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Advice on gaming build

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imported_Hamlet2000

Member
This is my first post on Anandtech Forums - I've been an avid reader here for a while and I always go here first for the best info - it's a pleasure to post here.

Wanting some feedback on the parts I will be purchasing over the next month for my first build (a birthday present to myself).

I am a graduate student with a limited budget of $1000, and I'm looking for the best gaming performance I can get with future upgrading options.

That being said here's what I'm looking at right now. . .

$85 Chaintech VNF4 Ultra
$250? Connect3E X800XL OEM PciE Video Card
$27 A64 Thermaltake Silent Boost or Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 HSF
$186 Athlon64 '3200+' Venice (Socket 939)
$110 2x512 mb 2.5 latecy DDR 400 OCZ PC3200 Value series VX Ram ? Allows voltage to 3.2 or 3.3 for overclock (sku OCZ4001024WV3DC-K)
$25 DVD-ROM Drive
$75 Windows XP Pro Upgrade license from my school

Here's some parts I've already bought:
$117 Antec TX1050B Performance case w/500 watt SmartPower II PSU
$40 Hitachi 160 GB 8mb cache PATA hard drive
$45 NEC 16X 3520A DVD+RW

Most of my parts where chosen as a result of reading AnandTech's guide for mid-range computers and other articles (i.e. the specific budget memory).

I'd like to do some minor overclocking so I can get the best performance for my dollar out of the 3200 - hence I'm considering a better MOBO - Asus or DFI - but I've seen several articles that say the Chaintech is okay for basic OCing.

Right now my budget is coming in low at $935 (becuase I've been using the Hot Deals forum!).

Any comments would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.
 
if u want to save money... get 3000+.. clock as good.. or better than most of 3200+...
x800 xl $250 at monarch.. http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...=PROD&Store_Code=M&Product_Code=190527
forget the thermaltake crap.. most of their products are crappy... just go for xp90 oem ver. at jab-tech for $25... http://www.jab-tech.com/catalog/Thermalright_XP90__OEM_p_2921.html
the xp90 will own any thermaltake hsf's... i've heard chaintech and epox are good value boards.. just make sure to get NF4 boards.. and avoid SLI board if u aint going to run two vid cards in it.. cause they cost more..
 
Originally posted by: Mrvile
Originally posted by: wafflesandsyrup
do really need that dvd rom?
Click to expand...

Of course he does. I bet a lot of games will be written in DVD format soon. And for 25 bucks, why not?
Click to expand...

He already has a DVD-RW..I would hold off for the DVD-ROM for now, and put the $25 into something needed more.
 
Looks good, except that mobo won't give your RAM 3.3V. I don't know what it caps at, but I think it's ~2.9V. My VX Value can do 2-2-2-7 DDR400 with 2.9V, but any more will cause a BSOD. With that mobo, I would recommend Corsair Value Select (with the ASUS too), but if you go with the DFI, use the current RAM you've listed.
 
So general consensus is ditch the the Thermaltake - (the Thermalright XP-90 will work good with my cases CPU venting duct and a fan) and buy the Corsair Value RAM if I use the Chaintech board.

I was wondering if the OCZ RAM was overkill for the Chaintech.

Anyone have any problems using the Thermalright XP-90 with the Chaintech VNF4?

Also I wan the second DVD drive so my wife (who is a chorographer) can have an eaiser time making her warm up CDs. One drive isn't enough, and for $25 it is worth it.

What sort of overclock can I reasonably expect ( I know it can vary widely) with this setup? Any ballpark figures?

I thought about upgrading to a bigger graphics card but the next step up seems to be an additional $100 or more. . .
 
the ocz value vx is really only good with dfi boards, few others can give it 3+ volts to overclock it properly.

the venice generally gets in the 2.5-2.8ghz range.
 
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