I need some help from Computer Experts! Thanks!

edemonda SG

Hello... I'm going to fix a comp at Sim Lim this coming weekend. But first there are some things I would like some of you to help me clarify.. Thanks!

#1: Is Serial ATA Technology worth it?

#2: I'm getting DDR2 and I heard it's not backward compatible, so does it mean that I can't use a Motherboard that only supports DDR DIMMs, but rather I must get one that supports DDR2 DIMMs? ( Can't find any DDR2 motherboards on vr-zone though )

#3 : How much better is Asus to others like MSI, Gigabyte, Abit and Leadtech?

#4 : Which shop in Sim Lim is better?

#5 : Any other advises are welcome.

Thanks a million guys!

Fatshort SG

Dont fix urself if you know nothing.

nOrmalbOi SG

x2

Cool

2004Lancer SG

#1: Seems stable (but gotta install the driver during Windows XP blue setup screen)
#2: Then use DDR first before DDR2 motherboards proliferate the market
#3: All about the same (at least they are all made in Taiwan...China made ones are problematic)
#4: Fuwell is ok, Laser is also ok (the uncle there is helpful and quite knowledgeable with the hardwares he sells)
#5: Whatever parts u get, next time u wanna upgrade, u will surely upgrade all the parts .. my point is no point getting upgradable components coz ultimately the only main component u tend to upgrade is only the HARD DISK....get what i mean? dun try to get an expensive motherboard which promises support the highest end processor because u will never know where the processor is going in the near future....processor these days are renewing very frequently....

LAST ADVICE:- go for the average hardware config.

bismarck SG

dont pick something high end...
totally no purpose

nOrmalbOi SG

depends on a person's idea of what he wants to do to his PC and what he wants the PC to do. of coz knowing how to do it is a given.

in this case.. i believe anything mid range and bought from a respectable shop should be fine.

Cybermind
Laser
Video Pro
Fuwell

Above 4 r the usual places i go to get my stuff

Very Happy

maxsee SG

my suggestion…..buy from dell….i dun work there….but all my pcs i get from them…..aside from their 3 years warranty….their service is top notch…just need to pay a bit more….

_stAnz_ SG

1. SATA hdd are running 150MB/s while PATA, the normal ones, run at 133MB/s. The price diff is not large so it boils down to whether u wan 2 spend that little $$ to get that little perf more. Personal pref but if gaming or video editting den get those running 10Krpm like Raptor.

2.No point getting ddr2 now cos not developed much and cost a lot more. Not worth definitely!!! get ddr1 more stable and widely available

3.I f for normal use den any brand also can. MSI,Gigabyte and Abit are more popular overclocking boards. The rest are average.

4.If u want those that do assemly as well for low price den visit F***ll or CM (both pls figure out yrself, not too diff - else PM me!!) and their after service is gd.

5. Never get fore front technolgioes available but those that u really require and tats all. Mayb a little more den u require ius ok cos u need 2 leave room for expansions and b a little more "future safe"

Phew... i thirsty liao!! u owe me 2!!! hahahaha

_stAnz_ SG

Help u assemble system also can. U pay me for everythg + service, wan?

Gazette05 SG

Erm, for your info, please do not buy DDR2, cos its actually slower than DDR and its more expensive. Go for something average. The shop I went to buy a package is Jorjy Intl at the 3rd floor, it's somewhere arnd the backlane. Cheap and reasonalble config.

$770 for the below:

3.0E GHz HT, Intel 865G
80GB ATA HDD
512MB DDR Kingston
128MB Geforce FX 5200
52x32x52x/16x DVD/CDRW combo
Integrated 10/100 LAN and sound card
Free optical mouse, keyboard and assembly.
No monitor.

It's quite a value-for-money package, in fact the cheapest I can find around Sim Lim.

Also, when you are shopping around Sim Lim, take note of 2 things:

1. Get an IT-savvy guy with you around. He can help you with all the jargon.

2. Never be contented with the price of 1 shop. Shop around for at least half a day before comparing the prices of the kind of computer you have in mind.

Good luck shopping in Sim Lim! Very Happy

edemonda SG

Oh my god... That was so much help! Very Happy Thanks alot guys! I really really appreciate it! Next time treat you all kopi ok? hehe...

edemonda SG

Yup I've given it serious thought before but there are certain configurations about dell's computers which I do not like.

#1 : I don't need 160GB HDD (no downgrade option online) cos my present comp I've only used 30GB out of 60GB for the past 5 years.

