Computer nerds, step inside please....
01-04-2008, 03:42 PM
#1
0.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 0
Computer nerds, step inside please....
ok, so I am going to be building/buying a new pc and i need some help. basically, currently i have an old Celeron 2.4 with 768mb ram Gatway PC. its done its job however, at this point its a lot slower than I want.
so this is what i am looking for.......
MOBO w/ a decent processor (something around 3.5ghz for a single core, or 1.6ghz for a dual core).
i am looking to keep the mobo/chip combo under $200 if possible
i would like to keep the OS as XP Pro
the mobo and chip i am looking at is a Biostar 945gc w/ an Intel e2140 dual core processor (1.6ghz) and i can pick up this combo locally w/ 1gig of ram for $180'ish.
just so you know, i do NOT play games on my computer, other than online poker, so an onboard video is just fine.
the real reason to upgrade is because of downloading/burning/converting movies. I was previously doing this on my laptop that has a dual core processor and it works great, however it has Vista and the software that I like doesnt work so well on vista and is kind of buggy.
i have thought about upgrading the ram on my current pc and i have found out that the max it will take is 512 per slot and there are only 2 slots. so the only upgrade is another 256mb of ram, which wont make a dent with how slow it is. so that is another big reason to upgrade
i do have a couple questions when putting together a computer like this......
does the bios usually come preinstalled along with applicable drivers?
is there anything special i need to consider/do when i install it?
any suggestions would be great.
thanks
so this is what i am looking for.......
MOBO w/ a decent processor (something around 3.5ghz for a single core, or 1.6ghz for a dual core).
i am looking to keep the mobo/chip combo under $200 if possible
i would like to keep the OS as XP Pro
the mobo and chip i am looking at is a Biostar 945gc w/ an Intel e2140 dual core processor (1.6ghz) and i can pick up this combo locally w/ 1gig of ram for $180'ish.
just so you know, i do NOT play games on my computer, other than online poker, so an onboard video is just fine.
the real reason to upgrade is because of downloading/burning/converting movies. I was previously doing this on my laptop that has a dual core processor and it works great, however it has Vista and the software that I like doesnt work so well on vista and is kind of buggy.
i have thought about upgrading the ram on my current pc and i have found out that the max it will take is 512 per slot and there are only 2 slots. so the only upgrade is another 256mb of ram, which wont make a dent with how slow it is. so that is another big reason to upgrade
i do have a couple questions when putting together a computer like this......
does the bios usually come preinstalled along with applicable drivers?
is there anything special i need to consider/do when i install it?
any suggestions would be great.
thanks
01-04-2008, 04:12 PM
#2
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,448
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
Well, since all i do is build pc's, ill give you some input on what i know.
if you want to get a dual core intel for cheap, get the "Intel pentium D Dual Core"
make sure it actually says dual core. the d stands for dual, but if it says dual core, then it is the latest and i think last run of this processor. i currently run the 2.66 model of the pentium d and its currently clocked at close to 4 ghz. all this for under 90 bucks.
it ***** on anything that i tell it to do without even making a sweat. the fan goes bonkers though, and im sure i need a new one by now. o well, i got a spare fan and processor.
1gig of ram should suit you fine. however, i dont recommend to get anything like on board video. get the least ammount of onboartd components.
bios usually when it comes out of the box, its ready to go. you should have to change anythng except a phew boot up otions and whatnot.
if you know how to install something properly, then you should be good to go.
ps, a good video card will be worth your while.
if you want to get a dual core intel for cheap, get the "Intel pentium D Dual Core"
make sure it actually says dual core. the d stands for dual, but if it says dual core, then it is the latest and i think last run of this processor. i currently run the 2.66 model of the pentium d and its currently clocked at close to 4 ghz. all this for under 90 bucks.
it ***** on anything that i tell it to do without even making a sweat. the fan goes bonkers though, and im sure i need a new one by now. o well, i got a spare fan and processor.
1gig of ram should suit you fine. however, i dont recommend to get anything like on board video. get the least ammount of onboartd components.
bios usually when it comes out of the box, its ready to go. you should have to change anythng except a phew boot up otions and whatnot.
if you know how to install something properly, then you should be good to go.
ps, a good video card will be worth your while.
01-04-2008, 04:44 PM
#4
0.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 0
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
i understand the need for a good video card, however, no pc i have ever owned has had one and i have never had an issue doing anything with the onboard video.
but if i can find one cheap enough down the road, i might, but its not needed right now. but i will take your suggestion and ponder over it.
Kain.....
i wouldnt mind going for the faster 2.66 dual core, however, what mobo are you using with it, or i should say, what do you recomend for a decent board that wont cost to much. as i said, i would like to keep the mobo and processor under $200.
also, all components must be compatible with XP.
as for knowing how to install stuff, i have installed many sets of ram, changed cases, installed power supplies, changed cmos batterys, installed cd/dvd/floppy drives, installed many hard drives (master and slaves).
i have just never taken it upon myself to start with the mobo and processor from the box.
but if i can find one cheap enough down the road, i might, but its not needed right now. but i will take your suggestion and ponder over it.
Kain.....
i wouldnt mind going for the faster 2.66 dual core, however, what mobo are you using with it, or i should say, what do you recomend for a decent board that wont cost to much. as i said, i would like to keep the mobo and processor under $200.
also, all components must be compatible with XP.
as for knowing how to install stuff, i have installed many sets of ram, changed cases, installed power supplies, changed cmos batterys, installed cd/dvd/floppy drives, installed many hard drives (master and slaves).
i have just never taken it upon myself to start with the mobo and processor from the box.
