The Computer Megathread

[Legodude77]

I need a good modem for around $30.

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[Funkadelic]

Does anyone know a good gaming desktop for 400 bucks or lower?

[Awdax]

Were the items in the OP originally on sale or something? The $700 build ends up well over $800, and the $800 build ends up at around $900.

[KoopaScooper]

for some reason I had it in my head that I would be spending a stuffton of money on a new computer but I realized I can reuse a bunch of my current parts. I think I only want to replace the mobo graphics card, processor, and case
which do happen to be the bulk of the cost of the computer, but I'll still be saving a couple hundred dollars.

You'd have to get a motherboard compatible with your RAM, make sure your PSU won't die when it tries to power the new video card, and if you're using an IDE HDD or DVD drive, you have to make sure the motherboard has IDE/PATA. The most costly part of the computer would be the video card, unless you get a good deal on one, or get a lower-end one.

I need a good modem for around $30.

Cable or DSL?

Does anyone know a good gaming desktop for 400 bucks or lower?

Not prebuilt, unfortunately.

Were the items in the OP originally on sale or something? The $700 build ends up well over $800, and the $800 build ends up at around $900.

No, prices have gone up. They need to be remade like, every few months or so.

[Legodude77]

DSL

[KoopaScooper]

DSL

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16825165003
You'll need a router for it though because it's only got one RJ45 port.

Also just a heads-up but I'd check with your provider for the services used for the line (PPPoE and etc) before buying a modem.

[Straton.]

So I've chosen parts for a dedicated Minecraft server build, and I was wondering if they check out right especially considering that this is my first build. I'm planning on running ubuntu on it because of its speed - and it's free. My download speed is 30MB when directly connected to the router and Upload speed is 5mb. Can I host a Minecraft server suggested that with 8GB of Ram and my current upload/download speeds that I can have up to 15 players on my server. I don't think I'd have more players than that (It's - friends only)

Here are the parts I've selected:

Mobo: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128530
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103943
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231426
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371057
Case: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

EDIT: Fixed CPU not being compatible with Mobo and RAM was overkill so I toned it down.
EDIT #2: Took KoopaScooper's Advice and changed the processor:

You're going to need a video card to operate it. FM1 sockets are really strange, and let the processor have video controlling capabilities. The processor you have chosen does not have video capabilities despite being a socket FM1, so you will need to have a video card to set it up unless you get this one. It adds about $30 to the cost, but lets you not have to buy a video card. Second, since you're only hosting  Minecraft, the HDD won't bottleneck stuff. It would make more sense to have the OS on the SSD, but this is just me being me. Third, the HDD you've selected isn't very high quality. It may die before or after 3 months or more of operation.
Other than that you could turn this into a gaming computer when you're done with it by purchasing a high-end video card and a new power supply.

EDIT #3: More advice from KoopaScoopa (give him a cookie, I mean really) as well as removing the SSD and HDD while adding in a recommended HDD. Sending to reddit for review.


Your opinions and advice would be have been extremely helpful to me, because really:

[KoopaScooper]

You're going to need a video card to operate it. FM1 sockets are really strange, and let the processor have video controlling capabilities. The processor you have chosen does not have video capabilities despite being a socket FM1, so you will need to have a video card to set it up unless you get this one. It adds about $30 to the cost, but lets you not have to buy a video card. Second, since you're only hosting  Minecraft, the HDD won't bottleneck stuff. It would make more sense to have the OS on the SSD, but this is just me being me. Third, the HDD you've selected isn't very high quality. It may die before or after 3 months or more of operation.
Other than that you could turn this into a gaming computer when you're done with it by purchasing a high-end video card and a new power supply.

[Straton.]

You're going to need a video card to operate it. FM1 sockets are really strange, and let the processor have video controlling capabilities. The processor you have chosen does not have video capabilities despite being a socket FM1, so you will need to have a video card to set it up unless you get this one. It adds about $30 to the cost, but lets you not have to buy a video card. Second, since you're only hosting  Minecraft, the HDD won't bottleneck stuff. It would make more sense to have the OS on the SSD, but this is just me being me. Third, the HDD you've selected isn't very high quality. It may die before or after 3 months or more of operation.
Other than that you could turn this into a gaming computer when you're done with it by purchasing a high-end video card and a new power supply.

How could I go about determining the quality of a hard drive; the branding?

[KoopaScooper]

Typically, yes. WD Caviar Black drives are the highest quality WD drives. Not sure about many other brands, as I've only used WD in any of the computers I've used, but I'm pretty sure that Spinpoint is the highest quality Samsung drive and Barracuda is the highest quality Seagate drive. Again though, I'm not sure.

[Straton.]

Alright I've removed the SSD (it is redundant as I'm not going to be directly using the computer) as well as the HDD and now I'm looking for a good HDD.

[KoopaScooper]

If you have a local store that has computer parts, HDDs tend to be a bit cheaper there, especially during a sale.
However, if there isn't, you'll have to get one online.
This is the cheapest high quality drive I see with a higher capacity than 320GB.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136769

[Straton.]

Thank you very much KoopaScoopa, you've been a big help to what could of been a disaster. Updating original parts post momentarily and then I'm going to show it to Buildapc over on reddit for a final review.

[Tokthree]

Can anyone find me the most recent reliable and stable version of the AMD graphics drivers? The latest ones I installed actually perform worse than it did before I installed any, it's depressing

[KoopaScooper]

Can anyone find me the most recent reliable and stable version of the AMD graphics drivers? The latest ones I installed actually perform worse than it did before I installed any, it's depressing

I honestly have no clue; my brothers said the 12.#.## update actually improved their performances, especially with OpenGL.