About to build a new computer, need input.

[PSUstoekl]

These are the parts I'm going to buy, Just give me your opinions, concerns, etc. On each of the following:

AMD 64 3200+ Venice
MSI K8N Neo4-F (Socket 939)
Corsair XMS 2x512 2.5-3-3-6
PowerCooler Radeon X850 Pro PCI-Express
Maxtor DiamondMax 250GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache
BenQ DW1640 DVD-Burner
Lite-On DVD Drive
SoundBlaster Audigy2 Value
CoolerMaster Cavalier ATX Case
ASPIRE ATX-AS520W Black ATX 520W Power Supply
Samsung Floppy!

 

[Twistah]

if possible, dump the ati card and get a Geforce 7800GTX/GT. Other than that the build looks solid.

 

[akugami]

If you can afford the slight premium, get 2x1GB of RAM. It'll probably run you a little more than a 2x512MB kit but newer games are starting to make use of the extra RAM as evidenced by BF2. Also, what's the reason for a single DVD burner and a DVD ROM drive? DVD burners are so cheap now that if you go dual optical drives, you should just get two burners. I'm not familiar with the quality of Aspire's PSU's...

 

[nick1985]

dump that "fast" RAM and get 2 gigs of regular value RAM. timings dont mean anything anyway.


also get a 7800GT/GTX instead of that ATI card

as for the motherboard, check out the Epox 9NPA3+ or the DFI board.

read me

as for that PSU, get a different one. that aspire PSU isnt very high quality, and the power supply is the most important part of a computer.

 

[xTYBALTx]

Nick hit it on the head. However, I'd caution you to stay away from the DFI unless you have some experience building computers. If you are a complete newbie, stay with the MSI. If you are somewhere in between, the MSI should be better documented than the Epox, whilst the Epox will be cheaper yet equally well performing and equipped.

 

[KayKay]

i thought nick has an aspire psu, it was able to handle heavy overclocks so its probably alright. i would get a 7800gt and a good psu, enermax/fortron/pc p&c etc etc

 

[raildogg]

actually, the DFI isn't too hard to build. make sure to get compatible ram and power supply.

use all the power connectors.

the DFI has a more extensive set of options so it may require patience and research to master it

but really, if I was building a computer today, I would get the new Jetway 939GT4-SLI. it is an amazing overclocker, has higher ram voltage than the Epox, runs faster than most other boards, including the DFI and Epox at stock settings. plus as an added bonus, it has SLI. also, its layout is among the best

the Jetway 939GT4-SLI -- :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[raildogg]

please change that Aspire power supply for either a PC&P, Fortron/Sparkle or Seasonic. any one of these vendors will do. they are top tier power supply *makers*

they make their own power supplies unlike a lot of other companies.

i would recommend the Fortron 500W Blue Storm AX500. its power is probably more than 550W or 580W from other companies because Fortron underrates their power and their ratings are much accurate

 

[PSUstoekl]

Uh...I have absolutely no interest in SLI. Does the Jetway have a separate non-SLI model?

Additionally, I'd like to know something about RAM. Is value RAM really that much worse than the XMS high-quality stuff? I can make do, right? Or is the really high-speed stuff the way to go?

It's weird how you guys keep ripping on the PSU I chose: on Newegg most every review of the product is positive. Sure, it is a good deal cheaper than the other models, but there don't seem to be any detractors. Could something actually happen with the PSU, something so hypothetically dire that I should drop the extra $50 on a higher-calibur PSU?

Also, how much wattage do I truly need, anyway?

 

[raildogg]

well, the Jetway board that Anandtech just reviewed is about the same price as most other non-SLI boards. so you're paying the same price and getting SLI. even if you won't use it, it wont hurt.

just read the latest review on the Jetway board and make up your own mind

wattage is less important than good ratings on the power supply. a 400W with good ratings will be much better than a 500W with poor ratings. so pick one with good rails

if you want a great top-notch power supply without having to pay so much, then this would be your best bet:

link

 

[PSUstoekl]

so yeah, my biggest query is as follows: can one simply save and get value RAM, if overclocking isn't really on the horizon, and gaming will only be about 25-30% of the computer's usage?

 

[xTYBALTx]

You can get value ram even if overclocking is on the horizon and gaming is 100% of the computer's usage.

So yes, get valueram.

And I implore you not to get the Jetway board. Sure, it's a good board. It may even be an excellent board. But it just came out, and is not "tried and true" yet. DFI, Asus, Epox, and MSI are (regarding nf4 obviously). As are Gigabyte and Abit. Unless you want to be the one working out the kinks of a brand new motherboard, don't get the Jetway.

 

[raildogg]

keep in mind that the Jetway and the new Evga nforce4 SLI are the same boards but with slightly different BIOS. many people who bought the evga 7800GT or GTX with the evga free motherboard are very happy with their board. they report very few if any problems. they overclock nicely as well

although the Jetway seems to be overclocking a bit better than the evga.

sure its a somewhat of a risk to buy the newest technology. but i'd buy it

if you're not sure about the Jetway, try the other 939 socket boards. most of them have been out on the market for a while and their problems have been worked out (for most of them)

 

[PSUstoekl]

alright, I'll go with the value RAM in that case.

as far as the mobo goes, i think the MSI will be fully sufficient for what I need, especially since so many people swear by it, etc. So, here's the final system I'll be doing:

AMD 64 3200+ Venice
MSI K8N Neo4-F (Socket 939)
Corsair ValueRAM 2x512
eVGA 7800GTX 256MB PCI Express x16 Video Card
Maxtor DiamondMax 250GB 7200RPM 16MB Cache
BenQ DW1640 DVD-Burner
Lite-On DVD Drive
SoundBlaster Audigy2 Value
CoolerMaster Cavalier ATX Case
FSP Group AX450-PN ATX12V 450W Power Supply
Samsung Floppy!

 

[xTYBALTx]

Get 2x1GB RAM.

 

[PSUstoekl]

really? ok, how about I get one stick of 1 now, and if i think i need another, I'll plop in another stick.