ok, in the near future a want to build a computer. i have never done this before so i dont know what to get. i have picked out the case but thats all i know.
what do you recommend for components?
this is the case i want.

Dani AI

Generated

Given ’s goal (a fast Windows XP gaming box) and the points raised by , and , a compatibility-first checklist will prevent wasted money and headaches. Choose the motherboard and CPU as a matched pair first — socket and chipset determine supported RAM type, maximum memory, and which graphics slot the board has. After that, pick RAM that the board supports and a graphics card that fits the board’s expansion slot and the case’s physical clearance.

Power and cooling are easy to get wrong. Prioritize a reputable power supply with healthy +12V capacity and about 20–30% headroom over estimated load; quality matters more than raw wattage. For gaming builds of this era a single mid/high-range card plus a modern CPU typically ran well on 350–450W quality supplies, but confirm connector needs for the chosen GPU. Aim for sensible airflow (front intake and rear/top exhaust) and plan for 2–3 case fans for a gaming system.

On peripherals: most older IDE (PATA) CD/DVD and floppy drives can be reused if the new board still provides IDE ports; if the board is SATA-only an adapter or SATA drive will be needed. Many motherboards include onboard audio; that can be left enabled for general use and swapped for a PCI sound card later if higher quality or lower latency is required.

Final-build tips: confirm standoff placement, test the system on a bench outside the case with only CPU, one RAM stick and video (if needed), verify BIOS recognizes CPU/RAM/drives, apply proper thermal paste, and consult motherboard manual for front-panel wiring and beep-code troubleshooting. Comparing prices online (as suggested) and checking vendor return policies is a practical last step before purchase.

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good case, just get one with a power supply in it, im getting that same case tommorow with a 420 psu in it ;)

you need

motherboard
cpu
memory
harddrive
cddrive
videocard
powersupply

non of th elinks work for me

i think its because there updating the website. did it bring u to the site

My favorite online vendor for components is NewEgg, might be worthwhile comparing with BestBuy.

Hello,

Picking out computers is like picking out cars. Do you take the cadillac to Menards / Home Depot to haul drywall home, or do you take the Pickup truck to the Airport to pick up 6 business associates that just flew in?

What would you like to do with this computer? Video digitizing? Games? Simple word processing? What OS are you thinking of? Linux? Windoze?

Computers are tools, just like cars, and what you are going to use them for should be part of your design process.

Christian

Looks pretty nice to me!

My favorite online vendor for components is NewEgg, might be worthwhile comparing with BestBuy.

Agreed. Newegg is almost always cheaper than any standard retail outfit. The money you save on parts from them could be put towards more memory, or a better graphics card.

...This is just a personal thing, but I've never really liked the Xaser cases. They're really nice IMO functionally, but they just look really ugly to me. I'm kind of partial to these two right now, I'm buying one of them for my wife:

The Antec Super Lanboy Aluminum:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-145&depa=1

The Antec Silver Aluminum Performance 1 Series:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-129-144&depa=1

My wife's really wanting the Performance 1 Series, so that's what she's probably going to get. In the very near future, I'm going to build a box with this:

It's a really nice looking desktop case, as I need a smaller PC that still uses an ATX board. But again, that's just my opinion-- feel free to pick whatever case you want.

edit: went ahead and merged your two threads together, since they were so much related

do all motherboards come with a built in sound card? and if it did would u be able to add a better sound card

what is a good graphics card

link please

can u use ur old cd-rom and floppy drive on a new computer

Quick word of advice: Don't double/triple-post... you can just edit your single post and then add additional questions if needed.

But on the first question, no, not all motherboards have integrated sound cards. But, those that do can have them disabled and upgraded if needed.

Second question: It depends on your budget. I'm going for an ATI Radeon 9800 here soon. It's a 128MB card, and it can be found for around $200 at various retail channels.

...And yes. You can use your old CDROM and floppy drive on a new computer.

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