Building Computer Help

john3610

john3610

New Member
Hey folks,

I'm building a computer for someone and had a few questions I could use some help with..

He wants a flat case that doesn't sit upright, but lays on it's side so it can sit on the desk more easily or something. Where do I get something like that?

Here is what I've put together in case anyone wants to check it out and make sure I haven't messed up anywhere along the way.

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Motherboard/CPU - $264.36 (Quad Core 2.8ghz Athlon II X4 630)
http://www.portatech.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=26747&O=26527,25377&r=p
Change everything to be "Included in Package" except Select your Pre-test build ($12.95)
Select Windows 7 Premium Operating System


Memory - $72.70 (Market Grade 4GB DDR2-800)
http://www.1stchoicememory.com/catalog/products.asp?id=2256

HD - $60.97 - 1 Terabyte SATA Hard Drive
http://3btech.net/whlamadate1t.html
Check to also buy CAB SATA 18 cable and CABLDSATAPOWER Adapter

DVD-R Drive - 25.88 - DVD Burner
http://3btech.net/totssa22xdol.html
Add a SATA Cable (CABSATA18)

Case/Power Supply 650W - $51.98
http://3btech.net/blchhe96coca.html?conf0=4
Select the 650W Power Supply - Chiefmax 650W

Graphics Card - 29.99
http://www.unityelectronics.com/pro..._HDMI_Video_Card_BFGEGT2201024D2E_Refurbished

Case Fan x 2 - $9.98
http://3btech.net/new12fopinmo.html

Total - $515.86
 
Yeah, Newegg is were I find most of my parts. Every now and then I'll get something at Tigerdirect.com but if it has a rebate, don't hold your breath.
 
+1 to buying from Newegg.com. I always build my computers and the majority of the items I buy come from Newegg.

One thing: If you're gonna buy a desktop case (not a tower) be sure that the video card you buy will fit in it! An easy way to alleviate this is to simply buy a motherboard with onboard video. For the past few years motherboard manufacturers have been putting decent to very good onboard video cards on their motherboards (it looks like what you've selected has onboard video).
 
Odale said:
+1 to buying from Newegg.com. I always build my computers and the majority of the items I buy come from Newegg.

One thing: If you're gonna buy a desktop case (not a tower) be sure that the video card you buy will fit in it! An easy way to alleviate this is to simply buy a motherboard with onboard video. For the past few years motherboard manufacturers have been putting decent to very good onboard video cards on their motherboards (it looks like what you've selected has onboard video).
Click to expand...
Some games won't recognize the onboard video card though... So be careful.

I had this problem with Failhammer. The game wouldn't recognize my onboard video card so I had to go out and buy a Nvidia card.
 
If possible I'd buy a 64GB SSD hard drive for OS and Games... it make up for the cost difference
 
Mordos said:
If possible I'd buy a 64GB SSD hard drive for OS and Games... it make up for the cost difference
Click to expand...

Totally. 5400RPM = Hello slow land for drive. If you can't afford SSD try to get at least a 7200RPM drive.
 
It's for a guy who just needs a well running computer to run a robot. He doesn't need much video capability. Just needs a system that will run to programs well to control the robot.
 
john3610 said:
Hey folks,

I'm building a computer for someone and had a few questions I could use some help with..

He wants a flat case that doesn't sit upright, but lays on it's side so it can sit on the desk more easily or something. Where do I get something like that?

Here is what I've put together in case anyone wants to check it out and make sure I haven't messed up anywhere along the way.

-------------------


Motherboard/CPU - $264.36 (Quad Core 2.8ghz Athlon II X4 630)
http://www.portatech.com/catalog/viewitem.asp?ID=26747&O=26527,25377&r=p
Change everything to be "Included in Package" except Select your Pre-test build ($12.95)
Select Windows 7 Premium Operating System


Memory - $72.70 (Market Grade 4GB DDR2-800)
http://www.1stchoicememory.com/catalog/products.asp?id=2256

HD - $60.97 - 1 Terabyte SATA Hard Drive
http://3btech.net/whlamadate1t.html
Check to also buy CAB SATA 18 cable and CABLDSATAPOWER Adapter

DVD-R Drive - 25.88 - DVD Burner
http://3btech.net/totssa22xdol.html
Add a SATA Cable (CABSATA18)

Case/Power Supply 650W - $51.98
http://3btech.net/blchhe96coca.html?conf0=4
Select the 650W Power Supply - Chiefmax 650W

Graphics Card - 29.99
http://www.unityelectronics.com/pro..._HDMI_Video_Card_BFGEGT2201024D2E_Refurbished

Case Fan x 2 - $9.98
http://3btech.net/new12fopinmo.html

Total - $515.86
Click to expand...
I took some time today to do some price comparisons between the sites you linked and newegg... I had nothing else to do!

- Processor, motherboard and OS (all of which are the same) = you save about $25 if you go with newegg.

- Ram/Memory = I've never heard of those brands, but that seems like a good price, though I don't know whether they will need 4 gigs or not.

- Hard drive = Newegg sells Samsung's Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ. It's 1TB as well, but spins faster at 7200 rpm yet its only $5 more.

- Video card = You don't need one.

- DVD Drive and Case/PSU = Those are great prices for those items.

- Fans and stuff = Depending on the case you buy, you will or will not need to buy case fans. Also, if the processor you buy comes with the stock heatsink/fan, you wont need to upgrade that either (the processor I linked comes with the heatsink and fan).
 
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Wait, you're building a computer for a guy who needs TO CONTROL A ROBOT??

Does he ever use the words "army" or "apocalypse"? Does he sound like Plankton from SpongeBob? One of the sure signs you're working with a cartoon villain is that he's constructing robots, or spacecraft, or satellites, but he can't build the computer himself.
 
Tekton said:
Wait, you're building a computer for a guy who needs TO CONTROL A ROBOT??

Does he ever use the words "army" or "apocalypse"? Does he sound like Plankton from SpongeBob? One of the sure signs you're working with a cartoon villain is that he's constructing robots, or spacecraft, or satellites, but he can't build the computer himself.
Click to expand...

I thought it was a software robot... which would make sense if he was a programmer and doesn't know how to build a PC.
 
Mordos said:
I thought it was a software robot... which would make sense if he was a programmer and doesn't know how to build a PC.
Click to expand...

It was a software robot to control a lot of the functions in his house. He just wanted a pretty quick PC to control the computer program he built for it. I ended up backing out on building it though for fear that Skynet would be the result...

Actually, because I know literally nothing about building a flat form computer. I've opened em up before and I've seen different parts I don't recognize cause they have to be able to fit into that tiny case.
 
He has you snowed you know. Sure it's a software daemon, but it turns his whole house INTO A GIANT ROBOT.

I'm just sayin.

Cartoon villain.
 
john3610 said:
Actually, because I know literally nothing about building a flat form computer. I've opened em up before and I've seen different parts I don't recognize cause they have to be able to fit into that tiny case.
Click to expand...

You really only need to match up the motherboard size with what the case can accomodate, Micro-ATX, ATX etc.

I have a few Dell Optiplex GX260's here at my desk and they are definitely not representative of "normal" desktop cases. Normal desktop cases don't open like books... :p
 
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Mordos said:
but they are easy to replace... no screws, just clip off and clip on.
Click to expand...

Totally, they have been great, but that ultra small form factor board seems to overheat a lot. The 745 seems to have fixed these issues.
 
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