Building A Computer : Parts List

Áine on February 27th, 2004 filed in Geekware, Hardware

My current machine (to the right) was a gift from some very loving friends (from !Friends World in Virtual Reality - there’s pics there, go see!) when my old Win95 machine bit the dust right before Christmas 2001. My current machine is an HP Pavilion 7915 (Part #P5266A), with an HP Pavilion mx70 CRT monitor (17″ and a really nice monitor) : Intel Celeron 1.1 GHz, Intel i810 chipset video Integrated Intel Direct AGP with 3D graphics and 11MB shared video memory (no AGP slot to upgrade this), 100MHz FSB, Level 2 Cache 128KB, 40GB HD (of which HP takes over 8GB for a hidden emergency backup partition), 128MB SDRAM (PC133 which runs at 100MHz) with 2 DIMM sockets (max 512MB), 2 USB (1.0) ports (1 front, 1 rear), 1 FireWire port (front, never used), 48x CD-ROM (doesn’t seem to read some discs), 1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy, WinXP Home Edition (SP1 installed). HP did not include any Recovery CDs and they appear to be no longer available from the HP parts surfer service. Instead, they relied on that hidden hard drive partition, forgetting that if the hard drive fails, you have no recovery capabilities. Luckily, I still have the WinXP Product Key, but would have to re-acquire the software from somewhere to reinstall it again. Note, too, that this machine only comes with 3 PCI slots and I’ve used all of them, leaving me with no room to add anything more, except RAM.

I’ve pulled the dialup modem out and installed two NIC cards (this machine acts as a server for the home network, and we connect via cable). I’ve also dumped the onboard audio in favor of a SoundBlaster Live! MP3+ 5.1 soundcard, which I’d previously purchased for my old machine, with Creative Inspire 5.1 surround speaker system (powered subwoofer). My sound setup kicks major butt (compared to OEM sound systems, that is), and I’ve been very happy with it up to now, but (music geek that I am) I’m drooling over the new Audigy Platinum cards with their front panel access, and Rob recently gifted me with a Plantronics 90 headset with mic and it would be handy to not have to reach around behind the tower to plug and unplug the speakers when using the headset.

The current machine will remain in use as another terminal on the home network for the other members of my family to use, though I will need to upgrade this network with a cable router (instead of the current hub system) and possibly wireless capability so I can get an old notebook computer (we’ve recently been given) online, and enable me to easily connect in the future should I get a new notebook. And yes, that’s part of my geeky future plans.

I’m currently contemplating building my next desktop computer, because the one above no longer meets my needs… I seem to run out of buffer space, which I’m told is a symptom of not enough RAM, which causes me to lose my TCP-IP stack and thus, no Net connection. The only thing I’ve found to fix that is a total reboot, taking the entire home network offline in the process. The current machine also seems to be non-upgradeable without major expense, so why not build one? I asked Rob for some advice and a parts list. Non-geeky people may not have any interest in this entry, so I’ve buried “the list” beneath the extended section. Geeky people, on the other hand, might like this list.

*Note : This list I’m making (below) is not the “latest and greatest” stuff available out there, and I do drool over the Alienware machines out now, but they are currently way out of my budget, and up to now I’ve been unsuccessful in winning one in their contests, but I keep trying.

Instead, I’m trying to build something useful for -me- without breaking the bank. Something I can afford when either a) I sell my Charger, or b) if there is anything left from a tax refund we’re expecting. I have a need for good video (note the video card), speed (note the bus speed increase), and power (note the doubled CPU speed).

*Secondly : no exact urls to products on PriceWatch.com are included because it lists several retailers and allows you to buy from whichever one you find is the least expensive and/or most trustworthy.

*Thirdly : Amazon.com says they will match low prices on products of competitors (if they carry those products), and in many cases you get free shipping. You can also do your friends a favor, if they are Amazon associates, by purchasing those Amazon products from them, kicking some of the profit their way.

