First Build

[tupacalypse1622]

I'm planning to order and work on my first ever build soon...I'm going to be using this build for gaming and internet browsing but keep in mind that while I play some old ass games...I do want the ability to play the newest games with relative ease...I have about $1000 I can spend...and heres what I've picked out from newegg after months of research......

oh yea...i want to get into overclocking..but nothing crazy...maybe just run the fsb to 200 to start...

case - antec sonata
mobo - abit nf7-s
cpu - amd 2400 xp mobile barton (45 watt)
vid card - sapphire 9800 pro (128mb, 256 bit)
hdd - wd 80 gb sata (8mb cache)
heatsink - speeze whisperrock
optical - nu tech black 8x dvd/rw
- sony black dvd 16x
speakers - logitech z640
keyboard.mouse - microsoft multimedia black combo
os - win xp home
tv tuner - realtek (hmm i forgot the exact name but it costs $40)
ram - corsair value select 1gb (512x2) pc 3200..cas latency...2.5
monitor - samsung snycmaster 997 df 19"
and a tube or AS ceramique...

without including the monitor or shipping...the total at newegg was $1064....the monitor ..i'm gonna pick up locally..

if anyone has any suggestions, sees any incompatibility issues or anything else....feel free to comment...

[Wyodiver33]

The only flaw that I saw was Win XP Home. I would stick with XP Pro. Other than that, very nice system.

[Mak]

If you are going to get into overclocking I would try to find perhaps some lower level timings for the ram.

[tupacalypse1622]

thx for the replies...

i never really understood what justifies the price difference for xp home and xp pro...maybe its because i never used xp pro firsthand or because i never really had issues with xp home but can someone clarify?

i'm definetly gonna look for better ram but whew...it might end up breaking the bank..

[Kadath]

Originally posted by tupacalypse1622
i never really understood what justifies the price difference for xp home and xp pro...maybe its because i never used xp pro firsthand or because i never really had issues with xp home but can someone clarify?

XP Home is nigh-impossible to network, and is in all respects a crippled OS for grannies who only check email and maybe play solitaire. XP Pro is a usable OS. Thus the price difference. I know that may seem flippant but it's true.

[skyfire]

Gotta agree with everyone else, Pro over home any day of the week, home is a drastically stripped down OS versus Pro.

[mikec]

It's worth the extra money....

Differences between XP Home and XP Pro

[tupacalypse1622]

Originally posted by Kadath
XP Home is nigh-impossible to network, and is in all respects a crippled OS for grannies who only check email and maybe play solitaire. XP Pro is a usable OS. Thus the price difference. I know that may seem flippant but it's true.

thnx for the info...now i'm seriously considering pro over home...just a quick question though...when u say its impossible to network...what do you mean? i dont have anything networked as of now but i plan on getting a router and hooking up 3 or 4 computers...will home not be able to do that?

[Bamrak]

I REALLY don't see that much difference between home and pro unless you're running an actual fileserver and have a need for added user security and roaming profiles. I have used both on the same box and both were equally easy to network onto my exisiting network. The only advantage I saw in upgrading was for remote desktop, which I have scrapped for VNC anyway.

The differences are :

-Remote Desktop – remotely access your Windows XP Professional PC, from another Windows PC, so you can work with all of your data and applications while away from your office.

This can be done easier with VNC without the upgrade.

-Offline Files and Folders - access to files & folders on a network share when disconnected from the server.

Not needed unless you are using a fileserver (at least IMHO).

-Scalable processor support – up to two-way multi-processor support.

-Encrypting File System - protects sensitive data in files that are stored on disk using the NTFS file system.

Depending on what you are doing, this *may* be an issue.
To me this seems more geared toward a client/server network

-Access Control – restrict access to selected files, applications, and other resources.

Same as above

-Centralized administration - join Windows XP Professional systems to a Windows Server domain to take advantage of the full range of powerful management and security tools.

Unless you have access to MSDN CD's or a windows server, a non issue

-Group Policy - simplifies the administration of groups of users or computers.

-Software Installation and Maintenance – automatically install, configure, repair, or remove software applications.

-Roaming User Profiles - access to all your documents and settings no matter where you log on.

-Remote Installation Service (RIS) – support for remote operating system installations where desktops can be installed across the network.

-Multi-lingual User Interface (MUI) add-on - change the user interface language to get localized dialog boxes, menus, help files, dictionaries, and proofing tools etc.

I may be missing something huge, but had I not had access to acedemic CD's, I would have never upgraded.

[tupacalypse1622]

i'm gonna stray from the home and pro issue since i think pro is probably much better anyways...but does anyone know if the necessary cords are included with the purchase of a case w/ a power supply or if a cord comes with a power supply that you buy separate from a case..or neither..

[Bamrak]

In my experience, you get a cord with both a case with a power supply, and also if you buy a power supply separately.

[Elitegibson]

Originally posted by Kadath
XP Home is nigh-impossible to network, and is in all respects a crippled OS for grannies who only check email and maybe play solitaire. XP Pro is a usable OS. Thus the price difference. I know that may seem flippant but it's true.

XP Home is not crippled or even slightly hard to network. True it can't join an NT domain or do any more advanced server-type functions, but it's not a totally bad OS. If you have any real information to contribute, please do so, but leave your unsupported (rediculously wrong) statements to your self and maybe you won't look so ignorant next time.

[tupacalypse1622]

i'm thinking of changing the xp home to pro anyways...and i'm also thinking of getting the cordless mx duo...anyone have it? is it good? i've read lots of reviews and only hear positive things...i'd like to hear from a tfp member that actually has one..

[Kllr Wolf]

if I read this right you are planning on putting a mobile processor in a desktop? definatly go with a normal desktop processor.

[Kadath]

Originally posted by Elitegibson
XP Home is not crippled or even slightly hard to network. True it can't join an NT domain or do any more advanced server-type functions, but it's not a totally bad OS. If you have any real information to contribute, please do so, but leave your unsupported (rediculously wrong) statements to your self and maybe you won't look so ignorant next time.

Aww. I love you too, sweetie. A+ for misspelling ridiculous and yourself, as well the lesson on appearing ignorant. I apologize for offending your favorite OS, fanboy.

[Elitegibson]

Originally posted by Kadath
Aww. I love you too, sweetie. A+ for misspelling ridiculous and yourself, as well the lesson on appearing ignorant. I apologize for offending your favorite OS, fanboy.

Thanks for showing me humility by pointing out my misspellings and totally ignoring the fact that I was pointing out that you were wrong.

[bob32]

Originally posted by tupacalypse1622
i'm thinking of changing the xp home to pro anyways...and i'm also thinking of getting the cordless mx duo...anyone have it? is it good? i've read lots of reviews and only hear positive things...i'd like to hear from a tfp member that actually has one..

It's a great mouse, very comfortable and most of the extra buttons on it are easy to press. The keyboard's good too, nothing too special about it though IMHO. I haven't noticed any slow down during games despite being wireless. However I haven't tried out any other wireless mice/keyboards so I can't say that the Logitech ones are any better than rest.

[Slavakion]

Originally posted by tupacalypse1622
i dont have anything networked as of now but i plan on getting a router and hooking up 3 or 4 computers...will home not be able to do that?

Most likely the router will come with software that will make it relatively simple to network a couple of comps and to change settings.

[Elitegibson]

Most routers are configured by connecting to it through a web browser. Any OS will have no trouble with it.