[cryptic26djp]

I am trying to build a computer for my parents and they have a budget of approximately $1500-$1900. They have already purchased the FPD2185W monitor and I just need to know if the following parts will work together before I go and order everything for them. I can put it together, no problem... Just need help with compatibility and overall pricing. Recommendations are welcomed as well. Thanks for your help in advance!!

Daniel J. Pippin
Staff Sergeant
US Army




Hard Drive:
- WD Caviar SE16 250 GB Hard Drives ( WD2500KS ) -- $99.00

Case:
- Kingwin SK-523 Black ATX Mid-Tower Case with Clear Side, Front USB, Audio and SATA Ports -- $55.00

CPU & Mobo:
- Asus P5WD2-Premium Intel 955 Socket 775 ATX Motherboard and an Intel Pentium D 930 3.0GHz Dual-Core OEM Processor -- $538.99

PSU:
- Antec TruePower II 550W -- $119.95

Video Card:
- Asus GeForce 7600 GT / 256MB GDDR3 / SLI / PCI Express / Dual DVI / HDTV / Video Card -- $209.99

Optical Drives:
- Sony DRU810A / 16x8x16x DVD+RW / 16x6x16x DVD-RW / 8x DVD±R DL / Interchangable Bezels White or Black / Internal DVD Writer -- $49.99
- Sony / 52x32x52 CD-RW / Black / Nero Software / CD Burner -- $39.99

Floppy Drive:
- Ultra Beige 3.5" Floppy Drive with Built-in 6-in-1 Flash Card Reader -- $19.97

RAM:
- Corsair XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory -- $270.00

Cooling:
- Masscool 8W501B1M3G / Socket 775 / Intel Prescott / Copper Core / CPU Cooling Fan -- $19.99

TOTAL PRICE:
- approximately $1410.00

P.S. - Did I miss anything major? I already have the Windoxs XP and Microsoft Office software.

[Trifid]

Yeah, it is all compatible. What will they be doing with the PC, as that may well be OTT for what they will be doing.

You may want to spend more on the case, but if you/they are set on that one it will be fine.

[cryptic26djp]

My mom uses it alot for office work and my dad simply surfs the net and orders stuff online. However, my brother plays a few FPS games, so its a decent range of uses for the house.

What changes would you recommend and which case would you recommend?

OTT - Over the top?

[talldude123]

Originally posted by cryptic26djp
OTT - Over the top?

Yes, OTT is over the top.

You might want to get an AMD Athlon, since they are much cheaper, and in come cases, work better than the Intel chips.

Where are you buying parts from? Locally? I recommend Newegg.com

[cryptic26djp]

TigerDirect.com has all of the items I listed. I was trying to find one place, to save on shipping. I have had serious issues with the AMD chips and prefer to stay with the Intel D.

When I order all of this stuff - Will I need to order any additional cables, wires, etc? Like I said, I would like to get everything all at once and get it going for them before I return to Japan. I am at home on leave right now.....have 10 days remaining....and counting.

My parents currently have an old Gateway (which I am using right now) and it constantly locks up on them. As a matter of fact, the CD drive swallowed my music CD and refuses to cough it up to me. The light on the front constantly flashes but it will not open. It doesn't even show the drive exists on MyComputer anymore. They are tired of this thing and want something with SERIOUS SPEED.

Thanks for your comments. I look forward to others recommendations as well.

[Yoad]

Well, here we go:

CPU: Pentium D 930 [Presler, dual core] 3.0GHz -$194.99

Mobo: ASUS P5LD2 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945P -$119.99

Memory[the latencies are not the lowest, but its gonna be just fine]: CORSAIR VALUE SELECT 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 -$84.99

Video card: eVGA Geforce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 -$179.99 ($164.99 after $15.00 Mail-In Rebate)

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s -$109.99

CPU Cooling: ZALMAN CNPS7700-CU 120mm 2 Ball Cooling Fan with Copper Heatsink -$38.99

Case: Thermaltake Tsunami VA3000SWA Silver -$105.00

PSU: Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550watt -$99.99

Total of- 933.93$ [minus 15$ mail in rebate = 918.93]

now I gotta run but check this out, if you wanna put more money into this rig to make it better you could put higher-end RAM [and 2gb] and a 7800 or 7900GT instead of the 7600...
Umm about the cables, nope most of the parts will come with their neccesary cables included.

