New Rig Suggestions

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Obheron

n00b
Joined
Dec 9, 2004
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Hey all, I've been toying with building a new system for a couple of months now and I think I am ready to start the process of gathering all the components. My dilemma now is that SLI is starting to seem like a more viable option for the new rig. What are everyone's thoughts? Below is the AGP rig I was planning on:


Processor: Athlon 64 3200+
Mobo: Asus A8V Deluxe (rev 2)
Memory: Corsair 1Gb (2x512) XMS PC3200
Video: 6800GT
HD1: WD 36.7 Raptor
HD2: Seagate 120Gig IDE (Storage)

I have the case already and just received my 2001FP! I'd like to set an upper limit budget of $1300.

Alright, hit me!
 
That's a nice start, but I would make some changes.

Motherboard: Switch to a DFI NF4 Ultra-D SLI, as the ASUS K8N-SLI has a LOT of reported failures so far, some of which I've seen firsthand. Onboard component death, random total-board death, and so on. The Ultra-D is also the best NF4 overclocking board on the market.

RAM: Switch to Kingston ValueRAM DDR400/PC3200, 2 identical 512 MB sticks. XMS RAM is about double the price (or more!) and provides only a few percentage points speed increase in RAM access- something barely even noticable in RAM benchmarks. Pour the saved hundred-something dollars into some other part of your PC, or future proof things by taking it up to 2 1024 MB sticks instead and STILL save money over XMS.

I'd recommed Corsair Value Select, but there have been reports (personally unsubstantiated) that it can have problems with the DFI NF4 Ultra-D SLI.

Hard Disks: Raptors don't really provide enough of a performance boost to justify their high price tag, heat output and irritating rotational whine and chattering head noise. You can afford almost 300 GB of 7200 RPM storage at almost the same speed for that price! I'd opt for two 160 GB Seagate disks, which will still save you money-- or a 160 GB and a 200 or so GB disk. If you want maximum speed, get the 8MB cache versions for an extra kick in seeking large files.

Be sure to couple all this with a good power supply-- an Enermax Noisetaker 480W supply would be a great investment with the heavy power draw of this machine-- DO NOT SETTLE FOR SOMETHING CHEAP! You will regret it if it blows out and takes your expensive hardware with it.

Video, CPU: Great choice. Grab a second identical 6800GT later and you are all set for SLI. :)
 
JustPC? This is almost definitely not a quality supply-- wattage is a fallacy and used as a marketing gimmick. Most power supplies that come with cases that aren't from Antec or Enermax are cheaply-built garbage-- and VERY OFTEN BLOW OUT and DESTROY YOUR HARDWARE.

What matters in a rating isn't wattage, it's +12V rail amperage. Cheapo manufacturers often supply loads of power on +3.3v and +5v, far more than you need-- to drive up the wattage, and use it to sell the supply-- even though most of the juice you need is on +12V!

This one claims to supply 24A (that's very possibly a lie)-- but the system you are building will use close to 20A. This is cutting it very close-- you want a 15% +12V rail headroom if you can-- and you don't even know if the supply wil really provide what it's rated for. Pick up the Noisetaker 480W (as it is a quaity supply) or it is very likely your hardware meets with disaster.
 
Again, thanks for the suggestion. Quick question on the mobo. This being my first build I am not attempting an overclock. Is the DFI mob still a good choice for stock running?
I think I am definitely going with DFI, and looks to be the UT nF4 SLI-D.

I'll check frequently here at work, and will be on after 8 tonight for further discussion.

Thanks!
 
Okay, time for a rework on the components list. Here are the definites:

Proc: Athlon 64 3200+
Mobo: DFI UT nF4 SLI-D
Video: eVGA Nvidia 6800GT
CD/DVD: LiteOn SOHC-5236K
HD: Seagate Barracuda 80Gb SATA

This puts me at about $850
I figured I can drop the Raptor, and later pick up another HD for storage or grab another SATA. Plus I have some older drives laying around I can use for storage if need be.

So the items up for debate are still the RAM and the Power Supply.

The Enermax Noisetaker 485W looks nice, but I also found an Enermax EG565P-FMA w/SLI Support 535W, and was wondering what people thought of that.

As for the RAM what do people think of Epi's suggestion to the Kingston Value RAM? My thought is why skimp out on the RAM when the rest of the rig is some pretty decent stuff.
Perhaps somewhere between the value RAM and the XMS can be suggested?

