BUDGET RIG PLEASE EXAMINE

[adrena]

Well, to start off I had a budget of $1,000 for this STRICTLY GAMING rig. I already had an Antec SuperLanboy case and a Samsung SyncMaster 753DF 19' monitor, so these are the parts I ordered.

CPU: AMD X2 3800+ Got because I usually run a lot of background programs (AIM, ventrillo, winamp, etc) and thought it would be the better option. $322

VIDEO CARD: eVGA 7800 GT 256 Best bang for buck IMO. $284 w/ rebate

MOBO: DFI LanParty Ultra-D Not so sure about this board, but I do plan to oc so I thought it was a good choice. $119

HDD: Samsung SpinPoint 160GB 3gb/s Since I'm just gaming on this rig, I decided I don't need a 250GB hdd, but I need more than say 80, so it seemed like a good compromise. $81

RAM: 1 GB (512x2) Corsair ValueSelect @ cas2.5 Now, I do plan to put another GB in the near future, but just didn't have enough money for the time being. $72

PSU: XClio 450BL ATX 450W As I stated in an earlier post, I don't know much about PSU's, but this seemed like a good value, and should be tidy with the sleeves. $52

MOUSEPAD: SteelPad QcK+ Best cloth pad. $15

HEADPHONES: Plantronics DSP-500's Found for awesome price. $48

TOTAL: $992

whew! any and all comments welcome!

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: adrena
Well, to start off I had a budget of $1,000 for this STRICTLY GAMING rig. I already had an Antec SuperLanboy case and a Samsung SyncMaster 753DF 19' monitor, so these are the parts I ordered.

CPU: AMD X2 3800+ Got because I usually run a lot of background programs (AIM, ventrillo, winamp, etc) and thought it would be the better option. $322

VIDEO CARD: eVGA 7800 GT 256 Best bang for buck IMO. $284 w/ rebate

MOBO: DFI LanParty Ultra-D Not so sure about this board, but I do plan to oc so I thought it was a good choice. $119

HDD: Samsung SpinPoint 160GB 3gb/s Since I'm just gaming on this rig, I decided I don't need a 250GB hdd, but I need more than say 80, so it seemed like a good compromise. $81

RAM: 1 GB (512x2) Corsair ValueSelect @ cas2.5 Now, I do plan to put another GB in the near future, but just didn't have enough money for the time being. $72

PSU: XClio 450BL ATX 450W As I stated in an earlier post, I don't know much about PSU's, but this seemed like a good value, and should be tidy with the sleeves. $52

MOUSEPAD: SteelPad QcK+ Best cloth pad. $15

HEADPHONES: Plantronics DSP-500's Found for awesome price. $48

TOTAL: $992

whew! any and all comments welcome!

not bad at all you can get an opteron 165 dual core for about the same prce. better for ocing imho.

 

[Finns14]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: adrena
Well, to start off I had a budget of $1,000 for this STRICTLY GAMING rig. I already had an Antec SuperLanboy case and a Samsung SyncMaster 753DF 19' monitor, so these are the parts I ordered.

CPU: AMD X2 3800+ Got because I usually run a lot of background programs (AIM, ventrillo, winamp, etc) and thought it would be the better option. $322

VIDEO CARD: eVGA 7800 GT 256 Best bang for buck IMO. $284 w/ rebate

MOBO: DFI LanParty Ultra-D Not so sure about this board, but I do plan to oc so I thought it was a good choice. $119

HDD: Samsung SpinPoint 160GB 3gb/s Since I'm just gaming on this rig, I decided I don't need a 250GB hdd, but I need more than say 80, so it seemed like a good compromise. $81

RAM: 1 GB (512x2) Corsair ValueSelect @ cas2.5 Now, I do plan to put another GB in the near future, but just didn't have enough money for the time being. $72

PSU: XClio 450BL ATX 450W As I stated in an earlier post, I don't know much about PSU's, but this seemed like a good value, and should be tidy with the sleeves. $52

MOUSEPAD: SteelPad QcK+ Best cloth pad. $15

HEADPHONES: Plantronics DSP-500's Found for awesome price. $48

TOTAL: $992

whew! any and all comments welcome!

not bad at all you can get an opteron 165 dual core for about the same prce. better for ocing imho.

