New Computer Hardware Advice

[Guest]

I want to build a new computer before the end of April. After some research, I have chosen

all my parts but I'd like to run it past the group to see if anyone has any advise or red flags

they would like to throw in.

Video Card - I already have an Xtasy Geforce 3 TI200 that I will be using

Motherboard and Processor -

P4 ~1.8GHz Processor w/ Asus P4TE - socket 478 with the Intel 850 chipset - $315 (bzboys.com)

512K RDRAM Memory - $122 (Pricewatch) I read Some where that these need to be in pairs, can anyone confirm this?

Hard Drive - Western Digital 120 GB 7200RPM - $194 (Ebay)

Case - 400w 7 bay ATX $49 (electroseller.com) - is this enough power?

Sound Card - SB Audigy - $69 (Ebay)

Came Card - does anyone make a good PCI game card these days?

Thanks in advance for any comments, I will be plunking the ching sometime tomorrow after noon 8-)

[Cmdr Nova]

Yes, RDRAM needs to be installed in pairs. Get two 256mb modules instead.

400 watts is more than enough power for a gaming system.

And what kind of game card are you talking about? The kind of game port thing? Most (nearly all) PCI sound cards have them already.

Depending on your purpose for it, I expect most of the other people on the boards to tell you to get an AMD Athlon. Hm... I don't really see any big downfalls to your system.

[Guest]

I use a CH Game Card III Automatic game port. I have an older CH Products flight controles set up, F-16 Combat stick, Pro Throttle and Pro rudders. I didn't feel like spending another $700 just to upgrade the same CH equiptment to USB. For anolog set ups, CH recomends disabling the sound card game port and using a separate game port Card. The only game cards I've seen are for an ISA slot and with the slow speed of 8 bit ISA, Most newer Mother Boards don't use it any more.

[Soback]

Don't recomend a SB card. Got it when I build my computer (less than 8 months) and nothing but regrets. You will need to turn down sound acceleration for most of the games you will play otherwise it will cause crashes and chopy sound. You will especially notice it in game called Etherlords, ex. -> full aceleration turned on = sound is so chopy it's useless, aceleration off = works like a charm.

Lesson learned = SB cards are...... you get the picture.

[Soback]

Also one more thing. I know you are not getting the exact same SB card I have but go to Operation Flashpoint forums. Some people are having problems with the Audigy card you are planning to buy so that gives you an idea on SB card trends.

[Guest]

I use an SB Live in my current system and yeh, your right it sucks. The good thing is that not all Sound Blaster Cards are created Equal. The Audigy is supposed to be better, but your mention of troubles on other forums is concerning. A while back on th Internal Mailing List Derek mention either an SB Audigy or a Turtle Beach, That was one of the reasons I chose the SB Audigy. The other reason is that I've had a soundblaster card since my very first computer. Creative is so well known. Maybe I'll look in to the TB a little more. I just want a decient sound card that is going to be less trouble the the SB Live.

[Supreme Cmdr]

Get either the SB Audigy or the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. Both work fine. I have both.

As for CPU. Don't listen to the Athlon afficionados (sp). If you're going that route, go with

[*]ABIT KG7 (AMD761/VIA 686B chipset) - be sure to install the latest VIA 4-in-1 drivers!!

[*]Any Athlon XP cpu you can afford

[*]512MB PC2100 DDR (get a pair of 256MB sticks)

or better

And why do you need a separate game card? All sound cards come with joystick ports which are more than adequate.

[Epsilon 5]

quote:

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Originally posted by Supreme Cmdr:

And why do you need a separate game card? All sound cards come with joystick ports which are more than adequate.

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Or you can always use the USB port...