Topic: Thoughts of a new PC

[Clark Kent]

I hate PCs, truly, I do, but only because of windows (ick).
In any event, I have my handy dandy high speed low drag Apple iBook G4.  I also have my old COmpaq Presario 1.2 GHz, which is hardly used anymore, except to play a few games here and there.  I'd like to upgrade the Compaq from windows ME to XP pro, which I already have, but I'm haveing a difficult time getting the drivers i need to do so downloaded.  Enter thoughts of a new PC.  I'd rather not have another prepackaged unit whose warranty means absolutely nothing, so I figured I'd think of one from scratch.
Here are my thoughts of what I'll need:
Computer case
Power supply
motherboard
CPU
memory
Vid card
Hard drive

Price is a serious concern here, except in PERHAPS the video card.  Over all, I need to keep the costs down as far as I can.  What I'm wondering is, what brand and configuration components should I consider?  I would like a nice boost in performance, not necessarily top of the line, but above average.

EDIT: forgot the most important part- where to buy said parts.

[Iceman]

newegg.com.


I have nothing to do tonight, so when I get out of the shower I'm going to go shopping online for you. Do you need a monitor, or no? Also, what about keyboard/mouse, speakers, anything external like that?

[Hale]

newegg is great!

I recommend BioStar motherboards (AMD)  if you are looking for a cheap one. 

[Clark Kent]

newegg.com.


I have nothing to do tonight, so when I get out of the shower I'm going to go shopping online for you. Do you need a monitor, or no? Also, what about keyboard/mouse, speakers, anything external like that?

Coolness.  I have a decent monitor, even if it is a verry heavy CRT.  I'd most likely want a new mouse and keyboard, undecided on the speakers.

[Iceman]

so, here's my stuff. I'm terrible with coding so I'm just pasting the links. The total comes to....$680.99 US dollars.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-148-021&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-139-136&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-452&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-145-026&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-148-015&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-102-165&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-429&depa=1

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=23-126-141&depa=1

[Clark Kent]

Well, now I have a serious choice to make.  I tried one more time to DL the drivers I needed to upgrade my presario to windows XP pro, and it looks like it finally worked.  So now I have a choice: go through the expensive process of building a new computer, or simply upgrade the one I have.  I'm thinking of just upgrading the one I have since I don't have a whole lot of money to be spreading around, and the Compaq isn't even a terciary computer anymore, so why spend money I don't really have for something I'll hardly use.
In any event, i do now know where I'm going to get my next PC from: newegg.com.  It will most likely turn into a project I do over time when I have a little better source of income. 
So, if I upgrade the Compaq, how should I go about it?  Should I just install the SW, or should I go about it by doing a complete format and then installing everything I need?

[Iceman]

If its possible, and feasible. I'd transfer all your critical data to another HDD (laptop perhaps?) and then do a complete format.

[Redshift the Kook]

How do you mean 'Upgrade the Compaq'. Do you mean putting better components in it or just upgrading to XP? I believe Compaq's are difficult to upgrade Hardware wise.

[Iceman]

Also, Clark, to save money, I selected OEM parts when I could (as oppose to Retail). All it means it that the parts come without documentation and on occasion cables. However, where you are upgrading this shouldn't be a problem. If you got questions just e-mail me. Iceman.USAF@gmail.com

[Clark Kent]

Thanks much iceman.
Redshift, for now I'm just planning on upgrading to XP pro.  I already have extra memory in the machine, a 64 meg Nvidia graphics card and a zip drive installed.  Aside from XP pro, I don't think I'll need anything fancier for now.

[Dash Jones]

Hmm, if price is something your worried about, I'd say definately get an AMD processor (I still think Intel's are better...but for price for what you get, AMD can't be beat).   Probably a lower speed processor, maybe a 2800?

You could probably get for a vid card a 9800 as well.  I am a solid Nvidia person, but for price for quality, and what you might be after, go for Ati.  Ati is more of a hassle and have terrible drivers (STILL, afterall this time, you'd think they'd finally start getting things right, but no...)...however, IMO for what you probably would be after, Ati is the better choice.

Go for at least 1024 DDR Ram, if not better.

Not much in specifics here, just general thoughts on the issues...I think it would be best however, if you go to your local big time computer shop where they sell parts, pretend you are shopping there, and ask about different parts...as well as cases and such.  See for yourself which options you like best, and then as others suggest, buy online...but make sure you have a good return policy.

[Iceman]

I've got to disagree with a couple things, Dash.

First, AMD processors are better all around than Intel. Check out the benchmarks sometime comparing the new "EE" intels to the FX-53's from AMD. They're not better by much, but they are cheaper and run cooler. (The amd's that is).

Also, a 9800 video card is probably MORE expensive than a X600XT at this point. I chose the X600 for longevity and ATi support. (obviously 98/9600XT's are still viable, I run Doom3 on a 9600XT 256 from Sapphire.)  As for ATi's drivers, they've had their problems. However they're also releasing new ones every month. So, in one sense, yes you might get a problem with a certain game (Knights of the Old Republic jumps to mind) but within a month its fixed. So to me, its not much of a probelm. 

The RAM, yeah. If you can get a gig, do it. You won't need it, yet, but you will. Besides, even if you don't "need" it, it'll be nice to play Half-Life 2 with MP3's running in the background now won't it?

FYI, I had to RMA a motherboard to Newegg for my current PC. I shipped out the broken one, they got it. Not 2 days later they shipped me a brand new one. The northbridge fan had burnt out and shorted the entire board. They didn't even ask questions!