Help with customizing a new PC - Update 3
#638078
07/15/10 08:27 PM
07/15/10 08:27 PM
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Virginia
Jema
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I want to have eCollege PC build a computer for me. If possible, I would like to have it compatible with XP Home SP3 now and Windows 7 Pro later (after I recover from the trauma of having to give up my beloved 98SE  ). It's been almost 9 years since I purchased a customized system from Dell. During that time, hardware has changed so dramatically that I'm pretty much flying blind in making choices. Using Custom Builder - Intel Core 2 Duo/Quad System - 1st choice (2nd choice seems to be the same to me), I've made the following selections: CPU 2.7Ghz Intel Dual-Core E5400 (Default) 199.00
Heatsink/Fan ARTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro 33.00
Motherboard Foxcomm G41MXE (Default)
Memory 4GB(2GBx2) PC3 10666 DDR3 1333Mhz 98.00
Hard Drive 500GB 7200RPM 16MB cache Serial ATA300 53.00
CD / DVD 1 22X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / CDRW 25.00
CD / DVD 2 22X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / CDRW 25.00
Video Card 1GB ATI Radeon HD5450 67.00
OS Windows XP Home Edition, SP3 109.00
Case CoolerMaster Black 690 49.00
Power Supply 460watt CoolerMaster RS-460-PSAR-J3 25.00
Networking Onboard LAN included
Sound Card Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 PCI-Ex 35.00
Speakers Stereo Speakers (black) 9.00
Floppy Drive 1.44 Floppy Drive 15.00
Keyboard Black PS2 Internet Keyboard 9.00
Mouse Black USB Optical Mouse with Scroll 6.00
Warranty 3-year hassle free pickup and return 59.00
Total 816.00 I will continue to use the Viewsonic VA705b monitor I recently purchased, at least for now. I would appreciate the tech experts here recommending what should be changed so I get what I need to do what I want. Some things to keep in mind: I only play adventure games, want to stick with an Intel processor, ATI video card, and SB sound card. My current monitor and video card support only VGA, but I would like the new system to support VGA and DVI. I would like to keep the cost under $1,000.00 but, in order to get a good system that will do what I want, I'm willing to spend a little more - after all, it's been almost 9 years.  Thanks in advance for your advice and help.  Jema
Last edited by Jema; 09/07/10 12:12 PM.
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#638098
07/15/10 09:23 PM
07/15/10 09:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 40,644
southeast USA
Jenny100
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after I recover from the trauma of having to give up my beloved 98SE As long as you have a Win98 CD, you don't have to give it up completely. You can install it inside VirtualPC or VMware Player. I can't speak about all of your choices, but CD / DVD 1 22X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / CDRW 25.00
CD / DVD 2 22X LG SATA Dual Layer DVD+/-RW / CDRW 25.00 I like having two drives too. But I'd get different types. The drive with Lightscribe is only $4 more. Video Card 1GB ATI Radeon HD5450 That's low end. If you play new games, you'll have trouble with some of them being sluggish (sticky cursor). I'd recommend getting at least the ATI HD5570 if you're going with ATI. Power Supply 460watt CoolerMaster RS-460-PSAR-J3 I think I'd get the Antec EarthWatts. OS Windows XP Home Edition, SP3 Check to make sure they're still offering it.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jenny100]
#638122
07/15/10 11:33 PM
07/15/10 11:33 PM
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Virginia
Jema
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Hi Jenny100, This is the kind of advice and recommendations I was hoping for. Thank you. As long as you have a Win98 CD, you don't have to give it up completely. You can install it inside VirtualPC or VMware Player. I should have said "give it up as my primary OS." My older son also suggested I try VirtualPC and I had decided to give it a try on the new system. I like having two drives too. But I'd get different types. The drive with Lightscribe is only $4 more. Will make the change on my list. You recommend getting "at least the ATI HD5570." Would a card a step or two beyond that be better? Or would it be overkill? I will change the Power Supply to the one you recommend. The FAQs at eCollege PC still say XP is an option, but it's not offered where you make your selections. So I emailed them and, at the time of Mike's response earlier this week, I could still get XP Home SP3. I hope by the time I get this finalized that's still true. Thanks again, Jenny100. Jema
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#638129
07/16/10 12:53 AM
07/16/10 12:53 AM
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Land of Hamlet
misslilo
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You recommend getting "at least the ATI HD5570." Would a card a step or two beyond that be better? Or would it be overkill?
