New Computer!

[Rostum]

Hey everyone, I'm trying to get some specifications down for a new computer so my dad can get me it. So far all I have decided on is:

- Pentium 4 3.26GHZ HT
- ATI Radeon 9800 XT (Comes out in November)
- 2GB DDR RAM

Now I'm not too certain on what kind of RAM is best, and what else I should get. (ie. Monitor, HDD... etc) Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

[Mdude]

How much do you plan on having your dad spend? Judging by the setup, you're looking at about $3000-$5000, depending on if you really trick it out and who you get it from.

[InuTrunks]

3000-4000? No way.


Anyway, check the FSB on your P4 (I'm not an intel fan so I dont know.) FSB = Front side bus, then if its like 333, or 400, then get that kind of ram.

[Rostum]

I built on on the Australian Dell website, it's around 4500 dollars. But I have a trick up my sleave, my dad made a million dollar deal with IBM through his company, so I can get it cheap!

What kind of 17" monitor would be a wise decision to get? What's the difference between RAM? I heard DDR is the better choice?

Any help would be greatfull.

[Fire]

I use DDr ram, just makes sure u get dual channel ram, and that it is compatible with motherboard.

[Doppelganger]

Originally posted by Omecle
I built on on the Australian Dell website, it's around 4500 dollars. But I have a trick up my sleave, my dad made a million dollar deal with IBM through his company, so I can get it cheap!

What kind of 17" monitor would be a wise decision to get? What's the difference between RAM? I heard DDR is the better choice?

Any help would be greatfull.

ram, rd (they stopped making motherboards/ most ram)= >3.4gb/s
ddr400=2x rd
go for ddr400 cl2-2-2 if you can

17" monitor, if it's dell, get the 1701fp lcd display, or the 19/21" fd trinitron p990/p1102 c

[Kai]

OMG if your getting a Dell MAKE SURE you get the XPS design for the cooling.

[Doppelganger]

Originally posted by Kai
OMG if your getting a Dell MAKE SURE you get the XPS design for the cooling.

the cooling is least of it. first, the xps is actually atx size, not just mini-atx. second is that the xps has 460w psu, while ALL other dell comps use 250w, even the ones with a 9800pro... sad..

[Kai]

Originally posted by Doppelganger


the cooling is least of it. first, the xps is actually atx size, not just mini-atx. second is that the xps has 460w psu, while ALL other dell comps use 250w, even the ones with a 9800pro... sad..

Yeah... what he said .

[Rostum]

Okay, kind of confused with all that. I built it on Dell to see what it going to add upto all-round. I'm going to be getting it through IBM, if that makes a difference?

Please explain all that in "for dummies" terms.

[aerobahn]

it does not matter whom you get it from they all suck!

Any ways for ram.

DDR 3200 (2x 512)

going to overclock???

DDR 3500 (2x 512)

Reason being inorder to overclock your FSB (frontsidebus) Your CPU and your ram are all going to be overclocked.

Ram is one of the most unstable OC'ing parts. So its better to buy ram that will run in its natural speeds when your system is overclocked.

Clairification:

I buy a 2.8 800mhz FSB
and 1 gig of 3200 ram.

So in order to overclock my 2.8 to say 3.0 i need to up my fsb to 220, and along with that my ram which is clocked @ 400 to 420.

Stressing the ram which can cause rebooting, poor preformence, dead ram, or gliches.

But if i have 3500 which runs at 433 the ram will just run at speeds in which its rated to run. causing no side effects

[InuTrunks]

Thats why I bought pc2700 ram with my fsb being only 266 :D. I'm getting tired of my oc'd pc. I might sell my processor on campus then go buy a 2600+ XP Thurobead-B FSB 333.