Dad's new PC

[Psymon]

So, my Dad's PC broke. It's really old, 1.1Ghz AMD socket A, AGP slot...
So, he wants a new one and I whipped up a cheap system that'll do everything he wants and should last him a really long time.

I ordered:







I had found a good system, but after asking for more details and getting a reply of "2x1GB Generic 667MHZ Ram, Novatech GeForce 8600GT (Could be any manufacture), 320GB Hard Drive (Any Manufacturer again)" and no mention of the PSU I had strong doubts on how sturdy that PC would be.

We're gunna use the case and DVD drive from the old PC.

Anyway, the reason for starting this thread is because it's the first time I've built a PC from scratch and its something I've really wanted to do for more experience and confidence with hardware. I'm expecting everything to go smoothly but, just incase, I'm hoping I can pop back here for a few pointers and such
I'll also be keeping a general log of progress (if I can pull myself away from the work )

Work starts on Friday afternoon since the bits are at their place and I'm at mine

It's all a bit heart breaking too because his PC is going to be better than mine apart from the GPU (maybe) and its around 1/4 of what I spent at the time

[Psymon]

So, I get home, everything's in my room for me to get started.
First thing I do is plug in the old PC and see what's wrong with it.
Turn's out nothing is. It's running fine.

Work will continue once I have a chat with Dad.
In the mean time, here's a photo of all the new bits:


Update: Keeping old PC (as long as it doesn't die again)
Ordering new case for new PC.
Expected delay, 1 week.

[venney]

is that the same as my mobo? i think it might be, or very similar.

[Psymon]

I dunno if it's the same as yours, but I just clicked on the link I posted and it now says it's discontinued :\

Also, case ordered is still not in stock. Delay + 1 week

[venney]

what case you go for buddy?

[Psymon]

Good point.....
Here are more details:

(Seems to be called a 'Chassis' these days)



Montior was delivered immediately so Dad's enojoying that on his old PC
Shame that it didn't come with a DVI cable, only a VGA, so Dad's gunna pick one up from a local store. (You know Venney, ISL)

Edit: Turns out ISL only had a 5m cable for £25 ish
Ordered .

[venney]

yea man cables can be a joke. i was looking at some cables HDMI (i think?) cables for ps3, NOT CHEAP!!!

p.s. bargain pc case there buddy

[Psymon]

I know! Thought it was a bit swish. Dad nearly coughed up the same ammount for a pants case. Good thing I slapped him round a bit

Cables are expensive if you look in the obvious places.
Look around a bit and you'll find
I see some are cheapish on ebay too.
Google shopping returns some ok stuff.

Want GTA4 so much

[venney]

that cable looks good. i might put an order in before i go home so i can get rite on it!

And yea, GTA 4 will be so damn good. I have to wait until 17th of may or so till i can play it tho

[Psymon]

Less than I'll have to wait

[venney]

i recon u should buy a ps3 buddy, we could play online

[Psymon]

If there were other PS3 games I wanted and movies I wanted to watch in HD (of which there's approx. 0) then I really would get one.

Now there is a fair few PC games I want, out now and coming soon, one of which may be GTA4, and I'd rather put the money for a PS3 on a new GPU and buy games that I want instead of buy games I have an intrest in to justify the cost of a console, lol.

[venney]

any updates?

[Psymon]

Nice timing, I just checked the website before you posted.
next to the case it says 'stock due 24/04/2008'

I'm going to be putting the building off till the bank holiday weekend, even if everything manages to arrive by this weekend.

Turns out the old PC isn't quite fine and it's repeated what went wrong the first time.
I think I've managed to get the it to stop messing up by dropping the clock a bit. Although it's now slower than ever, my parent's don't know any better and the new PC will be up soon enough.

[venney]

update update update? lol
its killing me that gta4 is probally at my house and i am not playing it