Custom Computers

[The Sexy Canadian]

well im looking into building a new computer.

and was wondering what mobos are good?

any help will be greatly appreciated

[Gen.Ben]

What kind of processor? AMD or Intel? (Do you want to put in the mobo)
What socket type is the processor?
What kind of case will you be putting it into?
Are going to want one with a PCIe Slot?
How many USB ports do you want?
Do you want an onboard video card?

You're probably going to want to get an ATX case, they are the easiest cases to build into. Then you would also need the get a corresponding ATX mobo.

I would recommend anything from Intel or Asus, just make sure it matches the hardware that you want to put into your computer.

I would also recommend buying from www.tigerdirect.com or www.newegg.com unless you found a good local shop that has good prices.

[The Sexy Canadian]

Well i want a intel processor and a atx board and want at least 1 pci-e slot

[Gen.Ben]

I would recommend an intel motherboard then.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... CatId=2808

NOTE: THAT COMES WITH A CORE 2 DUO AND A CPU FAN, thats why it is so pricey. That is a nice mobo..

I would reccomend getting a motherboard/CPU package off tigerdirect with the processor allready seated in the motherboard, as IMHO that is the hardest part if you do not correctly seat the processor, it will overheat and cause big problems.

[The Sexy Canadian]

MOBO choice:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... se=2945441
Plus it comes with cpu and cpu fan pre-set on the mobo

Power supply:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6817371007

Antec earthwatts EA500 ATX12V v2.0 500W Power Supply 100

Cases:

First Choice :
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811129021

Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Number 2: Supplyhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Ite ... 6811208006

XION II XON-102 Silver Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 450W Power

HD:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822136076

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD4000AAKS 400GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Video Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102681

ATI 100-437601 Radeon X1300PRO 256MB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express x16 CrossFire Ready Video Card

RAM:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820134045

Kingston 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory

OR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820146580

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Desktop Memory


Disk Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827140021

HP 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache IDE DVD Burner With LightScribe

MONITOR!!!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824009108

Acer AL2016WBbd Black 20" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 800:1 -



Thats all if any has a input or opinion on what they recommend let me no.

[Gen.Ben]

Looks great!

I wouldnt get the XION II case, or at least i would ditch the power supply on it.

the x1300 pro is a great choice. I have it and love it.

For the ram, i would at least get two 1GB sticks

For your DVD Burner, it has lightscribe... A pointless feature unless you really want it

That monitor is also nice. Widescreen defiantly is so much better then a 4:3 screen!

Good luck!

[Raptor]

Lightscribe is useless except for people who think its "cool" yes its nice the first time you do it and its good for making something look "presentable" but if you dont NEED it, and you can save some money, dont get it.

My old laptop came with lightscribe, I was like hey thats cool. Used it once. Also, lightscribe has to have a special lightscribe DVD or CD, which still cost a bundle compared to regular DVDs and CDs

[bullwinkle]

I have an ECS elitegroup kn3 sli2 extreme MOBO and i luv it. it has a ton of features and i've had no problems with it what so ever (tho i need to look at my connections cause my mic dosen't work right. heck if it were even possible right now it supports 32 GB of ram..... 32!!!!!!!!!!

[DeafOfficeWorker]

I like that Antec case!

[Kodo]

If you are like me and sleep in the same room your computer is in.. and you leave it on at night I have a feeling those LED lights in the antec case are going to get annoying.. Boo lights.. Oh and Holy Cooling Batman. 3x 120mm and a 200mm fan w/ the case.. mmm.

[Gen.Ben]

[quote="bullwinkle";p="24439"]
heck if it were even possible right now it supports 32 GB of ram..... 32!!!!!!!!!!
[/quote]

Hey! Then you would be able to meet the recommended specs for TF2!

[Hamese]

Sexy,

Get atleast two sticks of RAM. If you get just the two sticks of 1Gb, that would be great. Two 512's would work better than the one Gb.

As for the lightscribe. I have it, and I use it. The cost for the drive is not much, if any, more than a reagular burner. You dont have to use the lightscribe feature anyway, but if you used it once a year, then it was worth the extra 10 bucks to have the option. The CD's and DVD's needed to use the feature are a little more, but the drive will also burn on any other type of medium, so there is no since in not getting it for the cost. When I create movies for people I always put the final on a lightscribe DVD... its better than a sharpie.

[llama_beans]

like everyone one else stated get 2 sticks of ram.

I would look at some of the other power supplies. You can get one with modular cabling for $20 more. Personal preference for me. Don't have crap you have to zip up and hide.

I'm not a big fan of WD. But I have to say I am using one now and I am happy with it.

I would spend a little more on the video card.. The xt1900gt is $129.. And from what I am told is a much better performer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814102022

or a 1650 for about the same amount

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductLi ... n+X1650PRO

are you going with 2 pcie because you want to use crossfire?

[DeafOfficeWorker]

I've been told that one really good video card is much better than two sub par cards crossfired or sli'ed whatever. That seems to make sense to me, but I don't know for sure. It's just what I was told by one of my uber computer friends.

[Gen.Ben]

[quote="DeafOfficeWorker";p="24516"]
I've been told that one really good video card is much better than two sub par cards crossfired [/quote]

I have the x1300 pro and I am running two monitors both on the x1300. Both monitors are at a very high resolution. 1680x1050 and 1440x900 If all you're going to play is source... It runs source GREAT!