One final look (First build)

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lmnop

Weaksauce
Joined
Jul 12, 2006
Messages
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Well after reading and reading and reading on the forums I have finally pieced together my first build and plan to order very soon. I would appreciate it if you guys could give it a good once over to see if there is some blatant mistake or some known incompatibility between parts.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2000MHz HT Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor Model ADA4200CUBOX - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103747

ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813131013

CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Unbuffered Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820145590

PNY VCG7600GXPB Geforce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814133150

SAMSUNG SpinPoint P Series SP2504C 250GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822152025

Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16829102188

OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI ATX12V 700W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817341002

SONY 16X DVD±R, 5X DVD-RAM Write DVD Burner With Black front panel Beige E-IDE/ATAPI Model DRU820A - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827131016

Lian Li PC-7B plus II Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811112099

Questions:
1) Video card - I am not a huge gamer, but with the purchase of the new system I might get into it a little more. I chose the 7600GT because it seems to be pretty stable and decently priced. A lot of the 7900GT have had to be sent back and whatnot. Will the 7600GT be good for a while? I've read about people waiting for direct x10 cards to come out and I kind of took that into consideration.

2)RAM - Originally I had a similar 2gb corsair setup that was SLI approved and had EPP, however newegg is now out of stock. I do not plan on going SLI, so I chose this ram. Will I have any problems with this ram working with the Asus m2n-sli deluxe mobo? Does it matter that all my other parts are "SLI" with the exception of this ram. Should I just wait till the SLI/EPP xms2 ram is back in stock?

3) Power supply - i was pretty much clueless on what to pick, I heard OCZ and PC Power and Cooling were good. I saw this one, seems to be quiet, which Im going for, and seems to have PLENTY of power. Would this be a good choice?

Any clear incompatibility issues with any of these parts I have chosen? Any hardware (cables, etc) that I should order? I plan on picking up keyboard, mouse, speakers and a good 19" LCD at a local retailer, but besides those parts, am I missing anything?
 
The RAM is fine, simply because of that rebate... otherwise, its overpriced. You don't get much performance increase from DDR2-800 and DDR2-667. The only reason I would use DDR2-800 is for OC'ing, but even then, with ddr2, you could still get good performance with a divider. The PSU is a bit overkill, but not too expensive. I assume you'll be goin SLI within 6-8 months. I'd go with the BenQ DW1650 instead of the Sony - better reviews. I hope you have some nice speakers with digital input to utilize that x-fi card, otherwise, onboard should be fine (sacrifice a few fps in games). If you plan on OC'ing, you may want a better HSF.
 
If you aren't a huge gamer then don't buy an SLI motherboard or an SLI PSU. Save the money from the motherboard by going with this, and then save money on that PSU by going with either the XClio 450BL or the FSP AX450-PN.

Then you can toss some of that money into getting a 5000+ or better vid card ;)

As for your video card choice, it'll be fine for running games at 1024x768 to 1280x960 or so, so if you're looking for a stopgap card until DX10 then that'll be the best choice. I would recommend you avoid PNY however, and move to a brand like BFG, XFX, or eVGA because of their superior warranties and tech support.

If you're looking to upgrade a bit videocard wise, your list of options in order of speed are as follows: x1800XT 256, 7900GT (look for the eVGA model labeled Reload and it'll be the new fixed revision), x1800XT 512.

All in all, you've selected some great parts. If you've got any more questions, reply!
 
Thanks for the replies, very helpful. I switched it up a little, but have yet to order anything.

For the mobo I plan on going with this:
ASUS M2N-E Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003
It's not SLI, which I have no desire for and it's Asus which seems to be a trusted name. I believe the same RAM I posted before should work with this, anyone know for sure?

And then for a power supply I was thinking this:
ENERMAX Liberty ELT500AWT ATX12V 500W Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817194003
Anyone know anything about this power supply. From the reviews it seems to be pretty decent and pretty powerful for future upgrading.

