Evaluate my build?

F

freeman2k6

Weaksauce
Joined
Jul 15, 2005
Messages
107
Hi, this is my first post. However, I've been reading the forums for a while and I've learned alot! So now that I'm posting, the sky's the limit.

I'm currently deployed in Iraq, I'm coming home soon, so I've begun to compile a parts list for a "welcome home" present to myself. It's going to be mainly a gaming machine for Everquest 2 and Battlefield 2. So I'd like to post my parts list here and see what you all think. Please post any opinions, questions or suggestions!

CPU - Athlon64 4000+ - $473.00 Zipzoomfly
Mobo - BFG NForce4 Ultra - $112.50 Newegg
RAM - OCZ Technology Gold Series 1GB PC3200 DDR400 $143.33 - Newegg
HDD - Western Digital WD Caviar SE WD3200JD 320GB 8MB - $150.90 Zipzoomfly
Case - Lian-Li PC60APlus Aluminum - $140.99 Newegg
PSU - OCZ Technology Modstream 520W - $94.00 Monarch Computer
Monitor - Samsung DynaFlat 997DF Monitor - $196.95 Techonweb
Speakers - Logitech X-530 5.1 - $58.98 Newegg
Video - BFG GeForce7800GTX OC - $585.99 Yogi Computers
HSF - Zalman CNPS7700-Cu 120mm Cooler - $53.98 Newegg
Keyboard/Mouse - Logitech Cordless LX700 - $61.99 Zipzoomfly
DVD/CDRW - NEC ND3540A Dual Layer DVD±RW - $51.95 Zipzoomfly
DVDROM - LG Electronics GDR-8162BI DVD-ROM - $29.50 Zipzoomfly
OS - Windows XP SP2(OEM) - $82.99 Sales International

Total price: $2,237.05

I do plan to OC to a safe level with aircooling, went for the high performance ram, but wasn't sure if I should go for 2 GB.

Thanks in advance!

Freeman2k6
 
Why the different case? I'm mainly looking for cooling/airflow issues with the case, aesthetics is not an issue for me. Also, any certain reason everyone loves the DFI? The BFG seems solid, however performance is numero uno here :) Any other suggestions/opinions, etc?

Freeman2k6
 
I would get 4400+ & 6800 GT. But, that's just me. ;)
I dont' even have the money to buy that kind of stuff myself. :eek:
 
Since you said you will be playing BF2 I would go for the 2 gigs of RAM. I just recently built a rig with a 3200+ Venice, x800xL, and 2 gigs of Geil value RAM and I am very glab I opted for the 2 gigs of value, rather than the 1 gig of performance. When loading a map in BF2 nine times outta ten I am the first one in there, usually by a good 20 to 25 seconds compared to the people with only 1 gig.

Also I'm not quite sure of your budget, but for $50 more you could go for the 4200+ X2 (in your post, it says it is $437 but the site says $473 for the 4000+ Clawhammer).
 
CPU - Bad. Get a X2 4200+. San Diego cores are a bad buy now that there is an X2 for about the same price.

Mobo - DFI is good for OCing. I would get the $125 (on Newegg, I have found $112 elsewhere) "LanParty UT nF4-D". It's $10 cheaper than the Ultra-D (on Newegg, perhaps more elsewhere) and only difference is the extras, like dual gigabit lan (instead of single) and raid crap.

RAM - I would take Crucial Value ram. It is a reportedly good, cheap OCer
512mb $45 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146532
1GB $106 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146545

HDD - get a Maxtor 16mb cache drive. It will be faster than the Western Digital, and there's no price increase between the Maxtor 8mb cache and 16mb cache.
Look on ZZF for 200, 250, and 300 gb versions of the Maxtor DiamondMax 10 7200.16

Case - ok.

PSU - If you want quiet AND efficient, check out the Seasonic S12-500 for $105
http://www.case-mod.com/store/seasonic-s12500-s12-series-500w-500-watt-atx-power-supply-p-1579.html

Monitor - ok.

Speakers - I think the X-530s are like $50 and $55 at newegg (OEM and retail).

Video - MSI 7800GTX $550 - ZZF

Keyboard/Mouse - ok.

DVD/CDRW - ok.

DVDROM - ok.

OS - ok.
 
Russ said:
Mobo - DFI is good for OCing. I would get the $125 (on Newegg, I have found $112 elsewhere) "LanParty UT nF4-D". It's $10 cheaper than the Ultra-D (on Newegg, perhaps more elsewhere) and only difference is the extras, like dual gigabit lan (instead of single) and raid crap.
Click to expand...

The BFG mobo is reportedly pretty good for OCing. Hardocp did an article on it here:
http://hardocp.com/article.html?art=Nzcw
Assuming that board they got wasn't an anomaly, then the BFG board good at OCing, though it does lack some of the really advanced features on the DFI boards. If the OP hasn't had a fair bit of experience with OCing, of building their own high end OCing rigs before, then the BFG may be a safer, and easier, board to OC.

