Calling all computer gurus... need advice

[DeanMoriarty]

You got it man.
I guess a simple "pass" would have sufficed, but I thought you might enjoy the learning experience. Lol.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Thanks for the help everyone! Now I'm just waiting on packages....

 

[Kona]

Hmm, I am a gamer playing Call of Duty 4 which is a bloody demanding game and my system , which is just like the second hand one you were looking at but with a more power full video card, handles that game on the highest settings (my rig
Athlon XP 64 4200
ASUS A8N SLI SE
XFX 8800 GT
2GB DDR400
Seagate 500GB SATA2
Maxtor 200GB SATA2
DVD burners X 2

The only problem is used for almost the price of new, NOT how capable that system is for your stated use. A little more for new http://pc.ncix.com/ncixpc/ncixpc.cfm?uuid=105151B4-1385-FA6B-F02612A44A8AB3B6-1783410

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I'm tempted to leave everyone in suspense over what exactly I got coming...

But here it is... (some assembly required)

1 Intel BOXDP965LTCK LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Item #: N82E16813121035
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy $93.99

1 APEVIA X-Gear ATXB5KLW Beige Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case ATX 420W power supply for AMD/Intel Power Supply - Retail
Item #: N82E16811144039
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy

1 Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Item #: N82E16822144701
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy $69.99

1 Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 Allendale 2.2GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80557E4500 - Retail
Item #: N82E16819115031
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy $126.99

1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
Item #: N82E16835100007
Return Policy: Consumable Items Return Policy $5.99

1 Microsoft Windows XP Professional With SP2C - OEM
Item #: N82E16832116400
Return Policy: Software Return Policy $139.99

1 SAMSUNG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with LightScribe Black SATA Model SH-S203N - OEM
Item #: N82E16827151154
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $33.99

1 XFX PVT84JUSD4 GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150258
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy $109.99

1 Acer AL2016WBbd Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Item #: N82E16824009108
Return Policy: [LCD] Limited Non-Refundable 30-Day Return Policy $189.99

1 CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400C4 - Retail
Item #: N82E16820145034
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy


I realize that the case isn't great, nor the PSU with it, and the chip is decent but not top of the line. When funds permit, those will be upgraded... my motherboard is geared towards the latest generation of chips (there's a 3.2GHZ chip offered for it, but the price is over $1,000).

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Kona:
Capable, sure... And nicer than what I have actually. However, the newer X2 4200, like in your link, operates at 65w... not 89w, different core, and is an am2 socket with DDR2. Hence, a much faster, new system with room for upgrades, unlike an old 939 board. Hell, I'm running an old OC'd mobile XP with DDR 400. It still handles anything I throw at it. Capability wasn't my point.

LBR... Looks good man.
I would replace that PSU as soon as possible though. I did the same thing with a Raidmax case several years back. It came with a cheap PSU, and it seemed to work well enough... I figured I'd just replace it when it crapped out. I woke up one morning to find it fried, along with my video card, my hard drive and of course, my data gone. I learned an important lesson about PSU's, and the importance of regular back-ups. I was lucky it didn't take my whole system down with it.
I find it very suspicious that they don't show a pic of the PSU's technical specs.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Soon as I can find a job an get money flowin good again, I'll be looking for a faster chip, better case, better PSU, etc.

I thought about getting a better PSU now, but I was running out of time to poke around for a good one (I have no idea what would be a good one to pick), and I was about out of cash..., what I ordered turned out to be, including shipping, about $40 short of breaking the bank....

When my tax money gets here though, I'll be seriously thinking of getting a better PSU... so I'm taking suggestions... I want one that's gonna be able to handle me adding at least 2-3 more cd/dvd drives, a 3.5" floppy drive (yes, I know they're outdated and nearly useless), a second HD, and at least a couple cooling fans.

 

[Seabiscuit]

I found out today my work is replacing my laptop computer with a brand new latitude 630, XP, 2 gig of memory, and 2 cores!

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

So the motherboard is here and the DVD-Rs... but nothing else yet... hopefully I'll get the rest tomorrow...

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Very cool Seabiscuit, and at the nice price.

