NationStates Jolt Archive


Anybody build a new pc lately....

Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 14:50
I just built a new HTPC, all parts bought from Newegg. It runs great and looks perfect. The new AMD cool and quiet tech is awesome, my pc runs around 85%F. Make some comments, suggest some changes or upgrades. Tell us about your latest pc project. Specs below

CASE AHANIX D-VINE MCE601B-A RETAIL N82E16811126142 3/28/2005 12:29:23 PM 1 $xxx.00
MB GIGABYTE GA-K8N Ultra-9 N82E16813128283 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xxx.00
VGA ATI|X700PRO 256MB 100-437402 N82E16814102414 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xxx.00
TV TUNER ATI|TV WONDER 100-703205 N82E16815116312 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xxx.00
CPU AMD 64 3800+ ATHLON 64 939P RT N82E16819103465 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xxx.00
DDRAM 2GB|64X64 VS DDR400 KIT COR R N82E16820145480 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 2 $xxx.00
HD200G|ST 7200 8M SATA ST3200826AS% N82E16822148066 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xxx.00
DVD+/-RW LG| GSA-4163BK - Black % N82E16827136049 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xx.00
CPU FAN ARCTIC-COO|ACFZ64 FREEZER64 N82E16835185115 3/27/2005 11:07:54 AM 1 $xx.99

N82E numbers can be searched in newegg. I'm using winxp pro sp2 for now...
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 14:53
Also using gyration wireless keyboard and mouse. It has a 30 foot range and can be used in the air. The pc is hooked up to a sony 42 inch HDTV Grand Wega in my living room via the ATI HDTV adapter.
Bodies Without Organs
02-04-2005, 14:53
CASE AHANIX D-VINE MCE601B-A RETAIL N82E16811126142 3/28/2005 12:29:23 PM 1 $288.00

Three hundred dollars for a case? That's what... two hundred quid? The words more money than sense spring to mind.
Lapse
02-04-2005, 14:55
whoa... i want taht computer... need more hard drive space though... 200gig is not enough for an interneter...
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 14:57
Three hundred dollars for a case? That's what... two hundred quid? The words more money than sense spring to mind.
I actually didnt mean to leave the prices in there just copied it from my newegg order. This this is my stereo, my dvd player, my computer, my tivo, and a great platform to play games on all in one. It sits in my livingroom so it has to look great.
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 14:59
whoa... i want taht computer... need more hard drive space though... 200gig is not enough for an interneter...
The MB has dual SATA raid but I didn't want to create too much noise or tax the proprietary 350w power supply too much by adding too many hard drives. I guess I can always add another later and go with raid0.
Lapse
02-04-2005, 15:02
The MB has dual SATA raid but I didn't want to create too much noise or tax the proprietary 350w power supply too much by adding too many hard drives. I guess I can always add another later and go with raid0.
a USB2.0 perhaps?

also, a 350W PSU is not enough for that i'd think, 450W mininum, otherwise your uber computer would be not runnin to full extent...
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 15:06
a USB2.0 perhaps?

also, a 350W PSU is not enough for that i'd think, 450W mininum, otherwise your uber computer would be not runnin to full extent...
Yeah that's why I didn't get another HD, it runs great now but I would probably have to buy another power supply to go with raid0.
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 15:11
With AMD cool and quiet the processor autimatically scales procesor speed according to load. At idle it only runs at 1Ghz, saving a lot of power and heat. My main gripe with my last pc (pentium4) is that it was so hot the fans constantly roared, pretty annoying in the living room while watching tv.
Lapse
02-04-2005, 15:12
Yeah that's why I didn't get another HD, it runs great now but I would probably have to buy another power supply to go with raid0.
hmmm, it prolly wouldnt hurt to have more power, but im pretty sure your wallet is in enough pain as it is :P

As i said a USB hard drive would be allright

and is this american dollars?
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 15:17
hmmm, it prolly wouldnt hurt to have more power, but im pretty sure your wallet is in enough pain as it is :P

As i said a USB hard drive would be allright

and is this american dollars?
You may be right, I'll watch for any instability, usb is also a good idea, or maybe even an 80211g network storage, so it could be kept in a closet or something. The wife wont allow (ugly) computer parts in the livingroom. As it is, you cant even tell there's a computer in the room. It just looks like a high end reciever or something. Yeah its american dollars.
Neo-Anarchists
02-04-2005, 15:48
My PC is like Frankenstein's monster, built from parts I plundered off other broken computers or got off friends who didn't want them.

