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Last post 19 years ago by Gene363. 20 replies replies.
Cheapest PC components?
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billyjackson Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 9:37 AM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
Don't think site addresses will break the rules here....

Anyone know of the cheapest/best place on the net to get PC components? newegg.com? others?
cexshun Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 9:59 AM EST
Joined: 09-23-2004
Posts: 1,289
newegg.com is the ONLY place to purchase PC components. Check my account, I've spent a total of $15,000 there and would never shop anywhere else!
mikimoto Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 10:26 AM EST
Joined: 11-02-2004
Posts: 43
I use ZipZoomFly.com a lot for work. Fomerly known as Googlegear.com. They have free 2nd day shipping on almost all of their stuff. Newegg is good too.
tornado Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 11:49 AM EST
Joined: 05-27-2004
Posts: 244
I've built five full systems using Pricewatch.com. They have, hands down, the best prices and lowest (if not free) shipping on everything. They aren't a distributor, just a portal for companies to post their best deals on PC parts. But like I said, I've probably had close to a hundred orders placed and never had a problem with anything.
billyjackson Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 12:11 PM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
thread redirect.....

Pentium based? AMD?

Looking to do my first build, but don't want to do something that can't be upgraded/overclocked later....Want to do AMD 64 i think...XP is on its way out as far as I understand.

Tips/suggestions?

mrbillyjackson
hotmail
if you need it
cexshun Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 12:27 PM EST
Joined: 09-23-2004
Posts: 1,289
Again, AMD 64 is the only way to go! Fast fast fast fast! AMD XPs are on the way out, but are still viable for desktop PCs. And if you compare cost/performance of AMD and Intel, there is no comparison. Intel may advertise high clock speeds(i.e. MHZ), but from personal benchmarks I've ran, AMD outperforms. My old AMD 2.0GHZ benchmarks equal to an Intel 2.5~2.6!
Gene363 Offline
#7 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 2:08 PM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,881
Newegg Newegg Newegg

They have the right combination of selection, web based product presentation, price and reliability.

I can find some items cheaper from time to time, but I have found I save more in time and trouble buying from Newegg.

If you truly want "Cheapest" look for a direct importer of Taiwan parts, just don’t count on replacements or any service. Be prepared to spend time getting drivers and trouble shooting bad parts. Compgeeks.com is good source of refurbished and odd lot parts.

If you need great technical support and don’t really know how to assemble and trouble shoot a PC, buy a Dell or go to the local electronics superstore and buy something on sale.

Part of my job involves being a computer system Data Administrator. I build/repair PCs for the fun and challenge of solving problems. I enjoy it enough that our System Administrators bring their personal to me to trouble shoot.
billyjackson Offline
#8 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 5:37 PM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
OK...AMD 64 is my decision...

NOW....

MBs and Chipsets....nforce better? Does it matter?
0patience Offline
#9 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 7:49 PM EST
Joined: 07-20-2003
Posts: 1,023
billy,
One suggestion if you are going to run AMD, I would make sure you have enough cooling, as they tend to run hot.

Some other sources to check are
www.tigerdirect.com
www.cyberwarehouse.com
www.compgeeks.com
CWFoster Offline
#10 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 7:58 PM EST
Joined: 12-12-2003
Posts: 5,414
I've used TigerDirect, I'll have to check out some of these others!
Gene363 Offline
#11 Posted: Fri, Nov 19 2004, 10:42 PM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,881
K8T800 or Nforce chipsets are booth good. Asus is a good MB, though I can say I have had good luck with several other brands. Most of the differences between one chipset and another are below what you are going to notice in day-to-day use. Stability is more important, especially if don't have it. IMO, crappy ram and power supplies cause a lot of problems.

Back in the day, some AMD chips ran hot. The XPs and Athlons do not run especially hot set to factory specs, i.e., not over-clocked, The box set chips include a fan and a three-year warrantee (Save the ORIGINAL package), but they can make a little more noise than some aftermarket fans. No CPU chip should ever be started without a heat sink properly installed. Good case airflow is important, 120 mm fans are better than a 80 mm fans, but no fan helps much if you stuff the case in a place with no air circulation.
Schmitty22 Offline
#12 Posted: Sat, Nov 20 2004, 4:16 AM EST
Joined: 01-27-2003
Posts: 4,892
i use tiger too! and get a wholesalers discount if you want me to price some stuff out let me know. smitty0128forums-cigars at yahoo dot com
billyjackson Offline
#13 Posted: Sat, Nov 20 2004, 9:40 AM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
Thanks for the info and offers.

