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Building a new rig(input plz)

N

NightStalker999

Junior Member
I'm going to be building a new rig sometime in the near future (2 months or so). I will wait to make purchases until then in case of price drops. But I was wondering what would be a good system to get. It's primary use will be gaming. Secondary use will be multimedia on my roommates widescreen hdtv. I hope to at least do a modest overclock with it. Please give me input on the parts I have chosen and or still need help with:

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ (Venice)
RAM: OCZ Value VX
GPU: 6800GT or x800xl or 6600GT(suggests for brand welcome as well)
MOBO: DFI Lanparty UT NF4 Ultra-D
PSU: OCZ Modstream 520W
CASE: Antec P180

Suggestions will be much appreciated. I'm also kind of a noob to putting computers together, so I don't know if I left anything out. As a side note I would like to eventually do a slight mod to the case, the main one being paint it a metallic blue and put in yellow lights. That will at least do for starters. If that helps any with suggestions on helping me.

Edit 1: Changed CPU to 3000+ instead of 3200+, added 6600GT as card option
Edit 2: Changed PSU from unknown to OCZ Modstream 520W
Edit 3: Changed case from unknown to Antec P180
 
I want this to last until gaming starts making good use of dual cores at which point I will switch over to an x2. Would I be better to drop down to a 3000+ venice?
 
Looks pretty good so far. That RAM and MB pair should overclock excellently together. For the CPU, you might want to consider going with a Venice 3000+ instead and saving a few bucks. The 3000+ and 3200+ overclock identically for the most part, so the only real difference is that the 3200+ gives you a couple extra multiplier settings (10x and 9.5x I think), which should not be a big deal because your RAM should overclock well enough that even with a 9x multiplier you should still be able to run synchronously unless your CPU overclocks exceptionally well. The price difference between the two CPU's is small, so it's really up to you. Either one will perform and overclock very well.

For the GPU, I'd go with the nVidia card, but it's really down to personal preference. In terms of price/performance however, the 6600 GT is still pretty hard to beat, although it looks like you're shooting for a slightly higher-end card than the 6600 GT (something I still don't recommend at the moment just because of the price premiums those cards still recieve). Either of those cards (and even the 6600 GT) should perform very well.

Not much I can say on the case/PSU (other than don't skimp and get a $15 PSU for that setup...get a nice name-brand model like Antec or Enermax or OCZ), other than that the Antec Sonata is still my personal favorite, and with the beefed-up PSU that the current models ship with (24A @ 12V instead of the original 18A @ 12V), you wouldn't need to get a separate new PSU. Its metallic black finish is extremely pretty however, so I'd be sad if you ended up painting it blue, and it already has blue LED's installed.

For overclocking the CPU, I recommend using the stock CPU fan that comes with the retail package, and getting a tube of Arctic Silver 5. Replace the thermal pad on the stock HSF with the Arctic Silver 5, and it should be able to handle even aggressive overclocks into the 2.5 to 2.7 GHz range. No need to spend extra money on a third-party cooler.
 
I would get the 6800GT over the XL for now, because those new games comming out will take advantage of the features the 6800 series give.
Kinda dissapointed my X800 XT isn't as future proof as the 9800 Pros were in the days.

Some1ne said the 6600GT is probably the best performance/price ratio right now and that is true.
 
You forgot to add in a hard drive.

Also, if you're planning on doing video capture (multimedia), you might be better off with one of the ati all-in-wonder cards.
 
I have a HD and a DVD burner already, not planning on video capture, just playing files from the comp to the tv. We tend to rip our dvd's to divx. I would like this to last for a bit so is the 6600GT going to last long enough? I hear over and over that it is a budget card. I don't have a budget for this system but I am price/performance concious(sp).
 
Originally posted by: glorygunk
You forgot to add in a hard drive.

Also, if you're planning on doing video capture (multimedia), you might be better off with one of the ati all-in-wonder cards.
Click to expand...

The only AIW cards I've seen come in the AGP variety.
 
I would like this to last for a bit so is the 6600GT going to last long enough? I hear over and over that it is a budget card.
Click to expand...

