Building a New Computer...

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:40 pm

APop is very right. But something that you need to understand is that 754 is at the end of its run, and will probably stop being supported by the end of the year. so if you buy it there isn't much room for upgrading.
The socket 939 is the new kid on the block and will be supporeted for the foreseeable future, or until dual core becomes the flavor of choice.

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 5:53 pm

I would not say that its at the end of its run rather i think that there will be no more substantial CPU upgrades offerd after the 3700+. What is likly to happen is that it will become mostly an OEM socket as home builders seem far less interested in it. Skt 754 is not that bad a socket but it will never have the support or the functionality of skt 939.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:40 pm

Alright, Say hello to my new computer:

AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 1MB L2 Cache
ASUS "K8N-E Deluxe" NVIDIA nForce3 Chipset AMD Socket 754
CORSAIR XMS, Xtra-Low Latency 2-2-2-5, 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
Maxtor 300GB 7200RPM SATA HD
ATI RADEON X800 PRO Video Card, 256MB GDDR3
Soundblaster Audigy
Lite-On Black 52X32X52 CD-RW Drive
Lite-On 12X DVD+/-RW Drive
Antec 480W Power Supply with Blue LED Fan
Lian-Li 12-Bay Silver Aluminum Case, Model "PC-65"

Once I get everything up and running I'll make sure to tell you guys, and also once I'm done modding it I'll post some pictures :D

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:41 pm

that's gonna be one fine computer...

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:43 pm

I would still do a litlte more research on the s754 vs s939. thats the only thing i can see you kicking yourself for later on. Over all it looks like a fast and well designed computer.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 6:50 pm

I won't be upgrading for awhile anyway... so I don't mind

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:07 pm

haha that's what i said

go with the 939's

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:33 pm

Most of the stuff you are getting you will never replace but you will likly in 9-12mths find your self wishing you could upgrade your cpu and ram but if you have s939 you will not need a new mobo at the same time.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 7:52 pm

I dunno, the only reason for me to upgrade in a year would be if the games made that big of a leap and I couldn't play the new ones at that time, and I don't think they will. Like I said, I've had the computer I'm using now for 3-4 years.. it's still fast for the average user, but it's time for an upgrade when you can't play the games that are starting to come out anymore.

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:15 pm

.exz0r, not to be rude, but listen to us and get the 939 motherboard. Keep your options open. I made a few mistakes on my first computer, including PC3200 RAM, which I'm now punching myself in the face for. If I would've gotten PC4000 for an extra say, $75-100 (back over a year ago), I would be able to overclock a lot better now.

Trust me and everyone else, you'll be glad you got the 939. Other than that, the computer looks fine.

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:19 pm

If you drop the second CD/RW drive then you could use that $$ to make the jump to 939. I dont see why you need two drives as with drive speeds the way they are now it takes no longer for you to copy with one dive. Also your just getting alot of redundency with to drives that can both burn CDs.

A10Pilot3 · Post by **A10Pilot3** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:24 pm

If nothing else, the smart thing to do would be a CD-RW and DVD-ROM seperate.

That way, you still have (with my set-up) a 52x CD read speed, which is good for gaming, an easy way to make a copy of a cd (dvd --> cd-rw), and you can read dvd's.

Here's my set-up:

Plextor 52x32x52x CD-RW
IBM 48x16x DVD-ROM

Both drives are around $75, they are fast, quiet, and reliable. I'm glad I paid more money than neccesary.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 8:42 pm

I am getting both seperate, one is a CD burner the other a DVD burner... Lite-on is cheap and good. My 24x10x40x is still working good.

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:37 pm

One last point on the optical drive.... I would recommend the 8X dual layer drive over the 12X DVD Burner. I think that over the next year dual laayer will become the standard and prices will drop for its media.

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Wed Sep 01, 2004 9:42 pm

Thats a good call and you can save some more $$ by getting a DVD that can be upgraded with a new firmware. I got a Sony DW-U18A that can be flashed with a firmware from a Lite-on DL DVD/RW and then i get 8x DL DVD+-RW at no extra cost.

Post by **Illuminati** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:11 am

Dude... infinite... you need to share more info... cuz I have the DW-U18A and I didn't know I can flash it to be a DL burner!!... How do you do it?

Post by **Illuminati** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 7:20 am

Oh... and .exz0r.... I think you will be fine with whichever decision you make... The members are making good points about the upgradeability... but being a poor college student, I hear ya on wanting to save some money... I would be thinking right now, "why spend an extra $100-$200 on the 939-pin, when I can get the same performance today with the 754?"

It all depends if you want to invest in yourself that you actually WILL take advantage of upgrading in the future. If in 9-12 months you want to upgrade and you have the 754-pin ... it will probably be almost worthless to sell to someone else unless you are ready to take a big hit price drop... cuz no one will want a board or processor that isn't even sold anymore.

However, if you know for a FACT that you will not be upgrading in a year... then I would stick with your 754 decision. Good Luck!

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Thu Sep 02, 2004 5:57 pm

Illuminati: check this thread. I have not tried to do mine yet as its still siting on top of my pc but will put it in some time soon i hope.

http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=102104

Xerxes · Post by **Xerxes** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 11:32 pm

my personal recomendation would be either go 939 and get a 3500 or if you're trying to save money id go with a newcastle 3200 and then put the money you saved away so you can more than afford a 939 board when you decided you want to upgrade

personally the $90 difference between a 3400 newcastle and a 3400 clawhammer isnt worth it but then again i wouldnt pay the 160 difference between the 3200 newcastle vs the 3400 clawhammer

For dvd you could always get a nec 3500a or pioneer 108d and have 16x +r and dl

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 5:26 am

Hey... It's me again

lol Sorry I never came back to update you guys on my new computer, but guess what? I didn't get it yet!!! Plus I forgot my password to these forums, and when I tried doing the "I forgot my password" thing it gave me an error.. I know I could've just emailed the admin, but oh well. I just don't want you people to think I'm some jerk, who asked for your higher intelligence, and ran away. Thank you very much for helping me out when I first posted this thread, what seems like so long ago. Some of you will be happy to know I decided to go with the socket 939, AMD 64bit 3500+. Here's is the new list of goodies I plan on getting. And once again feel free to speak your mind on what I've picked out, I know you guys know what you're talking about more than I. I do not plan on using RAID. Also, don't bother telling me to get the Nvidia 6800 gt or ultra, I had a time deciding between the x800 and 6800gt, I decided to go with ATI. The reason for this is the only game I will be playing, will most likely be Counter-Strike Source... and all the reviews I've read say that ATI does a better job handling the source engine. Thanks again.

AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 64-bit Processor
MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard
CORSAIR XMS, 184-Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive
Western Digital 80GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive
ATI RADEON X800 PRO Video Card, 256MB GDDR3
NEC 16X Double Layer Black DVDÂ±RW
Samsung Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive
Antec 480W Power Supply
Lian-Li 12-Bay Silver Aluminum Case