Critique my computer build (please!) [Edit: new parts selected]

[javeryh]

EDIT: Critique my build part 2:

I've rearranged a few components and I think I'm all set but I'd like to hear from people who know more than I do before I actually pull the trigger.  The only thing I care about is outputting to a 4:5 (vertical) monitor and that the picture will stretch to the edges.   I have a Dell 197 LCD.  Here goes:

Power Supply/Case
Video Card
Memory
Motherboard
Processor
Hard Drive

The total is under $300 shipped.

THANKS!!

[Green Giant]

About the video stretching, I think you should be able to do this through the software out there.  Should be easy with that video card.

My criticism is your motherboard/processor selection.  Opening up that link for your processor, there is an option for a combo motherboard and AMD 64 3200 for $66.  You pointed to a AMD 64 3000 for $30 and an ECS K8M800-M2 motherboard for $50.  That is $80 separate for the two.  Get the motherboard with the combo proc and you are set. 

It should be able to handle everything you can throw at it.

[javeryh]

About the video stretching, I think you should be able to do this through the software out there.  Should be easy with that video card.

So you think I can just get the video card and throw it in my current computer and I'll be fine?  My current specs are:

Mainboard: Intel D815EEA
Chipset: Intel i815E/EP
Processor: Intel PIII 733MHz
Memory: 128MB (1x128 SDRAM)
Video Card: Intel 82815
Hard Drive: 30GB
Monitor: Dell E197FP

Great call on the combo - I'll definitely be doing that if I order...  Thanks!!   

[Green Giant]

You will be reduced on what games you can play just cause that is a slower computer.  If you already have a computer to use, you could always just buy the mobo/cpu and memory.  Thats all you need.  Use the current HD, case, and power supply.

Fitting that computer depends on the pci connections onboard.  You need an AGP connection for that video card.

[ElfShotTheFood]

Depending on who made you 733 mhz computer, you may not be able to update the motherboard in it.  if its a name brand computer then it probably does NOT use an atx style motherboard, so you will probably need a case to go with it.

[javeryh]

Depending on who made you 733 mhz computer, you may not be able to update the motherboard in it.  if its a name brand computer then it probably does NOT use an atx style motherboard, so you will probably need a case to go with it.

It's a Gateway so I'm guessing that's going to be a problem?  The build I listed is only $200 so it's not that bad but I was hoping to reuse what I had laying around...

[javeryh]

EDIT: Critique my build part 2:

I've rearranged a few components and I think I'm all set but I'd like to hear from people who know more than I do before I actually pull the trigger.  The only thing I care about is outputting to a 4:5 (vertical) monitor and that the picture will stretch to the edges.   I have a Dell 197 LCD.  Here goes:

Power Supply/Case
Video Card
Memory
Motherboard
Processor
Hard Drive

The total is under $300 shipped.

[Green Giant]

On  that processor you pointed out, scroll down a little bit to view all 9 combos.  There is one for that proc and an equivalent motherboard for 100.

Why the upgrade from the AMD64 3200?

[torez]

Just sell your old Gateway (preferably make fresh install of windows).  Use the money to invest in your new purchase.  Don't use old hard-drive (as it's old, there is a bigger chance that it will fail).  New hard-drives are faster and are quieter.  Get one with at least 8 MB cache (preferably 16 MB) and 7200 rpm.
Btw, AMD X2 is dual core.  But that should be ok, as hopefully Mame will take advantage of it in the near future.

[javeryh]

On  that processor you pointed out, scroll down a little bit to view all 9 combos.  There is one for that proc and an equivalent motherboard for 100.

Why the upgrade from the AMD64 3200?

No reason.  I seriously have no idea what I'm doing, that's all.   

Just sell your old Gateway (preferably make fresh install of windows).  Use the money to invest in your new purchase.  Don't use old hard-drive (as it's old, there is a bigger chance that it will fail).  New hard-drives are faster and are quieter.  Get one with at least 8 MB cache (preferably 16 MB) and 7200 rpm.
Btw, AMD X2 is dual core.  But that should be ok, as hopefully Mame will take advantage of it in the near future.

Thanks.  How do you recommend I sell the old computer? eBay?  It wouldn't come with anything other than what's in the tower now and I'm even planning to remove the DVD-R drive (leaving the CD-RW drive in there).  Could I even get $50 for it (PIII, 733MHz, 30GB HDD, 128MB RAM)?

[Green Giant]

Try selling it as parts on ebay.  There might be someone looking for old memory or a replacement harddrive.  Basically see what similar stuff on ebay goes for and hope you get lucky.

[hypernova]

Are uATX motherboards compatible with ATX cases?  Because that's what you have.  uATX must be something new in the past few years, as I've not heard of it yet.  Or I've forgotten about it.

[torez]

Thanks.  How do you recommend I sell the old computer? eBay?  It wouldn't come with anything other than what's in the tower now and I'm even planning to remove the DVD-R drive (leaving the CD-RW drive in there).  Could I even get $50 for it (PIII, 733MHz, 30GB HDD, 128MB RAM)?

