Building a Computer for my sister!

[bm]

Oh well! She rang up and said she doesn't need it yet. She can stick with her 300mhz laptop if she wants! By August I will probably be able to get bits twice as powerful as this computer for the same price as the system above!

[4_Series_Scania]

I can't vouch for the other HD's (with the exception of the crappy Hitachi/I.B.M...) so I still say the Seagate.

Motherboard, yes, the MSI looks good, the Asus (N-Force2) board is the one I'd go for, actually, its the one I did opt for to build my sisters (cheap) AMD setup.

The N-Force boards are great for gaming systems, more importantly, there about the most stable chipset available for the XP cpu's. I'd say stability is critical if important Uni work is the machines main use!!!


Birdman, if your sister loses a chunk of work due to a stability issue,caused by an iffy chipset, personally, I'd think she'd kill you!

Dose choice of chipset matter?

[congo]

Yeah, the nForce2 chipset mainboards are the go. Give that board you picked a big miss if you build a PC. Via chipset users seem to have probs.

Here, the Asus boards always cost more, and I have found some excellent alternatives that offer all the PRO features for less than the Asus base m/boards cost.

Soltek produce an excellent budget nForce2 board, the SL-75FRN2, as well as a few more variants.

Gigabyte also produce nice boards.

MSI make a good looking nForce2 board, but I have heard one guy screaming about them, because it didnt work right, but another freind had a similar prob with a new Asus board, so it's probly luck of the draw. There are obviusly duds making it onto the market.

I can recommend Seagate drives, the last cheap one I bought was faster than the one I got before with 8mb cache ram, and I paid a lot for the cache model.  

Also, the XP2600+ cpu isn't all that expensive compared to the whole rig, and a fast cpu will offer a smooth running machine, less prone to hang ups. So, I wouldn't go for a el cheapo CPU unless budget is a real contraint.

That CPU is probly gonna run warm, so make sure you have good ventilation in the case (fans).

[Delta_]

Via chipset users seem to have probs.

Gigabyte also produce nice boards.

That CPU is probly gonna run warm, so make sure you have good ventilation in the case (fans).

I use VIA and have no probs, and it is a fast motherboard.

I use Gigabyte, Gigabyte use VIA.

You should not get temps higher than 50C load.  I would expect with good ventilation you should get 45C load.

[bm]

Thanks for all your help - I am rather dissapointed that she said she doesn't want it now! I was looking forward to building a computer myself!

Anyway, If she changes her mind this is what I would build:


Sorry all your efforts have been wasted

[bm]

Well I've been given the go-ahead

Any last bits of advice or suggestions?

Thank-you all for your help

PS. I may me kind and get her a new graphics card for christmas if she complains (I've heard those TNT cards are good )

[4_Series_Scania]

Any last bits of advice or suggestions?

Enjoy the TNT!  ;D

I refer the honorable Gentleman to the reply's I gave a while back.......  :P