PC build - clueless!

[finkstyle]

i wna build up a pc that conncets to internet without hassle and starting from scratch bt i dont know much... is buying a 2.0ghz intel celeron socket 478 for R100 a good start? what do u guys recommend?

[Ron2K]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

You haven't given us enough information to run with just yet. A couple of questions:

• What's your budget?
• What do you plan on using the machine for?

For the record, socket 478 became extinct many eons ago.

[finkstyle]

Hi, and welcome to the forum.

You haven't given us enough information to run with just yet. A couple of questions:

• What's your budget?
• What do you plan on using the machine for?

For the record, socket 478 became extinct many eons ago.

okay.. say if i had R2000 max to budget... can i atleast get a 1GIG ram? ±160Gb Storage? wna use it for internet, movies, and virtual Dj.. and now and again playing online poker?

[Ron2K]

Sadly, R2,000 isn't going to get you very far. You can maybe build a complete minimum-spec machine for that, but it won't perform well, and I can tell you from experience (I'm an amateur DJ in my spare time) that you will need more than an onboard soundcard for the virtual DJ bit, which in turn will eat a lot of your budget.

If I were you, I'd save up to at least R6,000, and then come back. You'll be able to procure hardware that you'll be far happier with.

[finkstyle]

what does a minimum-spec machine contain?

[KALSTER]

^^The Blue One speaks the truth.

IF, however, you are in a real rush to get a pc, then you'll have to go for a socket 775 system.

A very cheap motherboard, 1 GB RAM and a Pentium processor will cost you about R1400 or so. That doesn't leave much for a case, PSU, keyboard/mouse and HDD though.

The best option would be to go for a keyboard/mouse/case/PSU combo, which might cost about R300 or so if you're lucky. A 1TB HDD will cost around R550, which only leaves you slightly over budget. This still leaves you with screen to get. Could you get a CRT from someone? Otherwise you can pick up a fairly good secondhand 17" CRT for maybe R250 or so.

You will be able to upgrade this system with a better CPU and more RAM as you go along, though I am not sure how long socket 775 CPUs will still be available new. Best option is to save up a bit more cash first.

[Slimshaedy]

If I can sell you a 8600gt gpu and 17" CRT. I do have have a complete socket 775 system but I can't sell it as yet unfortunately.
And I doubt you would want to wait

[Sojourn]

HAY slim, stop being shaedy with the new people.

Finkstyle, like ron said, if you want to get onto the inet only (and maybe play games older than 8 years), you can get a basic entry-level bottom spec celeron build with 1gig ram for R2000. This excludes the input devices and a monitor.

With a pc like that you will be able to get onto the net, do e-mails, play very old games, should be able to skype too. You will also be able to do word processing with not too much of a hassle. That said, as soon as you start with big data files or grafix intensive stuff, you will be very frustrated. Then, if by virtual DJ you mean playing ripped MP3's by hooking your PC up to an amp and playing stock standard sterio through an onboard souncard, you will will be fine. If you meant virtual DJ in ron's sense, forget about it.

Edit - I see you also mention movies and poker. This PC will be able to do that, but don't expect fast loading times.

My advice to you is to send sales at landmarkpc co za a mail stating that you have R2000 and you need them to quote you on what they can do for you.

[Slimshaedy]

Hahaha I was only suggesting I have a spare monitor and gpu haha. Anyway he could get a core 2 duo, for movies and poker he could use onboard graphics otherwise buy a cheap 256 mb gpu (8600gt,hahahaha)
My local computer shop (pc zone) has a core 2 duo,g41 mobo,500gb sata2 hdd,1gb 1333mhz RAM. Keyboard and mouse,dvd writer all for R1799. Where do you live finkstyle?

[Ron2K]

Erm... if that's the PCZone that I'm thinking about (the one in Pinetown's Sanlam Centre), I'd avoid it. If you have ever had to return something to them, you will understand why.

[Slimshaedy]

O yes I know they're as thick as they come. They employ people who can't even switch on a pc. But fact remains,they're cheap with some things. Iv returned a few things there before. I had just bought a Thermaltake psu from them and KB said I must replace it asap. 2 days later the thing blew haha. But I took it back and they replaced it a few days later.

[THE_STIG]

Really what are you thinking buying a prehistoric PC (even my school got rid of all the SKT478 stuff)....go for one of those PC's that matrix have on special that come with printer, OS, monitor......and all kinds of stuff.

Here is one:http://www.matrixonlineshop.co.za/produ ... ocket-pc-0 but I would ask for a better CPU, but if you think that is enough go for it then

[finkstyle]

thank you!

Another thing.... i wanted to also know that if i wanted to upgrade a Pen3 processor to say.. 2.7 GHz and upgrade Ram to 512Mb wont that make my pc faster?

[Disrupter]

Finkstyle do you mean I3?

[finkstyle]

Disrupter - im very new at this... just as a general guideline... does increasing your processor and ram of any pc (pentium3 in this case) increase the speed of your pc?

[Slimshaedy]

Ya maybe you mean i3? And 512mb ram is simply way too small. I recommend 2gb min