Last month we built
(virtually) an intel based computer for music production so this month we’ll
put together one with an AMD processor. All the components are found at
newegg.com
and are based on Frank Stroupe’s recommendations found in earlier
newsletters.
Frank’s
articles call for a larger than normal case , something between a mid-size
and a full size with at least three fans. We’re going to go with the
Spire SP-7202B
for $32.50. It has a 120mm side fan and a 80mm rear fan and room for
another 80mm in the front.
The next thing Frank
addresses is CPU coolers but until we determine which CPU we’re going to use
that’ll have to wait .The CPU we’re going to use this time is an
AMD Athlon 64 X2 5400+
($155.00). The mother board is the
ASUS M2N-SLI
($139.99) with a
AM2 socket. It will accommodate 8GB of DDR2 800 memory, on board sound (not
that we need it) and LAN. It doesn’t have onboard video but it does have 3
full size PCI slots, 2 PCI-Express x16 slots, 2 PCI Express x1 slots. The
3GB/second SATA connectors for hard drives are both internal and external but
there is only one IDE slot so we’ll have to get SATA hard drives. The
processor runs at 2.8GHz and doesn’t come with a heat sink and cooling fan
but we’re going to use our own CPU cooler for quietness.
Since we don’t have on board
video, we’ll go with Diamond’s
Radeon X1550 X1550PCIE256SB Video Card
for $62.99. The
video card requires a power supply with at least 420 watts and an extra 12
volt connector so we’ll go with Coolmax’s
CXI-450B
for $44.99
We’re going use 2 GB of DDR 800 in the form of
2-1GB
Kingston 1.8v memory sticks
for $42.99 each. As compared to $49.99 ($59.99
less $10 rebate)
Now we can choose our CPU cooler—a Hiper HFC-20820-C1 for
$24.99. Next are the hard drives, one for the operating system and software
and the other for data. Frank was extremely clear about hard drives, he
specified Hitachi only and we’ll get a 80gb SATA 3GB/s with a 8MB
buffer($39.99) for the operating system and software and a
160gb SATA 3GB/s,
8MB buffer
($54.99) for data.. The damage so far—$543.44
We’ll need a DVD/CD Burner and a CDR burner. He specifies
Lite-On and you’re looking at $28.99 for the DVD burner and $17.99 for the CD
Burner. That brings our total to $$589.42
A keyboard and mouse is going to set us back $14.99 for
the Logitech 967973-0403 keyboard/mouse combo.
The only thing left is a monitor. The flat panels are so
cheap now, it’s ridiculous.I was tempted to get a touch screen but that would
have definitely blown the budget ($699 and up) There are about 10 or 12 19”
monitors between $159.99 and $169.99 so take your pick. Our grand total
without operating system (XP, if you ask me), software (your pick) and audio
interface ( again your choice) is $870.45—a little more than $100 less than 3
months ago.
