[Negative]

Well I'm sure we would all help you build one. We all have little niches that we have more experience in than others. Everyone can add their input and you could build yourself a monster of a machine.

I guess the key question at this point is how much can you or are you willing to spend on a machine? You can get a pre-packaged machine for $500, but you are really getting what you pay for. Building a computer can be a little bit more costly, but the results far compensate for the price. There is middle ground between these. There are barebone kits out there that can get you started in the right direction and then you can customize to your own taste.

I, myself, will not buy complete computers anymore. I have to visit too many friends' and familys' computers to fix them. I see what paying less got them. Building a machine also gives you control on what you get. To cut costs with manufacturing, companies mass produce computers that are all the same. Sometimes you get things you don't want or don't want to pay extra for. Building eliminates this.

[tbone]

Ok i went to newegg and made a cart. please point out something that might be a bad thing.





Qty.Product DescriptionSavingsTotal Price1
COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black Computer Case
Item #:N82E16811119115
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Add this item to your cart


-$5.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$39.99
$34.991
COOLER MASTER eXtreme RP-500-PCAR 500W Power Supply
Item #:N82E16817171018
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Add this item to your cart


$49.991
Western Digital Caviar SE16 400GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
Item #:N82E16822136004
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy Add this item to your cart


$94.991
AMD Phenom 9500 2.2GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Processor
Item #:N82E16819103226
Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy Add this item to your cart


-$10.00 Instant
$199.99
$189.991
Microsoft Windows Vista 64-Bit Home Premium for System Builders Single Pack DVD
Item #:N82E16832116204
Return Policy: Software Return Policy Add this item to your cart


$111.491
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Memory
Item #:N82E16820231122
Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy Add this item to your cart


-$40.00 Instant
$139.99
$99.991
BIOSTAR GF7050V-M7 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard
Item #:N82E16813138095
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy Add this item to your cart


$74.991
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio Sound Card
Item #:N82E16829102007
Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Add this item to your cart


$62.991 XFX GeForce 8600GT PVT84JUDF3 Video Card
Item #:N82E16814150230
Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy Add this item to your cart


$20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$119.99Grand Total:$839.41

[Remedyz]

Well i wanna be the first to say it....

Windows Vista.

Second... i'd get a ultra power supply.

[=nsn=Captpat]

I spent a little over $3,000 for just the case with CPU, video etc but to tell you the truth I wouldnt buy another computer. you can build twice the puter for half the $$$ of course it depends on your abilities but like HP said there is plenty of help online and here on the forums. you can buy a book at barns & noble on how to build it too

[=nsn=Captpat]

I dont think i would go with vista I dont think the drivers are out there for 64 bit so it might give you problems I would stick with XP, If you want I have an upgrade home version if you have a win 95, 98 or ME disk you can use it for a fresh install, I will give it to you if you want it, saves you a few bucks towards hardware. it's a legal copy, I believe with XP 32 bit you are limited to 3 GIGs of ram
I dont like micro ATX either but there may be good ones I didnt like the ones Ive had, I feel like they are shrinking a board down so they have to give up something, thats just me.

Here is what i just ordered from New Egg to set up the home server, i already had drives and power supply
A64 COOLER |ARCTIC FREEZER 64 PRO R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$19.99)
MB ASUS M2N-E NF570ULTRA AM2 - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$94.99)
MEM 1Gx2|G.SK F2-6400CL5D-2GBNQ R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$48.99)
CPU AMD|A64 X2 3600+ 1.9G AM2 1M R - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$55.99)
VGA ASUS EN8600GT OC GEAR/HTDP/256M - Retail (Qty=1, Price=$139.99)

[tbone]

ok i dumped the vista and power supply for XP and a better powersupply.
also was wondering, i went with the quad core, do you think i will need the quad or should i save some $$$ and go with the dual?







