Another dreaded "please critique my system build" thread

[BillClo]

I'm looking to build a system soon, and wanted some critiquing of my choices. I may do mild/moderate overclocking, but won't change the processor choice. System use is primarily gaming, with very occasional encoding work (Divx, Xvid, etc).

I originally wanted an NF3 Ultra system, but having seen so many people have problems with both the Neo2 Platinum and Gigabyte K8NSNXP-939, I just couldn't bring myself to roll the dice. I definitely want socket-939. I also want a Nvidia 6800 Ultra of some sort.

Abit AV8 (K8T800 Pro chipset) $111 @newegg
A64 3800 OEM $608 @newegg
Thermalright XP90 + fan $54 + shipping @Sidewinder
Corsair Twinx1024-4400c25pt $269 @Monarch
BFG6800 Ultra OC $504 @Monarch
Western Digital Raptor 74GB, SATA $152 after rebate @newegg

$1698 plus shipping(s)

I still want sound (don't want the onboard sound), maybe a Audigy 2, only need a 5.1 version. Don't need the fancy gamers bundles, etc.

I'm unsure what power supply to get. Had thought about an Antec 550w Trupower, but don't know if that'll be enough with the 6800Ultra and some O/Cing.

I have zero idea of what case to get. I just want some beige case that I can put a side and top 120mm fan in, with usual 2 front 80-92mm fans, with one or two in the back. Nothing too fancy.

I am not sure I need the Corsair 4400, but that's what their memory compatibility menu gave me. I had wanted to put 2 x 1GB modules in the system, but have heard that 1GB modules aren't too stable, and in any case, only Crucial even lists them for that board. But I have a hard time spending $290/ on an 1Gb stick when the motherboard manufacturer can't tell me if it'll work or not. I'm not sure that 2 x 1GB will even work on that board (despite is supposedly supporting up to 4 GB).

Let's hear it guys. Thanks.

 

[nick1985]

motherboard

have you thought about this motherboard? i recently got it and i love it.

you can EASILY knock off over $500 and take no performance hit if you are willing to overclock a little also.

besides that, it looks fine.

oh, an antec 550 is MORE than enough for that rig.

 

[Mrvile]

You really don't NEED the 3800+, a 3500+ costs about 330 bucks less and you only need to OC it a little to hit over 3800+ speeds.

 

[farscape]

I don't encode, compile, etc., so maybe I'm out of it, but what does anyone need 2 gig of ram for?

I game and crunch some excel #s, and I think that the 1 gig I have can be considered overkill by some.

 

[KoolDrew]

Even a 3000+ should be able to hit 3800+ speeds since AA oced there 90nm 3200+ and 3000+ to FX-55 speeds (2.6Ghz)

 

[edelbrock]

Originally posted by: farscape
I don't encode, compile, etc., so maybe I'm out of it, but what does anyone need 2 gig of ram for?

I game and crunch some excel #s, and I think that the 1 gig I have can be considered overkill by some.

I have 1 gig and actually wish I had more. Swap file use is starting to increase. Maybe 1.5 would be enough but 2 gigs would be really nice. I do a lot of multitasking though.

 

[Luthorcrow]

Hhmm. I have the Antec 550 Truepower and like many PSUs it is mess of cables. When I build again, I use this PSU unless you are willing to mod it


X-Connect PSU Review

As for 2gb, I have run into memory limitations when applying filters on ultra hi-res images in Photoshop, so yes sometimes 1gb is not enough.

 

[FiberoN]

Wait for SLI and get 2 6800 GT's

Edit: Or Ultra's if you have the money

 

[BillClo]

Originally posted by: Mrvile
You really don't NEED the 3800+, a 3500+ costs about 330 bucks less and you only need to OC it a little to hit over 3800+ speeds.

Yes, I'm aware of that. I have a situation now, where I can only OC during the cooler months. Currently, I'm using an XP2700, on an Abit NF7-S, Corsair XMS3200, with an Thermalright cooler (I forget the number, but it's the all copper one that takes a 92mm fan). Got it running at 2.333ghz (for some reason, even though the board is a rev 2.0, it refuses to run at FSB 400 like it's supposed to be able to do). Come summer, temps get too high, and I have to revert to stock speeds; else the system starts to lock up alot (I also run Folding at Home, so that's why the system gets a workout). The cooling is sub-optimal, most likely. 120mm fan on case side directed towards the CPU, with 2 80mm front fans, and a 80mm in the rear. Temps approach 55C in the summer, and the system gets flaky.

If someone were to convince me that the temps would be manageable in the summer, I might consider the 3500 instead, and OC it a little...

I originally wanted 1.5GB (3 512Mb sticks), but due to the dual channel controller, have to have 2 sticks or 4, not 3. I don't know if a 2x512 GB stick and 2 x 256 would work (I was under the impression that if you had 4 sticks the board would revert to DDR333). 2 GB may be a bit of overkill, but I thought that was the way I had to do it. I can live with 1GB though (have 512MB now).

 

[BillClo]

Alright, you all have convinced me to go with the 90nm 3500 and OC it a bit. I will definitely have to do a better job on the cooling frnot though. $330 - cost of more fans = cheaper system.

I guess I'll go with the 2x512 memory sticks too.

 

[BenSkywalker]

I definitely want socket-939.

Why? It is a dead end platform without PCI-E. For what its worth I would wait for the NF4 boards(or another AMD PCI-E alternative).

BTW- The 90nm 3500 produces a decent amount less heat then the 130nm parts, you really don't need to spend a considerable amount on cooling to get a decent OC out of them.

 

[BillClo]

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker

I definitely want socket-939.

Why? It is a dead end platform without PCI-E. For what its worth I would wait for the NF4 boards(or another AMD PCI-E alternative).

BTW- The 90nm 3500 produces a decent amount less heat then the 130nm parts, you really don't need to spend a considerable amount on cooling to get a decent OC out of them.

Because I want a system now, rather than waiting several months for the board manufacturers to get all the kinks out of a NF4 board. And I don't see any advantage for me in a PCI Express system. Maybe in 2-3 years, when the video cards can actually start to fill up a PCI Express pipe, but not now. And I'm definitely not interested in a SLI board...better for me to get a proven and stable setup, rather than having to screw around trying to get a new buggy NF4 board to work.

Also, I tend to only upgrade every 2 years, so I generally don't mess around with a faster CPU on the same motherboard, nor a slightly faster GPU. I use the "wait til the performance roughly doubles what you already have" motto.