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My second build

C

cvxdes

n00b
Joined
Jan 20, 2008
Messages
32
Hey everybody. I'm about to put in an order for parts for my second build. My first one failed catastrophically, and doesn't do anything I want it to.. so I figured I'd ask this time :p
Ultimately, this is a media PC. I also use it as a web server for my local network, and I'm guessing this will end up being better than my laptop for photoshop.

Case: "Grid" case, by Ultra
HDD: Seagate 250gb SATA
CD Drive: Sony DVD burner
RAM: 2 sets of 2gb (2x1gb) G.SKILL RAM
Motherboard: ASUS M3A-H/HDMI
Graphics: SAPPHIRE 100233L Radeon HD 3450 256MB (CrossFire setup with onboard 780G MB)
PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W
Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ Windsor 3.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor
RAID controller: Rosewill RC-200 PCI IDE (ATA) Silicon Image RAID (0/1/0+1/JBOD) Host Controller Card (I have 3 IDE hard drives, 2 will be on RAID, 1 not.)

Any criticism is welcome, I have almost no idea what I'm doing.
 
About 550. I already have the DVD drive, case, hard drive, and RAID controller. bought them a month or so ago
 
What was your first build? :p

Get a single 2x2GB G.Skill DDR2-800 kit instead... it'll use less power and lessen the heat output.

I'd tell you to change the DVD drive, but you already bought it. You might find it too loud, in which case, a Samsung or Asus would have been a better choice for an HTPC/Media PC.

You could have also done better with the HDD, but its not a big deal.
 
So is this a dedicated HTPC/server build or more of an all purpose computer? And what's more important, processing power for Photoshop or low power/noise operation for HTPC duties or do you want both?
 
enginurd said:
What was your first build? :p

Get a single 2x2GB G.Skill DDR2-800 kit instead... it'll use less power and lessen the heat output.

I'd tell you to change the DVD drive, but you already bought it. You might find it too loud, in which case, a Samsung or Asus would have been a better choice for an HTPC/Media PC.

You could have also done better with the HDD, but its not a big deal.
Click to expand...

First build was a compaq mb ripped out of an ebay machine, 3ghz single core processor, using onboard graphics, 1gb of ram.

The ram, I'm just preparing for the future with the extra RAM, I'll probably end up leaving firefox, photoshop, and a few other apps running constantly. Plus, it's 50% off right now, so why not?

That DVD drive is actually about a year old, it's the RAID controller, hdd, and case I bought a month or so ago.
 
So what ToasterOven just said: What are you using this PC for? HTPC? Gaming? etc.

Also will you be overclocking?
 
Toaster Oven said:
So is this a dedicated HTPC/server build or more of an all purpose computer? And what's more important, processing power for Photoshop or low power/noise operation for HTPC duties or do you want both?
Click to expand...
It's an all propose PC, that doubles as a HTPC, I guess. It's in the other room, so noise doesn't matter. Power consumption doesn't matter either.

Edit: nope, won't overclock. Unless it's safe and I can keep it at a good temp with the stock heat sink, but even then I don't know if I'd need to.. And I don't play games.
 
Danny Bui said:
Then ditch the HD3450. No reason to have it other than for a small boost in games.

And you can get more storage for the same price:
Western Digital WD3200AAKS 320GB 7200RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - $62

Any reason why you chose that Asus motherboard?

Oh and all you need for that system is a quality 450W PSU:
Corsair 450VX 450W PSU - $71

EDIT: OOPS, just saw that you bought the drive already.
Click to expand...
The PSU comes in a package with the processor, which is $20 off, and after rebate, ends up being only $60.
I chose the Asus because it has the 780G northbridge, for the HTPC part of the computer. The hd3450 is so I can set up crossfire and hook up my monitors, they're both VGA, and the board only has one VGA output. I realize I could get a 780G mb with 2 VGA's, but they don't have expansion space, and I like some of the additional features of the Asus (Linux, sound canceling, etc..)

I already have about 570gb space collectively over the 4 drives, two 80gb on a 160gb RAID array, a 160gb seperate drive, and 250gb on the SATA... 4 hard drives being an additional part of the reason I did the 650w PSU
 
cvxdes said:
The PSU comes in a package with the processor, which is $20 off, and after rebate, ends up being only $60.
Click to expand...

Assuming that you get the rebates :)

Anyway, sound reasoning. Dunno too much about that Asus motherboard so can't say anything about it just yet.
 
Danny Bui said:
Assuming that you get the rebates :)

Anyway, sound reasoning. Dunno too much about that Asus motherboard so can't say anything about it just yet.
Click to expand...
I'm normally good with rebates, if I don't get them, I'll follow up and see what's up. heh
 
Does it look like there's any incompatibilities? Will it blow up when I hook things up?
 
cvxdes said:
Does it look like there's any incompatibilities? Will it blow up when I hook things up?
Click to expand...

There's no incompatibilities from what I can tell -- though you should get the 2x2GB kit as enginurd suggested earlier.

Also, IIRC, CrossFire doesn't work that well on multiple monitors. When activated, it focuses primarily on the primary monitor and/or disables the rest. (I've heard reports that CrossFire does work with multiple monitors, but I haven't heard much feedback on their overall performance.)
 
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