Without further ado, here is The List :

Motherboard : Abit - NF-7

– Specifications :

Model : Abit #NF-7
Supported CPU: Socket A AMD K7 Duron/Athlon/Athlon XP Processors
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce2 SPP + MCP
FSB: 400/333/266/200MHz
RAM: 3x DIMM for Dual-Channel DDR333/266/200 Max 3GB, 2x DIMM for Dual-Channel DDR400, Max 2GB
IDE: 2x Ultra DMA 133 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X/4X, 5x PCI
Ports: 2xPS2,2xCOM, 1xLPT, 6xUSB2.0 (Rear 2), SPDIF Out, 1xLAN, Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: 6-Channel AC97 Codec
Onboard LAN: 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet
Form Factor: ATX

– PriceWatch.com : $73.00
– NewEgg.com : $77.99
– ZipZoomFly.com : $77.85*
– Amazon.com does not stock this motherboard.

Processor : AMD Athlon XP 3000+

Specifications :

Model: AMD Athlon XP 3000+
Core: Barton
Operating Frequency: 2.16 GHz
FSB: 400MHz
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/512K
Voltage: 1.65V
Process: 0.13 Micron
Socket: Socket A
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Packaging: Chip Only (CO), or Chip + Heatsink + Fan (CHF) - We want the latter.

– PriceWatch.com : $153.91 (CO); $166.00 (CHF)
– NewEgg.com : $158.00
– ZipZoomFly.com : $166.00(CHF)*
– Amazon.com : $189.99 (CO)

Memory (RAM) : Kingston Technology - 512MB, PC3200

Specifications :

Manufacturer: Kingston
Speed: DDR400 (PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 3-3-3
Support Voltage: 2.6V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64-Bit
Warranty: Lifetime (Generic and House brands simply don’t offer this.)

– PriceWatch.com : $82.00
– NewEgg.com : $84.00
– ZipZoomFly.com : $82.00*
– Amazon.com : $123.95
No idea why amazon is so much higher priced on this, but it could be they haven’t shopped around for RAM for a while. They also have HP- and Dell-specific chips with the same specs for about $5 less… still, not comparable to the other retailers.

Video Card : ATI RADEON 9600XT 256MB (I’d go for the 9800XT, but it’s much more expensive.)

Specifications :

Model#: ATI RADEON 9600XT 256MB
Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9600XT/500MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 256MB DDR/600MHz
BUS: AGP 1X/2X/4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video Out)+DVI Connector
Support 3D API: DirectX9, OpenGL2.0
Cable/Accessories: 1 Cable, 2 CD
Max Resolution@32-bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz

– PriceWatch.com : $175.00
– NewEgg.com : $179.00*
– ZipZoomFly.com : $109.50**? Is this a mistake? If not, go for the lower price.
– This item is not stocked by Amazon.com with 256MB.

Soundcard : Creative Labs Sound Blaster, Audigy2 ZS Platinum PCI Sound Card

Specifications :

Channels: 7.1
Max Sampling Rate: 192kHz
Signal-Noise Ratio: 108dB (SNR)
Hardware Decode: Dolby Digital EX
Digital Audio: 24-bit
Hardware Polyphony: 64 Voices
PC Interface: PCI
Connectors: Digital Out for 5.1 (6-channel SPDIF Output), Line-Out, Line-In, SB1394/Firewire, Mic-In, Analog/Digital CD Audio In
External Box: Yes
Remote Control: Yes
Package includes: software, front panel unit, internal pci card, cables, remote
Special Features: DVD-Audio, THX Certified, DTS-Extended Surround, EAX 4.0 Advanced HD, DirectSound 3D

– PriceWatch.com : $161.95
– NewEgg.com : $168.00*
– ZipZoomFly.com : $172.00
– Amazon.com : $178.99

Hard Drive Storage : Western Digital Caviar, 120GB, 7200RPM+, 8MB Buffer Cache, Ultra ATA/100

Specifications :

Model: WD1200JB
Capacity: 120GB
Average Seek Time: 8.9 ms
Buffer: 8MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA100
Features: High-performance with 8MB Buffer
Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years

– PriceWatch.com : $89.00
– NewEgg.com : $95.00
– ZipZoomFly.com : $99.00 (includes round cable)*
– Amazon.com : $114.99

CD-RW / DVD : Lite-On internal CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive

Specifications :

