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New A64 PC build...help.

post #1 of 33
10/14/05 at 2:12am
Thread Starter 
Yep, I want to build a PC again.

Specs:

2005FPW 20.1in $394.00
Asus K8V SE Deluxe 754/3700+$229.99
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) $84.60
DiamondMax 10 / 300GB / 7200 / 16MB $89.99
X-Connect / 500-Watt $49.99
Lite-on / 16x4x16x DVD+RW / 12x4x16x DVD-RW / 4x DVD+R DL / 48x24x48x CD-RW $45.99
Thermaltake TR2 M6 CPU cooler $13.99
eVGA Geforce 6600GT 128 $144.00
-----------------------------------
$1,052.55


I'm on a budget and really don't want to spend over 1k. The things I'm not sure about are the motherboard, CPU, and video card. I can get the Asus K8V SE Deluxe Socket 754 ATX mobo and AMD Athlon 64 3700+ Processor combo for $229.99 ( http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...BM-K8V-A643700 ) It seems like a good deal. Is there a better option? I know it is only a 754 socket and not 939 but I don't plan on getting anything above a 3700+. One of the things I am concerned about is the motherboard because it only has a AGP slot and was wanting a PCI Express because it seems like the higher end AGP cards are a decent amount more than than the PCIE equivalent and the latest cards (7800) only appear to be PCIE. I would really like to have a 256MB 6800 but they only are for PCIE. Should I get a different mobo with a 939 socket or PCIE slot (or both) and go with a cheaper CPU? Any motherboard recommendations would be appreciated.
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post #2 of 33
10/14/05 at 2:22am
I think you're going all wrong with this build. You already stated that you worry the most about the motherboard. Why not get a 939 PCI Express based mobo, rather than focusing on getting a combo?
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post #3 of 33
10/14/05 at 2:49am
Mobo: $109
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813170147

CPU: $146
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103537

$255 versus your $229, $26 more and you get an SLI capable 939 pin motherboard.

Edit: Checked the specs on the 3700, and now I understand why you went that route. Faster processor now....but you're better served in the long IMHO.
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post #4 of 33
10/14/05 at 6:03am
Do NOT get an X-Connect PSU unless you want a $1,000 paper-weight.

I'll just repost what I said in another PSU thread:

The best place to get information about PSU's for a high-end system is HardOCPs PSU Forum:

HardOCP's Power Supplies for Today's & Tomorrow's Computers:

Since you are not going to have an SLI system, I highly recommend the Fortron BlueStorm 500W. I cannot say enough good things about this PSU. It is a fully compliant ATX 2.0, with dual rails, low dB noise, high amps per 12v1 & 12v2 lines (15amps), very high efficiency (~80%), high regulation (+/- 4% under load), sleeved cables, and runs for ~$91.00 at NewEgg:

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX500-A ATX12V 500W

If you want something cheaper I'd suggest the FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN ATX12V 450W:

FSP Group (Fortron Source) AX450-PN 450W Power Supply

BTW, before you start thinking that you have to have a 500W PSU just because, I would suggest calculating exactly how much power you really need first, adding up the CPU, video card, Optical drives, hard drives, case fans, sound cards, etc, using this:

takaman's Power Supply Calculator
HOW TO BUY A PSU (or how to determine if your old one is up to it)

If you have any questions, ask away! g/l!
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post #5 of 33
10/14/05 at 6:04am
Hunterz makes good suggestions, although it looks unlikely you would ever get two video cards. For the motherboard & CPU, I would get a lower rated CPU just to get a 939 MB & PCIe video card. PCIe is going to be around for along time. It's much better to get one now.

But the motherboard I'd suggest would be a cheaper DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra for $99:

DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD $99

Definitely get the 939 A64 3000+. The link that Hunterz gave is actually for a Retail CPU. That means it comes with it's own cooler/heatsink & you can save the $14 from the cooler you mentioned. Don't worry, the 90nm 3000+ runs very quiet, you won't tell the difference. It's also VERY overclockable, & with the DFI you won't have any problems with stability getting it to run at 2.4Ghz if you want (especially if you have a decent PSU running the voltages).

Also, I'd suggest you get a PCIe 6600GT 128 through NewEgg instead, & save $10:

GF6600GT-DV128 Geforce 6600GT 128MB

With all of these the new total would be ~$1055.00. Only $3.00 more, but with socket 939 CPU & MB, PCIe video card, and a MUCH more reliable PSU. I hope that helps!

BTW, I like that monitor. Nice.
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post #6 of 33
10/14/05 at 6:35pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for the replies! I am going to go with the $99 939 mobo and 3000+. Maybe I'll do some OC'ing. I have had a X-Connect 500W before and I never had any trouble with it, but it appears the one you suggested is better for the reasons you specified.

As for the 6600GT, the only one that is cheaper is the XFX which has 2 DVI ports, and I don't plan to have a dual LCD monitor setup and I may need to hook it up to a CRT sometime so the AOpen seems to be the best choice.

The only other thing I changed was the burner--NEC because it's cheaper and that means I'm getting everything from the 'egg, except for the monitor, of course.

I already have a case, speakers, keyboard, mouse, and one 90mm case fan but I should probably get another. I'll get some rounded IDE cables too.