With the extra cash I saved on the mobo and powersupply I figure I can spring a little for the 7900GT Reload as suggested.

eVGA 256-P2-N584-AR Geforce 7900GT KO 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130033
I have been concerned about going with a 7900 because of all the problems they have been having. In this reload version are all of those pretty much resolved? How is this card noise/heat wise?

The other thing I'm reconsidering is the sound card. I don't really think I need that much of a "high performance" sound card. I just plan on getting a standard 2 speakers, 1 sub setup for average music/movies/gaming. Any suggestions for a sound card that isn't too costly?

And finally, the case. As in my first post I still plan on going with that lower-end Lian-Li case. Is that a good idea, or is there something better out there for the money. I've had my eye on the Antec P180B, but have heard mixed reviews on it. I'm not really looking for a case with a window or LEDs, just something that is quiet and cools well. Any suggestions, or is the Lian-Li about as good as it is going to get?

Any input would be greatly appreciated.
 
Right-o, one question at a time.

  • The motherboard is good, and your RAM will work with it.
  • That PSU is still overkill for your system (SLI certified?), I'd go with the much less expensive but just as good quality AX450-PN.
  • The 7900GT you selected is also great. I've got the new revision (I RMA'd the old one) and it's been working like a charm. The 7 series is cool and quiet in general (except right when you boot; the fan spins up and then spins down to inaudible when the windowsxp screen comes up).
  • If you don't think you really want that X-Fi, why not just pick up the last gen sound card for great sound but half the price? Here is an Audigy 2 value for $64. Otherwise, you could always just try out the onboard sound and see what you think before you invest in a sound card at all.
  • When it comes to cases I think there is a great difference in opinion, but I own a P180 (the silver/black version) and I love it. Cable management is a bit of a dog, but once you've got that setup the cooling is amazing. I think that overall it's an excellent case with some great customer service from Antec should something go wrong. I do need to mention that I really don't like that PC-7B; people complain about it being flimsy, and for $80 I really don't think that should be the case. If you'd like an inexpensive but fantastic quality case, check out the CoolerMaster Centurion 5 cases (with or without window).
 
quadnad said:
Right-o, one question at a time.

  • The motherboard is good, and your RAM will work with it.
  • That PSU is still overkill for your system (SLI certified?), I'd go with the much less expensive but just as good quality AX450-PN.
Click to expand...

  • Fuhjyyu caps FTL
 
454Casull said:
Fuhjyyu caps FTL
Click to expand...

Constructive. Which would you suggest, because that SLI PSU is overkill, and that FSP is perfect for that system. The FSP is good quality, it's a recommended PSU. I've run four in four seperate systems and none of them have given me issues.
 
Would the Enermax I posted be TOO much power, if there is such a thing? I realize it is SLI approved and somewhat pricey but I figure it should still be pretty solid if I want to upgrade in a year or two, possibly once vista comes out and settles down.

The Audigy 2 card posted does look like a better alternative for me, compared to the soundblaster x-fi.

As far as the case, I have read reviews similar to what youre saying about the "flimsyness" of the PC-7B. Like I said I was looking at the Antec P180B, but it seems to be very heavy, hard to work in, and have some "design flaws." But it does sound like its very very quiet and cool.
My main concern is getting a case that will have excellent cooling and be verrrry quiet. Any suggestions for a case, it seems to be the last piece of the puzzle. Then all I'll have to is wait for the m2n-e and 7900gt reload to get back in stock on newegg.
 
lmnop said:
Would the Enermax I posted be TOO much power, if there is such a thing? I realize it is SLI approved and somewhat pricey but I figure it should still be pretty solid if I want to upgrade in a year or two, possibly once vista comes out and settles down.

The Audigy 2 card posted does look like a better alternative for me, compared to the soundblaster x-fi.

As far as the case, I have read reviews similar to what youre saying about the "flimsyness" of the PC-7B. Like I said I was looking at the Antec P180B, but it seems to be very heavy, hard to work in, and have some "design flaws." But it does sound like its very very quiet and cool.
My main concern is getting a case that will have excellent cooling and be verrrry quiet. Any suggestions for a case, it seems to be the last piece of the puzzle. Then all I'll have to is wait for the m2n-e and 7900gt reload to get back in stock on newegg.
Click to expand...

