College Computer

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Xeruan

Weaksauce
Joined
Oct 5, 2004
Messages
92
Building a desktop for college from graduation funds.. here is the specs I am currently looking at, please tell me if you have any suggestions I should also consider, thanks and sorry for the long list, and I already have a Fortron 530W PSU so no need for another

Case
Lian Li PC-65B (Black)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811112040

Motherboard
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131517

Processor
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Venice Core
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103531

RAM
Corsair XMS *2GB Worth* 2x TWINX1024-3200XL
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820145522

HDD
Maxtor DiamondMax 160 GB 6B160M0
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144362
Maxtor MaXLine III 300 GB 6B300S0
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16822144363

CD/DVD Drives
Plextor CD Burner (Black) PX-230A
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827106235
Plextor DVD Burner (Black) PX-716A
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16827131338

Sound
Creative Labs Audigy 2 ZS Platinum
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16829102163

Video
eVGA GeForce 6800 GT
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130215

Peripherals
Saitek Eclipse Keyboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16823175103

Logitech Mx518 Mouse
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826104178

Logitech z-2300 Speakers
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=360409

Sennheiser RS120 Headphones
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16826159406

Extras
Blue Neon LED Cooler Master Case Fan x5 TLF-S82-EB
http://www.xoxide.com/cooler-master-neon-led-fan-blue-tlf-r82-e1.html

Fan Master Controller
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835883001

Cooler Master Blue Aurora CCFL x2 DFL-UD1-EB
http://www.xoxide.com/cooler-master-aurora-blue.html
 
If you can afford it, go with the DFI LAN Party SLI mobo. MSI's SLI board is very good too.

Not that ASUS is a bad board, but I have heard that the DFI and MSI boards are better.

And plextor drives are over priced...to save a bit go with NEC or LG burners.
 
1GBx2 not 512MBx4. You can run it dual channel and you have room for more later. ;)
 
could ditch the cd burner unless you really need it, dvd burner is capable of cd burns
 
Looks pretty nice, must have gotten a nice graduation gift! All I got was a pat on the shoulder, which turned into a shove out the door, along with all my stuff and a warning that the locks would be changed within the hour :D

Seriously, that's a killer rig, but if you've got that much, you might as well spring for a 4000+, or wait and get an Athlon64 X2 (about one week away, from what I hear.) A 4200+ will run about $150 - $250 more than the single core 3800+.
Find pre-order pricing here:
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=M&Category_Code=amddc

I agree on the DVD-Burner. Only need a DVD Drive and a DVD burner. Both together should cost less than $100 or so. Plextor's are nice, but unless you need bragging rights or something, you can find a dual-layer DVD-burner for under $80, and a DVD-ROM for ~$25 (hell, I barely use my optical drives, to tell the truth. A USB flash drive is handier for just carrying files around, and I barely burn CD's)

Here's a pair of Sony's that won't bust the bank:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131251
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106819

I prefer Western Digital hard drives, but I've had Maxtor, too, and IMHO, I haven't noticed any real difference between the two.

If you wait for Athlon64 X2 to come out, you might catch a break on the 6800GT since Nvidia is announcing their next GPU in a couple of weeks.

Well, that's my advice. Take it or leave it.
 
Buckus said:
I agree on the DVD-Burner. Only need a DVD Drive and a DVD burner. Both together should cost less than $100 or so. Plextor's are nice, but unless you need bragging rights or something, you can find a dual-layer DVD-burner for under $80, and a DVD-ROM for ~$25 (hell, I barely use my optical drives, to tell the truth. A USB flash drive is handier for just carrying files around, and I barely burn CD's)

Here's a pair of Sony's that won't bust the bank:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827131251
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827106819
Click to expand...

The dual-layer LG drive is only $70 here in Canada so it should be much less than $80 in the states. I wouldn't buy Sony though...they are just re-badged Lite-on drives (I think it's Lite-on, correct if I'm wrong) They aren't bad, but if you buy the Lite-on version you will probably save a bit more.

I do agree however with a DVD-ROM with a DVD burner is probably the best way to go though.
 
I'd drop down to 1 burner, unless theres a specific reason. As, idk how universal this is but I always hear TwimMOS memory reccomended for A64 since it gets super low timings for a cheap price. Fan's aren't the best, may look nice but tehy won't be super quiet. Depends on your experience and preference though.

