Help Building A Desktop Computer?

Question

I am working on building a desktop computer. I have a pretty good idea of how to do it, plus I am going to get help from someone that knows how to do it. I just need to purchase the parts. I am not sure if the parts I want are compatible. The chassis I am looking at is at.

http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/Athenatech-A412-Chassis/3210166/product.html?

The motherboard I am looking at is: http://www.overstock.com/Electronics/GIGABYTE-S-series-GA-MA74GM-S2-Desktop-Board/3288023/product.html?

I want to try and get everything from overstock.com Also, I would like a Pentium 4, I'd like to try and get at least 4GB memory and at least a 300GB hard drive. We will have a lot of movies, pictures etc on this computer. I have a DVD ROM drive, and a 256K video card already. I have some memory, but I am looking to purchase some instead of using what I have. Could someone help me come up with some other parts that would be compatible with the motherboard and chassis I want to use? I want to be able to have at least 2 drives, one DVD/CD writer. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at yahoo.com stephaniedaley05

Thanks so much for your help. Also, there's a little problem. I cannot really go over $250, but it needs to be as nice as possible. :) I also need to have 2.0 usb's and need to be able to high speed or wireless internet on it. I go to school online, so it is important. Thanks again!

Answer 1

If you are starting out with nothing you are not going to get away with that price. a HD will be about $100. the ram is going to be at best $70 and you have not talked about the motherboard or the processor. You might want to buy a used one and build it up as you go. You can call NEWEGG or Tigerdirect and they can tell you what is compatible and what is not. I would buy the ram from Crucial.com. all else should be compatible! UH OH.... what about an OS? are you using XP or Vista? there is also an alternative of using Linux, Debian is a good one. And remember, just for an upgrade of XP is $100!!!!!

Good luck,

Don

PS. feel free to hit me with any other questions.

[e-mail]

Answer 2

Here's the process I used:

http://www.hollandcomputerrepair.com/com...

Naturally this guide is for a game computer but the basic principles can be applied to building any computer system.

To keep costs down I recommend something used, there are several very good systems on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-desktop-PC-compu...

Answer 3

Try to get a combo, save you money+ the guaranty=this mean already have the procesor included, you only has to add memorys,HDs(2) and (2) DVDs burners, the only thing i do not like about this board do not have internal expansion, only 2 PCI(white) and the blue conector for expansion(upgrade) video card, if you already have the case where you go to install this mob measured, and see how many openings have in the back of the case so you can buy a mob that have more expansions, internal toys are better and cheaper than externals.

Plus they have companies that sell you Barebones, cheap that already have a case, and mob and procesor instaled, the only thing you has to add, it is memory,HDs,DVDs and acourse and operating system, but instaling a small hd, and get some OS, you can transfer your licence of Windows to that new PC, by their network.

Answer 4

i've just written an article on a sub $500 gaming computer. it's not from overstock as you requested but you may be able to find the parts there. you can tweak and swap parts for whatever may suit you better.

Answer 5

Almost anything you buy today is good enough for your needs, for the board to keep cost down I would go with the following

AMD X3 8450 Tri-core

500GB Hard drive (only a few bucks more than 250 or 300)

2x1GB DDR2 memory (for dual channel)

The motherboard has onboard graphics card already

It has USB2 already

Get a USB2 wireless kit suck as Netgear WG111v3 to save keep digging into the case.