PC build - Advise needed

[Magnumwolf]

hi,
I am currently in the process of building myself a new computer but im slightly unsure about compatibility of components, This is my first time building a computer completely from scratch and due to my budget I cant afford to purchase incorrect components. I know what I want im just unsure of compatibility, below is a list of what im hopping to put together, me and my dad have had a look and it looks ok to us but if anyone have the time could they give this a quick look to confirm that it will all work nicely together.

CPU - Intel Pentium 4 650 (3.4 GHZ)

MOBO - Abit AW8 Intel 955x

CPU cooler - Thermaltake Blue Orb II

HDD - Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 200GB 2000JS

Graphics - Sapphire ATI Radeon X800 GTO (GX-118-SP)

RAM - (Advise needed)

Ok, that's all of the main components im hoping to use, but I am unsure of what type of RAM is needed. I would like 1GB and I don't mind if its a 1GB stick or 2 512 sticks. I have around £70 to spend but I can probably spend a little more if needed. I am pretty comfortable with all the other stuff needed, I have already got the case and PSU and I have a few other things such as CD drives lying around the house.

Any useful feedback would be great appreciated

Thanks -Magnumwolf-

 

[Monstermunch]

If you play games an AMD rig would be a lot better!

 

[Ender]

i second that, spending 240 quid on a 3.6 ghz p4 chip that would give less performance then a similarly priced AMD chip. Clock Speed isn't everything

 

[Magnumwolf]

Could you suggest a better set up? The computer will be mainly for gaming.

I mainly chose P4 as ive never actually used AMD before, No idea how to compair them with pentium.

 

[Ender]

give a budget and ill try and spec you a good system, would you be playing lots of games on it?

 

[Ender]

how about something like this -

MB-088-AS Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-088-AS)
£59.95 £59.95
CP-150-AM AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-150-AM)
£119.95 £119.95
MY-046-GL GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) (MY-046-GL)
£94.95 £189.90
HD-048-WD Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 200GB 2000JS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-048-WD)
£49.95 £49.95
FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£15.95 £15.95
GX-061-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 GTO 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-061-PC)
£134.95 £134.95 (This Week Only)
Subtotal £570.65
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)) £8.95
VAT £101.43
Total £681.03

Would be a lot faster then the pentium rig

If its too high for your budget, then you could cut down ram and gfx and get -
MB-088-AS Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-088-AS)
£59.95 £59.95
CP-150-AM AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-150-AM)
£119.95 £119.95
HD-048-WD Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 200GB 2000JS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-048-WD)
£49.95 £49.95
FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£15.95 £15.95
MY-005-GL GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL)
£49.95 £49.95
GX-055-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X800 GTO16 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-055-PC) (This Week Only)
£69.95 £69.95
Subtotal £365.70
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)) £8.95
VAT £65.57
Total £440.22
Could be wrong but the gfx card you chose doesn't have the bandwidth to really make full use of its 512mb

 

[ACESHIGH]

how about something like this -

MB-088-AS Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-088-AS)
£59.95 £59.95
CP-150-AM AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-150-AM)
£119.95 £119.95
MY-046-GL GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) (MY-046-GL)
£94.95 £189.90
HD-048-WD Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 200GB 2000JS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-048-WD)
£49.95 £49.95
FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£15.95 £15.95
GX-061-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 GTO 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-061-PC)
£134.95 £134.95 (This Week Only)
Subtotal £570.65
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)) £8.95
VAT £101.43
Total £681.03

Would be a lot faster then the pentium rig

If its too high for your budget, then you could cut down ram and gfx and get -
MB-088-AS Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-088-AS)
£59.95 £59.95
CP-150-AM AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-150-AM)
£119.95 £119.95
HD-048-WD Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 200GB 2000JS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-048-WD)
£49.95 £49.95
FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£15.95 £15.95
MY-005-GL GeIL 1GB (2x512MB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS2.5 (GE1GB3200BHDC) (MY-005-GL)
£49.95 £49.95
GX-055-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X800 GTO16 256MB GDDR3 TV-Out/DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-055-PC) (This Week Only)
£69.95 £69.95
Subtotal £365.70
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)) £8.95
VAT £65.57
Total £440.22
Could be wrong but the gfx card you chose doesn't have the bandwidth to really make full use of its 512mb

both of these rigs are far better than the original Intel spec. especially for gaming. personally id go for the top one.

 

[Monstermunch]

MB-088-AS Asus A8N-E nForce4 Ultra (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard (MB-088-AS)
£59.95 £59.95
CP-150-AM AMD Athlon 64 3700+ San Diego 90nm (Socket 939) - OEM (CP-150-AM)
£119.95 £119.95
MY-046-GL GeIL 2GB (2x1GB) PC3200 Value Dual Channel Kit CAS3 (GE2GB3200BDC) (MY-046-GL)
£94.95 £189.90
HD-048-WD Western Digital Caviar Special Edition 200GB 2000JS SATA-II 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-048-WD)
£49.95 £49.95
FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)
£15.95 £15.95
GX-061-PC PowerColor ATI Radeon X1800 GTO 256MB GDDR3 AVIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express) - Retail (GX-061-PC)
£134.95 £134.95 (This Week Only)
Subtotal £570.65
Shipping (City Link Parcel Next Day (Delivered Mon-Fri)) £8.95
VAT £101.43
Total £681.03

I vote this spec, but I dont think he needs 2 x 2gb dual chan kits

 

[Magnumwolf]

Thank you all for the advise
Will run it past my dad, see what he thinks but i am happy with what you have shown me and as you have all said AMD is much better i will believe you

Will give it a good look over, and probably order it all tomorrow.

Thank you all very much

 

[Magnumwolf]

FG-000-AR Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (FG-000-AR)

Any suggestion of a more funky looking fan? Im also case modding this comp so fans withs lights are good

Or would you say that your recommendation over more superior cooling?

-Magnumwolf-

 

[iGiDK]

I recently made the move from a 3.6GHz P4 to the AMD platform and would definately recommend the transition (if, like me, you've never owned a AMD rig before )

The 3700+ is a fantastic processor at a really excellent price