Building a New Computer...

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 8:04 am

:D Hello everyone!!!

Ok I'm going to build a new computer soon, my AMD 1800+ 512 mb ddr and GeForce 3 ti 500 just isn't cutting it anymore, lol. I just wanted some opinions on what I've chosen to put in my new rig, good or bad. Here's the specs:

AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 1MB L2 Cache
ASUS "K8V SE Deluxe" K8T800 Chipset Socket 754
Corsair XMS 184 Pin 1GB(512MBx2) DDR PC-3200
Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM
ATI Radeon X800 XT
Sound Blaster Audigy (from my old comp)
Plextor 52x32x52 CD-RW Drive
DVD Rom (from old comp)
RAIDMAX 520W Power Supply
Lian-Li 12-Bay Silver Aluminum Case

Bio-Hazard · Post by **Bio-Hazard** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:26 am

Sounds pretty good to me.................... :o I'd go for a socket 939 though if I were putting out that sort of money................... :twisted:

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:46 am

Look's like a solid system. Here are some other options you can check into if you are interested.

Hard Drive: 250gb Maxtor MaXLine III (16MB buffer, 250GB capacity and NCQ support) It is the first desktop hard drive with a 16MB buffer, twice that of the current fastest drives! For a review of it versus a raptor look here.

Capacity: 250GB
Interface: Serial-ATA/150
Rotation Speed: 7200rpm
Internal Transfer Rate: N/A
Cache Memory: 16MB
Average Seek Time: 9.3ms
Error Ratio: 1 per 10^15
Max. Power Draw: 8.6W
Sustained Shock: 60Gs operating, 2000Gs non-operating.
Sound Level: Seek: 34dB, Idle: 27dB
Warranty: 3 Year
Manufacturer Part: 7B250S0

Motherboard: ASUS "K8N-E Deluxe" NVIDIA nForce3 250GB CURRENT PRICING

If you want to stick with ASUS you can check out the ASUS K8N-E Deluxe board. Roughly $25 more, but it has what I consider to be the better chipset out there right now for the socket 754 CPU's. Might want to look at other brands with this chipset also.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:36 am

Bio-Hazard wrote:Sounds pretty good to me.................... :o I'd go for a socket 939 though if I were putting out that sort of money................... :twisted:

Why socket 939?

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:38 am

Apoptosis wrote:Look's like a solid system. Here are some other options you can check into if you are interested.

Hard Drive: 250gb Maxtor MaXLine III (16MB buffer, 250GB capacity and NCQ support) It is the first desktop hard drive with a 16MB buffer, twice that of the current fastest drives!

If you want to stick with ASUS you can check out the ASUS K8N-E Deluxe board. Roughly $25 more, but it has what I consider to be the better chipset out there right now for the socket 754 CPU's. Might want to look at other brands with this chipset also.

Thanks, I think I will get that hard drive instead. If I get the socket 754 I will pry get that motherboard also.

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:40 am

No problem!

I forgot to say this before -- Welcome to the Forums!

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:45 am

Apoptosis wrote:No problem!

I forgot to say this before -- Welcome to the Forums!

Thanks! Another question... i forgot what about if there were 2 computers, one with the maxtor and the other with RAID with both of the raptors. does the maxtor still win?

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 11:02 am

According to this review there is not too much of a difference. It is not a huge performance leap like many would think....

For Example:

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 11:09 am

I looked through that review, didn't look hard enough I guess. Thanks. Also what do you think about my socket? Is 754 ok or would u recommend a differnet one also?

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 11:24 am

Socket 754 CPU's
AMD Athlon 64 3400+, 2.4GHz, 1MB L2 Cache $371
AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 2.2GHz, 512k L2 Cache $219
AMD Athlon 64 2800+, 1.8GHz, 512KB L2 Cache $145

Socket 939 CPU's
AMD Athlon 64 3800+, 2.4 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache $650
AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 2.2 GHz, 512KB L2 Cache $425

If you look at the pricing of the Socket's the Socket 754 CPU's are cheaper to build a system around. If you are aiming at an A64 3400+ you could "upgrade" to the A64 3500+, but you actually lose 512kb L2 cache and .2GHz of clock speed.

It honestly all depends on budget and what you plan on doing in the future.

Here is a chart from Tech Report on the 3400+ versus other leading CPU's

As you can tell Socket 754 can hold it's own okay as the 3400+ (754) beats the 3500+ (939).