Manufacturer: Lite-On, Black 52X32X52X16 Combo Drive
Model: Model SOHC-5232K
Write Speed: 52X CD-R, 32X CD-RW
Read Speed: 52X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
Interface: ATAPI/E-IDE
Buffer: 2MB
OS Support: Windows 95 / 98 / NT4.0 / ME / 2000 / XP
Features: SMART-BURN avoiding Buffer Under Run error

– PriceWatch.com : $54.00
– NewEgg.com : $54.00*
– ZipZoomFly.com : $55.00 (only in silver)
– Amazon.com : $49.88 - Not the same exact model, but the nearest one. This is the LTR-52327S, and you can’t tell if it’s beige, black, or silver.

Case : Black, ATX, 400w Power Supply, the more extensible, the better. - Here, the options are wide open. It’s going to be hard to find the same exact model case available at all four of our online retailers, so let’s open it up to other retailers. I’ll take notes of various cases that meet the 3 requirements as stated, and I’ll link to where they can be found online.

1. PowMax Dream Star Model CP2347SEL-3 (Black) : $45.00 (free FedEx) at NewEgg.com. Not a bad looking case, really… sort of stylish in a mod kind of way.

2. Lite-On Model HT 761B (Black) : $67.00 (includes FedEx) at NewEgg.com. It got 5 stars, one of the few that did. Seems a bit small though, doesn’t it? Not real crazy about that half-way attempt at a silver panel either… kinda flakey.

3. Raidmax Scorpio 668W (Black) : $105.00* (includes shipping) at NewEgg.com. Power supply is actually 420w, with dual fans, plus the one on the power supply; there’s mounting hardware inside for two more fans (available separately) for a total of 5 cooling fans. It’s constructed of aluminum, which also runs about 5 degrees cooler than steel. Sleek-looking monster with a clear side panel, designed with the gamers in mind. It also comes in several wild colors (yellow, green, silver, blue). I think the black one is kind of kewl.

4. MGE Gamerbox (Black) : $89.00 (includes shipping) at harddrive.com via pricewatch.com. This case includes a black keyboard, ball mouse, and speakers. Case also has a carry handle on top for LAN parties if you need that, I don’t.

I am sort of lusting after this optical mouse they’re selling, though. Mouse lust?! Yeah, told you I’m weird… and evil.

Monitor : Viewsonic G90FB-2 Perfect Flat 19″ CRT Monitor

The G90FB-2 has an ultra-fine 0.21mm horizontal (0.25mm diagonal) dot pitch, which is what you’re looking for if you are doing any kind of graphics work. Viewsonic gives their Graphics model monitors a model number starting with a G, so look for that to begin with. For a cheaper alternative, go with the Viewsonic G70FB-2, it’s the 17″ model. Viewsonic gives you a three year warranty.

– G90FB-2 (19″) : Amazon.com : $239.99 + shipping extra.
– G70FB-2 (17″) : Amazon.com : $157.88* and shipping is FREE. You know which one I’ll go for.

Accessories :

- Black Thumb Screws : I may or may not need these, depending on which case I buy. Always good to have on hand, though. $8.99* (10 pk.) A bit pricy, but ok.

- 12vDC Lighter : Am I spoiled, or what? Of course, deservedly so, too. $19.99* (black). Must.Have.

- Logitech Optical Wheel Mouse + Keyboard Combo (Black) $35.00* (free FedEx shipping) from NewEgg.com. I’m a fan of Logitech, I’ve owned several of their products over the years. The price of this may seem a bit high until you start pricing optical wheel mice with the quality of a Logitech. It’s reasonable, really, and you’re getting a black keyboard with it, too.

Operating System : WindowsXP Pro with Service Pack SP1a - Full Version CD-ROM.

– NewEgg.com : $138.00*
– ZipZoomFly.com : $138.00 (must buy hardware with it).

I’m sure I’ve forgotten things… like cables. As I come across new things, I’ll probably add to this list. Got suggestions? Write it in the comments.

After picking out all these components, I also ran across a site with reviews for many of the items in this list. According to Tech-Dreams.com I’ve made some pretty good choices.

*Running Total = $1,290.71

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