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Advice on building a new Athlon 64 system

T

TechnoPro

Golden Member
Thanks to this forum, my last build was my first venture into the world of AMD (having previously been an all Intel guy). Here's my round 2...

How do these specs look?

CPU : AMD Athlon 64 3200+

MOBO : ABIT "AV8-3rd Eye"

RAM : Crucial 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200

All other components being canabilized from other systems.

Besides general office use and the like, this rig will be used for video encoding. Specifically, I want to encode my DVD library into Divx for use on my HTPC.

EDIT: Thanks to Sonic587 for catching a big mistake!
 
1) What is your budget?

2) What video encoding software/codecs do you plan to use?

3) The motherboard/CPU you have listed are incompatible. This is the CPU you want.

4) I'd suggest looking for a cheaper motherboard based on a nForce chipset. Are you only looking for AGP motherboards?

5) That RAM isn't the best value. Get this or this. Both are cheaper, and come with better CAS latency.

6) What other parts are you planning to throw into this PC?

 
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Besides general office use and the like, this rig will be used for video encoding. Specifically, I want to encode my DVD library into Divx for use on my HTPC.
Click to expand...

AMD pwns Intel when it comes to everything else... But Intel still has an edge in video encoding, so I hear. Maybe this is one of the rare times when sticking to an Intel might be a better choice.

 
If you get a Socket 939 system, go for 2x512MB of RAM (1GB total) to take advantage of dual channel. I'd also recommend an nForce3 or 4 board.
 
Suggest you get this:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Winchester 90nm 939Pins

MSI K8N NEO4-F

CORSAIR ValueSelect 1GB (2 x 512MB) DDR400 VS1GBKIT400
 
Originally posted by: Sonic587
1) What is your budget?

2) What video encoding software/codecs do you plan to use?

3) The motherboard/CPU you have listed are incompatible. This is the CPU you want.

4) I'd suggest looking for a cheaper motherboard based on a nForce chipset. Are you only looking for AGP motherboards?

5) That RAM isn't the best value. Get this or this. Both are cheaper, and come with better CAS latency.

6) What other parts are you planning to throw into this PC?
Click to expand...

Thanks for the feedback, espec

[1] ~$400 for CPU, RAM, Mobo combo.

[2] AutoGK

[3] Thank you - I am losing my mind as I could have sworn I verified socket 939. Wow!

[4] AGP only as current vid card is sufficient. Not into gaming at all or any other graphics-intensive applications so PCI-E or any next gen cards not important.

[5] Not a fan of the Mushkin, but have had good luck with Corsair.

[6] Seagate 7200.8 300 GB PATA HDD. DVD-ROM from an HP. Will buy a new PSU - brand/watts TBD, although leaning towards Antec 400W. Content with integrated audio.
 
Originally posted by: wisdomtooth
Originally posted by: TechnoPro
Besides general office use and the like, this rig will be used for video encoding. Specifically, I want to encode my DVD library into Divx for use on my HTPC.
Click to expand...

AMD pwns Intel when it comes to everything else... But Intel still has an edge in video encoding, so I hear. Maybe this is one of the rare times when sticking to an Intel might be a better choice.
Click to expand...

Then again the difference in DVD encoding isn't all that great unless you stare at the video while it encodes. Move to Xvid and the difference is probably less that five minutes a movie.
 
Originally posted by: MDE
If you get a Socket 939 system, go for 2x512MB of RAM (1GB total) to take advantage of dual channel. I'd also recommend an nForce3 or 4 board.
Click to expand...

More RAM will be added down the road.
 
I'd highly reccomend this ram. Set the vDIMM to 3.2 and you'll get 2-2-2-5 timings. Set vDIMM to 3.4 and you can get 2-2-2-5 timings up to 240FSB, even 260 if you're lucky.

Avoid VIA chipsets like the plague!
 
Originally posted by: ribbon13
I'd highly reccomend this ram. Set the vDIMM to 3.2 and you'll get 2-2-2-5 timings. Set vDIMM to 3.4 and you can get 2-2-2-5 timings up to 240FSB, even 260 if you're lucky.

Avoid VIA chipsets like the plague!
Click to expand...

I'd grab some of that but both of my boards (Epox 9NDA3+ and Abit IS7) can't give that much juice. 🙁
 
Originally posted by: ribbon13
I'd highly reccomend this ram. Set the vDIMM to 3.2 and you'll get 2-2-2-5 timings. Set vDIMM to 3.4 and you can get 2-2-2-5 timings up to 240FSB, even 260 if you're lucky.

Avoid VIA chipsets like the plague!
Click to expand...

What's the scoop on Via chipsets?
 
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