Compatibility Check and in need of PSU

[linuxguymarshall]

Ok, my much loved desktop has died after many years of good service. This is rather unfortunate because I have a LAN party in a few weeks and am on an incredibly tight budget. So I hit up newegg and decided to do something I have never done before, use an AMD processor and an ATI graphics card. Well not being familiar with this territory I made a small Micro ATX system and wanted to check with you guys to make sure everything was compatible and to see if you could recommend a power supply to do all this.

Processor (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103678)

RAM (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178153)

Video Card (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814103078)

Motherboard (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130187)

Case (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811164121)

Assuming I have a hard drive and DVD burner that is compatible with all this, would this be a good build for some light gaming? (Left for Dead 1 on lowest settings at the absolute most]

I just need a good machine to light game on so I am not stuck on my netbook until I get the money for a real machine.

And BTW, this puts the price at $200 and I have $241 in my budget so any changes you think I should make please keep them in that budget.

[linuxguymarshall]

Anyone?

[PRC09]

Hi,
I think the only question may be the video card and the drivers in Jaunty.This is only from reading on the forums regarding Ati and not that card in particular.I use the card in the link and have had no issues at all.Also have an MSI motherboard with 2gig of ram...


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121235

[linuxguymarshall]

Hi,
I think the only question may be the video card and the drivers in Jaunty.This is only from reading on the forums regarding Ati and not that card in particular.I use the card in the link and have had no issues at all.Also have an MSI motherboard with 2gig of ram...


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121235


As I said I will be gaming on this so I will be using my copy of Windows XP Pro so drivers will not an issue.

But all the parts should work together and I will have no issues? Also, what PSU can you recommend because I am not sure with a microATX what to get.

[clhsharky]

Antecc basic should do you good, quality is important for stability.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371023

[Rhubarb]

Why not try to diagnose the problem with your old dead computer and try to fix it? It'd be a lot cheaper if this is the case.

If it's just the PSU that died, well replace it with a $60 unit.
If it's the motherboard, try buying a second hand one.

[linuxguymarshall]

Why not try to diagnose the problem with your old dead computer and try to fix it? It'd be a lot cheaper if this is the case.

If it's just the PSU that died, well replace it with a $60 unit.
If it's the motherboard, try buying a second hand one.

It's one of the capacitors on the mobo, it blew. And it is time for me to just get a new computer anyways. After I go buy my good gaming machine this will make a nice server.

[Rhubarb]

It's one of the capacitors on the mobo, it blew. And it is time for me to just get a new computer anyways. After I go buy my good gaming machine this will make a nice server.

Aaaah ok, that's fair enough ... unless you want to spend a dollar or two on a new capacitor :P

I haven't had any experience with ATI (AMD) video cards in Linux, they're much better than they used to be afaik under Linux.

[3rdalbum]

The motherboard already has Nvidia 6100 graphics onboard. I don't know whether the ancient ATI or the ancient Nvidia will be better, but neither will be very good. The Nvidia will work properly on Linux, the ATI won't.

Do yourself a favour and find a motherboard with an Nvidia 9300 or 9400 onboard; failing that, get yourself one of those GPUs on a card. You'll thank me for it.

The case seems very very basic. As soon as you have some more extra cash lying around, replace the case.

[.Maleficus.]

Don't get that graphics card. I have an overclocked X1600Pro in my basement and it isn't a very good gamer. Not to mention it's already a few generations old. Get this HD4650 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131138) instead, it's only $57.

[ThisEndlessFall]

Don't buy an ATI card, their drivers are still very poor for linux.

[Skripka]

Since you're shopping for a mATX board, there is only so much you can do but-be CAREFUL about layout geography.

The listed mainboard has all manner of poor space geography on the South side of the board....If you use ANY kind of sizeable GPU card, you'll lose one of your 2 PCI slots AND (this is worse) you'll block access to your SATA ports, necessitating your buying some right-angle SATA cables.

[linuxguymarshall]

The listed mainboard has all manner of poor space geography on the South side of the board....If you use ANY kind of sizeable GPU card, you'll lose one of your 2 PCI slots AND (this is worse) you'll block access to your SATA ports, necessitating your buying some right-angle SATA cables.


Yes, I am trying all I can to stick to small parts.

[linuxguymarshall]

Don't buy an ATI card, their drivers are still very poor for linux.

I will be running Windows

[ThisEndlessFall]

I will be running Windows

Then an ATI 4850 would be a good choice.