Now I'm not sure....Would like to do AMD64 939 for upgrade capabilities....but cost factor multiplied by my not having done a build before makes me wonder if XP would be a better choice for a first build.

Got a month or so to keep researching and what not before I have the cash to do anything. I might pop back up with more questions!!!!
Gene363 Offline
#14 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 3:32 AM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,881
Look at the socket 754, 939 is good, but to realize a gain you will need to change out the chip. If you have a use for your the old chip great, otherwise you spent a lot of $$$ for a little gain.

The Athlon XP is still a good chip. It really depends on what are going to do with the PC. Will you run a 64 bit OS that really uses the 64-bit chip? Will you be doing production video or photo editing (Not just fixing redeye/sharpness)? Are you a graphic designer? If you are a gamer, you will also want to budget for a lot of video card. For most non-gamers, less speed and a larger monitor make a better compromise.
billyjackson Offline
#15 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 11:30 AM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
XP it is....$$$ and not knowing enough of the intricacies vetos 754/939.

So far looking at

Mobo: ASUS A7V880
CPU: 2600+ Barton
RAM: 2x512mb Kingmax PC3200 (compatible acc. to ASUS)
HD: 80GB Western Digital IDE (WD800JB) [don't want to mess with SATA right now....this got good reviews]
VC: ASUS GeForce FX5200...Model V9520 Magic/T
DVDR: Optorite 12x Dual Layer

Haven't decided on a case yet...I assume a 400-430W power supply will suffice??
Gene363 Offline
#16 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 1:21 PM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,881
I think you will be quite happy with your choices.

A 400-watt power supply should be plenty.

With two sticks of ram, that MB supports dual channel ram.

Seagate recently offered 5 instead of 3 year warrantee and they have a comparable drive for about $10 more.
cexshun Offline
#17 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 1:33 PM EST
Joined: 09-23-2004
Posts: 1,289
Go with the WD with the 8mb buffer. 8mb buffer is key! 5 year warrenty is useless as I've NEVER owned a Hard drive for more then 3 years. Seagate may be quiter, but on benchmark testing, the io/rw speed is much slower on the Seagate.
Gene363 Offline
#18 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 3:45 PM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,881
cexshun

Do you throw away your old hardware or does some one else use them? Not everyone can afford to replace functional hardware. I don’t wish to get into a pi55ing contest but most benchmark differences between similar components are below the level noticeable by the user. As for hard disk benchmarks, which one is important depends on the end use, i.e., access time, transfer speed for large Vs small files and write times. Most differences within a class (interface/size/RPM/No of Disks) of drives are minute. You pays your money and takes your choice.

Seagate 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
Model ST380013AS
$69 and it is SATA
Capacity: 80GB
Average Seek Time: 8.5 ms
Buffer: 8MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: Serial ATA
Features: 3D Defense System
Manufacturer Warranty: 5 year

Vs

Western Digital Special Edition 80GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model WD800JB
Model# WD800JB
$58
Item # N82E16822144122
Capacity: 80GB
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

Both drives are relatively quiet and I use both as well as Maxtore drives.
billyjackson Offline
#19 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 4:08 PM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
What are the issues of an inexpereienced "builder" setting up SATA? I'm confident I can pull off the IDE...but if SATA isn't that difficult, I understand it may be better, esp. if later i want to try RAID. I've read a little on SATA...mainly ran across problems people have with certain mobos and linux.
billyjackson Offline
#20 Posted: Sun, Nov 21 2004, 4:13 PM EST
Joined: 08-19-2002
Posts: 2,860
A question about case cooling.....

why don't people just keep the sides off the case (the ones that have removable sides) and set a desk fan by it? If cooling is that big a deal...as illustrated by those who water cool...shouldn't this work better than case fans?
Gene363 Offline
#21 Posted: Mon, Nov 22 2004, 2:17 PM EST
Joined: 01-24-2003
Posts: 30,881
SATA is just as easy to set up as IDE. The only thing to watch is the power connector; SATA drives have a unique power connector. Some SATA drives also have the old style four-pin power connector. Either one will work but you should not connect both of them.

Water-cooling is costly, subject to leaks, more complicated and is not necessary for standard/ non-overclocked installations.

Sides off is ok, but most cases are designed to take air in on the front and exhaust air to the top/rear. Running with the sides off stops this flow.
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