1st PC

[Sam334]

I've read through this forums and many others and have narrowed my decision considerably. I've decided to switch over to amd from the P4 I currently have.

This is the system I'm currently running. It's a Dell system. The last 2 pcs I've owned have been Dell, and I've had an ok experience with them. However, I think it's time for me to make my own system In order to save some cash, I'll be recycling a few parts. Mainly, the monitor, hdd, sound card, video card, speakers, and dvd-rw.

P4 1.8GHz Willamette
512 Samsung RDRam
Dell 8200 mobo
80 gig HDD
60 gig hdd
Pioneer A07 dvd-rw
I'm not completely sure about my sound card, I just know it's a 5.1 card made by Turtle Beach/Santa Cruz
Altec Lansing 5.1 speakers
Dell 15" lcd
Radeon 9600 XT 256 MB

The first of my questions is whether I will notice a good performance jump in my video card, or is it already doing all it can with the processor I own?

Ok, now to what I will be getting:

1.) CPU - Either AMD64 3400+ 512K L2 cache s754 ( http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-484&depa=1 ) or AMD64 3200+ 512K L2 cache s939 ( http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-502&depa=1 )
The difference is $16, so I'm not sure with what to go with here. While the s754 is faster, I may not be able to upgrade in a few years since the s754's will be phased out) On the other hand is a slower s939 chip, but with a PCI-e capable board I'll be able to upgrade the cpu and/opr video card in a year or so. But, what is superior, a Winchester or Newcastle core?
2.) MOBO - Not completely sure, I was leaning toward the MSI K8N Neo Platinum if I go with the s754, but what about a good s939 board that's not over $120ish USD?
3.) RAM - Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - Retail
4.) CASE - Not completely sure, I'm open to suggestions. I'd like a black case with a side fan and hopefully a decent PSU that will get me by for a few months before I upgrade to a nice one. The one I was considering is this one: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-144-026&depa=1
But is a 350W power supply enough? What would happen if I didn't get a good power supply? Will the computer self-destruct and blow the world up?

My budget is around $500-600 for the parts mentioned. I'll be upgrading to a sata hdd, adding another 512 mb od dual channel ddr, soon afterwards since I just got a new job that pays better.

Any input whatsoever is greatly appreciated.

-Stephen

edit: I forgot to mention I plan on overclocking the cpu I get, as well as continuing to OC this vid card.

 

[mechBgon]

Could you go for an Antec Sonata instead of the Aspire? No side fan... but a high-quality power supply with a three-year warranty.

As far as the mobo decision, once you have a standard ATX system on your hands, you can sell off your old mobo and CPU when you want to upgrade to the new stuff, so maybe an Asus K8N or Chaintech VNF3-250, with the S754 3400+, would get you onto the upgrade treadmill

My guess is you'll see your system do better in heavy gaming situations where your 1.8 P4 is not able to hold up its end of the deal. XBit Labs did some HalfLife 2 testing with various CPUs, and found that in scenes with lots of physics and AI and so on, even at 1280 x 1024 with eye candy, the CPU power was still a factor in the overall performance, not just the video card. Interesting reading: XBit's article. Obviously they don't list a 1.8GHz Willie, but I'd think your minimum framerates will become much better in those types of scenarios with the upgrade.

Hope that was some help

 

[Sam334]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Could you go for an Antec Sonata instead of the Aspire? No side fan... but a high-quality power supply with a three-year warranty.

I'll look into that. I think I can do without a flashy case since the pc sits inside a cabinet out of view. I just would like a few USB's and a firewire up front. What type of wiring is needed to hook up tohse connectors to the mobo? I would keep my current case, but I read that the Dell cases use an unorthodox power supply cable to connect to the mobo.

As far as the mobo decision, once you have a standard ATX system on your hands, you can sell off your old mobo and CPU when you want to upgrade to the new stuff, so maybe an Asus K8N or Chaintech VNF3-250, with the S754 3400+, would get you onto the upgrade treadmill

My only concern is that the s754 upgrade treadmill will stop soon, so to speak. Does the risk of sticking with a s754 for this upgrade outweigh the benefits of going to a s939 this early? Also, 3400+ s754 > 3200+ s939 ? Conventional naming would make me think so, but since the lesser cpu is 939, I'm wondering which would be a better decision (taking into account me upgrading the cpu after 2-3 years).

Hope that was some help

Good info, and a great link, thanks

-Stephen


Edit: One last thing, when I order all these parts, will all the wires and whatnot be included with the motherboard, or do I have to get those separate? I just want to make sure I get all the parts in one swoop. I want to get everything, then ebay my current system as soon as I get the other one up and running.

 

[mechBgon]

What I'm saying is, you start with your ATX system and your Socket754/AGP-video arrangement. So the upgrade path is not really there... so what? Go over to For Sale & Trade, sell the whole kaboodle off and upgrade to 939/PCI-Express-video when the time is ripe Total cost = (price of new stuff) - (selling price of old stuff), it's something like trading in your car when you buy a new one.