Yeah I gotta agree with the opty but then your gunna want to get a better OCing boatd like an epox

 

[JasonE4]

A better OCing board than the Dfi Ultra-D? No.

If you're going to get the Dfi board, don't get Corsair Value Select, however. They don't play well together many times.

 

[Mogadon]

Originally posted by: Finns14
Yeah I gotta agree with the opty but then your gunna want to get a better OCing boatd like an epox

Don't know where you've been but that DFI board is and has been considered the best overclocking board for a good while now. (Bar the recently released ASUS AN832)

Never heard of an XClio PSU, you may want to go with a more reputable PSU made by the likes of Seasonic or OCZ.

You got a good mouse for ya gameing rig yet? I have a razor diamondback that I can recommend and the new logitech mice are great too.

Of course a better PSU and good mouse are gonna cost you an extra 100 bucks, while the mouse isn't vital it's never a good idea to skimp on the PSU.

 

[Crescent13]

DFI is THE best overclocking board out there. Nice choice! Get an Opteron 165 though, same price, twice as much cache, and much more overclocking potential. I wouldn't put Corsair with DFI, they don't like eachother. Get some OCZ value ram instead. Other than that, nice system! :thumbsup:

 

[adrena]

Yes, I have an MX518, sorry I forgot to mention it, great mouse

Unfortunately, the only place I can find the Opteron 165 is at monarch (359$), so maybe I'll take your advice and buy it there, but I was trying to keep my parts bought strictly from newegg and zipzoomfly.

Thanks guys~

 

[Firsttime]

You're most likely going to need a better PSU if you plan on OC'ing. Might want find $50 or drop something, a 500w Seasonic or Ocz or Forton would be a nice PSU and you should be able to find one for $100. The power supply is one of the most important parts its not smart to skimp on it IMO.

 

[adrena]

Anybody know any sites with Opty 165's in stock? I haven't been able to find any for the life of me.

 

[JustAnAverageGuy]

The Opteron 165 is a relatively rare product (meaning price ^^^ ) after the huge blowout a few weeks ago. Glad I got mine for $300. The 3800+ will be fine though. :thumbsup:

Excellent video card. :thumbsup:

The DFI board isn't bad. I've always liked Asus 's stuff, but DFI is fine. :thumbsup:

Corsair VS is good stuff, but the DFI boards don't like it. :thumbsdown:
If you're planning on adding more RAM in the future, I'd recommend you just get a single 1GB stick so you aren't reduced to 2T timings when you upgrade. :thumbsdown:

Excellent hard drive choice :thumbsup:

I'm fairly certain that XClio is simply a rebadged Antec PSU, but I'd still get this Fortron 450W if money is tight.

Mouse pad? ...

Headphones? ...

You also lack an opterating system and optical drives.

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: JasonE4
A better OCing board than the Dfi Ultra-D? No.

If you're going to get the Dfi board, don't get Corsair Value Select, however. They don't play well together many times.

dfi is not a good board for compatibility. dosumentation is weak too. epox is a better ocing board than dfi.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=23
epox is 1st and it's more user friendly

 

[adrena]

Hmm, wouldn't mind switching to the epox ultra board, 20$ cheaper, although the customer service is a little sketchy. But I certainly don't want any capatability issues, so that seems like a logical idea! Didn't AT give it an editor's choice in the mobo reviews?

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Crescent13
DFI is THE best overclocking board out there. Nice choice! Get an Opteron 165 though, same price, twice as much cache, and much more overclocking potential. I wouldn't put Corsair with DFI, they don't like eachother. Get some OCZ value ram instead. Other than that, nice system! :thumbsup:

look at the sapphire xpress board.