01-04-2008, 05:29 PM
#5
3.0 BAR
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,448
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
eh its not that hard bro. just gotta go do it. what you have to understand is that you gotta read everything. like when my computer came, i didnt realize that the motherboard supports hardware raid and has like two ide channels for this particular reason, yet only 1 regular ide channel. i was super hella pissed. but o well. thats what an ide controller card is for, also i use allot of scsi drives in a raid format, so i wasnt worried. i like viewing 10 mega pixel images faster than i know what to do with.
dont worry about compatibility with xp neither. its been out longer than hell and should support a wide array of products.
dont worry about compatibility with xp neither. its been out longer than hell and should support a wide array of products.
01-04-2008, 05:51 PM
#6
3.0 BAR
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,811
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
X2 with a DFI mobo for your budget. and get an older, higher end video card for cheap. movie watching / decoding sucks without a good card, and you can abso-------lutly forget watching any kind of modern HD type stream without one.
not to mention onboard sucks in general. the ramdacs are pitifully slow giving low quality video signals, poor refresh and resolution choices. that ---- burns your eyes out over time man...
Seriously even if you have to step back to an old school geforce4 ti4200 that's fine. They can be ebayed for $10-20 bucks now.
not to mention onboard sucks in general. the ramdacs are pitifully slow giving low quality video signals, poor refresh and resolution choices. that ---- burns your eyes out over time man...
Seriously even if you have to step back to an old school geforce4 ti4200 that's fine. They can be ebayed for $10-20 bucks now.
01-04-2008, 08:05 PM
#8
1.0 BAR
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 536
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
Originally Posted by kain
Well, since all i do is build pc's, ill give you some input on what i know.
if you want to get a dual core intel for cheap, get the "Intel pentium D Dual Core"
make sure it actually says dual core. the d stands for dual, but if it says dual core, then it is the latest and i think last run of this processor. i currently run the 2.66 model of the pentium d and its currently clocked at close to 4 ghz. all this for under 90 bucks.
it ***** on anything that i tell it to do without even making a sweat. the fan goes bonkers though, and im sure i need a new one by now. o well, i got a spare fan and processor.
1gig of ram should suit you fine. however, i dont recommend to get anything like on board video. get the least ammount of onboartd components.
bios usually when it comes out of the box, its ready to go. you should have to change anythng except a phew boot up otions and whatnot.
if you know how to install something properly, then you should be good to go.
ps, a good video card will be worth your while.
if you want to get a dual core intel for cheap, get the "Intel pentium D Dual Core"
make sure it actually says dual core. the d stands for dual, but if it says dual core, then it is the latest and i think last run of this processor. i currently run the 2.66 model of the pentium d and its currently clocked at close to 4 ghz. all this for under 90 bucks.
it ***** on anything that i tell it to do without even making a sweat. the fan goes bonkers though, and im sure i need a new one by now. o well, i got a spare fan and processor.
1gig of ram should suit you fine. however, i dont recommend to get anything like on board video. get the least ammount of onboartd components.
bios usually when it comes out of the box, its ready to go. you should have to change anythng except a phew boot up otions and whatnot.
if you know how to install something properly, then you should be good to go.
ps, a good video card will be worth your while.
01-04-2008, 08:22 PM
#9
3.0 BAR
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,811
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
that's why when you're doing cheap I've always liked x2's over D's.
D's have a very small edge in most video encoding while the x2's trounce them in audio (wav, mp3, mp4), almost every game engine of that era, and all office / general programs you're going to run into. (where brute force > trickeration)
so to me it seems like an x2 would be alot better.
it's not the end of the world if you go D tho...
D's have a very small edge in most video encoding while the x2's trounce them in audio (wav, mp3, mp4), almost every game engine of that era, and all office / general programs you're going to run into. (where brute force > trickeration)
so to me it seems like an x2 would be alot better.
it's not the end of the world if you go D tho...
01-04-2008, 09:27 PM
#10
0.0 BAR
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 0
Re: Computer nerds, step inside please....
ok, so i picked up,,,,,
Pentium Dual Core E4500 (2.2ghz, 2mb l2 Cache, 800mhz FSB) info here... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=intel%2be4500
Gigabyte S-Series mobo (model ga-945gcm-s2c) info here... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128076
2gb of Corsair DDR2 XMS2 ram (2x1gb) info here... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034
i bought it all locally at a store here, and paid $200 out the door, which was about a $25 savings over what newegg would have cost.
so i know have everything together in the case, but i have one question....
dont you have to put some sort of paste on the processor before you install it? in all of the directions that were provided, NOTHING was mentioned about doing this.
Pentium Dual Core E4500 (2.2ghz, 2mb l2 Cache, 800mhz FSB) info here... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...=intel%2be4500
Gigabyte S-Series mobo (model ga-945gcm-s2c) info here... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128076
2gb of Corsair DDR2 XMS2 ram (2x1gb) info here... http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145034
i bought it all locally at a store here, and paid $200 out the door, which was about a $25 savings over what newegg would have cost.
so i know have everything together in the case, but i have one question....
dont you have to put some sort of paste on the processor before you install it? in all of the directions that were provided, NOTHING was mentioned about doing this.
