I want to get an awesome computer

[Can_Opener]

After you put it together, you'd have to format the hard drive (using NTFS most likely) and install whatever version of windows on it, then install drivers for all of your hardware (motherboard chipset drivers, video card drivers, sound card drivers, etc.)

[Igotu]

So.... how hard is this.

[Can_Opener]

Its not that hard, if your dads friend has done it, you can probably get his help, or you just read the instruction manuals for stuff, sometimes they are good. The hardest part of building a computer is the research into what you wanna buy, what will work good, and what stuff likes to work with your other stuff. Sometimes certain pieces of hardware don't like other pieces and you'll get problems, this can be avoided by a little bit of research at a forum like www.amdmb.com. The building takes a couple hours, and there is instructions for how to do most of it included with the stuff you'll buy, the rest is easy to figure out.

[Igotu]

Sweet sounds great Im really pumped to do this ill check back later to tell what im gettng.

[xmetal2001]

I would stay away from Tigerdirect as well, I've heard countless horror stories.

[Igotu]

OK here it goes I did a looksy and this is what a I got Im going to post some stuff at amd forum tomorrow or today more like when i wake up so here it goes........

RAIDMAX 10-Bay ATX Mid-Tower Case (Gray) with Front USB 2.0, Model "ATX-847WTP" -RETAIL

Model# ATX-847WTP
Item # N82E16811156133

Specifications:
Case Type: Gaming Case
Material: 0.7mm SECC Steel
Drive Bays: 5.25'' x4,3.5''(External) x2,3.5''(Internal) x4
Expansion Slots: 7
Front Ports: USB2.0 x2
Power Supply: 420W
Cooling System: 80mm Fans x4
Motherboard Compatibility: ATX Form Factor 12" x 10.5" or smaller
Dimensions: 7.8"Wx17.7"Dx17"H *Please note color-tone does vary from shipment to shipment
-----------------------------
SAMSUNG 160GB 7200RPM IDE Hard Drive, Model SP1604N, OEM Drive Only

Model# SP1604N
Item # N82E16822152011

Specifications:
Capacity: 160GB
Average Seek Time: 8.9 ms
Buffer: 2MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: IDE ULTRA ATA133
Features: Fluid Dynamic Bearing Spindle Motor Technology
Manufacturer Warranty: 3 years
Packaging: OEM Drive Only
-----------------------------
KEYBOARD-2000 KB-558B/P Keyboard and Optical Mouse Combo PS/2 104keys -RETAIL

Model# KB-558B/P
Item # N82E16823157002

Specifications:
Interface: PS/2
Number Of Keys: 104 keys + 19 function keys
Wireless Technology: N/A
Palm Rest: N/A
Design Style: Standard
Mouse included: optical wheel
---------------------------------
A-DATA 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM


Model# VDBGB1916
Item # N82E16820211119
Specifications:
Manufacturer: A-DATA Technology
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2.5
Support Voltage: 2.5V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit
Warranty: Lifetime
------------------------------
Intel "D845GEBV2L" i845GE Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU -RETAIL


Model# BOXD845GEBV2L
Item # N82E16813121166

Specifications:
Supported CPU: Intel Pentium 4/Celeron Processors
Chipset: Intel 845GE + ICH4
FSB: 533/400MHz
RAM: 2x DIMM support DDR333/266 Max 2GB
IDE: 2x ATA 100 up to 4 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 2X/4X(1.5V only), 6x PCI
Ports: 2xPS/2,1xCOM,1xLPT,1xVGA,1xLAN,6xUSB2.0(Rear 4),Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: AD1981B AC97 Codec
Onboard Video: Intel Extreme Graphics
Onboard LAN: Intel 82562ET 10/100Mbps Fast Ethernet
Form Factor: ATX
------------------------
Intel Celeron 2.4 GHz 400MHz FSB, 128K Cache - Retail


Model# BX80532RC2400B
Item # N82E16819112176
Specifications:
Model: Intel Celeron(Pentium 4 based)
Core: Northwood
Operating Frequency: 2.4GHz
FSB: 400MHz
Cache: L1/12K+8K; L2/128K
Voltage: 1.525V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket 478
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, SSE2
Warranty: 3-year MFG
Packaging: Retail box (with Heatsink and Fan)
-----------------------------

Juster SP-223 2.0 Speakers Black -RETAIL

Model# SP-223
Item # N82E16836151015

Specifications:
Configuration: 2.0
Power Output: 3 watts x 2(RMS)
Frequency Response: Not Specified
Signal to noise ratio: Not Specified
Remote: N/A
Features: High Quality Stereo Sound, Elegant Black Finish
--------------------------------
Info-Tek ATI RADEON 9600PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "R9600-PRO C3H" -RETAIL

Model# R9600-PRO C3H
Item # N82E16814240014

Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: ATI RADEON 9600PRO/400MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/600MHz
BUS: AGP 4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video/Composite Out)+DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9.0, OpenGL
Cable/Accessories: Manual, 3 CD, 1 Cable, DVI to D-Sub Adapter
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536
Retail Box (See pics for details)
--------------------------------
Well thats all I got so far but I know I have to get some sort of windos and cd burner/reader thingy so if I forgot anything tell me.

