Hmmm, how much you lookin to spend on you video card? You might consider an XFX 5700 Ultra 475/900 at $169 compared to 350/700 on the 5600 Ultra. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-150-047&catalog=48&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

Or a MSI 5900 non Ultra 400/700 with a 256 bit bus (way better performance with AA and AF over the 5700 Ultra) at $185
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-127-119&catalog=48&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1
[Message Edited]

nVIDIA GeForce FX5600 ULTRA Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, for $125

the 5600 is slightly cheaper and i dont need a super system *yet*

remember, this is my first computer that i am building so i dont wanna try anything fancy just in case i mess up.

i build this one, mess around with it till i get bored, sell it and make a better one, always getting higher quality stuff.

hey dj, you sound like you know your computer stuff, do you have an email that i can email to ask questions like this?

#42 by Evil Emperor Surg - 2/18/2004 5:30:57 PM nVIDIA GeForce FX5600 ULTRA Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, for $125the 5600 is slightly cheaper and i dont need a super system *yet* remember, this is my first computer that i am building so i dont wanna try anything fancy just in case i mess up.

I hear ya. Just wanted to give you some other good options. When you get your new system, download the FarCry, Painkiller and UT2004 demos to 'break in' you system All available at http://www.fileplanet.com/ with a basic account. You'll have to wait in line though.

#43 by Evil Emperor Surg - 2/18/2004 5:32:11 PM do you have an email that i can email to ask questions like this?

Already sent you one

Oh and I can tell you from experience the 2800+ Barton is a nice choice. You mentioned you don't plan on overclocking, so why drop the stock cooling?

i lied . no, i changed my mind. also, the custom cooling is quieter, i heard. thanks for the programs, i already have a couple including PCmark 2002 and Powerstrip (overclocking your Video card) thanks again and i have your email if any more questions arise, but i think that i will post many of them here.

thanks again.

*games* my bad. hehehe, replied before checking out the links.

anyway, gotta run home, be back tommorrow.

No problem.

I use Arctic Ceramique Thermal Compound. I have had a 6 to 10 degree drop. The stock thermal pad is easy to remove and this application is simple.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-100-009&depa=0

http://www.arcticsilver.com/ceramique.htm

http://www.arcticsilver.com/ceramique_instructions.htm

[Message Edited]

thanks. i am prolly gonna get that.

im makin a wishlist at the moment of what i will most likely get, can i email it to you?

Yeah, sure.

ok, will send it in tomorrow.

I'm curous as to what your budget is? Unlimited? $1000?

When I built mine, my budget was $500-$600. I spent a total of $599 when I was finished. But that didn't include the $200 19" flat monitor, the $80 speakers or the $100 wireless mouse/keyboard. Totaled: $1000. Hmmm, didn't wanted to spend that much. $600 was my budget!!!

my budget is not to exceed $700, that is, without the monitor (crt) or the HDs. i can get a 17" crt for $40 and a 250GB HD for $100 (after rebates) so its kinda like that.

did you get the email yet? i sent it first to you, and then to myself but i still dont have it yet...

ok, sorry ahead for the long post but... email didnt work. ok, here is what i want to get. help me out with what i need/dont need. i am tight on money as another crisis just arose so keep that in mind.

Qty Product Item # Unit Price Qty x Price

Cases (Computer Cases, ATX Form)
CHIEFTEC Server Chasis (Aluminum Workstation Tower with Plastic Front Cover) SILVER COLOR w/ Side acrylic window and a Case Fan on Side Window **Now with 2 x Front USB2.0 and 1 x Firewire IEEE1394 ports** Model AX-01SLD RetailWeights Only 18LBs! .
Specification:
Case Type: Workstation Tower
Color: Silver
Material: Aluminum
Drive Bays: 5.25'' x4,3.5''(External) x2, 3.5''(Internal) x4
Expansion Slot: 7
Front Ports: USB2.0 x2,IEEE1394 x1
Power Supply: N/A
Cooling System:2 rear Mounted Fans and 1 side panel Fan
Motherboard Compatibility: Standard ATX
Dimensions: 473x205x522mm
Special Features: more info>
N82E16811125222 $65.00
$65.00

Cooling Device - RAM Heatspreaders/Heatsinks
Thermaltake DDR Copper Heat Spreader,Retail.
Features:
Compatibility: DDR & SDR
Material: Copper more info>
N82E16835116007 $11.99
$11.99

CPU Thermal Paste / Grease
**This item is NOT REFUNDABLE, exchange for same exact item only!!**
Arctic Silver's NEW Premium Silver Polysynthetic Thermal Compound: Arctic Silver 5. 3.5-gram( 1 cc. ) tube.
Specifications:
Thermal Conductance: >350,000W/m2 °C (0.001 inch layer)
Thermal Resistance: 180°C Long-Term: –50°C to 130°C
Performance: 3 to 12 degrees centigrade lower CPU full load core temperatures than standard thermal compounds or thermal pads when measured with a calibrated thermal diode imbedded in the CPU core
Coverage Area: The 3.5 gram tube contains enough compound to cover at least 15 to 25 small CPU cores, or 6 to 10 large CPU cores, or 2 to 5 heat plates. more info>
N82E16835100007 $6.99
$6.9 ea.@2+
$6.75 ea.@5+
$6.5 ea.@10+
$6.99