There is not a hard-&-fast rule to the pinouts on the USB or Firewire headers on motherboards, so the case manufacturers can't really make one design that'll work for everything. I know Asus's USB-header pinout matches up with Antec's case cabling... the Firewire header, you might want to drop Antec's tech-support people an email to ask about it, once you know the mobo you'll get.

I had mentioned the K8N previously, be aware that the K8N doesn't feature Firewire, whereas the K8N-E Deluxe does.

 

[w00t]

get the socket 939 and wait for nf4

 

[Hajime]

I know that Antec's USB headers match Abit's, DFI's, and Soyo's USB header pinouts.

The USB header pinouts have become more or less standard of late, really. So long as you don't get something unbelievably cheap, it should be fine.


As for S939, if you go that route, wait for NF4.

If you don't, go S754 and just sell off the old S754 stuff later when you want to upgrade. It's what I'm doing personally.

 

[Sam334]

In regards to the K8N-E Deluxe: How's overclocking on it? I just read some reviews saying that there are no htt link adjustments. Is this still the case even with the up to date BIOS? The voltage for the ram is also topped at 2.7 volts... A friend of mine has that MSI K8N Neo Platinum and is pleased with his oc settings. I think I must might go for that 3400+ 1mb l2 cache A64, now to just make up my mind with the mobo. Making a decision in buying electronics is frustrating. Well, at least there are forums like these to get some input .

 

[mechBgon]

I know the latest revision of the K8N-E Deluxe can do 2.8 volts on the RAM. I haven't tried OC'ing mine, it's an office dweller.

 

[Sam334]

Personally, do you think the MSI board is worth the extra $21?

I've noticed whenever I'm buying a new pc, I think to myself, "Hey, this [enter component here] is a bit better and it's only $20ish more. I'll get it, yay." Then, after I apply that logicto every single part of the pc, I end up with a $800 price tag instead of my planned $450 :-/ Heh, live and learn.

 

[jterrell]

I'd go s939 and get any of the s939 mobos you feel comfortable with. There are a handful under 120.
The s754 buy now but sell later I dont think is good advice. You'll end up riding it for a yar or so and then the market for them will be very down.
Look and see what a socket A fetches in the for sale area for an idea there.
I'd keep that Dell case if it can be modded to fit atx power supplies.
You might check the forums at hardocp for modding info. Chances are someone there has already modded a dell case and may even have pictures.
Then just get a solid psu like the fortron ones.

Personally with 550 to spend I'd get the MSI Neo 2 plat board at 136 bux when in stock.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-130-468&depa=1

a s939 Winchester 3200+ OEM for 185.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-500&depa=0

a forton 530 watt psu for 83.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE

and the Zalman 700alcu heatsink/fan for 47 bucks
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...amp;manufactory=BROWSE

That leaves some nice change actually for a case if you don't wanna use or can't use the Dell.
SilverStone Berserker is all black with a side window and lots of room. 70 bucks.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-163-018&depa=1

 

I have a radeon 9700 pro ill sell to you.

aim: cum kinda joke
email: awnaw@mail.com

or pm me

 

[Sam334]

Originally posted by: jterrell
Personally with 550 to spend I'd get the MSI Neo 2 plat board at 136 bux when in stock.
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-130-468&depa=1

Do you have any experience with this board? How's the on board sound? I think I'm going to ebay this system I'm running now after I have the A64 for a few weeks running stable.

a s939 Winchester 3200+ OEM for 185.00
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=19-103-500&depa=0
Would it be a big mistake to go with the retail package and use the fan/heatsink included for $203?

Last, but not least, my psu question. I wanted to spend $70ish on it and use the included psu. Can any permanent damage be done to any of the components with a subpar psu?

Thanks again.

-Stephen

 

[mechBgon]

Can any permanent damage be done to any of the components with a subpar psu?

Heck yeah. You know that huge volcano that's erupting over in Iceland? Guess what started that! :Q


(yes, once in a while people post that their cheapie PSU bit the dust and took out some or all of their hardware... although plain old instability is the more common result).

 

[Sam334]

http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-162-027&depa=0


Any thoughts on that case? Are the fans on it ok? With regards to the fans on a case, is there a kind that make less noise than others (is a 80mm fan less/more noisy than a 120mm one)?


It comes with a 500 w psu too. But I'm assuming the quality of that psu isn't that great since the whole thing is only $45 USD.

The Antec Sonata mechBgon suggested is a bit pricey for now. If I want to spend $70 on a case, am I not going to find one that includes a reliable psu?

Thanks in advance,

Stephen

 

[Astu222]

never heard of a broadway case or whatever PSU it uses. i have the sonata and it is very quiet and pushes air nicely, plus with a great PSU you cant go wrong invest the extra money in the sonata.

 

[Sam334]

Thanks for the input, everyone. One last question though

If I plan on overclocking the s939 3200+ with the retail fan/heatsink, what speed of memory should I get? Will that Corsair ddr pc3200 be ok? I don't have enough cash to get the Crucial Ballistix

-Stephen