almost done - final approval on new system is needed

leepark · Jan 31, 2005

I've changed my mind a thousand times coming to the setup (below) I've decided upon (for now). Let me know what you guys think. Recommendations / advice on any part of the setup is appreciated. I want to start ordering the parts immediately.

CPU: AMD Athlon64 ?Winchester? 90nm <socket 939> 3000+
Motherboard: MSI K8N-Neo4 Platinum
Case: Coolermaster Praetorian or Lian-Li PC7
Power: Athena Power 500W ATX12V Model "AP-P4ATX50F12"
RAM: Corsair DDR400 1GB (512x2) Value Select
Video: Leadtek Winfast PX6600GT TDH PCI-E
Sound: Creative Labs Audigy2 PCI oem
TV Tuner: Leadtek Winfast TV 2000XP Expert
HDD: Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 200GB SATA
DVD: NEC 3520A 16x8x4x
FDD: Mitsumi 7 in 1 Floppy & Card Reader

amol · Jan 31, 2005

very good, though i would get a seagate instead of a maxtor . . .

dont make the same mistake i did

plus, i just got my 3000+ in the mail today . . . so far, i likes the look of it . . .

stickybytes · Jan 31, 2005

great system. the only think i would suggest is the 3200+ if your budget can afford anymore.

Abix · Jan 31, 2005

MSI == Crap*

That is all.

*This equation is not neccessarily held to be a fact by all people, but is held to be true to the poster.

SrGuapo · Jan 31, 2005

Nice... Couple of suggestions.

Do you really need that expensive of a case? You could find a very decent case for under $100.

Also, you may want to look into a better quality PSU (I have no idea about the quality if "Athena"). Antec, enermax are both good, as long as a few others (drawing a blank).

You may want to skip the sound card. The onboard sound is very good on the nForce4, so you may want to see if that is adaquate first. You can always pick up and Audigy2 later (or soundstorm2 PCI-e if they come out).

I have heard a few bad things about Maxtor drives, but I have no personal expirience. You may want to look at the comprable Seagate/WD/Hitachi drive...

Looks like a great system!

Chosonman · Jan 31, 2005

Great system! Everything looks fine. I have nothing to comment on. (That's a first for me) Looks like you did your homework.

I agree with the sound card suggestion. Unless you absolutely need it for some odd reason. It's better to drop it. High end MOBO's nowadays have really nice integrated sound. Unlike integrated graphics cards, companies have managed to shrink sound cards to the size of a chip and they work wonderfully.

I just like the name "Praetorian" Reminds me of the movie Gladiator....

blackinches · Jan 31, 2005

if you plan on a maxtor, blackinches would suggest the diamondmax 10 to get the 16mb cache. make sure to get the oem to get the 3 year warranty. but you really can't go wrong with a seagate drive either since they have a 5 year warranty.

but everything else looks good to go.

leepark · Jan 31, 2005

Re. case - I like the look of the Praetorian but it is the most expensive. The PC-7 is only Can $100. I kinda like the Cavalier 3 (Can$121) and Centurion 5 (Can$115 w. 350W PSU). Which one should I choose - I can't decide.

Re. cpu - I've been advised to go with 3000 as I won't be noticing a significant improvement if I go with 3200.

Re. psu - Athena Power was recommended in another thread on PSUs. What do you guys think?

Re. sound - I've been told to get the card and some say forgoe it - it's only going to cost Can$46. Will I not noticed much improvement?

Re. HDD - How about this one? 200G 8M SATA 7200 Seagate 200G 8M SATA150 7200RPM Barracuda IDE 3.5" Better than Maxtor?

Re. mobo - MSI not good? Is the Asus A8N-SLI deluxe better?

Chosonman · Jan 31, 2005

Originally posted by: leepark
Re. case - I like the look of the Praetorian but it is the most expensive. The PC-7 is only Can $100. I kinda like the Cavalier 3 (Can$121) and Centurion 5 (Can$115 w. 350W PSU). Which one should I choose - I can't decide.

Re. cpu - I've been advised to go with 3000 as I won't be noticing a significant improvement if I go with 3200.

Re. psu - Athena Power was recommended in another thread on PSUs. What do you guys think?

Re. sound - I've been told to get the card and some say forgoe it - it's only going to cost Can$46. Will I not noticed much improvement?

Re. HDD - How about this one? 200G 8M SATA 7200 Seagate 200G 8M SATA150 7200RPM Barracuda IDE 3.5" Better than Maxtor?

Re. mobo - MSI not good? Is the Asus A8N-SLI deluxe better?

I like the name Praetorian.... Just sound so... Roman. Otherwise I suggest the Lan-Li. But get whichever one YOU like the best.

CPU is fine. Don't listen to these guys who aren't spending their hard earned money to buy this system. The difference will be less than a blink of an eye.

If you're ok spending $46 on something you already have go for it. But you really don't need it. And if you're video/audio editing you'll want a higher end sound card.

