New Computer Component's

[tomowa]

Hi all,

 

I'm looking to update my 'main desktop' here, which is (well it was when I bought it) a Micron Milliennia PIII 866mhz.

 

I am awful tempted to just buy a new Micron http://www.mpccorp.com (even though the $ are high compared to 'mainstream PC manufactures) just because of my time factor in building one. But I have been buying new parts the last six months as they have been on sale, and have 2 brand new in the boxes WD 160gb hard drives and an ATI All-In-Wonder Radeon 128mb AGP video card sitting here, so I might as well use them.

 

Motherboards and processors are where I have not kept up on as far what's the latest greatest etc though.

 

I'm looking at this Asus motherboard here http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...&Tab=0&NoMapp=0 and Intel processor here http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...=CP1-P4-540%20C. Also power supply http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Se...32&sku=V13-3002.

I chose that Asus MB because of the Intel chipsets, Intel is supposed to be 'stable' I'm presuming, but whether any more so than VIA or Asus etc I don't know. The Intel MB's I found are all going to the PCI express, I didn't find any with AGP.

 

My memory will be Crucial http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.asp...5P800&submit=Go, starting off with 2 512mb sticks. Then XP Pro OS.

 

I'm not into gaming, but just want stability, although at sometime I hope to do some DVD authoring of old family VHS tapes.

I guess PCI Express is the latest in technology, but then I wouldn't be able to use the ATI AGP video card. But hey, at least I am a lot close to 'the latest' setup than I have been in a few years.

 

I'm just curious if anyone has any comments good or bad on my plan here....I can do this for $700, plus the parts I have already. They alway's say buying new is cheaper than building, but for whatever reason, thinking of me buying a 'big box name brand' of computer just doesn't rub me right. But if I did, it would be the Micron again, made here in small town USA of Boise Idaho, and they do their own tech support here in USA, not from half way round the world.

 

Thanks for reading, Tom

[TweezerMan]

I'm looking to update my 'main desktop' here, which is (well it was when I bought it) a Micron Milliennia PIII 866mhz.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I sometimes have the same thought for my own PC. I'm using a P3 800MHz system that I built myself from parts 5 years ago. It's held up a lot longer than I thought it would.

 

I am awful tempted to just buy a new Micron http://www.mpccorp.com (even though the $ are high compared to 'mainstream PC manufactures) just because of my time factor in building one.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Besides the time vs. money, one thing for me that weighs in favor of building my own is that the system I build will have exactly what I want it to have. I've think the PC manufacturers have gotten better lately, but it used to be that you couldn't custom configure a system very much to your own specs without paying an arm and a leg (if you could do it at all).

 

Motherboards and processors are where I have not kept up on as far what's the latest greatest etc though.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Me neither. It seems like they want to redesign eveything every couple of years, so unless I'm in the market for a new system, it's too much hassle to keep up with everything.

 

I chose that Asus MB because of the Intel chipsets, Intel is supposed to be 'stable' I'm presuming, but whether any more so than VIA or Asus etc I don't know. The Intel MB's I found are all going to the PCI express, I didn't find any with AGP.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The computer I had before this one (a P1-100MHz system) had an Asus motherboard in it, and it was rock solid. A lot of people swear by Asus boards, and they've earned their reputation. Intel chipsets are the 'standard' by which to judge all others, so you wouldn't be going wrong by choosing a board that had one. My current PC's motherboard has a VIA chipset in it and I haven't had any problems with it though.

 

I'm not into gaming, but just want stability, although at sometime I hope to do some DVD authoring of old family VHS tapes.

I guess PCI Express is the latest in technology, but then I wouldn't be able to use the ATI AGP video card. But hey, at least I am a lot close to 'the latest' setup than I have been in a few years.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

PCI Express does appear to be the new wave for video cards. If I upgraded to a new system, it would be for playing the newest round of games. I built my current system specifically so I could play Unreal and Unreal Tournament, and those run like a dream. Playing Unreal Tournament 2003 is very sluggish on my system, and I'm not even going to bother trying to play Unreal II, Doom 3, or Unreal Tournament 2004 on it - my system just doen't have enough horsepower.

 

For everything else I do on my PC, the performance is adequate, so I have a hard time justifying the cost and effort of upgrading to a new system. Since I built it, I've put more RAM in it, replaced the video card (upgraded from PCI to AGP), and installed a larger disk drive, and that's kept it going for me.

 

I don't know much about about DVD authoring, but since it does involve video editing, I would presume that you'd need a system with a lot of disk space (which shouldn't be an issue these days), and a CPU that can handle crunching all the video data. Your new system (whatever it is) should fill the bill on that score, while I doubt that you'd be happy trying to do that task with your current system.

 

I'm just curious if anyone has any comments good or bad on my plan here....I can do this for $700, plus the parts I have already. They alway's say buying new is cheaper than building, but for whatever reason, thinking of me buying a 'big box name brand' of computer just doesn't rub me right. But if I did, it would be the Micron again, made here in small town USA of Boise Idaho, and they do their own tech support here in USA, not from half way round the world.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I've never heard that "buying new is cheaper than building" - I think it depends on the type of system you're looking at. For just a plain box to get on the internet and read web pages, view e-mail, etc. plus perform everyday tasks, you probably would be better off buying a complete system rather than building your own. When talking about a high-performance system though, with specific requirements/parts/etc., I'd like to think I can build my own cheaper than buying the whole system new from someone else.

 

We've bought two new PC's in the last year - one to replace my girlfriend's aging P3-400 MHz system, and one as a gift to an old family friend who was using an ancient P2 system (I think). We bought refurbished P4 systems from Dell for <$500 each (including shipping). They both run circles around my PC.

 

Dell PCs are made here in the USA too (in the small town of Round Rock, TX). We haven't had any problems with either system, but if we did, I'm the first (and often last) level of tech support around here.

 

I've never had a Micron PC, but from what I understand, they're a good name. I noticed on their web site that they have a factory outlet - you might want to shop a bit and see if they have any good deals on refurbished systems. You might be able to save quite a bit of money.

 

Good luck on your quest for a new PC!

[tomowa]

Thanks for all your thoughts David. I do have my first bought computer--a Mom and Pop shop made, that has an ASUS P5A-B MB in it, and it has been running non stop since 1998 (wow, that is 7 years!) So I certainly believe in the quality of ASUS.

 

Actually my Micron here, I bought from their refurb department, along with a P3 800 for my son, back in 2001. I have been very happy with them.

In fact if I do this building my own, I'm going to use my existing case here, and move it's guts another ATX case I have that is just collecting dust.

 

I have my 'shopping cart' already to go, and it will be easier to tell my wife I'm 'just buying some parts' instead of I'm 'buying a new computer' LOL.

 

But then I say, why not just use the new goodies and rebuild the existing P3 866, and keep it going......Isn't life's decisions tough

 

Good Day, Tom