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Thread ID: 38779	2003-10-18 03:54:00	Upgrading advice needed?	nomad (3693)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
184391	2003-10-18 03:54:00	Hi, I am considering some upgrades for the desktop PC which is being used by another household member. I have a P3 lappie which does everything v happily. Ok, for the desktop, its got a ps2 relatively recent mouse, few weeks old ps2 logitech keyb, a few months old 17" CRT by LG. The PC would be used to play some latest games and the normal stuff like Photoshop, online, Mp3, MS Office and MS Publisher. At the moment it is a P200, 64MB, 1GB. What I need is: Intel P4 CPU 1.8/2Ghz. Motherboard based on Intel chipset for stability, 8x AGP, builtin surround sound hopefully and LAN. 40GB HDD, 512MB RAM, ATX case and PSU. GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128MB. Everything else can be transplanted across from the old PC. I am hoping to spend as less as possible and will consider getting them out of Wellington and taking note of possible courier cost. 1. Any suggestions of the configuration for my usages?? The Intel solution and video card is more or less fixed but nevertheless please feel free to suggest. 2. How should one decide for a motherboard and a PSU?? 3. I am sourcing parts via www.pricespy.co.nz, would any supplier offer good deals if I purchase all the parts mentioned from one company?? The one thing I am looking for is stability rather than speed. Hopefully I can spend around $700 or less. Regards.	nomad (3693)
184392	2003-10-18 04:56:00	If you are looking for stability, then consider your plight if you do purchase the bits from a diverse range of suppliers . If two components decide not to play nicely with each other, you will have little recourse as each supplier will be able to blame the other for any incompatability . If however you purchase all bits from 1 company, you do indeed have recourse in the event of a problem . Given the modest number of parts you need, any savings made in the mix and match approach will be very minor . Items such as the case wouldn't matter, but the rest would . If you want to carry the risk, and have the stress of trying to resolve any problem, then thats your choice of course . Remember to buy your OS at the same time, as its much cheaper OEM .	godfather (25)
184393	2003-10-18 06:20:00	heres wat i would buy based on ur requests: Abit IS7-G / ASUS P4P800 / Intel D865PERLL Pentium 4 2.4C (note the C this means it has a FSB of 800mhz as apposed to 533 + it has hyperthreading) 2 x 256mb DDR PC3200 (using two 256 as apposed to one 512 mean u can enable dual channel) grab a 80gb SATA HDD they aren't that much more expensive than a 40 and will offer more space adn good preformance. It doesnt really matter wat case u buy but a good power supply manufacters are Enermex and Antec, ive been reading good things about Thermaltake but dont really know about them. Adata, Twinmos, Apacer, PQI all make pretty bog standard ram that sould surfice unless u wanna get into overclocking? For the video card grab a Leadtek or ASUS card(u would be better off with a ATI card, more preformance for less money)Is there a particular reason u want a Ti4200?	Pete O'Neil (250)
184394	2003-10-18 06:48:00	> If two components decide not to play nicely with each other, you will have little recourse as each supplier will be able to blame the other for any incompatability . I would think that would only apply if the supplier one was buying all the parts from was specifically asked whether the parts chosen would play together nicely . After all, how do they know whether the parts are for one PC or several? I would be inclined to get it in writing and find out whether their parts recommendations will have a "restocking" fee if they don't work out after following their advice . Choosing a mobo and PSU can be difficult - everyone has their favourites and brands that they recommend but do make sure your PSU is a good quality one and not too small . Your choice of case may have some influence on what you end up with (and vice versa) since a lot of cases come with a PSU .	Susan B (19)
184395	2003-10-18 11:10:00	I think you will find that anything sold without an os loaded onto is sold as parts(even if partially assembled),so the warrenty/garentee it will work applies to each component as a seperate item,once an os is loaded then it is classified as a working unit,thus the shop garentees that is is indeed a fully working unit.	metla (154)
184396	2003-10-18 19:34:00	Well I've just built myself a puter from bits asus mobo (asus is good) p4s800 (800 fsb) 2x 256 ddr ram (pc3200) asus v9520 magic agp card (with 128 meg ddr ram on card) large case - for later additions pentium 4 2.4ghz processor hdd 20 gig samsung imported from my old puter this system is hyperthreaded and fast ...........it cost me about $1200 which is all the parts at cost price btw.......(including XP which I got from Tradme.co.nz for $160)	drcspy2 (4743)
184397	2003-10-18 19:46:00	BTW............Asus say in their little book to use the '9 screws supplied' to anchor the mobo to the case............DONT.......it wont 'fire up'..f you do that.......I've discovered that you ignore that piece of advice and use the plastic 'standouts' they supply NOT screws........	drcspy2 (4743)
184398	2003-10-18 21:40:00	> I think you will find that anything sold without an os loaded onto is sold as parts(even if partially assembled),so the warrenty/garentee it will work applies to each component as a seperate item,once an os is loaded then it is classified as a working unit,thus the shop garentees that is is indeed a fully working unit. That is a good point, Metla, but from what Nomad said I took it to mean that he was planning to do the assembling himself rather than have a supplier assemble it which is a rather different kettle of fish.	Susan B (19)
184399	2003-10-18 22:56:00	Yes assembling would be fun. That is the intention. I have a retail version of XP Pro already. I have a preference to NIVIDIA as opposed to ATI. Ti4200 I think should get the work done without being too expensive. Games is more casual thou. Least its not a MX card...	nomad (3693)
184400	2003-10-18 23:17:00	My intention is not to spend too much.. Occasionally its to play some of the latest games, but 70% its online, and office applications. Hence the cpu was slower and a Ti4200 card. I rather upgrade each 2yr modestly than to spend more than I need to at the first instance. N.	nomad (3693)
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