#2 : I want my memory to stand at 1GB + 1GB RAM. Upgrading from 256MB + 256MB with dell will totally cost a bomb. We're looking at some 800+ bucks here.

#3 : I need a TV Tuner + Capture. Dell does not offer that.

#4 : Dell are giving f***** up LCD Monitors. And downgrading them to Flat Screen CRTs cost money??!! ( when i do it online )

#5 : I don't need stuff like Keyboards and mouse. I have them already.

#6 : Dell are using DDR2 rams which I have now just decided not to use ( due to suggestions in this thread Laughing

Well in short, I wan't total control over what's in the box under my table. LOL..

maxsee SG

personnally speaking dell is good.....better than custom made...though i guess there will always be ppl who are against them....my current config is as follows:-

- intel p4 3.4ghs 1mbl2 cache 800mhz

- 17" ultra sharp lcd monitor

- 1 gb ddr2 memory ram

- sould blaster audigy

- nvdia 6800 gto 256mb graphics card

- c drive 160gb sata drive
- d drive 160gb sata drive
- e drive 52x cd rom
- f drive 16x dvd r/w

all in all i feel that my system is very good...no lag in playing games or anything even with doom 3 at high res....so no complain

for those that dun like dell....not sure what to say.....each have their own preference....but like i say 3 years warranty is top notch....use to custom build my own pc....but one day things start to get damage only to realize i must pay again.....so rather forget of all the damage and get from reputable brands....

edemonda SG

Wow... did you spend 3grand on that? LOL...

maxsee SG

o indeed i spend slightly above 3k for that.....the additional sata harddisk and additional 52x cdrom was fixed by myself....as the cost of getting dell to fix that was not feasible....anyway additional harddisk was to backup data...since crash of harddisk will not have warning in advance....as for the 52xcdrom mainly use to read cd-rom for installation....the other dvd r/w is use for writing disc....in this way, my dvd r/w lens dun get damage so easily....

anyway i feel that this system will last me the next 3 years....after will change to new one.....3 yrs ago was already using p4 1.8ghz.....lasted me a good 3 yrs as well......better to have a system that can last u 3 yrs than keep changing to match with the everchanging software req......

will add one more 256mb nvdia card soon to my mother board as my nvdia card support Scalable link ineterface.....in this way will have two 256mb graphics card run concurrently to speed things up.

all in alll get whether to get from reputable brands or custom built is dependable on each one......

_stAnz_ SG

The suggeted spec is definietely not for gaming so if u gamer pls dun get that system or at least pls upgrade from there.

-> Cheap not equal gd and suit yr needs

Btw own build pc is BEST!!!

maxsee SG

own build pc or buying from reputable source is the best will depend on how u view it....

anyway u need a really high end system to play games nowadays if u want top notch graphics and sound....using my current system....playing games is really great especially the graphics...

but then again, my system is nowhere in comparison to some of the super high end system out there.....

edemonda SG

Heh heh... I've got my system already! Although earlier I've said that I won't be going for DDR2, I went for it anyway, since at sim lim the prices for DDR2 and DDR ram were almost the same! I don't know why, but according to the pricelists they are quite a distance apart in terms of price, but I guess it's because little ppl buy DDR2 now, that's why they let it go at a lower price! I got my entire Comp ( Except Monitor ) at Fuwell International. Here are my specs. Give me comments!!!

Monitor : Phillips 17" 107S6(Black) ----- $211

CPU : Pentium IV 530 3.0GHZ/800FSB/1MB L2 CACHE ----- $315

Mainboard : MSI 915P NEO2 Platinum (LGA 775Pins) ----- $265

RAM : Kingston 2GB Kit 4200/533MHZ DDR2 CL4 ----- $776

HDD : Seagate 120GB 7200RPM HDD SATA ----- $148

FDD : SONY (Black) ----- $12

PCI Express X16 VGA : GECUBE Radeon X300 256MB ----- $205

DVDRW : LG GSA-4163B (Dual Layer) ----- $140

TV/FM Tuner with Capture : V-Gear Speed TV ----- $99

Normal Casing (excluding pwr supply) : ----- $70

Cooling System + Pwr Supply : Cooler Master 450W ----- $140

Hardware Installation : $10

( Total : $2391 )

I thought it was a good price what do ya all think?

nightzip SG

very very good....!

its a very powerful system! Mr. Green
price ok lah. Razz

nightzip SG

and congrats on the purchase of your new PC!

you'll be enjoying hours of lan games, PC games, surfing and vcds..... Mr. Green