Personally I don't think it's overkill - it's thinking ahead, so I would definitely get one a step or two beyond that. 
Last edited by misslilo; 07/16/10 12:53 AM.
"You can not escape your past, but you can make your future" - Diana Melkumova - @wowdane
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#638130
07/16/10 01:03 AM
07/16/10 01:03 AM
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Arizona
InlandAZ
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You recommend getting "at least the ATI HD5570." Would a card a step or two beyond that be better? Or would it be overkill?
For a few dollars more you could step up to a 5770 and more than double your bandwidth - they also support GDR5 memory. Either would probably suffice for most Adventure games. I've played many games on much less. Antec is just about all I run thee days - very reliable PSU's.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: InlandAZ]
#638268
07/16/10 03:20 PM
07/16/10 03:20 PM
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southeast USA
Jenny100
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You recommend getting "at least the ATI HD5570." Would a card a step or two beyond that be better? Or would it be overkill? Better a card that's more than you need than one that's less. I certainly wouldn't want to buy a new computer and then discover that ANY of my games required going into the options and turning things down or off to get it to run smoother. What you get depends on your budget though. Another thing to think about is those $9.00 speakers. Do you really need speakers at all or can you use the speakers you're using now? And if you do need speakers, I don't know about getting an Audigy sound card and then putting the sound through $9.00 speakers. I think if I got that sound card I'd want a little more in the way of speakers, even if I had to wait until I could afford them.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jenny100]
#638279
07/16/10 04:03 PM
07/16/10 04:03 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 21,274
Near St. Louis, MO
Draclvr
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That Foxconn motherboard does have on-board sound.
I'd also like to hear your opinions on Jema's selection of the E5400 CPU as I'm considering that one for a budget computer. In the "build" at ecollege it's the default selection and doesn't add to the base cost of the Custom Builder Core 2 cost of $199. It comes with the stock Intel Heat Sink and Fan with no additional cost. Does Jema need the upgraded $33 heatsink?
Gaming? Normal computing?
It's spring. My life is weeds.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Draclvr]
#638310
07/16/10 06:17 PM
07/16/10 06:17 PM
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Jema
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misslilo, InlandAZ, Jenny100, and Draclvr, thank you for your advice, recommendations, and comments. I'm going to go with the HD5770 video card that InlandAZ recommended. misslilo and Jenny100 seem to agree it would be wise to get the better card. Jenny100, I can continue to use my current speakers, mouse, and keyboard so I will remove them from the list. Draclvr, I chose that heatsink/fan because in its description it states that it super cools and is super quiet. Please, some advice/recommendations on the hard drive and motherboard. Jema
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#638318
07/16/10 06:50 PM
07/16/10 06:50 PM
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southeast USA
Jenny100
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All they say about the hard drive is that it's "major brand." As far as I know it's OK. ***Newegg*** ratings for the Foxcomm G41MXE motherboard average 3 out of 5 eggs (60%) with 9 reviewers. One of the Gigabyte boards might be a better selection. They seem to be getting 4 out of 5 eggs (80%) at Newegg and they have the floppy connection.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jenny100]
#638347
07/16/10 09:45 PM
07/16/10 09:45 PM
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Draclvr
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I normally just use the heatsink and fan that comes with the Intel CPUs, so I wondered if it was worth the extra money to get a different one.
I have no opinion on the motherboard as I've not used the Foxconn brand. However, I have to say I really like my Gigabyte motherboard. But I'm a novice builder, so my experience is limited!