[cryptic26djp]

Besides the pricing, what is the biggest difference in the Mobo & CPU that you recommended (ASUS P5LD2 Socket T (LGA 775) Intel 945P & Pentium D 930 [Presler, dual core] 3.0GHz) and the one that I had selected before (Asus P5WD2-Premium Intel 955 Socket 775 ATX Motherboard and an Intel Pentium D 930 3.0GHz Dual-Core OEM Processor)????

I went ahead and got the 320GB H/D vs the 250GB. I also changed the PSU to your recommendation. However, they didnt like the case you linked above (any other rec's?). Oh well.

They want the memory to stay above 1GB, so your recommendaiton for the Corsair will either need to change or I will have to get two sets of them. Thoughts?

As for the Video Card. If I stick with the Mobo/CPU that I previously selected, would I still be able to use the VC that you recommended. Also, what is the difference in the two VC's (mine vs yours)???

Thanks for the help!!!

[Yoad]

Alright, gonna answer you step by step..

The mobo you chosen is slightly more expensive, why? it has higher memory speeds standart which is good I guess... [800 over 667 in the one i chosen] and a diffrent chipset which im not sure if is better or worse, but I think its better.. [IMPORTANT! Chipset is not the socket, don't confuse].
Anyway.. sure stick to it i like it too...

no diffrence in the CPU though, but check the price diffrence in my suggestion... the site you'r buying off is lot more expensive, stick to newegg man.

OK About the case, dunno why they didnt like it the tsunami is over-leading in the thermaltake sales today, its probably the most popular case out there... but sure if they don't like it heres some other suggestions:

this which is huge, and lots more exp: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231065

About same as above, diffrent look, cheaper: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133155

one last option from thermaltake: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811133143

now an idea of another company if you'r family just don't like Tt's cases, but also a good quality case:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811146018

Now.. RAM, You say 2gb min, I say 2gb and high quality! but its the price you willing to pay that'll decide the quality, I'll give you two options:

A. DDR 800 4 CAS Latency [the lower-the better] memory - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231073 -199$ which is not insane for 2GB..

B. HIGHLY Expensive!! 3 CAS Latency http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145035 -453$

now you don't HAVE to get 3latency RAM, but it will function better, although in like two months or so you could be able to get this ram for half the price... so yeah do you'r thinkings, or let other people give their opinion, im no ram expert.. :S

As for video card, diffrence is the brand, eVGA is known as a very solid, good performence company, and also good prices.....
and yes if you stick to the mobo you chose it'll function just fine...

[Yoad]

Double posting just so you will notice this...
I Would recommend actualy ANOTHER cpu cooler.. the Scythe Ninja, I totaly forgot it... its much better in my opinion than the Zalman..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835185001

Anyway, here's an almost-final build for you to order, this time including DVD r/w and CD-r/w [you just need to do final decision about which ram, case and if you want the VC I offerd, or a better one (like 7900GT which is another $250±)]

CPU: Pentium D 930 [Presler, dual core] 3.0GHz -$194.99

Mobo: Asus P5WD2-Premium Intel 955X Socket 775 -$196.99

Memory[Assuming you go for 4CAS and not 3CAS latency]: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 -$199

Video card: eVGA Geforce 7600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 -$179.99 ($164.99 after $15.00 Mail-In Rebate)

HD: Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s -$109.99

DVD-Burner: SONY 16X DVD±R DVD Burner -$37.99

CD-Rom Burner: LG Beige 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW -$22.99

CPU Cooling: Scythe SCNJ-1000P 120mm Sleeve CPU Cooling Fan/Heatsink -$39.99

Case[estimating you'll go for the Shark, just for having a general price]: Thermaltake SHARK VA7000BWA -$169.00

PSU: Antec TruePower 2.0 TP2-550watt -$99.99

Total of- 1250.92$ [minus 15$ mail in rebate = 1235.92$]

Hope I have helped..

Good luck.

-Jo / Yoad B.Y.

[talldude123]

Cryptic,

do you have a copy of Windows XP from another computer?
Otherwise you will need to spend $80 on an OEM from newegg.