New PC

Matthew · 27-10-2007, 18:36

Attached is a quote of a system I want to purchase. This is not for me, just for a friend as a new system. They currently have a Celeron 1.7, 256 RAM old Packard Bell system.

As I haven't built a PC up for some time from scratch, can somone advise if they see any problems with this one.

Thanks

lsproc · 27-10-2007, 18:50

I would rather go for a PATA (also known as ATA, IDE or ATAPI) dvdrw drive, as they are slightly more compatible when installing the OS.

Also, since your using a SATA hard disk, dont forget to feed windows a SATA driver disk?

videodj · 27-10-2007, 18:57

It really depends what he will be using it for, and how long it want's to keep it before upgrading again. You haven't listed a graphics card. The mobo only has AGP with is now getting dated. The memory is a bit slow, you should really go for PC3200 at least.I'd be more inclined to go for a newer board with DDR2, PCI-E and a Core2Duo. Probably a bigger power supply too.

You really need say what sort of things it will be used for.

lsproc · 27-10-2007, 19:01

My sharp eye is failing me :P

I didnt notice the graphics card. Unless its onboard.

Matthew · 27-10-2007, 19:07

Thanks for pointing that out, the board doesn't have on board graphics, thought it was cheap! Noted about the DVDRW. Will check memory out as well.

The system is only going to be used a basic system. Needed something cheap and better than the previous system.

Matthew · 27-10-2007, 19:51

Made a few changes, what do you think?

lsproc · 27-10-2007, 20:01

Seems good

Just ensure the power supply is good enough.

27-10-2007, 20:19

you wont need sata drivers very rare you do nowadays

---------- Post added at 19:19 ---------- Previous post was at 19:10 ----------

that psu is really poo too

lsproc · 27-10-2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

you wont need sata drivers very rare you do nowadays

Not if your using XP. Unless the SATA device is ancient, you will need a SATA drive to feed in during setup bootstrap, cause XPs hardware detection sucks (hopefully it will be better by SP3).

Vista and Linux's hardware detection amazed me, EVERYTHING :O

27-10-2007, 21:04

i would beg to differ

I have not come across a motherboard that has need a boot up floppy to install windows in a long time and dude ive set up a fair few systems with xp in my time

Edited to make things neater

lsproc · 27-10-2007, 21:11

Ever tried an nForce 4 (CK804, M2N) SATA?

my asus mobo even has an image on cd, marked SATA Drivers for Windows XP setup

Druchii · 27-10-2007, 21:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

i would beg to differ

I have not come across a motherboard that has need a boot up floppy to install windows in a long time and dude ive set up a fair few systems with xp in my time

Because the SATA normally goes into weird IDE compatability mode when being searched for. Or so my BIOS makes out (Gigabyte 965p-DS3 F11 BIOS).

lsproc · 27-10-2007, 21:16

That is true, it does show up as IDE-1 during POST.

dragon · 27-10-2007, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Druchii

Because the SATA normally goes into weird IDE compatability mode when being searched for. Or so my BIOS makes out (Gigabyte 965p-DS3 F11 BIOS).

SATA usually gets seen as an IDE port on most modern motherboards
unless RAID is on.

27-10-2007, 21:26

Its been a long time since I seen a none native sata chip as I said. Often drivers are on the cd still does not mean you need them as I said I set up a few systems I DO knwo what im talking about

---------- Post added at 20:26 ---------- Previous post was at 20:22 ----------

may I point you at scan Matt

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=605379 I used this board with my old E6600 this week

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=600158 same cpu

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=567853 Hdd

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=689181 The 340 version of the case

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=472566 I prefer these drives

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=291364 equivilent ram

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=518661 dlink card same price as linksys

all thats left I think is a psu now I knwo this is 25 quid more than the ebuyer one but this one should last (maybe) http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=138556

main reason I gone to town on this for you is I fell out with ebuyer lol lol