Fans, Heatsinks (Case, CPU, Chipset)
Aspire 80mm UV Blue Fan with 4-pin and 4 Blue LEDs, Model "CF4SL-UBL" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Compatibility: Not specified
Dimensions: 80 x 80 x 25mm
Bearing Type: Not specified
Nominal Speed(RPM): 2500
Max Air Flow(CFM): 32.4
Rated Voltage: 12V
Connector: 4 Pin
Noise(dBA): 25
Special Features: 100% Clear Crystal fan.Perfect for window cases, Nice Retail Package. 4 Screws included for mounting more info>
N82E16811998101 $5.99
N82E16835103141 $44.99
$44.99

Speeze System Cooler, Model:4F01B4 Exhauster, 90x80x10mm.
Specification
Compatibility: Any free ISA or PCI slot in the PC case
Bearing Type: Sleeve-or Ball
Nominal Speed(RPM): 4500
Max Air Flow(CFM): 16
Max Pressure: Not Specified
Fan Material: Not Specified
Heat Sink Material: Not Specified
Rated Voltage: 12 V
Operating Voltage: Not Specified
Noise(dBA): 25.6 more info>
N82E16835150006 $3.99
$3.99

Memory (System Memory)
OCZ Premier Series 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200
Specification
Manufacturer: OCZ
Speed: DDR400(PC3200)
Type: 184 Pin DDR SDRAM
Error Checking: Non-ECC
Registered/Unbuffered: Unbuffered
Cas Latency: 2.5-3-3-7 2T
Support Voltage: 2.6V
Bandwidth: 3.2GB/s
Organization: 64M x 64 -Bit
Special Features: Ultra Low Noised shielded PCB
Warranty: Lifetime more info>
N82E16820146917 $84.00
$84.00

Motherboards - AMD
GIGABYTE nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU, Model "GA-7N400 PRO2" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket A AMD AthlonXP/Athlon/Duron Processors
Chipset: NVIDIA nForce2 Ultra 400 + MCP
FSB: 400/333/266/200MHz
RAM: 4x DIMM support Dual Channel DDR400/333/266 Max 3GB
IDE: 4x UltraDMA 66/100/133 up to 8 Devices
Slots: 1x AGP 8X/4X, 5x PCI(PCI 2.2)
Ports: 2xPS2,2xCOM,1xLPT,1xLAN,6xUSB2.0(Rear 4),3xIEEE1394,Audio Ports
Onboard Audio: Realtek ALC650 6-Channel Codec
Onboard LAN:8110S Gigabit LAN 10/100/1000
Onboard SATA/RAID: Silicon Image sil3112A, 2x SATA/GiagRAID controller more info>
N82E16813128199 $106.99
$106.99

Power Supplies
Allied TRUE 450W Power Supply AL-B450EATX w/ Two Fans ***AMD APPROVED good to 2200+ *** UL, CSA, FCC Approved
Specifications:
Type: ATX
Maximum Power: 450W
PFC: No
Power Good Signal: 100-500ms
Hold-up Time: Not specified
Efficiency: 65% minimum, 75% typical, at full load
Over Voltage Protection: +3.3V, +5V, +12V
Overload Protection: Not specified
Input Voltage: Select 90-132VAC or 180-264VAC
Input Frequency Range: 47-63 Hz
Input Current: Not specified
Output: +3.3V@28A;+5V@50A;[email protected];+12V@18A;-12V@1A;[email protected]
MTBF: 50,000 hours
Approvals: UL, CSA, TUV, NEMKO, DEMKO, SEMKO, FI,CE w/ Serial ATA Connector more info>
N82E16817154010 $42.00
$37.5 ea.@5+
$36 ea.@10+
$35 ea.@40+
$42.00

Processors
AMD Athlon XP 2800+ "Barton", 333MHz FSB, 512K Cache Processor - OEM
Specification
Model: AMD Athlon XP 2800+
Core: Barton
Operating Frequency: 2.08GHz
FSB: 333MHz
Cache: L1/64K+64K; L2/512K
Voltage: 1.65V
Process: 0.13Micron
Socket: Socket A
Multimedia Instruction: MMX, SSE, 3DNOW!, 3DNOW!+
Packaging: OEM (Processor only) more info>
N82E16819103376 $113.00
$113.00

Video Cards
GIGABYTE nVIDIA GeForce FX5700 Video Card, 128MB DDR, 128-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "GV-N57128D" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: nVIDIA GeForce FX5700/425MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/850MHz
BUS: AGP 1X/2X/4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub)+TV-Out(S-Video)+DVI connector
Support 3D API: DirectX®9, OpenGL®1.5
Cable/Accessories: Not Specified
Max Resolution@32bit Color: 2048X1536@85Hz
Retail Box (See pics for details) more info>
N82E16814125126 $145.99
$145.99



Subtotal » $ 642.91
+s/h



thanks and sorry again for the long post.

NOOOO
Go with an ATI video card. I don't believe Nvidia supports hardware accelertation for your desktop (skins). ATI does and it makes a huge differance when running lots of eyecandy. The only problem I have with ATI is their terrible support for Linux. My desktop at home runs WB, CoursorXP and DX, all with animations without a noticable slowdown using an old ATI 9000 in dual screen mode. My work computer can't run animations without choking on a single screen with just WB running.

ok... checking prices for ati...

ok, which one is better???
9600XT 128mb/bit
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-326&catalog=48&depa=1

9600pro 128mb/bit
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-301&catalog=48&depa=1

9800se 128mb/bit
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-102-303&catalog=48&depa=1



which one? remember, my budget is tight.