It's spring. My life is weeds.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Draclvr]
#643472
08/05/10 10:20 PM
08/05/10 10:20 PM
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Jema
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Hi all, My son offered to build the computer so I'm going to let him. Since he got out of the computer business several years ago, he has not kept up with the technology so I had to come up with the list of components. The problem with that was, I knew next to nothing about today's hardware. After much internet searching and tons of reading, this is my list: Case Cooler Master Centurion 534
CPU Intel Dual-Core i3 530, 2.93GHz, LGA 1156
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H
Memory Kingston KVR1333D3N9K2/4G
Power Supply Corsair CMPSU-550VX 550W
Hard Drive WD5001AALS Caviar Black, 32MB cache
CD / DVD 1 ASUS DRW-24B1ST, CD/DVD read/write
CD / DVD 2 Sony Optiarc DDU1681S-0B, CD/DVD read only
Floppy Drive Black 1.44MB 3.5"
Video Card Gigabyte GV-R577SO-1GD
Sound Card Creative Sound Blaster Audigy SE 7.1 PCI-Ex I decided to use the stock heatsink/fan that comes with the CPU. Like every other component, the reviews on this are mixed. I think everything is compatible with each other and with Windows XP Home, but would like your advice and/or recommendations on anything I should change. I could not find a Gigabyte motherboard that supports the LGA 1156 socket and has a parallel port, which I need for my printer. I found 2 possible ways to handle this. One is a parallel to USB cable and the other is a PCI to parallel port card. If anyone has experience with or knowledge about this, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks in advance. Jema
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#643480
08/05/10 10:52 PM
08/05/10 10:52 PM
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Arizona
InlandAZ
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The specs look fairly nice (the video card is actually a Radeon HD 5770 - probably a little faster than a GTS 250, which is more than enough for Adventure gaming). The PCI to parallel port solution will work just fine (and most likely cheaper than a cable depending on where you purchase it). I've used them in the past and never had an issue with them. You might want to consider a Light Scribe optical drive, you can burn Disc labels, which is quite handy. If you're really in the mood for fun a Blu-Ray drive would be nice too
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: InlandAZ]
#643679
08/06/10 03:18 PM
08/06/10 03:18 PM
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Jema
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InlandAZ, thanks for your reply. When I first started this and said I wanted to stick with an ATI video card, the Radeon H 5770 is the one you recommended. I'll check out the PCI to parallel port cards. I did consider Lightscribe but, since I don't burn many disks, decided I didn't need it. Plus, I read some reviews where the reviewers were having difficulty getting it to work. I don't know much about Blue-Ray. It's my understanding it's a type of DVD with better graphics for movies. I did briefly look at some optical drives that support it, but they seem to be fairly expensive. Jema
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#647128
08/19/10 10:10 AM
08/19/10 10:10 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Draclvr
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How disappointing, Jema. Hope the next one works!
It's spring. My life is weeds.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#647167
08/19/10 01:19 PM
08/19/10 01:19 PM
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Joined: Oct 2000
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southeast USA
Jenny100
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Unfortunately, one of the RAM slots and the PCI Express x16 slot on the motherboard did not work, so the motherboard is on its way back to Newegg for a replacement. What a shame. I hope your new one arrives soon.
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jenny100]
#649783
08/28/10 07:22 PM
08/28/10 07:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2002
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Virginia
Jema
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I haven't been at GB for over a week. Draclvr and Jenny100, thanks for your well wishes. The replacement motherboard is supposed to arrive Monday, 08/30. I'm praying and keeping my fingers crossed that nothing else goes wrong. Jema
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#652332
09/07/10 12:10 PM
09/07/10 12:10 PM
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Jema
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Hi All, The replacement motherboard arrived last week late afternoon. Scott installed all the parts in the case and everything worked!  The next day he installed XP Home SP2, began downloading SP3 and, wouldn't you know, the Internet connection went down! When it finally came back up, he began the download again - luckily, this time the connection remained on. He then installed SP3 without incident. Friday afternoon the real "fun" began for Scott. There was a lot of stuff on my old drive I wanted to keep and he planned to use the Migrate Wizard to copy it to the new drive. He tried for hours to get it to work. Finally, he gave up and, after some more reading, connected the 2 computers to a network and used sharing. This worked beautifully. He then disconnected my old computer, moved my new one to its place under my computer desk, and connected everything including my new APC UPS. By this time it was after Midnight. I've spent the last 3 days trying to familiarize myself with XP and see what I can change to make it more palatable to me. I installed ZoneAlarm Free and downloaded and installed AVG Free. So far I like AVG - I really like how it monitors the results of an Internet search and lets you know if a site is considered safe before you connect to it. I've made only a small dint in understanding XP, learning where everything is located, and what I can safely modify, disable, or uninstall. I know I will have questions for you later, but I'll start a new thread for that. In the meantime, thanks everyone for your help and advice here. Jema
Wouldn't that jar your mustard!
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Re: Help with customizing a new PC
[Re: Jema]
#652337
09/07/10 12:32 PM
09/07/10 12:32 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Draclvr
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Excellent, Jema! Once you get used to XP, you will like it so much more than 98SE. I upgraded my 87 year-old mother from 98SE to XP about a year ago as it was just getting too dangerous to go on-line with an unsupported operating system.
She said it took her all of about 3 days to wish she would have let me upgrade her a long time ago!
It's spring. My life is weeds.
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