Gaming Comp Build

Joined
May 24, 2006
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I am currently in te process of setting up everythin for a gaming comp i plan on building in 2 months. (waiting on cash) and here are the specs. Wanted to see what people think of it...as far as criticisms and ideas.

the only problem I have right now is if 1.) the processor can handle the 4GB of ram and 2.) if i can find a decent price for 4GB of Ram [each stick 1GB]

also i need to figure out what affordable psu i should get to run all of it

so here are the specs with product details...enjoy :)

ECS RD480-A939 ATI Xpress 200 CrossFire ($69.99)
Processor - AMD Athlon 64/Sempron with the bus speed 200 MHz;
- Socket 939; Сhipset - ATI Xpress 200 - North bridge RD480;
- South bridge SB450;
- Communication with the processor: PCI Express (16/16bit) bus; System memory - Four 184-pin slots for DDR SDRAM DIMM;
- Maximum memory capacity 4 GB;
- Dual-channel memory access;
- Supported memory types: PC2100/PC2700/PC3200; Graphics Two PCI Express x16 slots (in the CrossFire™ mode, the slots use 8 PCI Express channels each); Expansion capabilities - Two 32-bit PCI Bus Master slots;
- Two PCI Express x1 slots;
- Eight USB 2.0 ports ( 4 integrated + 4 additional);
- Integrated audio High Definition Audio;
- Gigabit Ethernet LAN controller; Overclocking options - HTT speed adjustable within 200 to 500 MHz in 1 MHz increments; multiplier adjustable;
- Adjustable voltages on the processor, memory ; Disk subsystem - 2 channels for UltraDMA133/100/66/33 Bus Master IDE (with support for up to 4 ATAPI-devices & RAID 0, 1, 0+1);
- Support for SerialATA (4 channels - SB450, with support for RAID );
- LS-120 / ZIP / ATAPI CD-ROM; BIOS - 4 Mbit Flash ROM;
- Award Phoenix BIOS with support for Enhanced ACPI, DMI, Green, PnP Features and Trend Chip Away Virus; Miscellaneous - One port for FDD, one serial and one parallel ports, ports for PS/2 mouse and keyboard;
- IrDA;
- STR (Suspend to RAM);
- SPDIF Out; Power management - Wake-up on modem, mouse, keyboard, LAN, timer, and USB;
- 24-pin power connector ATX (ATX-PW);
- Additional 4-pin power connector;
- Additional 4-pin Molex power connector; Monitoring - Monitoring the temperatures of the processor, system, voltages, measurement of rotational speeds of the three fans; Dimensions - ATX form factor, 244 mm x 305 mm (9.63" x 12");

AMD Dual Core Opteron 165 ($293)

-Front Side Bus Speed 1000 MHz
-Processor Type Opteron
-Socket Type Socket 939
-Architecture 90 nanometers
-Package Type Retail Processor Product Type Processor
-Manufacturer: AMD
-Clock Speed 1.8 GHz Memory
-Memory Type DDR SDRAM
-L2 Cache Size 2048 KB
-L1 Cache Size 128 KB Other Features Included Devices Cooling Fan
-Processor Features HyperTransport Technology
-Dual Core
-Enhanced Virus Protection

MSI Radeon x1900xtx Graphics Card ($419)

-Manufacturer - MSI
-Graphics Processor - ATI RADEON X1900XT GPU
-PU Speed - 650 MHz
-AM - 512 MB
-Memory Type - 256-bit 8-channel GDDR3
-Memory Clock Speed - 1550 MHz
-Interface - PCI Express
-Multiple Monitor Support - Yes
-Outputs - Dual DVI, TV-out, Avivo video and display technology
-Inputs - Avivo Video-In
-Retail / OEM - Retail
-Rendering - 48 Pixel Shaders / 8 Vertex Shaders

Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic ($112)

