First computer. Any suggestions?

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Arachan

85 posts

Master Geek

#33265 5-May-2009 15:49

Hello everyone,

I'm new. I decided to join because I've decided to build my first computer, and my father recommended this site. So far for my computer I have:

Intel Pentium E2180 model 2.0GHz Dual-core CPU
Sapphire ATI RADEON HD 2600 PRO Video Card
An unspecified ATX case with 250W PSU
Western Digital 160GB SATA Hard Drive
A reasonable dodgy CRT moniter that we had at home.

Does anyone have any suggestions of where to go next? I suppose a motherboard would be logical but I just haven't found one that I like yet.

Thanks for any help in advance.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#212555 5-May-2009 16:11

Welcome aboard....

Few things to know :
Budget
What do you plan to use the PC for ? (Gaming, video work, just day to day stuff etc)

The components youve mentioned, is this what you have already purchased or youre looking to purchase ?

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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Arachan

85 posts

Master Geek

#212639 5-May-2009 20:06

The list I gave is what I already have. My budget is probably at the most around $500. I will use it for casual gaming, school work, etc. Nothing too strenuous.

Ilmarin

94 posts

Master Geek

#212716 5-May-2009 23:01

For the motherboard you might want to look at something like the Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L. It's got all the features you need and none of the ones you don't. As far as RAM goes, you can probably just start with a 2 x 1 GB DDR2-667 or DDR2-800 kit and add more capacity further down the track if you find that you need it. You needn't spend more than $70 on RAM. That leaves you needing an optical drive, so something like an ASUS DRW-22B1ST would be fine.

Those components would cost you scarcely more than $300 all together. You should be wary of that 250W PSU, as it may be of low quality manufacture, and could cause you problems later on, including the potential for electrical damage to other components if it should fail in some way. It is also only just sufficient to power that system, and that assumes that it can deliver power reasonably close to its rated wattage. If it can't meet the demand, you'll find that you experience a lot of system instability. If you were to ever upgrade any components or add additional components, it might push things past the tipping point.

If you do decide to get a new PSU, look for something rated between 350 and 450 Watts, and of a reputable brand like Antec or Enermax, or even Cooler Master or Silverstone (those are the brands that tend to do entry-level PSUs anyway). You shouldn't need to spend more than $150 on a good power supply, and could get away with under $100 depending on where you shop.

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#212736 6-May-2009 01:15

good gosh, i think the 250W is way more than what this chap needs - from all the parts he's listed (don't you think?)! i guess if it becomes unreliable (as opposed to inadequate) he can fix it later i guess. (i'm presuming it's a he!)

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#212742 6-May-2009 05:40

250W is WAY too low. A PCIe x16 slot provides 75w on its own, and I'm pretty sure that vid card requires external power, meaning its more like 120w on its own.
That CPU is also rated at 65W, so with that alone, you start to get pretty close to maxing out the PSU, and you shouldn't exceed 60-70% of a power supplies wattage with extended use.
All the little bits in the system add up, so as a bare minimum, I'd recommend a 400W PSU, and quality plays a very important part.

Check out this site: http://www.jonnyguru.com/
The do PSU reviews probably better than anyone on the planet does.

Arachan

85 posts

Master Geek

#213223 7-May-2009 16:25

I'm a little confused now, I put my components into two different power wattage calculators and one said 140 watts and the other said 150 watts. Also my father agreed that at least for now my 250 watts would be fine. Seeing as I have no experience in adequate power supply wattage I'm not really sure what to do.

Ilmarin

94 posts

Master Geek

#213250 7-May-2009 17:37

The calculator at extreme.outervision.com gave me around 200 watts for your system. Also keep in mind that a PSU's rated wattage is simply a summation of the max current that it is rated to supply on each of the voltages. It is entirely possible that, for example, your system would require more current on the 12V rail than the PSU is capable of reliably supplying, irrespective of what the total power draw is. It's also possible that poor cooling could lead to component wear inside the PSU and eventual [and potentially damaging] failure. History has often shown that low-rep or generic brands of power supply bundled with cases do not measure up to their specified wattage, and in particular can struggle to deliver the required amperage when the system is loaded.

I personally wouldn't take any chances with the PSU... any other component maybe, but not the PSU. Even a high-quality build 250W PSU would be pushing it. Invest in a good quality ~400W PSU now, and you could be saving yourself a lot of potential hassle and heartache later on.

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Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#213314 7-May-2009 22:05

I'd also gladly place money on if its an ATX 2.0 power supply, and only 250W, then its not of a good quality, susseptable to power spikes and brown outs, as well as voltage ripple. All of which will ROOT your hardware.

Arachan

85 posts

Master Geek

#217014 22-May-2009 17:09

Hello again,

I'm looking for a motherboard now, I have a budget of around $100. Any suggestions?

Arachan

85 posts

Master Geek

#221416 3-Jun-2009 19:20

Hello.

I have added to the above list:
P5KPL-CM Asus motherboard
1x 1GB RAM
Keyboard and mouse.

I connected it all and it won't boot. I'm thinking this is because of my PSUs lack of a 4-pin CPU connector. My motherboard manual said that it won't boot without this. In this case why does my PSU not have one? Also if I look around, some new PSUs don't have this either. Is this the problem? OR is there something else I've missed? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Arachan.

Ilmarin

94 posts

Master Geek

#221425 3-Jun-2009 19:58

If you're referring to the 250W PSU, then it's not unusual for them to be absent the P4 connector. You could hunt down a molex to P4 12V adapter... although I'm not sure who sells them in NZ. Also, does the PSU have a 20-pin or 24-pin ATX connector? If it's only 20-pin, that could be a problem also. Obviously not having the correct power inputs to your motherboard is the first checkpoint when trying to get your system to boot, so you're going to need to sort that out before you can progress any further.

Which new PSUs have you looked at that don't have a P4 connector? Keep in mind that the higher end ones often have a 4/8-pin ATX/EPS P4 connector that may look like an 8-pin connector but is actually 2 x 4-pin connectors locked together. I would be very surprised if anyone is selling ATX power supplies without a P4 connector.

I would still recommend buying a new 350W+ ATX 2.x PSU rather than trying to get things working on your 250W (ATX 1.x?) PSU. You'd be saving yourself a lot of hassle.

Arachan

85 posts

Master Geek

#221427 3-Jun-2009 20:04

Okay thanks.

The problem with buying a new PSU is that I have no money left. But you think that all new PSUs will have a P4? In that case I might just get (for now, at least) a $30 400W PSU off Pricespy.

Ilmarin

94 posts

Master Geek

#221438 3-Jun-2009 20:51

I would be very cautious about buying a PSU that cheap, because you generally get what you pay for. I wouldn't necessarily assume that those unbranded or cheap brand PSUs meet your requirements... some of them aren't even listed with specifications on the retailer's site or on a manufacturer's website.

Whatever you do, before you spend any money on a PSU, make sure it's ATX 2.x, with a 24 (sometimes referred to as 20+4) pin ATX connector, P4 connector, and either a PCI-E connector or a molex to PCI-E adapter. Also make sure there's at least a 1 year return to base warranty on it. Maybe talk to a reputable computer service/sales store in your locale... they may have spare new, ex-demo or 2nd hand PSUs lying around that they'd be willing to sell you for a relatively small sum.

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#221471 4-Jun-2009 00:41

Electricity is the blood of the PC. The PSU is the heart.

Don't use a bum ticker for your system :P