MSI is fine. No need to spend $200.00 or more on a motherboard when you can buy one for closer to $100.00. Again SLI is a waste of money

SrGuapo · Jan 31, 2005

Originally posted by: Chosonman
MSI is fine. No need to spend $200.00 or more on a motherboard when you can buy one for closer to $100.00. Again SLI is a waste of money

The MSI neo4 daimond will cost you around $170 (depending on the deal you get). It should be a great board, but many people will recommend the DFI nForce4 Ultra...

ddviper · Jan 31, 2005

looks like a great system there, i would go with a Enermax, OCZ, or Antec PSU, never heard of Athena.

ya and as stated b4, the 3000+ is fine, no need to spend $xx on a 3200+

Chosonman · Jan 31, 2005

$170 for an Nforce4 Motherboard? Good God! I thought they were around $130-150...
In that case consider and AGP motherboard.

formulav8 · Jan 31, 2005

I would get the 3200+. It has a 10x multiplyer instead of 9x and that will help when overclocking. Its not but $30 or so more is it?? I do not remember.

Jason

KayKay · Jan 31, 2005

looks really good. guess your budget is a little higher than before?

i think maybe a better power supply + coolermaster case and you're set!

imported_SoulCatcher · Jan 31, 2005

I would definitly go with either WD or Seagate drives... the only HDD's I have ever had go bad have all been Maxtors... 3 of them to date.

Arcanedeath · Jan 31, 2005

I'd also suggest the 3200+, the DFI Nforce 4 Ultra board, and a better power supply Possibly a Fortron like this one from newegg Fortron 530W Power Supply, Model "FSP530-60GNA" -RETAIL

jabronidan89 · Jan 31, 2005

Good system, similiar to what I will be building. Get the OCZ modstream instead of the current PSU you are getting.

MrAustin · Jan 31, 2005

As others have said, get Antec, OCZ, Fortron Source, Enermax or Enlight for the PSU. I'll also give another vote for Seagate anyday over Maxtor.

Sqube · Jan 31, 2005

Go 3200+ with the processor if at all possible. It shouldn't be more than $30 over the cost of your current processor.

Personally, I'd go Antec with the PSU. I've never heard of PSU, and the PSU is not something you want to experiment with.

I'd go Seagate with the HD, in the hopes that the drivers for your board support NCQ (if not now, then eventually)

While this is strictly a personal choice type of thing, I would suggest taking a look at the Gigabyte K8NF-9. Just compare it in benchmarks that you can find and things of that nature; I think it's an excellent value, and I'll be putting it into my next system.

Melchior · Jan 31, 2005

I disapprove. My personal opinion is that you should buy my used Dell Rambus motherboard, which only supports 533 FSB and is impossible to remove the HSF off of.

On a serious note, I'd agree with the Seagate recommendations.

leepark · Feb 1, 2005

Yeah, I was able to dig up a few more bucks for this system. I deserve it - I've been using my PII 450Mhz forever.

CPU- I'm still getting people tell me to go 3200 over 3000 - which is it, guys?

PSU - Fortron 530W Power Supply, Model "FSP530-60GNA" ($78) or ENERMAX 460W ATX Power Supply, Model "EG465P-VE FM" ($90) or Antec TruePower 430W ($80) - which one? (*Enermax & Antec are available in Canada - other others I have to order from the US, meaning customs (duty))
**If I get the Antec Sonata, will the included stock TruePower 380W PSU be sufficient for my system?**

HDD - Is the Seagate model you recommend - 200G 8M SATA 7200 Seagate 200G 8M SATA150 7200RPM Barracuda IDE 3.5"?

mobo - MSI K8N-Neo4 Platinum (US$169) or Asus A8N-SLI DX ($195) or Asus A8N-SLI (US$190) - which one is best? (*ASUS is available in Canada, MSI is not yet avail). Any other suggestions?

Sound - I won't get one for now.

Chosonman · Feb 1, 2005

For Price vs. Performance I would go with a non SLI/non Nforce4 board and get an Nforce3 Ultra board for $85.00. And if you have the dough get the the AMD 3200.

There's nothing good about SLI right now and new problems are reported just about every day regarding these systems. Best just to stay away for the time being. You won't notice any increase in performance going with an Nforce4 board vs an Nforce3 Ultra. The only real difference between the motherbaords is PCI-e vs. AGP and there are no performance advantage owning a PCI-e Card right now. And there won't be in the forseable future. PCI-e will only excel when CPU's, motherboards, graphics cards, and Mememory all run at much faster speeds. So it's really not worth spending the extra cash right now. The only thing you'll gain is bragging rights that you have the latest and greatest which isn't necessarily the greatest.

ribbon13 · Feb 1, 2005

As others have said, skip the sound card.
Maxtor is shit, plain and simple. Western Digital is only good for the raptors, nothing else. Seagate forever.

see if you can afford a 3200+ 90nm

looks good.
For tv tuner someone suggested this to me http://pchdtv.com/hd_3000.html

and for a DVDRW get
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...tion=27-106-961&depa=0

Ben88 · Feb 2, 2005

I think your original system looks great. (might as well grab a 3200+ for the 10x multiplier since the price difference is so small)

Amaroque · Feb 2, 2005

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Maxtor is shit, plain and simple. Western Digital is only good for the raptors, nothing else. Seagate forever.

Why don't you post facts, instead of your personal opinion.

almost done - final approval on new system is needed

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