Got Around $1500- $2000 Need some help.

[Ruhl]

I would like to build myself a new rig and having some trouble deciding on what excatly is best speed for my buck.

I want a whole new rig basiccly but I already have some parts im not replacing. I would like to get some in put on the best parts I cant get to make a good system for $1,500.

Parts I already have that I am not replacing is.

Lcd Monitor
6800 Ultra OC Vid card
Klipsch 6.1 stereo's
Audigy 2 zs
Platinum
Antec 550W PSU
Case


Everything else I would like to replace, And I would like to do a Raid with some really good hd's as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[ScHpAnKy]

Athlon 64 FX-53 (Socket 939)
1GB DDR400 (PC-3200)
nForce 3 250Gb board (Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939, MSI's K8N Neo2, Epox's... gah, can't remember)
200GBx2 Seagate Barricudas (Dead silent, durable, decent speeds)



If you are going that route I have my FX-53 processor for sale in the FS/FT forum and it will save you some money
(I'm currently selling it cheaper than you'll probably find anywhere... even pricewatch!)
If you are interested, let me know, if not, then no biggy, and I hope this helps.

 

[Ruhl]

Well I would like to get HD rpm at least 10,000

any other suggestions?

 

[lithium726]

nForce 3 250Gb board (Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939, MSI's K8N Neo2, Epox's... gah, can't remember)

nforce3 ultra boards, not 250gb. the ultra's officially support 1ghz HTT. the MSI and the EPoX boards are around the same price, and perform (from what ive seen with overclocking and everything) about the same, with a very similar feature set. this one is up to you. the gigabyte is ~75 dollars more (sitting right around 200$) and has been giving alot of people more trouble than the others.

get the FX-55, not 53... gotta love SOI

if you get a current gen 7200 drive it will be right up there with the raptors due to # of platters and cache size (they are now 16mb). the newer 7200's will also be quieter, cooler, and have a bunch more space. at this point, raptors really arent worth hte money IMO

as for memory, get a gig based on samsung TCCD. its been going up to DDR600 (300mhz!) and since the fx55 has unlocked multis, you have free range with overclocking. here is some TCCD that i have and its working great: http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-141-148&depa=0 this is based on the Brainpower PCB which has been running ~10mhz higher than dimms based on the JEDEC reference board.

opticals - you dont have any listed, so may i suggest the NEC 3500A. its a 16x -R/RW +R/RW that is DL compatable. for a secondary drive, get a cheap dvd rom or just another 3500A.

what level of RAID do you wish to employ? *crosses fingers for 1 or 5.. maybe 0+1*

edit: this looks like a very promising cooler: the Zalman CNPS7700CU. all copper with a 120mm fan i plan on getting one when i get my 939 board and a winchester

 

[ScHpAnKy]

nforce3 ultra boards, not 250gb. the ultra's officially support 1ghz HTT. <snip>

The nVidia 250Gb is in every aspect identical to the nVidia 250 Ultra, I'd be hard-pressed to find the difference... my K8NSNXP-939 was listed as nVidia 250 Ultra, guess what all my documentation says? 250Gb, and it utilizes the full 2Ghz HTT, also I have not had any trouble with my board and is a much better overclocker than anything I could ask for it.

Also, the FX-55 I have is, by far, the worst buy I have made, and overclocks more poorly as compared to my FX-53, SOI is not an improvement over anything, and, if anything, just hinders overclock. I am not the only person who has experienced this, and the frequency of it happening is astounding. I have hit 270x10 with stock cooling (FX-53), but temps were a bit much for the aftermarket fan I put on. I can only hit 260x10 with this chip (FX-55), and it's definately because of the chip (same exact components I had with the FX-53) The FX-53 would be a much better buy, but now I am stuck with the latest and "greatest" and now suffer a large hit. Be wary of your purchases, and I would only deem it foolish to buy the newer product.

Also the other thing, price.
My FX-53: $790 ( link )
FX-55: $879 ( link )

So, paying more for a lesser product? I'm sure you'll definately be all over that

As for ram, forgot about samsung's new modules, you'll be hard-pressed to find any better memory for overclocking.

Hope this post was thorough enough
As much as an advocate I am for new products, from me-to-you it would be a better deal that would work out better for each of us.

EDIT! : And if it appears that I'm ragging on you, lithium, I'm sorry, that was not my intent, I just need to sell my processor, and IMHO I feel it would be the better buy from all the information I've gathered, and I can guarantee it a successful overclock.

 

[lithium726]

The nVidia 250Gb is in every aspect identical to the nVidia 250 Ultra, I'd be hard-pressed to find the difference... my K8NSNXP-939 was listed as nVidia 250 Ultra, guess what all my documentation says? 250Gb, and it utilizes the full 2Ghz HTT, also I have not had any trouble with my board and is a much better overclocker than anything I could ask for it.

i was under the impression that the 250gb and ultra were identical sans the fact that the ultra supported the 1ghz HTT. there aint no such thing as a 2ghz HTT BTW.. if there were, we would be seeing 10x multis for the HTT instead of 5

Also, the FX-55 I have is, by far, the worst buy I have made, and overclocks more poorly as compared to my FX-53, SOI is not an improvement over anything, and, if anything, just hinders overclock. I am not the only person who has experienced this, and the frequency of it happening is astounding. I have hit 270x10 with stock cooling (FX-53), but temps were a bit much for the aftermarket fan I put on. I can only hit 260x10 with this chip (FX-55), and it's definately because of the chip (same exact components I had with the FX-53) The FX-53 would be a much better buy, but now I am stuck with the latest and "greatest" and now suffer a large hit. Be wary of your purchases, and I would only deem it foolish to buy the newer product.

