getting a new PC

[number001]

IMO, change the motherboard to either Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe or the Asus A8N-SLI Premium, if both can be sourced locally. Nothing can beat the reliability of Asus motherboards. I'm still using my Asus P2B-F and P3B-F (both 440BX) since their purchase seven years ago. I cant say the same for the MSI motherboard.

Change optical drive to the latest NEC dvd-/+r writer, if it can be sourced locally.

It really depends what you want to use your PC for? Video editing, Internet, Office applications, gaming, etc... Because some parts on the list can be downgraded, if you dont need them. :D

[ILuvDetailing]

Jun Aka Pekto: I stand corrected :D

[Jun aka Pekto]

Nothing can beat the reliability of Asus motherboards. I'm still using my Asus P2B-F and P3B-F (both 440BX) since their purchase seven years ago. I cant say the same for the MSI motherboard.

That depends. I had an ASUS P2L97 440LX mobo last 4 years before dying on me (1997-2001). I also have an old pc (from 1999) with a P3-733 and an MSI mobo using the Apollo Pro 133 chipset. It's still going strong up to now. I suppose it depends on the chipset used. I have a pc with an AMD XP 1700+.The mobo is an ASUS using an AMD760 chipset and it's been rock-solid as well. It outlasted a Soyo and an Abit mobo, both which used the Via KT266a chipset.

My current MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum on my new rig has been troublefree as well.

[Alpha_One]

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ (2,000 MHz) - PhP 9,700 - OK
Motherboard: Epox EP-9NPA3 SLI - PhP 6,500 - OK (see below)
Memory: 1GB DDR400 Geil (Value Ram) (Dual) - PhP 5,600 - OK
Hard Drive: 200GB SATA II WD2000JS WD - PhP 5,400 - See below
Optical Drive: LG GSA-4167B Multi-DVD Writer - PhP 2,950 - OK
Floppy Drive: Panasonic, TEAC, Sony, etc - PhP 400 - get a surplus one for PHP100
Sound Card: On-Board - PhP 0 - OK
Speakers: Logitech X-230 2.1 - PhP 2,500 - OK
Video Card: Inno3D GeForce 6800GS 256MB 256-bit - PhP 12,950 - OK
Monitor: 17" Samsung 793V black - PhP 5,150 - OK (LCDs for the space advantage, but that doesn't seem to be your concern)
Case: Casetek 1026-10 - PhP 2,600 - OK
Cooling: Generic Heatsink/Fan - PhP 0 - OK
Cooling: 2x120mm case fans - PhP 500 - OK
Power Supply: 550 Watts Hec WinPower - PhP 4,200 - see below
Keyboard and Mouse: Logitech Internet Desktop Keyboard w/ Optical mouse - PhP 1,150 - OK

You really can't go wrong with Epox or MSI. Overall motherboard lifespan tends to rely on sheer luck. Wonderful experience with Asus, ECS, Jetway, Biostar, MSI, and OEM mobos. Generally speaking, your primary concern with the mobo is the features and overclockability.

I'd recommend a Seagate drive with their really long warranties. I've had horrible luck with WD drives, mixed luck with Maxtors.

The floppy drive is useless!

Power supply seems to be overkill. No need for more than 450W unless you're planning on going SLI (it appears) or running many hard drives.

[Jun aka Pekto]

I would also recommend changing motherboards not because the Epox isn't any good. It is a good board based on reviews from those who bought it at newegg.com. However, it does use Socket 754 which will limit your cpu options. I recommend going to Socket 939 where the cpu choices are much better. You'll have the option to upgrade to a dualcore cpu later with a Socket 939 motherboard.

Also, make sure your CPU and motherboard socket type match accordingly.

[dx8976]

When mounting 2 vid cards, do they have to be the same card? Tama ba assumption ko, na the mobo will then treat the 2 cards as one more powerful vid card? Wala ba problem with OS yan?

I think having 2 HDs is a great idea.

Does the dual (sa ram) mean i will be getting 2x512 = 1gb or something else? would it be better to have 1x1gb so i coud easily add another 1gb to upgrade if needed?

"Power supply seems to be overkill. No need for more than 450W unless you're planning on going SLI (it appears) or running many hard drives."

I also felt that this was the case, but I'm not really familiar with power needs of pcs. If the specs would be as is, except maybe a change in the mobo, + 1HD, +1 vid card in the future; would the 450 be enough?

[chris_d]

450w psu is more than enough.

Ang maganda sa LCD, meron na rin nito na 3 years warranty (LG) tapos 40W lang yung power consumption, less heat pa.

Kahit 1x512mb for starters ok na. Unless talagang high end gaming and video editing gagawin mo.

For the hard drive, get the one you can with the longest warranty. Seagate has 5 years.

In the past three years i've had two seagate 80gb drives fail on me. Yet we have a 7 year old seagate 28gb drive thats good as new.

For speakers biased ako sa Altec Lansing, I still have my old ACS 45.1 speakers and these are just great.

[Alpha_One]

In an SLI configuration, the two video cards must be exactly the same.

2HDs are useful if you do stuff that involves lots of disk activity; keep one disk busy and work on the other one. Or if you're into stuff like video editing, load from one disk and save to the other. For most purposes, though, one disk is fine.

If you're planning on doing a dual video card setup in the future, then the 550W should be more than enough, but the 450W may not give enough room. The average PC draws about 250-300W from its power supply at full load.

