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new system specs

S

Spearboy

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 10, 2003
Messages
240
Im planning on doing an upgarde that i have wanted for quite a while now. system specs are as follows.

ATI AIW RADEON 9800PRO Video Card, 128MB DDR, 256-bit, DVI/CATV/VIVO, 8X AGP, Model "ALL-IN-WONDER 9800 PRO" -RETAIL (336.00)

Intel Pentium 4/ 2.8E GHz 800MHz FSB, 1MB L2 Cache, Hyper Threading Technology - OEM (179.00)

ABIT i875P Chipset Motherboard for Intel Socket 478 CPU, Model "IC7" -RETAIL (122.00)

Mushkin 184 Pin 256MB DDR PC-3200 Black Hi Perf "222 Special" - OEM (x2) (80.00 each)

total newegg cost 882.00 +tax +shipping

case vapochill Se titanium case (expensive :eek: )

still havn't decided on power supply. have all the drives i need for the moment. let me know suggestions you may have for this setup eg. downgrade this upgrade that.
 
You're planning on spending $800+ on a computer which has 256MB of DDR333 ram?

.....WHY?
 
Yeah, I dunno about spending $800 bucks for a machine with only 256 of PC2700. This is my suggestion, do it as you like.

Downgrade the Video Card to just an ATI Radeon 9800 Pro. This can be had for about $200ish.

The CPU is fine if you want to take advantage of that 1MB L2. Since that is an OEM, do you already have a HSF or are you purchasing an aftermarket one, and if so, is the price already included in the Newegg total?

The motherboard is fine, I just purchased the same one, a refurbed actually for $75 shipped and taxed.

As for the case, if you are dead set on the case, then purchase it, but IMO, I would get one that looks like and comes with a PSU, a nice PSU, not a garbage one. I see that Newegg has the Antec Sonata with 380 True Power PSU on sale. If you like the look of the Sonata, then you should get it, if not, shop around to see if there are any other cases that strikes your interest. If you are still dead set on the Vapochill SE case, then go ahead and purchase than along with an Antec PSU.

Now, for the Ram. Since the one you wanted is about $85 bucks for only a 256MB. I say that you go around the board for some 512MB PC3200. They can be had for about $90 to $110, but that extra 256MB will give such a world of difference when it comes down to performance, especially if you are going to be running XP.
 
You gotta ditch that RAM. You need at least PC3200 RAM to run the CPU FSB in sync with the memory, and I really recommend at least 512 MB like Chelica.

And I like Northwoods over Prescotts, but whatever you want.

Since you're going with the IC7, I'm assuming you don't need an ethernet port or you have your own NIC card?

And a Vapochill? Wow.
 
The AIW is a nice card to have, that is your choice if you want to spend the extra cash for it.

Change the ram definetly get pc3200 and get 2x256meg, running single channel on a P4 makes no sense.

Drop the prescott and get yourself a real chip ie Northwood.
 
You are getting phase change and are looking at 333mhz ram? Or is this not phasechange and I am confused?

If you are looking into phasechange and are describing the setup you just did, you should really do a LOT of research b/c you are a tad clueless on overclocking from your choice of ram alone.
 
/me dumbass. i was at work and being supervised so internet was limited, and i meant to be getting 512 megs of ram not 256. i forgot to post i was ordering 2 sticks of 256 each, but do you think i should upgrade to 1 gig or is it not neccessary right now. also would that be a good chice for ram or is there something that might be a little bit better. the case is a phase change case thats why im getting it. i just like the way it looks with a system in it and all. im not to big on case apperances besides the fact that it looks clean. however would i be better to the phase change unit as a standalone and then put that in another better case or should i just go with getting the case with in already in. also im not made of money, this is really expensive as it looks right now, so cheaper alternatives would be nice. im getting the aiw model of the ati video card beacaue i want video capture and dvi output to my tv, and i like the reviews that it got. keep sugestions comming thanks for the input so far:D
 
Originally posted by Shieze
You are getting phase change and are looking at 333mhz ram? Or is this not phasechange and I am confused?

If you are looking into phasechange and are describing the setup you just did, you should really do a LOT of research b/c you are a tad clueless on overclocking from your choice of ram alone.
Click to expand...

i know nothing about ram thats why i posted the ram and asked if this would go well together or if there is something else. if i knew what i was doing completely already i wouldnt have post asking for help.

edit: besides more = bettter untill it stops making a difference, and lower latency is better as well, or so i think:confused: .

edit2: updated ram choice
 
If you want a good TV capture card, head to the Hot Deals section and check out the link for that OEM PVR250. It can be had for about $90 dollarish and is one of the best TV Capture card for its price. This way, you can have a nice Video Card, a nice TV Capture card, and both for less.

