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How did I do?

T

teck

n00b
Joined
Jan 2, 2005
Messages
19
First time serious build list. Reccomendations and criticisms welcomed.


Lian-Li Aluminum Case with Side Panel Window & 1 Ball-Bearing Fan on the Top (Black), Model "PC-65B" -RETAIL

Antec 480W Power Supply,Model "TRUE480" -RETAIL

CHAINTECH NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU, Model "VNF4/Ultra" -RETAIL

AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail

Corsair XMS Extreme Memory Speed Series, (Twin Pack) 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200 - Retail

Seagate 160GB Barracuda 7200.7 7200RPM SATA II with NCQ Hard Drive, Model ST3160827AS, OEM

Logitech Ultra X Keyboard PS2 104keys --OEM

ViewSonic G90FB 19" PerfectFlat CRT Monitor -RETAIL

Microsoft Standard Wireless Optical Mouse USB -RETAIL

Lite-On 16X DVD Dual Drive, Model SOHW-1633S Black, Retail

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL

Logitech X-530 5.1 Black Speaker System -RETAIL

Arctic Silver Premium High-Density Thermal Compound, Model "Ceramique", 2.5-gram( ~0.8 cc. ) tube

Microsoft Windows XP HOME Edition With Service Pack 2 -OEM


Subtotal (w/o Video Card) »

$1,484.73
 
I suggest you buy a Asus nf4 SLI
get a 6800 GT pcie. Or two 6600gts (very cheap)

At least then you will have to possibility of sticking in another vid card. You will be up to date on all tech stuff as well.
 
You have some serious hardware put together there, but I believe that you might be skimping on the RAM. I'd consider purchase of some higher quality ram instead of the valueram. Perhaps a matched set of TCCD chips (Corsair, OCZ, etc). Look for the 1gb sets for $200-$250.
 
Either of those 2 choices are EXCELLENT. You will not go wrong either way.

I use Corsair because of reputation. OCZ has turned their act around with quality and customer support in the past year or so.

End result, either of the two modules will work equally well in your system. The tighter timings over the valueram will give a slight performance boost, but on the whole the two listed are quite excellent for any system.

The truth is that the valueram works well but you;ve put a lot of thought into the higher end parts of the rig, I would just get some memory to match ( I suppose vinyl seats in a BMW comes to mind with generic ram; yeah it works, but the leather is soo much more comfy).

I suppose the HDD choice suggestion might be a bit nit-picky:
I'd opt for a SATA drive instead of a PATA drive. Your motherboard includes SATA cables and power adapters, so you could save a couple bucks and get some increased performance. I purchased this one and its super quiet, 5 year warranty and an excellent performer.
 
Wow, thanks. Great price and value. I don't know why I didn't bother putting thought into Seagate.

I think I'll go Corsair as well. Thanks again!

Edit: I edited the first post and now I have a revised list for the new PC. I'm still taking in critics and suggestions though.
 
MX1000 maybe? lol, idk, only if you are a gamer would the MX series be any worth to you

btw, that is going to be one kickass computer. nice choices, guaranteed to be fun to build and play with
 
I was really considering the MX Wireless Duo, especially since it would match my color scheme perfectly, but I have a feeling the side buttons would get quite annoying and I'd hit them on accident. I don't know. Maybe I'll go to Staples and feel the mice they have on display to double check, but for now I'm content with the Microsoft Optical Mouse I'm using now - which is the same I have on the list except wireless and black. Plus, I need that flat/laptop full-size keyboard. They keys feel like butter when you press them and I could only imagine how nice it would be with a couple feet of white or red El Wire running under the keys. :cool:
 
teck said:
I was really considering the MX Wireless Duo, especially since it would match my color scheme perfectly, but I have a feeling the side buttons would get quite annoying and I'd hit them on accident. I don't know. Maybe I'll go to Staples and feel the mice they have on display to double check, but for now I'm content with the Microsoft Optical Mouse I'm using now - which is the same I have on the list except wireless and black. Plus, I need that flat/laptop full-size keyboard. They keys feel like butter when you press them and I could only imagine how nice it would be with a couple feet of white or red El Wire running under the keys. :cool:
Click to expand...


You don't hit the side buttons that much on a fancy Logitech mouse, trust me, I own an MX1000. The side buttons don't do anything unless you set it to do something through Logitech's software or set the buttons to do something specific in a game (Example: my reload in HL2 is the mouse4 button). I used an MS Optical mouse (albeit without the plastic cover) before my MX1000 and I like the upgrade. Your call on that though.

On terms of the system, it looks good man. I could drool over it but I don't have the money to upgrade at this time.
 
I was thinking about changing a few things...

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOTHERBOARD:

(WAS RECCOMENDED THIS ON A DIFFERENT FORUM)
CHAINTECH NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU, Model "VNF4/Ultra" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-152-049&depa=1
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU HEATSINK/FAN:

(WAS RECCOMENDED THIS ON A DIFFERENT FORUM)
ZALMAN CNPS7000B-Cu Copper CPU Cooler for Socket 478/462/754/939/940 CPUs -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-118-113&depa=1

OR
(WAS RECCOMENDED THIS ON A DIFFERENT FORUM)
Thermalright Heatsink for P4 & K8 CPUs, Heatsink Only, Model "XP-120" -RETAIL
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=35-109-118&depa=0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DVD-RW:
I was wondering if Dual Layer is much better/different than the standard DVD-RW drive I already have chosen on the list. Input appreciated.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CPU:
My current CPU selected is Newcastle core...someone reccomended Winchester over what I have. I don't know the difference so I'd appreciate help on that too.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I don't really plan on over-clocking out of the box or atleast not for a long time so I'm looking for quality products that I won't need to overclock for a while because I have 0 knowledge on that stuff...so what I'm saying is don't help me out on products that are great for over-clocking, more or so quality and performance retail/out of the box. Thanks in advance.
 
That Nforce 4 motherboard that that other guy in the other furum suggested should be a good board and will be more future-proof since it has PCI-E. The only thing is is that you will have to get a PCI-E video card instead of that 6800GT you had picked out. If you can get your hands on one, get the PCI-E version of that 6800GT or when they come out in a few weeks, get an ATI X800XL as its performance is very close to that of a 6800GT.

Heatsink-wise, either of those two heatsinks will work fine. Take note though that the XP-120 will require you to buy a fan as it is just the heatsink only. I would suggest a low-rpm 120mm fan. That would be quiet and keep you CPU plenty cool for stock and later overclocked speeds I should think.

DVDRW-wise, dual layer is not much different from that one DVDRW you had picked out. A dual layer DVDRW allows you to read dual layer DVDs, which have data on both sides of the disk rather than just one side of the disk like regular DVDs. Dual-layer DVDRW drives are not that much more expensive and regular DVDRWs so I would say to go for it.

CPU-core-wise, there is not much of a difference between the Newcastle and Winchester cores. An Athlon 64 CPU with a Newcastle core was manufactured on the 130nm process while a Athlon 64 CPU made with a Winchester core was produced on the 90nm process. Generally, the CPUs with a Winchester core run a little bit cooler and overclock better, but I don't garuntee it. Somebody please correct me if I am mistaken in this or any other regard.
 
Are you going to OC? If not, just use stock cooling solutions and somewhat cheaper crucial ram...then spend the money on video card and processor improvements.
 
I revised my list up on top. I changed the motherboard, took out the CPU cooler, changed the DVD-RW drive, added thermal paste, changed the monitor, took out the video card, and added an OS.

I decided to change the motherboard to the nForce4 and wait until the PCI-Ex16 version of the 6800 GT comes out.

Now what do you think?
 
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