If you are in a bigger city, try craigslist.org.  I would recommend selling locally, as someone will just pick it up with cash in hand.  With Ebay you have to deal with shipping, etc.  If you have old monitor to go with it, add it as a freebie (maybe they don't need it, but as it's a freebie you don't have to lower the price).  Something like $75 asking price should be fine.  You can let it go for $60-65.  Just say it works great and you are just upgrading to a new one.  Add few pics, as that's a big seller.  I'm sure someone will snag it for their office or kids.  Even try leaving an add at your local grocery store.

Another thing, many of these cheap cases come with really cheapo power supplies.  I would not recommend getting the cheapest ones, unless you don't value what you will have on that computer.  Try some Antec case with power supply under $100 or get a case without any power supply and then some psu that costs $50+.  It's one time thing, but you will not be sorry down the road.

[johnperkins21]

You will be reduced on what games you can play just cause that is a slower computer.  If you already have a computer to use, you could always just buy the mobo/cpu and memory.  Thats all you need.  Use the current HD, case, and power supply.

Fitting that computer depends on the pci connections onboard.  You need an AGP connection for that video card.

Just an FYI as I'm sure you're not actually doing this, but chances are your new mobo wouldn't have IDE connections for the old HD, it's probably SATA. So you'd probably have to get a new HD anyway, which means there's really not much point in salvaging that old machine. Selling it is a great option.

[Green Giant]

Just about every new motherboard out there still has ide connections.  Not always for the harddrive but for the dvd drive.  The very latest dvd drives have sata connections, but right now people still need ide connections for them.

[ssc arcade]

take a look at your case and motherboard, chances are is is a standard ATX motherboard.  Gateway did not (generally) use non ATX motherboards in the standard tower case.  They did have their own stand offs on some of the later ones, but you can reuse those.  If your case is a PIII, I am not sure if it has all the right holes for a Micro ATX.

I used to work in case design there.  If you can take your case apart and do some measuring you may save yourself the cost of a new case.

[stuckpixel]

If you're looking to buy, a uATX (otherwise known as a microATX) will fit in a standard ATX case without any problems.

The setup you had picked out looks pretty decent, the only real thing to note is that you have an X2 processor at the moment, and mame won't really take advantage of dual core processors for most things. That being said, there really aren't any _faster_ single core options for that range so I'd probably just go with that proc.

Might want to look at the package deals, looks like your biostar motherboard has a 10 mail-in, where-as if you use one of the package deals, you'd get 10 bucks right off the top for an ECS motherboard with the same chipset.

Gig of ram should be fine, and HD looked OK. Not a huge ATI video card fan, but that'll do the trick for what you need it for.

[torez]

AMD just cut prices on their cpus.  Wait couple of days until new prices propagate to all websites.  Another thing you could do is wait until July 22nd or so until Intel cuts cpu prices.  You may have a look at a nice cheap Core 2 Duo setup then.

Wow, been waiting for this (well, Intel's price slashing) for last 5 months or so.  It's almost here.  For these who prefer AMD, here's your chance.

AMD has just posted their latest CPU pricing list, and has slashed prices across the board for Desktop chips. All Athlon X2's are now priced under $200 US. The Athlon X2 6000+ now costs $178 per unit, down from $241 when purchased in quantities of 1000. Pricing on mobile processors remains unchanged.

These price cuts come just days before Intel is expected to cut prices on their CPU line, and highlight new processors featuring a 1333MHz FSB. Preliminary pricing charts based on a July 22nd drop-date have Intel offering their Q6600 quad-core chip for $266 US, and all Core 2 Duo desktop chips with the exception of the 3.0GHz E6850 priced below $200 US.

Now, do I wait until Christmas or take a plunge this summer?

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_609,00.html?redir=CPT301

[leapinlew]

Just about every new motherboard out there still has ide connections.  Not always for the harddrive but for the dvd drive.  The very latest dvd drives have sata connections, but right now people still need ide connections for them.

Just ordered 2 batches of computers from Dell. Both sets have no IDE connections. sucks...

[torez]

Just about every new motherboard out there still has ide connections.  Not always for the harddrive but for the dvd drive.  The very latest dvd drives have sata connections, but right now people still need ide connections for them.

Just ordered 2 batches of computers from Dell. Both sets have no IDE connections. sucks...

You can grab one of these pci adapter cards that have either two IDE plugs or one IDE and one/two SATA.  You can get them cheap these days.  Try Ebay.  Get some brand name like Adaptec, Maxtor, for example, for better compatibility.

[Green Giant]

Just ordered 2 batches of computers from Dell. Both sets have no IDE connections. sucks...

Is it shipping with a SATA dvd drive?  Could be that there are no available ide connections.  Doesn't seem too bad if they are giving you a sata dvd drive with your order.  Kind of surprising for Dell to offer such up to date technology in a desktop.  But like torez said, a pci card adding ide connections is very cheap, have some on tigerdirect for $20.