![[H]ard|Forum](/styles/hardforum/xenforo/logo_dark.png){kind=logo}
First Build: any comments?
- Thread starter Invalid
- Start date
The only thing I'd really change would be the HDD. Yeah, the high RPM's are nice, but it's got some crazy low storage space. I've never actually experienced a considerable speed difference from slightly faster HDD's. I'd go with a 250gb+ HDD.
Everything else seems pretty good though. Maybe step up that CPU a little, maybe a 3500, but hey, you can hit that OCing with the 3200, so.....
Everything else seems pretty good though. Maybe step up that CPU a little, maybe a 3500, but hey, you can hit that OCing with the 3200, so.....
Yeah, Venice 3200 is a pretty easy overclock whereas Winchester especially the later ones don't go nearly as high. You ARE planning to overclock it, right? If not you should probably go with a 754 3400 or something.
As far as power, look here for some useful info.
You don't have to go with PCI-E either, AGP tends to be significantly cheaper on the high end cards and the performance is the same.
As far as power, look here for some useful info.
You don't have to go with PCI-E either, AGP tends to be significantly cheaper on the high end cards and the performance is the same.
forumposter32
Gawd
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2005
- Messages
- 548
Personally, I would go with a system that has a good backbone like good case, power supply, HD and DVD burner. Like...
NEC ND3520 DVD burner
Western Digital 160 GB
Enermax noisetaker 485 watt
Antec case
Then the rest, Id put s**t in it. Like a cheap socket A motherboard and processor. Believe me, you might have the surprise of a lifetime when you build a machine for the first time. I watched the videos on the AMD web site that show you how to place CPU and heatsink like 5 times and still I did something wrong. I had placed the heatsink at an angle. I nearly cr***d my pants when I noticed. I took it off and put it back on. (I hadnt turned it on yet so I didnt take off the thermal pad to replace it with thermal grease.)
Finally, I turned on the machine and my computer would not see my HD. It took me a while to get that working but then I noticed my floppy drive wasnt working and the light was always on. So, I disconnected it and later realized the computer would not install an operating system if the floppy drive was not removed in BIOS.
In short, I had to experiment and try different things to solve the problems I was encountering. Its really odd. And I was glad to have a back up machine when I was doing all of this. And then there was the long process of reading stuff about the BIOS and typing all of these BIOS settings in Google to see what the world these things meant.
Once youre up and running and know what to do, next year aim for dual core, and Geforce 8 and rock on!!!
BTW, other recognized brand names for hardware: Arctic thermal grease, Corsair RAM, Altec Lansing speakers, Thermaltake heatsinks, Logitech mouse...
NEC ND3520 DVD burner
Western Digital 160 GB
Enermax noisetaker 485 watt
Antec case
Then the rest, Id put s**t in it. Like a cheap socket A motherboard and processor. Believe me, you might have the surprise of a lifetime when you build a machine for the first time. I watched the videos on the AMD web site that show you how to place CPU and heatsink like 5 times and still I did something wrong. I had placed the heatsink at an angle. I nearly cr***d my pants when I noticed. I took it off and put it back on. (I hadnt turned it on yet so I didnt take off the thermal pad to replace it with thermal grease.)
Finally, I turned on the machine and my computer would not see my HD. It took me a while to get that working but then I noticed my floppy drive wasnt working and the light was always on. So, I disconnected it and later realized the computer would not install an operating system if the floppy drive was not removed in BIOS.
In short, I had to experiment and try different things to solve the problems I was encountering. Its really odd. And I was glad to have a back up machine when I was doing all of this. And then there was the long process of reading stuff about the BIOS and typing all of these BIOS settings in Google to see what the world these things meant.
Once youre up and running and know what to do, next year aim for dual core, and Geforce 8 and rock on!!!
BTW, other recognized brand names for hardware: Arctic thermal grease, Corsair RAM, Altec Lansing speakers, Thermaltake heatsinks, Logitech mouse...
forumposter32
Gawd
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2005
- Messages
- 548
Erh, well, what I meant was, you'll be replacing mobo & CPU more often than the case & power supply right? Anyway...
ashmedai said:
LOL
Here's what I think are the most important components on a comp, that shouldn't be skimped on at all, in order: PSU, mobo, CPU, RAM, Cooling solution, HDD, Optical, everything else.
Of course, everyone has a different opinion. As far as power goes, I recommend the PCP&C 510...very very stable and clean power, and adjusting the rail voltages is very easy (no need to take off the housing). Just a thought.
I am in the process of building a similar system and I am very happy with it so far. I only have the mobo, proc, and 512 of RAM, but it is running real well. I also got the 3200 with a Venice core and plan on overclocking in the future. Looks good, but like others have said, I would dump the Raptor, it's just not worth it IMO.