[xmetal2001]

It would be nice to see prices...
I would certainly not go with a celeron, and why are you posting on an AMD forum is you are going intel?

[Igotu]

The case was $45,processor was like $68,video card was $111,$104 for the hardrive (but it was a different price yesterday),memory was $76 dollars,motherboard was $97 dollars and the speakers were cheapos becaue ill probably be hooking it up to my stero, and the keyboard and optical mouse was like $11. I dont know if im going to get this stuff I just want to know if I did a good job shoping.

[Hasty8]

My dream machine

My current configuration with the display that I want runs about $54,000.

[Can_Opener]

Alright, here is what I would get:
1.athlon xp 2500+ (approx. $80) from newegg
2.an AMD motherboard using Nforce 2 chipset (I have an ABit NF7-S, but you might not need all the features I do, this is where you have to do the research)
3.Thermaltake silent purepower 480 power supply (new motherboards require lots of power to run reliably, this is a much better powersupply than a generic one that comes with a case, if you skimp on the power supply you will be paying for it later with headaches trying to figure out why you are having problems) approx $60 from newegg
4. For ram, I recommend the Buffalo Technology pc-3200, the one with newegg model number DD4002-S256/WC, the /WC stands for Winbond Chips, this ram uses some of the last batch of winbond ch-5 chips produced, which are great for performance. $52 a piece for 256 modules right now, approx $100 for a 512 module, I'd get 2x256 and run in dual channel if your motherboard supports it.
5.a seagate 120 gb hard drive with 8 mb cache (You'll lose 40 gb, but these drives are fast, and quiet. Just stay away from Western Digital, they've been having some quality control issues lately.) Approx $95.
6.Whatever the rest of your accessories are gonna be.

Building an AMD machine is much cheaper than an intel, and the performance is very nice, I'm writing on one right now and I can run ut2004 with maxed out settings with no frame drops, far cry, painkiller, basically anything I want. My machine can completely boot into windows in like 30 seconds, its just awesome.

[Miscue]

Sweet sounds great Im really pumped to do this ill check back later to tell what im gettng.

I'd advise you to not build it yourself - and the reason for this is not whether you can do it or not. Putting it together and getting it to work is one thing. When stuff doesn't work and you can't figure it out - and you do not have a warranty on the machine as a whole and rather individual parts... who is going to fix it?

I LOVED it so much when people would return ALL their parts because they could not figure what was wrong with it. And of course it was ALWAYS back in their boxes, and not put half-way together - all Frankensteined.

They loved it when I'd tell them that there was a 15% restocking fee! People would bring back toasted parts all the time. No refund! "Why can't I return it?" "Urm, because this voltage regulator here... used to be 8" to the left when you bought it." "I'm gonna call the BBB!" "You go do that. Here's their number. Tell Bob I said hello."

There's nothing wrong with having it custom built from the ground up - I recommend it. However, get a store to do it for you and warranty the parts and labor. If you've never even built a computer before, you are no where near the level it takes to fix/troubleshoot problems that are not really simple.

-Miscue (Computer Technician Extraordinaire)

[SlipknotX556]

http://www.abspc.com/

Build your own, they are great comps at a good price.

[Igotu]

I dont know this is the cheapest way of doing things besides stealling so I think Ill do this, I really think if I get some help with you guys and the amd guys and I can also can instant help with my dads friend so I think I am going to make one if I have some store make one I dont really learn anything so I dont see how I would gain anything by doing that.

[MantisMag]

if you have to ask what hardware you need to buy to build a pc then i really would recommend against building it yourself. the instructions on things like motherboards really aren't that clear. sometimes small items like heatsinks don't come with instructions at all or only have instructions online. there's a lot of small things to remember when putting together a pc like having the correct jumper settings. so many things can go wrong and when you're putting it together from scratch and don't have another pc to test individual pieces of hardware in it's tough to figure out what's causing the problem if your pc refuses to start.

have you ever even opened up a pc before? ever done any hardware upgrades? if the answer is no then there's no way in hell i'd advise anyone in your position to build their own. even if yes it's still touch and go as there's a big difference between upgrading an individual component and building a whole pc from parts.

[Digits]

it won't be as easy as you think.. Have you seen the inside of a PC? Complete caos I tell ya