LBR, If you don't mind my asking... What are you planning to do with 4 DVD drives? Opening your own cd / movie store eh? Lol.
PSU depends on how much you want to spend. This one's a bit pricey, but there's an instant $80 savings... hell of a deal. This thing is a monster:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
Or something like this on the mid-range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

My advice would be to pay attention to the +12v rail. You want something with at least 40amps on the +12v. Make sure it has all the connectors etc that you need. You can go cheaper and get a multi 12v rail PSU that will do the job... but a lot of them are junk. I'd get a nice hefty single rail.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

LBR, If you don't mind my asking... What are you planning to do with 4 DVD drives? Opening your own cd / movie store eh? Lol.
PSU depends on how much you want to spend. This one's a bit pricey, but there's an instant $80 savings... hell of a deal. This thing is a monster:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817703005
Or something like this on the mid-range:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

My advice would be to pay attention to the +12v rail. You want something with at least 40amps on the +12v. Make sure it has all the connectors etc that you need. You can go cheaper and get a multi 12v rail PSU that will do the job... but a lot of them are junk. I'd get a nice hefty single rail.

lol, I'm tryin to think ahead.. I was thinking of having a DVD-R and a regular DVD drive, then have a CD-R and regular CD so that any stuff I'd have to copy would zip right along. Every music CD I own I've burned a copy and only keep a copy in my truck. Figure that way if they get trashed or stolen, I'm only out the cost of a blank CD-R.

Thanks for the info/advice!

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Yup.
That's a good idea. I got all of my cd's stolen over the summer, luckily I keep them all backed up too. Good luck. If you run into any problems throw me a message and I'll try to help you out.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yup.
That's a good idea. I got all of my cd's stolen over the summer, luckily I keep them all backed up too. Good luck. If you run into any problems throw me a message and I'll try to help you out.

You got it...

I got all the parts now...

But I'm still a lil lost...

My one uncle said he'd be willing to help me with putting it together, but probably not till sometime next week.... and having the parts all sitting here is making me anxious to get it together and going...

The case came with no instructions. Not even a warranty paper. I also discovered that they give you a whole bag packed with screws and standoffs, but there are not enough standoffs for all of the holes in the motherboard. There are also only enough fine thread screws to secure the motherboard, and none of my drives have screws of their own. I'm hoping that's something I can grab from the local hardware store.

I also have no idea how I need to connect up the PSU cables... there's the one big 2x12 that I know goes to the motherboard and there's a 2x2 ziptied to it. Then there is a free 2x2, and then there are two other pigtails each with a male and female 1x4 and a mini 1x4.

The PSU has no SATA connectors, and that's the only connector my new DVD drive will accept. Guess I'll have to upgrade my PSU, stat.

 

[smokey]

for the Sata plug run to circuit city or staples they should have the adapter plug for like 2 bucks.

 

[JoshT]

Firefox, Spybot, and AVG antivirus are friends, as is laying off the horoscope toolbars and pirated hacks to make lara croft naked.[/soapbox]

Nothing wrong with a little extra show in Tomb Raider. I never got any viruses, stds, malware, etc. when using any of the NR patches.


On a more serious note. I'm suprised that those SATA drives didn't come with adapters. If you can't swing the new PSU right now pick up one of these, SATA Power Adapter Cable, which you should be able to find at a local electronics or computer store.

As you figured that 24 pin connector does go to the mother board, and the 4 pin that's connected to it is probably for your processor. The free 2x2 is most likely for you graphics card if needed. now in the 1x4 connectors I think the mini are for fans, and the others are how you will connect many drives and other accessories that need them. The larger 1x4s are also where you will connect the SATA adapters.

As to getting more disk drives all you really need are the floppy (only cause you want it) and a DVD drive, really neither are a necessity as you can get away with just one drive.. The DVD-R drive you bought should also record and play CDs (maybe not RWs) and by getting a DVD player drive you should be able to copy either copy direct over to the DVD-R drive.

 

[DeanMoriarty]

Hmmm
Too bad you're not in St. Louis. I have boxes of that shit lying around.
That's odd they wouldn't include enough standoff's... make sure though, because not every hole in the mobo will get a screw. Take a look at where the mounting holes in the case correspond to the ones on the mobo to make sure. That doesn't surprise me about the drive mounting screws, probably oem drives. Just make sure you don't try to shove a screw in there that's too big.
Cheap cases are notorious for no / or BADLY translated documentation. Many times I've tried to make sense of something like "motherboard connect many with for device fan connectors in background for makes pleasure happy taking to slot1 and slot2 on ATX case of front." Consider yourself lucky there's no documentation. Lol.
Another thing... unless you're running high temps, I wouldn't put any more fans than necessary in the thing. You'll just be pulling more dust into it. I needed some extra cooling for mine, so I cut out a hole in the front bottom for a 120mm fan (It was set up for 4 80mm fans, but that's just silly) and rigged a slot behind it to slide in a square piece of window AC filter. It's nice and thin and keeps the dust off my components.
Like those guys said, you should be able to grab w/e you need from a store that carries PC components.
One last thing... if you're not going to replace the PSU now, keep in mind you may have to unhook everything and pull the motherboard back out when you do. Depends on if you can get it around the processor fan and heat sink or not.