So, I'm building a PC...
Posted 11-15-2008 at 05:38 PM by Rogue_hunter
My first build that's not just adding parts to an existing system. All the computers my family and I have bought have been Gateway, starting in 1994.
My current system is the 500XL from 2003. Base stats were a Pentium 4 2.6 GHz with HyperThreading, 512 MB of DDR 400 PC-3200 RAM, a 160 GB Maxtor HDD, a GeForce FX 5200 and a Creative Audigy 2. Over the 5 years, I first added another gig of RAM, and then swapped out the 5200 for a GeForce 6200 with 256 MB of onboard RAM. I added a second 160 GB Seagate drive for more storage. After that I swapped the two 256 MB RAM modules that originally came with the system for two 512 MB Kingston Hyper-X RAM modules. Bought a 400 GB Seagate and an external enclosure. Swapped the 6200 for a 7600GS with 512 MB when CompUSA was closing. Most recently, I swapped out one of the 160 GB drives for a 500 GB Maxtor.
Quite alot of upgrades to the little system that could. But alas, Mass Effect, Fallout 3 and Left 4 Dead all but assured my system would no longer serve for gaming. That's when I took my dad up on his offer of allowing me to build a new system once I did the transfer application to a 4 year university. He said "Give me a list, and then we'll talk." That day I made the list. That entire day was spent reading LiquidRain's Recommended Hardware thread on PIRI, and then chatting with him on IRC, debating what I want versus what I really need. Gone was the Core 2 Quad Q9550, 4870x2 and the 750W PSU.
As for the system I'm gonna build, it's got a Gigabyte EP45-DS3L motherboard running an Intel Core 2 Duo E8500, 4 GB of OCZ DDR2 1066 MHz and a Gigabyte ATI HD4870 1 GB GFX card. Two Lite-On 20x DVD drives and a 3.5" floppy with integrated memory card readers for the external drives, a 1 TB Samsung SpinPoint HDD (bought brand new), a 500 GB Maxtor and 160 GB Seagate (scavenged from my current build) for the storage. I'll also be scavenging an Audigy 2 from my current build. For power, I'll have a Corsair 550W PSU, and be running Vista Home Premium. All encased in an Antec P182.
Here's the overall system, including all the parts I'm scavenging.
As for parts I've bought new, I have the SpinPoint bought for $109, and today I bought the P182 for $99. It's only a matter of time until I actually get all the other parts, and I'll update my blog when those come in, and when I start building the system. Expect pictures of the whole process.
My current system is the 500XL from 2003. Base stats were a Pentium 4 2.6 GHz with HyperThreading, 512 MB of DDR 400 PC-3200 RAM, a 160 GB Maxtor HDD, a GeForce FX 5200 and a Creative Audigy 2. Over the 5 years, I first added another gig of RAM, and then swapped out the 5200 for a GeForce 6200 with 256 MB of onboard RAM. I added a second 160 GB Seagate drive for more storage. After that I swapped the two 256 MB RAM modules that originally came with the system for two 512 MB Kingston Hyper-X RAM modules. Bought a 400 GB Seagate and an external enclosure. Swapped the 6200 for a 7600GS with 512 MB when CompUSA was closing. Most recently, I swapped out one of the 160 GB drives for a 500 GB Maxtor.
Quite alot of upgrades to the little system that could. But alas, Mass Effect, Fallout 3 and Left 4 Dead all but assured my system would no longer serve for gaming. That's when I took my dad up on his offer of allowing me to build a new system once I did the transfer application to a 4 year university. He said "Give me a list, and then we'll talk." That day I made the list. That entire day was spent reading LiquidRain's Recommended Hardware thread on PIRI, and then chatting with him on IRC, debating what I want versus what I really need. Gone was the Core 2 Quad Q9550, 4870x2 and the 750W PSU.
As for the system I'm gonna build, it's got a Gigabyte EP45-DS3L motherboard running an Intel Core 2 Duo E8500, 4 GB of OCZ DDR2 1066 MHz and a Gigabyte ATI HD4870 1 GB GFX card. Two Lite-On 20x DVD drives and a 3.5" floppy with integrated memory card readers for the external drives, a 1 TB Samsung SpinPoint HDD (bought brand new), a 500 GB Maxtor and 160 GB Seagate (scavenged from my current build) for the storage. I'll also be scavenging an Audigy 2 from my current build. For power, I'll have a Corsair 550W PSU, and be running Vista Home Premium. All encased in an Antec P182.
Here's the overall system, including all the parts I'm scavenging.
As for parts I've bought new, I have the SpinPoint bought for $109, and today I bought the P182 for $99. It's only a matter of time until I actually get all the other parts, and I'll update my blog when those come in, and when I start building the system. Expect pictures of the whole process.
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