Good luck
 
SLI is a waste. Get a Chaintech NF4 Ultra mobo. That RAM is also a waste. Get soem Corsair Value Select and get 2x1GB (if you really need 2GB). I would get the Maxline HDD. Get the NEC DVD burner.

Sound card is also a waste. Just get the gamer limited edition for a little over $100.
 
I'd like to let the OP know the SLI comment is an oppinion, but you should think about it since each side has valid arguments. I'd also go TwinMos over valueselect for sure as well.

Why are u getting the 160drive, just go maxline, or 2 if u need the space. They are smokin. NEC is very good and cheap, I have one myself, although I believe plextor is technically better. Worth the extra $, is another thing.
 
while my burner can read DVDs at 16x it can only read CDs at 48x, so the 52x32x52x is just a preference of mine.

I am getting the 160GB HDD and the 300GB HDD mainly because my 250GB External HDD is already filling up, so that the 160GB will be my main setup/install and my 300GB will be only for storage as I am in short supply of free GBs right now.

and doh i knew i forgot someting.. to put the flashdrive onto the website, sorry about those commenting on it
CORSAIR 2GB Flash Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820233009

or

Kingston DataTraveler II plus 2GB Flash Drive
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820189025

TwinMOS is cheap RAM, but once you get to the 1GB (2x512MB) sticks you get a latency of 2.5, though with the Corsair XMS there is only a latency of 2 - 2.25, just extra speed
CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145574
 
That Corsair XMS is a waste I'm telling you, just look at the poor soul who hit 226 with crap timings Yay! not..

BTW: What the hell are you doing in college to need 2gb..
 
which flash drive should I go with,

i am double majoring and the computer science department head said that 1GB would be best so I would never have issues about running out, so being the person I am decided to get 2GB

everyone here recommendeds TwinMOS, could I get a link to the exact ram you all speak of?
 
In order to get a decent pair of 1GB sticks you have to fork out some cash. To my knowledge TwinMOS does not make their SP series in 1GBx2 so thats out of the picture now. I recommend you look around more and not just settle with that XMS bs.

It all comes down to, are you overclocking or not? If you are then get some nice value ram or some OCZ Gold VX. If not then get some ram with already good timings, that have legit reviews. I learned when I was searching around for new RAM to stay away from the "low-end" Corsair XMS models so I did and bought me some OCZ Gold VX :p

Right now I can only give it 2.9V, its rated to go 3.5V without voiding the warranty. With the small voltage I have going through it, it does 214.5 at 2.5-3-3-6 and thats lax I had it way up b4. Now if I gave it 3.5V it would easily become very very sexy.

IMO I would easily pick two of these up rather then any Corsair XMS.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820227209
 
Great board if you know what you are doing, not sure about stable though. I don't have one so maybe someone that does can help. From my knowledge they are wicked oc'ers. And the DR includes alot of extra junk, like carrying straps..
 
when i put down the DFI board I had realized the new to change PSUs, so that one will go to my mom as I had needed to change PSUs in my current system now as it is dying
BTW any suggestions on PSU and/or links

and again what is so wrong with the XMS ram.. Cas seems to be nice.. 2-2-2-5?
 
I think it has less power in raw megahertz than the 3800+ Venice, but I'm getting the sandiego myself for exactly the reason meantioned above.
 
Xeruan said:
while my burner can read DVDs at 16x it can only read CDs at 48x, so the 52x32x52x is just a preference of mine.
Click to expand...

while its your prerogative, i doubt you'll notice the 4x in speed... i guess it may save you a full 5-10 seconds when ripping a cd.

not knocking your choice, just pointing out that it may not really warrant another drive. hell an extra $50 bucks in college would have bought me food for about 2 weeks...which comes in handy around midterms/finals.
 
Jester1550 said:
while its your prerogative, i doubt you'll notice the 4x in speed... i guess it may save you a full 5-10 seconds when ripping a cd.

not knocking your choice, just pointing out that it may not really warrant another drive. hell an extra $50 bucks in college would have bought me food for about 2 weeks...which comes in handy around midterms/finals.
Click to expand...

Agreed. $50 buys alot of Ramen! Anyway, if you do the calculations, 52X is only 8.3% faster than 48X - and that's in best case scenario. In otherwords, don't sweat the details too much. Like most of the people around here, you will probably not use your optical drive as much as you think. If it hadn't broken flying to the floor, I probably would still be using a 32X.
 
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