[Resolved] Building a PC - Part 1

**The Hobo** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:10 PM

After multiple frustrations with my current PC, I've decided I want a knew one, and I've decided I'm going to build it myself. Last night I purchased a nice-looking tower of newegg.com, and since I'm quite poor, I'm going to have to wait until next month to buy the next part.

I figure I'll buy a power supply next, then a mother board, then a processor, then some memory, and keep going.

I have put together PCs before, but I've never had to actually buy the parts for them. I just worked with a bunch of other people and all the parts were provided to us.

So my first question is: what's a good, yet not too expensive, power supply? I'm looking on newegg right now, and am a bit worried that I might buy the wrong thing.

Any help would be much appreciated, and I'm sure I'll be back when it's time to buy a mother-board (man, that looks REALLY confusing).

**Edneeis** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:44 PM

I'd go with Antec around 300-350W. The True[insert Watts] here ones are good but so are the older ones and the older ones are most likely cheaper. Another good brand is Enermax. Also if you are building a P4 setup make sure the power supply has the extra cable hook up thingy.

What case did you get? They have those Chieftec Aluminum ones pretty cheap. NewEgg is great for prices, and they aren't far from me so i usually get stuff the next day without paying anything extra for shipping.

**The Hobo** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:48 PM

I bought this case: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=11-156-018

**siyan** · May 23rd, 2003, 02:51 PM

Not to burst your bubble, but if you're strapped for cash then you probably should have bought a case that comes with a Power Supply.

Also you may wish to save up until you have enough for a full system rather than buy things piecemeal.

That said, Antec makes great PSs.

**Fleck** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:15 PM

I have built several PC's.. I love to do it... These days Parts and whole systems are very inexpensive. Be sure your case and power supply is compatable with the type of mother board you have.....

Hard drives, CD-RW's, PCI Cards, Ram is very inexpensive these days. I suggest taht you DO NOT get a MotherBoard with intergrated sound ,or video.. You can spend a little more money and get a great graphics card and, a really nice sound card...

Operating sytems can be a little expensive... I like to get the upgrades they are much cheaper in price..... Man good luck... I am getting ready to build 2 new systems.. I look forward to it!!!!

**Memnoch1207** · May 23rd, 2003, 03:45 PM

Hobo,
Since your on a budget browse pricewatch.com to find good deals on computer parts and accessories.

**The Hobo** · May 24th, 2003, 03:38 PM

Antec, 300-350w, if I go with a P4, make sure I have a hook-up thingy for it...anything else I should take into consideration?

**The Hobo** · May 24th, 2003, 03:44 PM

Originally posted by Memnoch1207
Hobo,
Since your on a budget browse pricewatch.com to find good deals on computer parts and accessories.

Thanks, I forgot about that site.

**Edneeis** · May 25th, 2003, 02:49 AM

Nice looking case. That is about all the advise I have for a power supply. Oh and I would avoid off brands, just trust me on that one. Something MAY never happen with them but, and I speak from personal experience, sometimes they can't be trusted and if that happens it cost ya.

I do the part a month bit too when upgrading, that is the only way I can afford stuff.

**Sastraxi** · May 25th, 2003, 05:50 PM

Mine's a bit different... when the need comes, I get it, but I'll suffer so to speak until that time.

**The Hobo** · May 25th, 2003, 06:07 PM

Yeah, I complain that I don't have money, but that's probably because I buy a bunch of crap I don't need. Hell, I should be saving for classes next fall...

I wanted a case with a window, I don't know why. I wanted one with neon lights inside, but couldn't find one (and those that I found were either ugly or expensive). And I wanted one that looked cool, and wasn't the standard white or off-white.

So I went with that one.

**Sastraxi** · May 25th, 2003, 08:33 PM

I agree that it's quite an attractive case - much better than my run-of-the-mill Enlight. Though mine was probably half your price, it shows....

**siyan** · May 25th, 2003, 08:35 PM

7237s are pretty good imho. Low key, cheap, quality construction, nice to work with....

**Sastraxi** · May 25th, 2003, 08:54 PM

How did you know exactly which case of theirs I had, though...?

**siyan** · May 25th, 2003, 09:29 PM

Because I'm looking over your shoulder, biatch.

**DiGiTaIErRoR** · May 25th, 2003, 10:07 PM

Originally posted by Memnoch1207
Hobo,
Since your on a budget browse pricewatch.com to find good deals on computer parts and accessories.

Do not buy from any reseller on pricewatch unless you check out their reputation.

www.reselleratings.com

There are some companies on pricewatch that will scam you.(send you wrong product, charge restock fee, send you defective parts and not issue RMAs, etc). Those are just some of the complaints you can find on some companies using resellerratings.

**The Hobo** · May 25th, 2003, 11:03 PM

Thanks for the heads-up, DE.

**The Hobo** · May 26th, 2003, 03:17 PM

Okay, so I was looking at power supplies, trying to find an Antec 300-350W, and I found this one: http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproduc...ion=17-103-917

It's an Antec 300W for $39.99, but it says "for P4." Does that mean it's just made to work with P4, or will it only work with a P4?

I'm planning on running an AMD Anthlon XP, so that wouldn't really work out.

**Edneeis** · May 26th, 2003, 03:28 PM

No it'll work with an AMD too, it just means it has the extra P4 thingy, which in your case you just wont need.

**The Hobo** · May 26th, 2003, 03:32 PM

Sweet. Will 300W be enough? I'm not going to max out easily, am I?

**Sastraxi** · May 26th, 2003, 04:06 PM

365w is fine for an XP 2000+, Radeon 9500 Pro, and 80gb HDD (my current setup).

**siyan** · May 26th, 2003, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by The Hobo
Sweet. Will 300W be enough? I'm not going to max out easily, am I?

300W should be enough, but if you want to be safe, get a 350.

However considering that I have an Athlon 800 (which eats up as much if not more juice than a XP 1700) with 2 HDs, a GF2 Ti, sound card, a burner and a regular CDROM on a 250W which hasn't hiccuped (ever), 300W should be fine.

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