point taken, nothing like first hand expiernece... but i gotta know; if you think the 55 is the worst purchase you have made, then why are you selling your 53 and your 55? you could arugably get more for the 55 and then you would be stuck with your more favorite of the two chips

Also the other thing, price.
My FX-53: $790 ( link )
FX-55: $879 ( link )

So, paying more for a lesser product? I'm sure you'll definately be all over that

of course not! im all about bang for buck, but this guy doesnt seem to be about saving money

for anyone else id just say go for a winchester, thats what im gonna do

EDIT! : And if it appears that I'm ragging on you, lithium, I'm sorry, that was not my intent, I just need to sell my processor, and IMHO I feel it would be the better buy from all the information I've gathered, and I can guarantee it a successful overclock.

haha, this didnt even show until i went to post with your quotes, i guess im really on top of this . its alright, im goin on what ive heard and youve got first hand expiernence, im always willing to back down when i am wrong... just FYI: dont garuantee anything, that could lead to pissed off people who cant get it as high with a different board/ memory combo.

 

[ScHpAnKy]

i was under the impression that the 250gb and ultra were identical sans the fact that the ultra supported the 1ghz HTT. there aint no such thing as a 2ghz HTT BTW.. if there were, we would be seeing 10x multis for the HTT instead of 5

point taken, nothing like first hand expiernece... but i gotta know; if you think the 55 is the worst purchase you have made, then why are you selling your 53 and your 55? you could arugably get more for the 55 and then you would be stuck with your more favorite of the two chips

of course not! im all about bang for buck, but this guy doesnt seem to be about saving money

for anyone else id just say go for a winchester, thats what im gonna do


haha, this didnt even show until i went to post with your quotes, i guess im really on top of this . its alright, im goin on what ive heard and youve got first hand expiernence, im always willing to back down when i am wrong... just FYI: dont garuantee anything, that could lead to pissed off people who cant get it as high with a different board/ memory combo.

I'll answer in order and identify by paragraph setup, it's easier to read

the HTT for the 939 setup works in 1Ghz each way (much like how the 1600 HT operates at 800x2)

as for the selling of my fx-55, I've had trouble just selling the fx-53, let alone trying to sell a chip that costs $100 more, plus, I've already taken the hit, and perhaps in the future it would be easier to upgrade to dual core? I don't know, exactly, and I'm too tired to figure it all out, it made sense a couple of weeks ago.

As for the bang of the buck, it still applies, regardless of budget, I would never purchase another FX-55, but now that I have, I might as well take the hit. And I would also say winchester for a budget system (it's literally the new Barton CPU, it fits the budget and target exactly!)

First hand experience is vital in positions like this (multi-thousand systems), and every little bit of details help, and I wish I had them when I purchased mine.
But I'm glad that you didn't blow me off and get defensive, it really shows what a quality poster and addition you are to these forums, thanks.

 

[lithium726]

I'll answer in order and identify by paragraph setup, it's easier to read

the HTT for the 939 setup works in 1Ghz each way (much like how the 1600 HT operates at 800x2)

as for the selling of my fx-55, I've had trouble just selling the fx-53, let alone trying to sell a chip that costs $100 more, plus, I've already taken the hit, and perhaps in the future it would be easier to upgrade to dual core? I don't know, exactly, and I'm too tired to figure it all out, it made sense a couple of weeks ago.

As for the bang of the buck, it still applies, regardless of budget, I would never purchase another FX-55, but now that I have, I might as well take the hit. And I would also say winchester for a budget system (it's literally the new Barton CPU, it fits the budget and target exactly!)

First hand experience is vital in positions like this (multi-thousand systems), and every little bit of details help, and I wish I had them when I purchased mine.
But I'm glad that you didn't blow me off and get defensive, it really shows what a quality poster and addition you are to these forums, thanks.

fine, ill do it that way too

gotcha, i didnt know that about the athlon 64 HTT. i cant wait till i can get my setup so i can actually learn how these damn things work completly, its much different than aXP evedently

i dont understand how keeping the 55 is gonna make dual core upgrade easier, but its your move bro... whyd you go with FX anyway? just wonderin'

for bang for buck.. winchester cant be wavered, seroiusly; the thing is ocing to like 2.5-2.6 as the norm, and it is slightly faster than NC clock for clock.. i cant wait!!

thank you very much i try to be as fair as i can possibly be

--haha, i had to take your smilies out so i could put mine, evedently there is a limit

 

[ScHpAnKy]

fine, ill do it that way too

gotcha, i didnt know that about the athlon 64 HTT. i cant wait till i can get my setup so i can actually learn how these damn things work completly, its much different than aXP evedently

i dont understand how keeping the 55 is gonna make dual core upgrade easier, but its your move bro... whyd you go with FX anyway? just wonderin'

for bang for buck.. winchester cant be wavered, seroiusly; the thing is ocing to like 2.5-2.6 as the norm, and it is slightly faster than NC clock for clock.. i cant wait!!

thank you very much i try to be as fair as i can possibly be

--haha, i had to take your smilies out so i could put mine, evedently there is a limit

Yeah, the first couple days the whole Athlon 64 architecture blew me away, I previously had a 1700+ JUHIB and a 2.4B that I was using, and nothing came close to the complexity of knowledge to be gained at this level, it was utterly astounding and made me feel like a complete n00b at the time!

I think it was the fact that I would be frowned upon for selling such a poor overclocker,
it was probably something along those lines, like I said, too tired to remember anything at the moment. The reason I went with FX is because I wanted the latest and greatest! Great move at the time, terrible move with the advent of FX-55.

I whole-heartedly agree with your winchester move, I might eventually end up going that route if I can't find a way to bump this chip up past it's 260FSB limit.