Pro and you'll have a very satisfying (and sh*t scarey w/ Doom II) gaming experience.

As for the RAM, this same bud of mine is running 1024 mb's and he doesn't need a byte more. That is unless, you plan on running about 10 applications at once, at that point, you should look into your time managment skils.

Two things:

1) For a software guy who has only ever been inside a machine a few times (to add RAM or move around PCI cards), how hard is it to actually build a machine from the ground up? As far as I can see, everything seems to fit only where it belongs, and it'd just be a matter of making sure all of my hardware is combatible, but is there anything specific I should avoid?

2) Tony: I have an ever-growing archive of computers (you'd be amazed how many people would simply rather buy a new one than fix their old one, even if it's less than 2 years old). What kinds of parts do you need in order to build a home for this lovely little forum of ours?

Not hard at all. The most finicky part, for me at least, is getting the CPU heat sink/fan clamped into place properly. You will also need to hook up things like the power switch on the front of the case, external USB ports, etc. etc. to the motherboard. This is not hard per se but deciphering the diagrams provided can be a linguistic challenge. Once you've done that, just insert tab A in slot B and you're done.

The only trouble I had my first (and so far only) time was I didn't seat the RAM properly. Which was odd, because RAM is one of the few connections with a good feedback mechanism to let you know it's seated proplerly. :eyebrow:

You have an archive, I have a fuckin' morgue. But "hardy" demands we not reuse any part that might actually have sat around in a damp garage for more than a month or so.

So, you're saying you don't want my 12MHz 80286 system? It's got a whole 1MB of RAM. Well jeez I just won't offer then. :D

I have some parts in one I built for my son. Give me clue as to what you need, I'll have to hook it up again to see what's in it. most of it almost new.