[chris_d]

Dont forget a UPS, a 650VA UPS by APC would be a good choice.

[number001]

When mounting 2 vid cards, do they have to be the same card? Tama ba assumption ko, na the mobo will then treat the 2 cards as one more powerful vid card? Wala ba problem with OS yan?

It is recommended that they should be from the same manufacturer and the same kind of chip also. (6600GT SLI'd with another 6600GT; not 6600GT w/ 6800 GT). But I have read somewhere that SLI with the same chips (ie. 6600GT SLI'd with 6600GT) from different manufacturers is also possible. IMO, for sure compatibility best to stick with one manufacturer.

I think having 2 HDs is a great idea.

If you have two similarly sized hard drives, you can configure them as a kind of RAID, to increase performance, backup or even both, depending on what configuration you decide to use.

Does the dual (sa ram) mean i will be getting 2x512 = 1gb or something else? would it be better to have 1x1gb so i coud easily add another 1gb to upgrade if needed?

Since Athlon 64 with Socket 939 (which you are getting) have dual-channel feature, therefore to take advantage of this feature you must purchase matched or paired (manufacturer tested them for compatibility) RAM or dual channel kit RAMs. So its right, you should do for example: 2x512MB = 1GB or 2X1GB=2GB. Its not advisable to purchase a stick of RAM now and upgrade later on. Aside from the fact that it would result in a mis-match when used in tandem (therefore dual channel feature cannot be utilized), finding similar kind of RAM of the same kind and brand is also difficult and expensive at times. So its best to purchase RAM as a dual channel kit.

"Power supply seems to be overkill. No need for more than 450W unless you're planning on going SLI (it appears) or running many hard drives."

I also felt that this was the case, but I'm not really familiar with power needs of pcs. If the specs would be as is, except maybe a change in the mobo, + 1HD, +1 vid card in the future; would the 450 be enough?

It maybe overkill now, but you might need the headroom just in case in the future. If you add more hard disks or optical drives or even expansion cards, you may need the higher power load. Its better to buy a powersupply that has more than adequate wattage than to buy an underpowered one now and be forced to replace it when it is no longer sufficient.

[Psylocke]

Epox mobos are crap.

Abit boards are the best.

Your power supply is a bit overkill

[Jun aka Pekto]

When mounting 2 vid cards, do they have to be the same card? Tama ba assumption ko, na the mobo will then treat the 2 cards as one more powerful vid card? Wala ba problem with OS yan?

The cards should be exactly the same as A1 said. Just remember that with a 17" monitor and its relatively lower resolutions, you wouldn't really be getting much benefit from SLI.

I think having 2 HDs is a great idea.

Yup. Have Windows on one hard drive and place the page file in the second hard drive. Seems to do wonders for Windows.

Does the dual (sa ram) mean i will be getting 2x512 = 1gb or something else? would it be better to have 1x1gb so i coud easily add another 1gb to upgrade if needed?

If you have the same ram modules, you make use of the ram dual channel mode for a slight speed gain.

I also felt that this was the case, but I'm not really familiar with power needs of pcs. If the specs would be as is, except maybe a change in the mobo, + 1HD, +1 vid card in the future; would the 450 be enough?

Better with overkill than not have enough and finding out the hard way you need a more powerful psu.

[ssaloon]

hehehe i was in the same position mga 2 years back... hirap magdecide sa lahat ng suggestions

[Jun aka Pekto]

Ooops. My bad on saying the Epox EP-9NPA3 SLI is S754. It's S939. The Epox EP-9NPA SLI is S754 with SLI.

[kris06]

But I have read somewhere that SLI with the same chips (ie. 6600GT SLI'd with 6600GT) from different manufacturers is also possible. IMO, for sure compatibility best to stick with one manufacturer.

AFAIK, it's possible with Forceware 81.95 and up.

[wren]

You really can't go wrong with Epox or MSI. Overall motherboard lifespan tends to rely on sheer luck. Wonderful experience with Asus, ECS, Jetway, Biostar, MSI, and OEM mobos. Generally speaking, your primary concern with the mobo is the features and overclockability.

so true, based on my own experience...

[wren]

i agree. Though LCDs are softer on the eyes, CRTs give you multiple resolutions and refresh rates. On top of that, repairable pa sila! Im not sure how our local techs deal with dead lcds.

Kaya lang, medyo bummer ang 19" crt. on the average, they weigh 40lbs up! hirap kargahin.

sinabi mo, i have two 21" flatscreen crts, they weigh 75 lbs each! pero sa gaming and graphic arts, they're still hard to beat, so it's a slight sacrifice. nakaka-brokeback nga lang.

[1D4LV]

Bose companion 2? Speaker system para sa PC. Pero mas ok yung Bose Companion 3, with SWoofer ito.

yup..kaya lang bose companion 3 costs around 15k.

[dx8976]

"It maybe overkill now, but you might need the headroom just in case in the future. If you add more hard disks or optical drives or even expansion cards, you may need the higher power load. Its better to buy a powersupply that has more than adequate wattage than to buy an underpowered one now and be forced to replace it when it is no longer sufficient."

would a 450w and a 550w power supply differ greatly in power consumption if they were both supplying power to the same peripherals?

[dx8976]

where would be the best store to get this pc?
rising sun lang ang napansin ko sa thread, is it ok there?
TY