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 11:32 am

I think I'll stick with the 754. Thanks again for your input.

Edit: I priced everything at http://www.newegg.com except for my vid card (they dont have it in stock

) total price= $ 1,243.65 (taxes and shipping included)

Wolfgang70 · Post by **Wolfgang70** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:03 pm

The main reason to go for the 939 over the 754 is expandibility. 754 will not be in AMD's future. So if you don't mind scrapping your mobo in two to three years along with your CPU then the 754 will work but if you think you would like to upgrade in a year then you need to go with a socket 939 CPU.

Great system though. Wish I had that much to spend on my upgrade.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 12:32 pm

Wolfgang70 wrote:The main reason to go for the 939 over the 754 is expandibility. 754 will not be in AMD's future. So if you don't mind scrapping your mobo in two to three years along with your CPU then the 754 will work but if you think you would like to upgrade in a year then you need to go with a socket 939 CPU.

Great system though. Wish I had that much to spend on my upgrade.

I've had the computer I have now for about 3 or 4 years now, so I plan on having this one for at least 3 years. But yah either way, if I was going to upgrade my processor anyway, I would end up upgrading my mobo... why not they really arent that expensive compared to processors, video cards, hard drives, and memory. I actually dont have the money to spend on the computer yet

Here in a couple weeks to a month I should have enough though, I can't wait.

infinitevalence · Post by **infinitevalence** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:30 pm

Its a funny thing that most people dont upgrade the cpu even though the bitch and complain if amd or intel change their sockets.

Post by **Apoptosis** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 1:53 pm

yeah I've noticed that too. Look at the people doing the complaining though! All they do is gripe about something, it is the way they operate.

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 6:48 pm

I'll throw my two cents in the ring. I'd would spend the extra money and get the Corsair XL series RAM, the C2 Corsair stuff doesn't seem to like AMD that much. If your spending that much green spend the 60 or so bucks to get the 2-2-2-5 XL it will be worth it. Apoptosis and the others can vouch that I agonized and pestered for weeks about RAM and I settled for the C2PT only to go through hell to get it replaced with XL. Trust me and go with the XL. My last cent is whatever you do don't buy from ZipZoomFly, their pricing is really good but they will not back up their advertising as it pertains to performance.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:33 pm

Merlin wrote:I'll throw my two cents in the ring. I'd would spend the extra money and get the Corsair XL series RAM, the C2 Corsair stuff doesn't seem to like AMD that much. If your spending that much green spend the 60 or so bucks to get the 2-2-2-5 XL it will be worth it. Apoptosis and the others can vouch that I agonized and pestered for weeks about RAM and I settled for the C2PT only to go through hell to get it replaced with XL. Trust me and go with the XL. My last cent is whatever you do don't buy from ZipZoomFly, their pricing is really good but they will not back up their advertising as it pertains to performance.

Edit:

lol ;laksdfa blah blah

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDe ... 523&depa=1

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 9:52 pm

I personally wouldn't go with either one of those but that is only because I don't place much value in the LEDs on the Pro XL modules. I would go with the Twinx1024-3200XLPT. That is what I have and It rocks. The memory is basically the same as the 3200XLPRO except its 30 bones cheaper because it doesn't have the LEDs. I am sure Apoptosis will correct me if I'm wrong but I think the XLPT and the XLPRO are exactly the same RAM in terms of performance. The LEDs are good if you want to be able to monitor memory activity or if you just like the look of them in your PC case, but I wouldn't spend the extra money. I think Capper has a set of the XL Pro but he also does reviews and such thus warranting the LEDs. PLease correct me if I'm wrong guys.

.exz0r · Post by **.exz0r** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:07 pm

I cant find the pc3200 on newegg they must not have it in stock

just this pc2700
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDe ... 523&depa=1

I'm going to go to bed though, I'm reaaaaaaaaally tired, thanks for helping me out. I'll check the forums tommorow somtime.

LVCapo · Post by **LVCapo** » Mon Aug 30, 2004 10:47 pm

I'm totally with Merlin on the memory. i felt the exact same way and saved the $40 difference on the mem with the LEDs. I will also plug Newegg here, after the outstanding service i have gotten from them, I won't shop anywhere else unless it is something they don't carry.

Newegg.com - CORSAIR (XMS Series) TWINX1024-3200XL Memory (System Memory)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDe ... 522&depa=1