As for the Ram. If you are planning on upgrading to 1GB later down the line, you will have to decide right now IMO. It is because you cannot get 2x256 and then 1 stick of 512MB to run Dual Channel. You can get 4x256 but that won't run on Dual Channel. The thing to think about right now is if you want to get Dual Channel when you upgrade to 1GB. If so, then you can just purchase a stick of 512MB PC3200, and then hope that prices on Ram will go down by the time you want to purchase the same type of Ram to match the 512MB PC3200 that you purchased.

And I would have to agree regarding the Northwood Chips. You will have more fun IMO with a 2.8C.

As for the case, are you still dead set on this?
 
i was told that dual channel does not make that much of a difference, 5% or so was what i read on some post. ill have to think about it, but ill probably give in and get two 512 sticks instead of 2 256 sticks. I was pretty set on the case, mainly because i dont know much about phase change or water cooling, besides what ive read, no first hand expirence. The system just makes it look very clean and has very nice results with overclocking and ease of use. Though it is expensive, i think its worth it for the fact that i can achieve -c temps without knowing too much about the systems themselves giving myself a nice intro to extreme cooling. Im going to read some reviews on the pvr250 and see if that will acomplish all i need. i was also going for the 9800 aiw because my current video card is some no name 64meg agp card. thanks for the info so far. what would be the reason for going to a northwood. the prescott i was looking in to has a 1mb l2 cache and that was pretty much all the difference i could see from neweggs site. is the 2.8c better for overclocking or something. from what ive read people have opinions about prescott and northwood as amd and intel.
 
From what i have read prescott won't put up good numbers till it hits around 4ghz. Due to it's insanely long 31 stage pipeline. So basically for now prescott = shit compared to northwood. I'd go w/ a 2.8c or a 3.0c if you can spare the cash. Since your using a phase change case i have to ask if you are going to overclock, b/c if you are your gonna need some brandname ddr500 atleast. to try and run 1:1 w/ your RAM:FSB. I don't know where you heard dual channel isnt a big deal but i know for sure it is a HUGE deal w/ intel. You can't enable PAT w/ out running dual channel.
 
Originally posted by iNsAnE_crAzY
From what i have read prescott won't put up good numbers till it hits around 4ghz. Due to it's insanely long 31 stage pipeline. So basically for now prescott = shit compared to northwood. I'd go w/ a 2.8c or a 3.0c if you can spare the cash. Since your using a phase change case i have to ask if you are going to overclock, b/c if you are your gonna need some brandname ddr500 atleast. to try and run 1:1 w/ your RAM:FSB. I don't know where you heard dual channel isnt a big deal but i know for sure it is a HUGE deal w/ intel. You can't enable PAT w/ out running dual channel.
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ok so dual channel is important then. im not sure where i read it, but i believe there was a thread for dual channel vs. more ram in non-dual setup, and people were saying that dual wasnt taht important from what i gathered. i think ill go with 2 512 sticks. (/me easily convinced to get more power). now im getting as to way you would say go with 2.8c. however, if i do overclock with this system i should be able to achieve 3.8+ overclock if i get a 3.0+ gig prescott with this phase change system. in that case, should i go with a prescott or is it recommend that a 3.0+ northwood would still end up being better. thanks for all you input guys, i think im pretty much there for what i want.
 
At least 512MB of faster RAM. I wouldn't get the 2.8E, but that's personal preference. I'd drop the Prescott, get a 3.2C, and drop the Vapochill.
 
That 5 percent thing is for AMD setup. You are running an Intel setup meaning that running Dual Channel will be a major difference.
 
Originally posted by Spearboy
ok so dual channel is important then. im not sure where i read it, but i believe there was a thread for dual channel vs. more ram in non-dual setup, and people were saying that dual wasnt taht important from what i gathered. i think ill go with 2 512 sticks. (/me easily convinced to get more power). now im getting as to way you would say go with 2.8c. however, if i do overclock with this system i should be able to achieve 3.8+ overclock if i get a 3.0+ gig prescott with this phase change system. in that case, should i go with a prescott or is it recommend that a 3.0+ northwood would still end up being better. thanks for all you input guys, i think im pretty much there for what i want.
Click to expand...

well from what i saw on overlockers.com cpu database 2.8 prescott's on phase chage got to around 3.8-4.1 but a 3.0c on phase change get to around 4.5-4.9 so it is your pick. I'd be really intrested to see benchmarks on a prescott running in the 4's but if it were me i'd go with a northwood
 
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