Shopping CartQty.Product DescriptionSavingsTotal Price1
COOLER MASTER Elite 330 RC-330-KKN1-GP Black SECC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail Item #: N82E16811119115 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy -$5.00 Instant
$10.00 Mail-in Rebate
$39.99 $34.99 1
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD4000KS 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM Item #: N82E16822136004 Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99
$94.99 1
XFX PVT84JUDF3 GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 SLI Supported Video Card - Retail Item #: N82E16814150230 Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $29.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 $20.00 Mail-in Rebate
$119.99 1
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Audio 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail Item #: N82E16829102007 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99
$62.99 1
PC Power & Cooling Silencer 750 Quad (Crossfire Edition) EPS12V 750W Power Supply - Retail Item #: N82E16817341011 Return Policy: Standard Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $29.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 -$30.00 Instant

$199.99 $169.99 1
G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F2-6400CL5D-4GBPQ - Retail Item #: N82E16820231122 Return Policy: Memory (Modules, USB) Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $29.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 -$40.00 Instant

$139.99 $99.99 1
BIOSTAR GF7050V-M7 LGA 775 NVIDIA GeForce 7050 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail Item #: N82E16813138095 Return Policy: Limited 30-Day Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $19.99
$74.99 1
AMD Phenom 9500 Agena 2.2GHz Socket AM2+ 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HD9500WCGDBOX - Retail Item #: N82E16819103226 Return Policy: Processors (CPUs) Return Policy Select An Optional Extended Warranty Plan 1 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $29.992 Year Extended Service Net Replacement Plan -- $39.99 -$10.00 Instant

$199.99 $189.99 1
Microsoft Windows XP Home Upgrade with SP2 - Retail Item #: N82E16837116194 Return Policy: Software Return Policy
$99.99 Subtotal:$947.91Calculate Shipping

Zip Code: 58103 FedEx Express Saver -- $74.38FedEx 2Day -- $129.74FedEx Standard Overnight -- $159.55UPS Guaranteed 3 Day Service -- $23.12UPS 2nd Day -- $68.99UPS Next Day Saver -- $89.23 Shipping:$23.12 Redeem Gift Certificates

Claim Code:
Security Code:


Gift Certificates: $0.00Apply Promo Code


Promo Code:$0.00
No Payment until August 1, 2008 with your Newegg Preferred AccountGrand Total:$971.03

[Horsepower]

Why don't you go with what Lotsurb has (except for the SCSI drive)? If there was a problem with component compatability, he would know. Vista has it's problems but it's not all that bad. Definately do not get the 64bit version though. Same goes for XP.

Before you make any purchases, be fairly certain that building a machine is something you thing you can do. It's not for everyone. It takes patience and the willingness to learn something new. It can be a rewarding experience or it can be a nightmare depending on your skill level. Do some research before you decide.

build a computer - Google Search

[tbone]

ok, i found lotsurb's processor and found a cheaper case, and new total is $841.96. is there anything i would be missing that i need.

[7355608]

I personally wouldn't buy a VGA card. PCI-E is much better, and if you're going to think about upgrading you're not gonna want a VGA slot.
This is my PC:

Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs) (Q6600 for anyone who cares)
Memory: 2GB OCZ DDR2 (I put another 2GB in and my XP recognizes up to 3.5GB)
Hard Drive: 320 GB SATA
Video Card: Radeon X1800 Series XL (I got this for $50 open-box clearance sale)
Case: Antec 900 (excessive, I just had to have it)
PSU: OCZ 550W (I think?)

Now this doesn't include things like dvd/cd, monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc...
I paid roughly $1,000 for it all. Now I did save a bunch on my video card, but I paid more for the case then I needed to. You get what you pay for. A nice 8800 would be sweet, but I don't have $600 to shell out for it. However you can get an 8800 GT OC for prolly around $200. Very good performance, top-end card, very low price. They sell out quick in a lot of stores around me right now.

The only thing that's hard about putting your pc together is the cpu. It's quite nerve racking to put the cpu in and the heatsink. Not so much hard, but it's the most expensive part, and if you mess it up it'll fry in seconds. Just take a deep calming breath, and do it right the first time. I'm not trying to scare you, just inform you ahead of time.

Oh i just noticed you said something about quad vs duo... basically that's your call. I went with a quad myself because I run a lot of crap int he background while I play my games. I also do video encoding and other such things. If you're just going to be gaming, I suggest the duo. Once again tho do your research. I believe certain duo's actually perform better for gaming.

One more thing, I know you have a pci-e card listed there, but please consider what you're buying. The price is good, you're not gonna find much else as cheap as that, but if I remember correct the 8600 is one of the worst cards. Don't just look at the series number, that means nothing. Check out toms hardware and compare them. Then look at what you can afford.

[=nsn=Captpat]

you will also need silver thermo paste dont use the crap that comes with the cpu heatsink
Newegg.com - Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM