Questions about Build Thread

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mikeczyz

Limp Gawd
Joined
Apr 18, 2005
Messages
290
Hi gang,

New around here and I've spent the past 36 hours researching components. I am planning on building my first computer! I will try to follow tiraides' recommendations for posting a build thread.

Case- Antec Solo--~$80
Power Supply (PSU)- Corsair VX450W ~$70
Motherboard-Looking at two:
Asus M3A ~$90
Gigabyte MA770 ~$100
Processor (CPU)- AMD Athlon 64 X2 5000+ Brisbane 2.6 GHz Black Edition ~$85
CPU Cooler/Heatsink with Fan (HSF)- Scythe Ninja ~$35
Memory (RAM)- 4 gigs of OCZ Reaper DDR2 ~$110
Hard Drive (HDD)- Samsung Spinpoint F1 750 GB 32 MB Cache ~$130
Optical (Disc) Drive (CD/DVD/HD-DVD/BR)- Lite-on 20X DVD Burner ~$30
Video/Graphics Card (GPU)- ECS N8800GT ~$250

No monitor needed, will also be buying Windows Vista Home Premium 64-Bit. Mouse, keybd will all be recycled from current system

This system will be my main rig...internet, word processing, gaming (FPS's and pretty graphically intense games) and music. I create electronic music. In addition, BitTorrent will be used quite a bit. My choice of components also reflects my goal of creating a near-silent rig. I don't mind a little bit of fan noise but am trying to keep any noise down to a minimum.

I don't need many extra features like RAID and all that. SLI/CrossFire would be cool but I can live without it. I game at 16x10 so as long as I have one super powered vid card, I should be okay. However, as you probably guessed from my choice of CPU, I will be overclocking. Nothing too strenuous, just kick up the multiplier a few times. I don't want to mess with oc'ing the RAM and all that.

I would like this machine to last 3+ years so I'm looking into AM2+ mobo's. As far as I understand, I can chunk the Phenom processors into this board and I think AM3 processors can be used on this mobo, right? This is pretty important because I don't want to have to start from the ground up in a few years. It'd be terrific if i could use the 5000+ right now, go to a quad-core Phenom once those processors mature and then roll with a AM3 after that.

My budget is ~1000.

Any suggestions or glaring omissions?

Thanks.
 
First of all, thank you for actually reading the FAQ. Already tells us that you're not someone who waits for life to help him. Good job.

Second, ditch the ECS 8800GT. You can get an 8800GT with lifetime warranty and better support for ~$200:
eVGA GeForce 8800GT 512MB PCI-E Video Card - $204

And you can get the exact same HSF that the ECS 8800GT uses here:
Arctic Cooling Accelero S1 Passive VGA Cooler - $25

Total Cost is $229 and you gain a better warranty and support.

Third, we don't know for sure that AM3 CPUs will in fact work with socket AM2+ motherboards. When socket AM2+ CPUs finally came out last year, only 17 or so (out of a few hundred or so) socket AM2 motherboards officially supported those CPUs. Even then, some of the features of AM2+ had to be disabled in order for those AM2+ CPUs to work with AM2 motherboards.

So while an AMD rig does have a bit of upgrade path left, just don't count on it.

I'll let someone else make the argument for an Intel rig.
 
One of the main reasons why I went AMD is the 85 dollar 5000+ BE. I can not find a sub-100 dollar Intel processor with ANYWHERE near the same amount of (potential) power.

Anyone want to change my mind?
 
Hmm too bad your research didn't turn this up:

Clock for clock, ANY C2D CPU will beat ANY AMD CPU. And it's ridiculously easy to OC a C2D CPU. Check out this link:
http://www.anandtech.com/cpuchipsets/showdoc.aspx?i=3112&p=14

The $70 E2160, once easily OC'd to 3.0Ghz will outperform the $85 X2 5000+ BE. Granted both CPUs will require a HSF (in the case of the E2160, a better HSF), it would still be cheaper and more cost effective to go with an E2160.

Yes at stock speeds, the X2 5000+ will beat the E2160. However, with overclocking, the E2160 will absolutely beat the X2 5000+.

Oh and why get the Mini-Ninja HSF when the better cooling full size Ninja can be had for the same price?:
Scythe SCNJ-1100P Ninja HSF - $36
 
I would build an Intel system instead. For the same cost, it will trounce that AMD 5000+ build easily. I am a AMD fan for over 10yrs. Still am, even though they are being blown by Intel. I hope they bounce back someday. But, at this time, you need to turn to the dark side. LoL. An Intel build with a Core 2 E2200 Dual Core will beat that X2 5000+ at stock and overclocking. Core2 E2200 is only $85 and it's overall faster than that X2 5000+. The video card, you should bump it up to a 8800GTS 512MB at the same cost as that ECS 8800GT card you listed
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127325

The RAM you can go cheaper with the G.Skills 2x2gig DDR2 800 for $80 or A-DATA 2x2gig DDR2 for $70

The Case you can go with this Coolermaster Centurion 590RC which has better airflow and cheaper
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119152

PS - buy that VX450 from Buy.com with free shipping.
http://www.buy.com/prod/corsair-vx-450w-power-supply/q/loc/101/205466485.html

Mobo - Gigabyte P35 DS3L should do fine for your needs for $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
 
The only input I'll add to the conversation is on RAM:

For less than the AR price on the OCZ Reapers, you could purchase the A-DATA kit (which also come with a $20 MIR) that would perform just as well for your needs. There's no noticeable difference performance-wise between CL4 and CL5 RAM, so there's no need to spend more that you have to.

(Yeah yeah, I agree with HardwareGuru... at least you know why... ;) )
 
Sold on the E2200, Gigabyte mobo, cheaper RAM and getting a cheaper 8800GT/add my own passive cooling.

Thanks.

edit: oh, hey. Just noticed that there seem to be two pentium dual-core E2200's. One is SLA8X and the other is SLA8W. One has an 11x multiplier, the other is a 12x multiplier. Stock voltage also differs. Which am i looking for?
 
Okay, that would be the SLA8W. Is there any way to know what I'm getting from, say, Newegg?

I checked the specs at Newegg's product page, click here, and the voltage specs are for the SLA8X. Maybe they haven't updated the specs page?

edit: i'm an idiot. they're both e2200 but one is stock at 2.4 ghz, the other is 2.2
 
Honestly, 10x, 11x, doesn't matter. Those chips are binned low enough that they'll run out of OC room long before getting your board up to a given FSB becomes a problem. Get whichever is cheaper.
 
Most places carry the SLA8X version. I see a few that carry the SLA8W but, its costs more than $85 though.
 
Am thinking about the e4500. Is 30 bucks for the extra cache worth it? I read something (at anandtech maybe?) showing that there's a fairly significant increase going form 1 mb to 2mb cache.

what say you?
 
Cache difference hardly matters, but if you want it, $30 isn't that big a difference. I'd personally watch the forums for used E6400/E6420/E6750s instead though.
 
thanks guys. now that i've got my finalized parts list, i start searching e-tailers for the best price. I'll prolly hold off on the processor until the April Intel price cuts...see how that plays out.

Thanks again!
 
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