2005FPW 20.1in $394.00
DFI nF4 Ultra-Infinity ATX mobo $99.99
AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 $146.00
CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) $84.60
DiamondMax 10 / 300GB / 7200 / 16MB $89.99
(Fortron Source) AX450-PN 450W$49.99
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A $38.98
AOpen GF6600GT-DV128 Geforce 6600GT 128MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 $134.00
------------------------------
$1,037.55

What does anyone think of this?
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post #7 of 33
10/15/05 at 5:54am
Looks fine to me.
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post #8 of 33
10/15/05 at 11:54am
The NEC-3540 is the best DVD burner I have ever used. Comes highly recommended from me. Is that an SATA hard drive?
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post #9 of 33
10/15/05 at 12:01pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by ZippoMan
The NEC-3540 is the best DVD burner I have ever used. Comes highly recommended from me. Is that an SATA hard drive?
It's a ATA-133. Should I go with a SATA? SATA drives are newer and have a larger memory bandwidth, right?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...?EdpNo=1487962
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post #10 of 33
10/15/05 at 2:15pm
Looks like your MB supports up to 4 SATA II drives.

I'd consider something like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822145087

I definitely would NOT go with a regular ATA133 HDD, you can get a newer and faster SATAII drive for not much more.
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post #11 of 33
10/15/05 at 2:17pm
The only SATA II drive on Newegg I see with 16MB cache is a WD for $131: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822144701
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post #12 of 33
10/15/05 at 3:49pm
SATA with native command queuing would provide a nice performance boost over an old ATA133, and avoid tiger direct like a plague.
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post #13 of 33
10/15/05 at 5:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thunder_PC
SATA with native command queuing would provide a nice performance boost over an old ATA133, and avoid tiger direct like a plague.
Ditto.
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post #14 of 33
10/15/05 at 7:01pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks, I'll go with the HITACHI Deskstar T7K250 250GB 3.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s.

I just realized something about the X-Connect. No 24-pin mobo connector nor a PCIE connector. $12.99 for the 20-24 and $9.99 for the 4-6 pin. I don't think so.

As for the FS PSU, I read this:
http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/show...2&postcount=34
Sounds harsh. It must be 24 pin and it be a 480W or greater, according to that post. The $49.99 FS PSU is a 450W.

and

Quote:
"A" List for Non-SLI PSU's: These are KNOWN to work well with DFI N4 mobos!

Enermax 485W Noisetaker AX Series EG495AX-VE (W)SFMA (V2.01)
http://www.enermax.com.tw/products_...&Gid=18&Gid2=46
Older 2.0 Version from $79: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q...326709780011814

Frotron Blue Storm 500W (AX500-A)
http://www.home2000.net/client/fspg...?linenumber=195
From $75: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q...=Search+Froogle

OCZ ModStream 520W (Modular for those seeking style over performance.)
http://www.ocztechnology.com/produc...am_power_supply
From $94: http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=OCZ+ModStream+520W
This seems like a silly question, but I am planning on getting the nF4, not a N4. I shouldn't need the 480W or greater then, right?
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post #15 of 33
10/16/05 at 5:15am
With the components you listed a 450W PSU (especially Fortron) is fine. If you notice, the 500W Blue Storm has the exact 20/24 pin MB connector as the 450W Fortron. So if you're worried that the 500W is somehow different than the 450W, forget about it. If you're worried that the 500W is significantly more powerful than the 450W, you'd be wrong again. The 450W actually has more amps on BOTH the 12V1 & 12V2 rails than the Blue Storm (18 amps vs 15 amps). But the Blue Storm has a PFC, so it's a little better overall (higher efficiency).

If it was me, I'd get the 500W Bluestorm anyway (actually, I have. three times). But the extra cost put it a little too much over your limit. I suggested the Blue Storm earlier. If you can push your finances, I'd definitely get it over the 450W.
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post #16 of 33
10/17/05 at 10:47pm
Thread Starter 
Monitor has been ordered.

I think I will go with the 500W FS, even though its a little more. It will even go with the inards of my case's color scheme. And the cables are sleeved and it has PFC. I think I want to go ahead with 2GB of RAM @ $199.97: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820144322
which is about $100 more. Hmm...then I wondered if it would benefit me if I spent ~$100 more on a 256MB 6800GT instead of another 1GB of RAM. The main thing I'm going to be do with the PC that will push it to its limits is gaming, of course. I'm not for sure which would be a better investment. The game that I have that eats the most RAM is BF2, but I think it can manage fine with 1GB, but I'm not for sure.
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post #17 of 33
10/18/05 at 12:12am
that RAM has some really high latency, I would say go for the 6800 GT
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post #18 of 33
10/18/05 at 6:26pm
Thread Starter 
I think 1GB will be fine for now. I just thought of something else as I was looking over these:







What about 2 6600GTs in SLI? 2 XFX 6600GTs will cost me $275.00 + another ~$27 for a DFI nF4 SLI Infinity ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813136164 ) vs. a $259.00 Albatron 6800GT. I know 3DMark05 is not everything but a 6800GT gets ~4600 and 2x6600GT gets ~5700. Whataya think?

Edit: I also found this: http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....ghlight=6800NU

Thanks for all of the suggestions and help so far.
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post #19 of 33
10/18/05 at 8:55pm
that would do very nicely
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post #20 of 33
10/18/05 at 9:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Caffeine
that would do very nicely
Which? Single 6800GT or 2x6600GT?

http://www.hardforum.com/showthread....ghlight=6800NU





It seems the single 6800GT gets better FPS in most cases.
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