Unfortunately, the magic smoke got out of the motherboard and it doesn't work anymore.
:(

Good thing I have this laptop I'm currently using.
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 15:55
My PC is like Frankenstein's monster, built from parts I plundered off other broken computers or got off friends who didn't want them.

Unfortunately, the magic smoke got out of the motherboard and it doesn't work anymore.
:(

Good thing I have this laptop I'm currently using.
Cant beat a laptop for reliability...
Jordaxia
02-04-2005, 16:02
My 2 year old pc, which I have not yet named, is currently broken, and I can't even remember most of its specs. Never put a 300w power supply in a comparatively powerful pc and leave it there for a year. Two words. "irreperable failure." Words that put that into context, though out of order, are "drive of hard." Lemme give what I remember.
300w supply (deceased)
120gb hard drive (deceased)
Geforce 5200 (more letters here)
Some generic sound card on on board sound.
4 fans of varying noise level. (though hardly worth noting, I do like a pc that makes a lot of noise.)
dvd-cd/rw drive.... somethingorother.
2.8GHZ athlon (it either runs at the equivalent of a 2800 intel, or similar, I never remember.)

Surprisingly, I don't know what's really in that pc, except it used to work hella fast. The backup pc, known as "my little brothers pc" or as I like to call it "auxillius" is considerably slower, though nobody could quite figure out why. Technically it is the second fastest of the three, but in actuality, it is the slowest. Runs the webs and RTR (Rome total realism) fine enough though, so I hold my complaints.


This pc, however, is the grand master. 4 years I believe since its last upgrade, also runs RTR acceptably, this is my old Wheezy tortoise. Here are the stats I can actually remember.
1.4ghz athlon processor (this one IS just intel equivalent)
192mb ram
Geforce 4 (some more letters here)
Generic sound blaster card, 16mb, apparently.


This one also partially broken due to ANOTHER power supply that was too small, and if I recall, that was a 350w supply, but it has since been upped to a 450w supply.

And that is the legacy of my pcs....
if anyone can come up with a name of my newest pc, and I think it rules, I'll probly use it.
SimNewtonia
02-04-2005, 16:03
Ouch. That reminds me just how outdated my computer is. Almost everything needs either to be upgraded or replaced. This includes my monitor. Everything that's red appears black and everything's quite blueshifted.

I have:
-1.5GHz P4
-256MB SDRAM (or as I prefer "slow-death ram")
-GeForce 4 MX440
-40GB HDD (desperately in need of a new one, only 5GB free)

My desired system:
-Latest P4
-AT LEAST 1GB DDR SDRAM (one of the games I DO run is a RAM hog)
-200GB HDD (should hold me out for a while...)
-5.1 surround sound card. (CHECK! have one ready for when I actually upgrade).
Neo-Anarchists
02-04-2005, 16:08
Cant beat a laptop for reliability...
Hee.
Yeah, I can't play most of my games due to some memory problem that's causing them to crash, which is funny since they used to work. Also, the CD drive doesn't always like working and sometimes I have to reboot to get it to. And the built-in wireless has occaisonal hiccups where it stops receiving.

Great computer, otherwise.
:D
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 16:10
I'm starting to wonder if my power suplpy is strong enough for my new htpc, I need to find a formula to be sure. I'd hate to kill it. Ill post it if I find one. Searching....
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 16:15
Hee.
Yeah, I can't play most of my games due to some memory problem that's causing them to crash, which is funny since they used to work. Also, the CD drive doesn't always like working and sometimes I have to reboot to get it to. And the built-in wireless has occaisonal hiccups where it stops receiving.

Great computer, otherwise.
:D
The wireless thing happens on just about every computer, usually because of a weak signal or interference, ie 2.4 ghz (same frequency as 80211b/g) cordless phones. Get a 5.4 ghz phone or 900mhz and it should be better.
Blessed Assurance
02-04-2005, 16:25
http://www.jscustompcs.com/power_supply/Power_Supply_Calculator.php?cmd=AMD

Found it!! According to this link, I shoulkd be OK.