So looking good, when those are chosen I should be in around $1000 to $1100, before the Mouse, KB, and O/S. What do people think? Thanks in advance.
 
I would get a better DVD burner. The NEC 3520A or Benq DW1620 would be your two best choices.

A Fortron PSU would be cheaper then an Enermax.

Value RAM will be fine as long as you dont plan on overclocking the RAM and with an Athlon 64 you wont need to worry about it. You wont gain any noticeable performance from overclocking the RAM. You can just use a RAM divider to overclock the processor.

And get a bigger fricken hard drive then 80GB. 80GB just doesn't cut it as a storage drive. You need at least 120GB or 160GB. And dont bother with SATA unless you find a hot deal on one. You can find hard drive deals in the Hot Deals section.
 
well the ram will be okay, only if you want to overclock is when you want the pc3200 around $220-280 with 2-2-2 timings,make sure to get a good powersupply if you want the BEST you need to shoot for the PCP&P but those arent required at all,any antec or enermax over $100+ should serve you well(make sure that the mobo and psu are 24pin atx connector)

oh and get a winchester core just incase you feel the need to overclock ;)
 
I'd really go for the Enermax myself, but it is your choice. The 535W model would be useful if you were running SLI-- 2 nVidia videocards in tandem-- but you aren't. If you don't intend to overclock you can grab a Chaintech VNF4/Ultra for significantly less cash than a DFI NF4 Ultra-D.

ONCE AGAIN, Balls2theWallz, TIMINGS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE IN OVERCLOCKING. The only reason ever to buy fancy RAM is to overclock it past its rating, and on the AMD64 platform you can lock down RAM clock so you don't need to do that. Hell, I am running an A64 box 650 MHz over stock, with cheap Value model RAM.
 
Epicenter said:
I'd really go for the Enermax myself, but it is your choice. The 535W model would be useful if you were running SLI-- 2 nVidia videocards in tandem-- but you aren't. If you don't intend to overclock you can grab a Chaintech VNF4/Ultra for significantly less cash than a DFI NF4 Ultra-D.

ONCE AGAIN, Balls2theWallz, TIMINGS MAKE NO DIFFERENCE IN OVERCLOCKING. The only reason ever to buy fancy RAM is to overclock it past its rating, and on the AMD64 platform you can lock down RAM clock so you don't need to do that. Hell, I am running an A64 box 650 MHz over stock, with cheap Value model RAM.
Click to expand...
once again show me value ram that can do 335mhz 1:1 2.5-4-4-8 1T,1:1 yields better preformence im sorry ATLEAST i reccomended for oc'in only this time god leave me and my opinion alone
 
The OP made it clear he is interested in gaming, and the numbers show even the lowest RAM timings around do not impact framerates except by about 2-4 FPS in even the most stressful games like Doom 3, Far Cry and the physics heavy Half-Life 2 and UT2004. As for RAM clock-- if you are interested in overclocking your RAM, you can buy cheap modules rated for higher clocks, like DDR600, and run that-- there is no need for Low-latency modules even then.

And given the relatively small performance gain coming from running RAM at so high a clock, there is little point in spending the money on that, when the saved cash can be poured into something more worthwhile like doubling the amount of RAM or adding more HDD storage (for the cost of low-latency RAM he could add over 200 GB of storage.) :p
 
Epi, both PS were Enermax, and while I am not running 2 cards now, I plan on it in the future, so perhaps the 535W may be a better choice.

Thanks for clarification on the RAM, it makes more sense now.

Now I just hope the PS fits in the already purchased case!
 
Obheron said:
Epi, both PS were Enermax, and while I am not running 2 cards now, I plan on it in the future, so perhaps the 535W may be a better choice.

Thanks for clarification on the RAM, it makes more sense now.

Now I just hope the PS fits in the already purchased case!
Click to expand...

Even Enermax's 420W Noisetaker is enough to run an FX-55 and 2 6800GTs, 2 hard drives and 2 optical drives, plus a board and cooling, effectively. With plenty of headroom. These parts add up to UNDER 20A on +12V, and the 420W Noisetaker supplies *36A*! There would be no point in buying the 535W model.

For more info on how many amps each part draws, view this excellent guide. I calculated your selected parts-- a 3200+ Venice, board, cooling, 2x 6800 GTs, 2 7200 RPM HDDs and 1 optical drive, to be 17A. Even ONE of the Noisetaker's twin 12v rails could drive it with power to spare.

http://shsc.info/powersupplyguide
 
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