 

[adrena]

I've heard about the problems with corsair ram and the DFI board... how did the people solve them?

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: adrena
I've heard about the problems with corsair ram and the DFI board... how did the people solve them?

sold their corsair ram and went gskill or some other brand.

 

[adrena]

can anyone vouch for how solid the EPoX EP-9NPA+Ultra board is? I've never personally worked with EPoX, some people seemingly have trouble with it.

 

[JasonE4]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: JasonE4
A better OCing board than the Dfi Ultra-D? No.

If you're going to get the Dfi board, don't get Corsair Value Select, however. They don't play well together many times.

dfi is not a good board for compatibility. dosumentation is weak too. epox is a better ocing board than dfi.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=23
epox is 1st and it's more user friendly

That link directly contradicts what you are saying. The Dfi is definitely the better OCing board. I'll agree that the Epox may be more user friendly, but just because you can't change as many options as on the Dfi. I don't think the Dfi board should be penalized for allowing more customization. People have recently had problems OCing with the Epox board if you look around a little.

 

[Reapsy01]

thats a budget rig?

 

[mwmorph]

Originally posted by: JasonE4

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: JasonE4
A better OCing board than the Dfi Ultra-D? No.

If you're going to get the Dfi board, don't get Corsair Value Select, however. They don't play well together many times.

dfi is not a good board for compatibility. dosumentation is weak too. epox is a better ocing board than dfi.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=23
epox is 1st and it's more user friendly

That link directly contradicts what you are saying. The Dfi is definitely the better OCing board. I'll agree that the Epox may be more user friendly, but just because you can't change as many options as on the Dfi. I don't think the Dfi board should be penalized for allowing more customization. People have recently had problems OCing with the Epox board if you look around a little.

? did you read the graph? the 2nd one is the mportant one since that one is the oc of the chip, not fsb.

 

[cheesehead]

Kickass system.
However, I reccomend getting an Antec PSU instead.

 

[CZroe]

Chassis choice?

 

[adrena]

question: what kind of programs are considered so cpu intensive that i should get a X2 3800+ instead of a say, san diego 3700+?

 

[JasonE4]

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: JasonE4

Originally posted by: mwmorph

Originally posted by: JasonE4
A better OCing board than the Dfi Ultra-D? No.

If you're going to get the Dfi board, don't get Corsair Value Select, however. They don't play well together many times.

dfi is not a good board for compatibility. dosumentation is weak too. epox is a better ocing board than dfi.
http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=23
epox is 1st and it's more user friendly

That link directly contradicts what you are saying. The Dfi is definitely the better OCing board. I'll agree that the Epox may be more user friendly, but just because you can't change as many options as on the Dfi. I don't think the Dfi board should be penalized for allowing more customization. People have recently had problems OCing with the Epox board if you look around a little.

? did you read the graph? the 2nd one is the mportant one since that one is the oc of the chip, not fsb.

48 MHz? Yeah, I saw that. The Dfi is the better OCing board as confirmed by many users.

 

[ShadowBlade]

Looks great.

 

[CZroe]

Originally posted by: adrena
question: what kind of programs are considered so cpu intensive that i should get a X2 3800+ instead of a say, san diego 3700+?

Synchronizing with a Portable Media Center, HDTV or multi-tuner PVR or any video encoding task for that matter. Notice how unzipping/unraring a large file like a CD image kills your PC for just about any other task until it's done? It doesn't just slow down the extraction process when you try to do anything else (Windows sucks at prioritizing). Or have you ever noticed that copying a large file (Like a 9GB DVD image) from one drive to another does the same thing? Most of this will be like night and day difference on a dual-core PC with a dedicated HDD for the process (ie, storage drive for PVR, work drive for MPEG4 encoding, etc). Running an intensive multi-threaded video encoding or 3D rendering application will kill the CPU just as much but for about half as long.