To the OP; I would highly recommend looking into some of Mushkin's Red Line RAM - it appears as though you're going all out, and the Red Line stuff is showing awesome OCs. Other than that, it looks good!


 
freeman2k6 said:
Why the different case? I'm mainly looking for cooling/airflow issues with the case, aesthetics is not an issue for me.
Click to expand...

im a fan of 120mm fans front and back. nothin major, just my preference.
 
First off, thanks for the responses. This being a gaming machine, a single core processor would be best, right? That's why I opted for the 4000+ Also, most motherboards right now don't even take advantage of the dual core technology right? Also on the 7800 I'd like to hold out for the BFG. Since I'm not ordering till mid September, prices might go down some. On the RAM, contrary to popular belief doesn't more RAM actually slow your system down? At least in 32Bit Windows XP. I've heard alot about that 16MB Maxtor that's definetly a good choice. With that Seasonic PSU, according to stats--unless I read them wrong--the rails don't support enough amps in the 12 volt lines to power the card(according to BFG the 7800GTX needs 12V with 26A). Although I am looking for a more stable, better performing PSU. Anyone else have any opinions on those two Lian-Li cases?

Again thanks for the opinions and suggestions, please keep them coming :)

Freeman2k6
 
but the Seasonic DOES have enough amps. It has 33. 17 on one and 16 on the other.

It won't noticeably slow your system down. It's all in the timings. You can have lower timings with 512mb x 2 (2-2-2-5) than with 1GB x 2 (2-3-2-8 or something), but you have less ram (obviously). If you go over 1GB of ram used, then 2GB would be the OBVIOUS choice. Having 2 GB will slow your system down by like .5%. If you want to play BF2 or probably the newer games that are coming out this holiday, then 2GB will be neccesary. It's not THAT much more expensive than 1GB (comparatively), and it's a good investment.

The X2 is about a million times more future proof than the 4000+. Soon, game will start to utilize multithreading, then dual cores will perform leaps and bounds ahead of single. Even currently, if you want to keep a few browser windows and other programs or a download going while you play a game, then the dual core is your obvious choice because it will be better. The 4000+ willbe marginally better if the absolute only thing you have running is the game itself, but that's not likeyl to happen, and with a 7800 GTX the difference will be VERY small in single-threaded games. I would get a 4200+ over a 4000+ in ANY situation for a new computer build.
 
Thanks Russ, I'm sold on the dual cores now. There should be significant difference in the 4200+ and the 4400+ because of the extra 1MB of cache right? Also for dual cores what Motherboard would be best?

Thanks!

freeman2k6
 
same mobo as any other 939, that's the beautiful part. :) So keep the DFI.

If you can afford the 4400+, then get it, although there is nothign wrong with hte 4200+. They all have about the same OC ceiling, so if you overclock the 4200+ will probably get ver close to the 4400+. The cache shouldn't affect performance by more than a few percent I think.
 
I've been reading a little about the DFI...does anyone have any links to some good reviews on it? I've read a few that have been a little negative towards it--maybe bad personal experiences not indicative of the rest?--one of the main things I read that the board is hard to get up and running. Another thing about the power supply...why have two 12v lines?

Thanks much.

Freeman2k6
 
freeman2k6 said:
I've been reading a little about the DFI...does anyone have any links to some good reviews on it? I've read a few that have been a little negative towards it--maybe bad personal experiences not indicative of the rest?--one of the main things I read that the board is hard to get up and running. Another thing about the power supply...why have two 12v lines?

Thanks much.

Freeman2k6
Click to expand...

I think that [H] and Anandtech both have done reviews of the DFI boards. They have the potential of being some of the most annoying boards on earth because of their various manufacturing defaults, but if you don't get a crappy board then you SHOULD be ok. I'd seriously recommend the new BFG board; [H] did a review of it, and got a wicked OC with none of the associated headaches that usually comes with tinkering with the DFI BIOS.

 
forumposter32 said:
I would get 4400+ & 6800 GT. But, that's just me. ;)
I dont' even have the money to buy that kind of stuff myself. :eek:
Click to expand...

I wouldn't. The video card is more important in this case. He can upgrade to dual core when it becomes more mainstream. Also DFI boards are a pain in the ass. Any motherboard that has to be tweaked to be stable out of the box is a piece of shit in my book. I'd go for the Asus A8N-E or Asus A8N-SLi Premium. Abit has some good mobos as well.

With the Asus/Abit boards you'll get 90%+ of the DFI's OC'ing ability and it will be %100 stable instead of being %95 stable. For me stability > speed.
 
Sir-Fragalot said:
I wouldn't. The video card is more important in this case. He can upgrade to dual core when it becomes more mainstream. Also DFI boards are a pain in the ass. Any motherboard that has to be tweaked to be stable out of the box is a piece of shit in my book. I'd go for the Asus A8N-E or Asus A8N-SLi Premium. Abit has some good mobos as well.

With the Asus/Abit boards you'll get 90%+ of the DFI's OC'ing ability and it will be %100 stable instead of being %95 stable. For me stability > speed.
Click to expand...

But, who need stability when you can have a uber 1337 OC? :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top