New AMD x2 System. Suggestions?

A

aburgard

Limp Gawd
Joined
Dec 28, 2005
Messages
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$245.00 ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI X16 ATX AMD Motherboard
$322.00 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX
$236.00 CORSAIR XMS 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200)
$235.00 ASUS EN6800GT/2DT/256MB Geforce 6800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$135.00 Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831AS 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
$40.00 LG Black E-IDE / ATAPI DVD Burner 5X DVD-RAM Write Model GSA-4167B BK
$26.00 LG Black IDE DVD-ROM Drive Model GDR-8163B

Total $1239

Any suggestions?

Can this motherboard be mounted inverted? This is going in a water cooled LiLi v1000
 
I would try to find a 7800GT on the cheap, much better than the 6800GT.

XMS RAM is your call, I suggest buying cheap RAM and running a multi.

You don't need a DVD-ROM and a DVD-RW. Only one is needed.

Since you are watercooling, mouting inverted should be a non-issue.
 
there are benefits to have two optical drives.

and i wouldnt really go for "cheap ram", but go for some decent pc3200 low latency stuff..

and the 7800gt is waaay ahead of the 6800..

a dvd-ram drive? i seriously wouldnt get one of those, go for a nice dual layer drive..

any motherboard can be inverted if the case calls for it.
 
I am not sure if the DVD drive you has is Dual layer but i would make sure to get one that is, cuz you never konw when prices will drop on the dvd''s
 
Suppose I should mention that the CPU and GPU are water cooled. My chipset isn't (yet). I definately want 2 optical drives for copying straight from one to the other. I'll have to look into dual layer capabilities. Thanks for the comments there.

I was worried about inversion because this board uses a heat pipe. I was concerned about the whole hot air rising thing... The heatpipe inverted would be going down. This mobo also has an optional fan (according to the Asus website) that keeps 'some' airflow going over the chipset and whatnot.
 
i understand your concern on the heatpipe issue... but imho, they have almost never been utilized correctly on processor heatsinks and they still tend do work well enough. that is, unless, you have a standard desktop layout and not a tower. (which would be their optimum layout)
 
Recommended DVD-RW drives? Preferably it'll be as quiet as possible but that's not a necessity.

Here's the LG drive I'd selected:
Performance
Cache 2M
WRITE Speed
DVD+R 16X
DVD+RW 8X
DVD-R 16X
DVD-RW 6X
CD-R 48X
CD-RW 32X
DVD+R DL 8X
DVD-R DL 4X
DVD-RAM 5X
 
$162 Patriot Signature 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory

This would save quite a bit too, I think. It's nice to stick with Corsair RAM though.

I do more multimedia/web design/ripping/burning than gaming. No reason to step up to the 7800 for me.

The reason for a DVD-ROM and DVD-RW is for copying DVDs, rented or whatever.
 
My board is inverted in my full tower, no issues............
 
aburgard said:
$162 Patriot Signature 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM System Memory

This would save quite a bit too, I think. It's nice to stick with Corsair RAM though.

I do more multimedia/web design/ripping/burning than gaming. No reason to step up to the 7800 for me.

The reason for a DVD-ROM and DVD-RW is for copying DVDs, rented or whatever.
Click to expand...

well, the fact that u listed it as a "DVD-RAM" drive kinda threw me a little..

thats a dual layer drive and should work ok. and since you say you dont game much, id go for the xfx 6800GS.
 
I'm in the same boat as you, but I would advise against the 3800+ X2 processor. In terms of dollars:performance it doesn’t match up in the large majority of benchmarks. For roughly the same price (12.00 more) you can get an AMD 64 4000+; or for a bit more money upgrade to a 4200+ (400.00 total).

Also, I would suggest looking into the LeadTech 7800GT Extreme edition instead of the 6800GT, it’s only 64.00 more for considerably better performance and features.
 
Because of the prices, you should either step up your video card to a 7800GT, which gives vastly increased performance for not that much more money, or step it down to something more reasonable if you don't plan on gaming as you'd just be wasting money. I strongly recommend the 7800.
 
Even if you don't want the 7800GT, don't get a 6800GT. The 6800GS is cheaper and runs faster.
 
I would get a BenQ 1655 instead of the LG DVD-RAM. I'd get the top of the line Plextor if money were no object.

For the DVD-ROM I would ask around at http://www.cdfreaks.com/ for the best drive for ripping and playing DVDs. I personally use the BenQ to rip, burn, and play... but money is an object for me :)
 
Axman said:
Even if you don't want the 7800GT, don't get a 6800GT. The 6800GS is cheaper and runs faster.
Click to expand...

QFT. This is exactly what I was going to say. :p
 
I've been away from the sceen for quite a while. eVGA and BenQ are new names to me, but they keep popping up so maybe that says something.

About posting that combo over and over. Consider it community service and put it down on your next job app.

Thanks.

Couple things about that motherboard:
It's ass ugly... Actually I just hate yellow.
Newegg.com doesn't list x2 compatability.
ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe outperforms it (JUST BARELY)
The motherboard lacks firewire support (iPod).
Lacks customized bios update utility and monitoring tool.
Videocard crosses the chipset cooler. Might make watercooling the chipset or upgraded headsink impossible.
3 USB Headers... nice.

Corsair XMS vs. Patriot is 2-3-3-6 vs. 2-4-4-8 respectively. Performance drop is probably not worth $73. Patriot RAM looks good then. I'm just reluctant turning away from ASUS and Corsair after they've been on my last 3 builds without a hitch.

How about this BenQ DVD-RW.

So, all things considered, a new list:
$0 eVGA 133-K8-NF41 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard
$359.00 eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$334.00 AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor Model ADA4000BNBOX
$161.95 Patriot Signature 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model PSD2G400KH
$135.00 Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831AS 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
$54.99 BenQ Black ATA/ATAPI DVD Burner With LightScribe Model DW1655
$15.99 LG Black IDE CD-ROM Drive Model GCR-8525BK

Total $1061
 
It all looks very well laid out. However, I would recomend sticking with the X2 3800. True, it doesn't live up to the 4000 in gaming applications, but I imagine having the multi-tasking capability would more than make up for that.
 
I see ImStillDave's using an x2 with it. I agree.

$0 eVGA 133-K8-NF41 Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 SLI ATX AMD Motherboard
$359.00 eVGA 256-P2-N518 Geforce 7800GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
$322 AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor Model ADA3800BVBOX
$161.95 Patriot Signature 2GB (2 x 1GB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM DDR 400 (PC 3200) Unbuffered System Memory Model PSD2G400KH
$135.00 Seagate Barracuda 7200.8 ST3300831AS 300GB 7200 RPM Serial ATA150 Hard Drive
$54.99 BenQ Black ATA/ATAPI DVD Burner With LightScribe Model DW1655
$15.99 LG Black IDE CD-ROM Drive Model GCR-8525BK

Total $1049
 
There, that looks pretty much perfect. It's amazing what you can get for $1000 these days..*sigh*. Well, happy fragging man!
 
Looks good :p

The eVGA board might not be top of the line, but it is a quality mobo and the price is right.
 
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