-Product Description Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
-Device Type Sound card
-Enclosure Type Plug-in card
-Interface Type PCI
-Sound Output Mode 7.1 channel surround
-DAC Data Width 24-bit
-Sample Rate 8 kHz (min) - 192 kHz (max)
-Signal-To-Noise Ratio 109 dB
-Max Speakers Qty 8
-System Requirements Microsoft Windows XP SP2

OCZ Platinum Series 4GB (4 X1GB) 184-PIN DDR SDRAM Dual Channel
-Cas Latency: 2
-Heat Spreader: Yes
-Manufacturer Warranty: Lifetime
-Timing: 2-3-2-5
-Voltage: 2.8V

Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB 7200 RPM SATA150 Hard Drive ($74.99)
-Brand Maxtor
-Series DiamondMax 10
-Model 6L250S0
-Interface Serial ATA150 (SATA150)
-Capacity 250GB
-7200 RPM
-Cache 16MB
-Average Seek Time 9ms
-Average Latency 4.17ms
-3.5”
 
First off, we know what the parts are, so next time you can refrain from posting all the specs. ;) Plus, it makes your post a little harder to read.

If you're waiting two months, it makes no sense to go with a S939 system. Either go AM2 or LGA775. The X1900XTX isn't a great value, either; the X1900XT is cheaper and in almost all cases can be clocked to XTX speeds or above.

Might I ask what you'll be needing 4GB of memory for?
 
cranshinibon said:
processor can handle the 4GB of ram
If the motherboard can handle 4GB of ram and the processor works with the motherboard, then yes, you can use 4GB of ram. Although, as 454Casull mentioned, 4GB of ram is definitely overkill for gaming.
 
teclado said:
If the motherboard can handle 4GB of ram and the processor works with the motherboard, then (at least as far as I know) yes, you can use 4GB of ram. Although, as 454Casull mentioned, 4GB of ram is definitely overkill for gaming.
Well, the IMC on the CPU will basically be overloading, so it will slow your memory down.
 
qq...what is IMC?


And if it does indeed slow the memory down...what would leave me with optimal performance....2 or 3gb
 
cranshinibon said:
qq...what is IMC?


And if it does indeed slow the memory down...what would leave me with optimal performance....2 or 3gb
2x1GB.

Integrated Memory Controller.
 
Intel is supposed to release the Conroe line of CPUs sometime in July, and massive price cuts on the "old" CPUs.

We don't know exactly what will happen because of Conroe, but most people are of the opinion that this will drastically change the CPU market.

If you're not building this until two months from now, don't even plan. Just save up the money, because by the time you buy the landscape will have changed a lot. :)
 
All of the AM2 stuff will be pricey when it comes out and DDR2 is expensive as well. You will still have an upgrade path from the 939 platform as all of the new processors are coming out for it as well.

Here's what you should do:

Ditch the ATI board and get something that overclocks well such as a DFI NF4 Ultra-D
Stick with the 165
Get 2Gb ram no more
Get a Raptor system drive and put two cheap sata drivers into a mirrored raid
Ditch the sound card. You won't be givng money to creative and you can use it to buy a speaker set that will take the digital audio feed from your motherboard
Go with the x1900xt for reasons outlined here already.
 
I wouldn't say DD2 is expensive, maybe the overclocker stuff is, but the value stuff is cheaper than regular DDR. If you really plan to get 2 video cards, get a 600W power supply from a good manufacturer. "Affordable powersupply" and "dual gfx cards" are two terms that don't go together all that well. make sure its SLI certified at least.
Lots of people that get the 165's around here overclock them, in which case it would be good to go with a proven overclocking motherboard (not ECS).
 
general said:
All of the AM2 stuff will be pricey when it comes out and DDR2 is expensive as well. You will still have an upgrade path from the 939 platform as all of the new processors are coming out for it as well.
Nope.

Nope.

And Which CPU's?
 
i wouldnt buy an ecs brand motherboard either but thats just me. also i believe seagate bought maxtor. i heard some complaints about maxtor drives dont know about that particular one. me i would go with seagate or western digital for the moment. again 4 gig or ram not needed as others have stated two 1gb sticks is enough
 
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