02-11-2004, 05:13 AM
Personally...I haven't had experience assembling a computer either :P - but I do have recommendation for parts (basically because I was bringing in advice for the past about 8-10 months about current/up and coming technology from some friends who work with assorted computer review/assembly companies).
Processors:
If you're in for the long haul with this computer (2+ years) - it's recommended you get a 64-bit processor, your best deal for the money is either going to be an Athlon64 3200+ or Athlon64 3400+ (depending on if you want good, or biggest bang without busting your wallet - the AthlonFX is the bleeding edge, but will cost you almost 2x as much as the Athlon64).
If you're only planning to have this computer for 1-2 years - the Intel chips are ok, but in many cases Athlon64 3200+ will surpass them in the price : power ratio. (of course, Intel chips are still superior for rendering and office work, while Athlons are superior for games and such)
Current 64bit processors on the market: Optitron, AthlonFX, and Athlon64
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Video Cards:
I'd go with ATI Radeons, they're DX9.0 Compliant, nVidia suffer when using DX9.0 due to nVidia doing things it's own way :P.
Maybe watch and check to see if nVidia gets in gear with its newer cards (haven't kept on the ball with nVidia since the 5900 released)
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Rest of the stuff is really your own choice...but yea, Corsair memory is nice (I'm getting it in the prebuilt :P....customized the sin out of it).
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Interesting little tidbit for everyone who thinks Alienware is overpriced heh....at least it's cheaper than Dell :P (which is true for comprable higher end systems).
But there are cheaper places to buy AMD based systems (Cyberpower PC for example is quite a bit cheaper).
Note: I splurged and bought Alienware for a few reasons: They have a good business record, and their cases look better than any other case, custom or otherwise, that I have ever seen, but that's just my opinion :)
Processors:
If you're in for the long haul with this computer (2+ years) - it's recommended you get a 64-bit processor, your best deal for the money is either going to be an Athlon64 3200+ or Athlon64 3400+ (depending on if you want good, or biggest bang without busting your wallet - the AthlonFX is the bleeding edge, but will cost you almost 2x as much as the Athlon64).
If you're only planning to have this computer for 1-2 years - the Intel chips are ok, but in many cases Athlon64 3200+ will surpass them in the price : power ratio. (of course, Intel chips are still superior for rendering and office work, while Athlons are superior for games and such)
Current 64bit processors on the market: Optitron, AthlonFX, and Athlon64
------------
Video Cards:
I'd go with ATI Radeons, they're DX9.0 Compliant, nVidia suffer when using DX9.0 due to nVidia doing things it's own way :P.
Maybe watch and check to see if nVidia gets in gear with its newer cards (haven't kept on the ball with nVidia since the 5900 released)
------------
Rest of the stuff is really your own choice...but yea, Corsair memory is nice (I'm getting it in the prebuilt :P....customized the sin out of it).
------------
Interesting little tidbit for everyone who thinks Alienware is overpriced heh....at least it's cheaper than Dell :P (which is true for comprable higher end systems).
But there are cheaper places to buy AMD based systems (Cyberpower PC for example is quite a bit cheaper).
Note: I splurged and bought Alienware for a few reasons: They have a good business record, and their cases look better than any other case, custom or otherwise, that I have ever seen, but that's just my opinion :)
Chaos < Logic > Order
One who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred battles.
One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes win, sometimes lose.
One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself will be in danger in every battle.
- Sun Tzu "The Art of War"
One who knows the enemy and knows himself will not be in danger in a hundred battles.
One who does not know the enemy but knows himself will sometimes win, sometimes lose.
One who does not know the enemy and does not know himself will be in danger in every battle.
- Sun Tzu "The Art of War"