No, it won't blow something up, I just mean that it's far more power than you need to run that system. But, like you said, if you want to use it down the road, then go for it. It's a great PSU.

The P180 sure as hell is heavy, and yeah, it's difficult to work in when you're doing your initial wiring, but beyond that it's not difficult at all. Once you've got your wiring all nice and neat it's arguably one of the best cooling cases, and keeps things quiet as well.
 
Try onboard Audio first. If you don't like it, add the audigy2. As for the Case, the P180 is nice. IMHO, LianLi quality is best for aluminum; I have a PC7, PC60, P160, and SuperLanBoy... you definately notice the better precision/construction with the Lian Li's over the Antecs. I like Antec's steel cases though. The Sonata is nice and quiet, but cramped. I like the CM Stacker... 120mm fans, so its quiet, and alot of room to work with. You don't need a 700W PSU. Stick to around 450W, and don't spend more than $80. Just make sure the +12V rails deliver good amperage ( >=24A ).
 
For your purposes, that video card looks great. You should probably downgrade the PSU. Also, why not go with a non-SLI motherboard if you aren't going to use SLI. Why not this one or this. Oh, and enginurd, AM2 requires DDR2 800, won't work with anything less.
 
454Casull said:
This is completely false.
Click to expand...
QFT

Just like every other platform, you can run it on whatever speed RAM you'd like, it'll just downclock the RAM if it's above DDR2-800 or run it at whatever stock speed if it's slower than that.
 
Darundal - I do plan on going with a non-SLI mobo now as I stated in one of me previous posts, the ASUS M2N-E.

454Casull, thanks for the psu suggestions, however, I am trying to stick to getting everything from newegg.

How about this for a power supply, only $69.99:
Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply 115/230 V TUV, UL, CUL, CE, CB, FCC - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937
I know it is still a little on the powerful side, but I want something that will be powerful enough down the road if I choose to make any upgrades. I would also like a relatively quiet PSU.

I am still very undecided on the case. The Antec P180B looks good to me, but it gives me a few concerns. One is the location of the power supply on the bottom of the case. I have read some reviews where in some instances the cables barely reach. Also I have read about the door warping, has this been fixed? The Lian-Li PC7B seems to be a little too flimsy for its price. My main goal for the case is not necessarily looks, but quietness.

Thanks for the replies, they have been very helpful and I really appreciate it.
 
The door warping has been completely fixed, and if for some reason you got a case from their really old stock you can always just ask then to send you a new door. Also, I haven't had any issues regarding cable length.

If you really want a quiet PSU, Seasonic is probably one of the best.
 
If it is any consoltion the system you spec'd is the same as the one I assembled last night...

A64 x2 3800 AM2
Asus M2N-E
2x1GB Corsair XMS 667
eVga 7900GT KO Reloaded
Antec SmartPower 500
Coolermaster Centurion 5

Great components for the price... now if I could just get mine to stop blue screening when it tries to render a desktop... does it every single fricken time... gets all the way through XP file copy and bam, BSOD when it tries to first show the desktop.
 
schwank said:
If it is any consoltion the system you spec'd is the same as the one I assembled last night...

A64 x2 3800 AM2
Asus M2N-E
2x1GB Corsair XMS 667
eVga 7900GT KO Reloaded
Antec SmartPower 500
Coolermaster Centurion 5

Great components for the price... now if I could just get mine to stop blue screening when it tries to render a desktop... does it every single fricken time... gets all the way through XP file copy and bam, BSOD when it tries to first show the desktop.
Click to expand...

Did you manually set your RAM timings/voltage?
 
schwank - Did you ever figure out what the problem was? That system is pretty much identical to the one I plan on purchasing.

I'm pretty sure I'll go with the Antec P180B - Seems very quiet and cool. Still reading up and looking at powersupplies
 
Sorry for the delay... all issues were solved by the Asus M2N-E v0203 BIOS... sorry for the lack of followup.
 
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