It really depends on how you look at it and what you need the card for. First off, the 6600 GT is not a really a "budget card" except when compared to the top-of-the-line, ultra expensive offerings like the 6800 Ultra. The 6200 TurboCache models are nvidia's current "budget" offerings, and the 6600 cards are the middle-end cards (with the 6800's being the high-end). The 6600 GT should be able to play any of today's current games at a good resolution (1024x768 or 1280x1024) with detail settings on "high" and ususally with 2xAA/AF enabled. For most people (myself included) this is adequate performance. If you need to run at higher resolutions (like 1600x1200) or can't stand to be without 4xAA/AF, then you'll want to go with the higher-end card. As far as longevity goes, of course the 6600 GT won't last quite as long as the 6800 cards, but the difference won't be that huge. Also keep in mind that nvidia has just launched its next genration card (that 7800 thing or whatever it is), so that days of even the 6800 are beginning to be numbered (although both cards should still have fairly long lifespans).

The 6800 cards are really "enthusiast" parts, for people who need the best possible performance at the highest possible quality settings. If you fall into this category, and have the money to burn, then by all means go with the 6800. The 6600 GT on the other hand still offers quite good performance, and if you look at how much performance you get compared with how much you end up paying, a 6600 GT offers excellent value. You don't get quite cutting edge, but you still get a very capable card.
 
What Some1ne said about the 6600GT is exactly right. It will play any current game at high resolution and high quality. And by the time the 6600GT is getting outdated, the 6800 will also be getting outdated. Not to mention all the rest of your system will be old. Unless you want to play todays games at maxed out settings, the 6600GT is the better choice.

Also, may I suggest the Antec TruePowerII series of PSU's.

RoD
 
Originally posted by: rod
What Some1ne said about the 6600GT is exactly right. It will play any current game at high resolution and high quality. And by the time the 6600GT is getting outdated, the 6800 will also be getting outdated. Not to mention all the rest of your system will be old. Unless you want to play todays games at maxed out settings, the 6600GT is the better choice.

Also, may I suggest the Antec TruePowerII series of PSU's.

RoD
Click to expand...

the 6600GT will NOT play BF2 at high res/high quality
 
Seems that 1280x1024 is the new "standard" with 1600x1200 rapidly approaching.

The 6600GT is a very capable card. But BF2 is bloatware maximus and it won't do either of these resolutions with maximum quality.

6800 is a good choice. You're obviously not concerned with price since you are using an X2.

For the Power Supply, I'm going against the other recommendations and offering up PC P&C SLI 510W. A bit pricey but absolutely the best.
 
Connect 3D X800 XL at Monarch for $249 sounds like a decent deal to me.

But you can choose what graphics card suits you best on the resolutions, games and settings you plan at - comparisons
 
I'm not using an X2, but will eventually switch once more games become multithreaded. So in that regards... yes I am concerned with price. I was looking at an OCZ modstream or powerstream. Can I get some feedback on those PSU's. I am highly considering going with the 66gt. One last note... my current card...heck i'll just post my current system. It's a Dell computer that I got as a graduation present.

Intel P4 2.8 Ghz 800 Mhz FSB
512 MB RAM (don't know brand if there is one)
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
PSU = DELL crap
CASE = don't remember... too lazy to look it up
MOBO = DELL crap

So that's what I am going from. I know I can't use the 9800PRO since it is AGP. I was just wondering if the 6600GT will be a step up. Also is the 66GT better than an X700? And now turning to pure speculation... how long do you think a 66GT will last. Will it last half as long as the 6800? Or more?

 
The 6600gt, in almost all real-world benchmarks, beats the X700. The main problem with the X700 is that it cost noticably more than the 6600gt, but doesn't perform as well.


Originally posted by: nick1985
Originally posted by: rod
What Some1ne said about the 6600GT is exactly right. It will play any current game at high resolution and high quality. And by the time the 6600GT is getting outdated, the 6800 will also be getting outdated. Not to mention all the rest of your system will be old. Unless you want to play todays games at maxed out settings, the 6600GT is the better choice.

Also, may I suggest the Antec TruePowerII series of PSU's.

RoD
Click to expand...

the 6600GT will NOT play BF2 at high res/high quality
Click to expand...
I'll have to take your word on that. I havent played BF2. But I know for a fact that HL2/Doom3/Farcry can all be played at 1024x768 on the 6600GT. I' pretty sure they will all play at 1600x1200, but I play with 4xAA and 8xAF, so 1024x768 suits me fine. Im planning to pick up another one dirt cheap in a month or two (thank you 7800gtx), so that will give me the performance of a 6800GT without the price tag.

RoD
 
Originally posted by: NightStalker999
I'm not using an X2, but will eventually switch once more games become multithreaded. So in that regards... yes I am concerned with price. I was looking at an OCZ modstream or powerstream. Can I get some feedback on those PSU's. I am highly considering going with the 66gt. One last note... my current card...heck i'll just post my current system.
Click to expand...

Oops, must have had X2 on my brain 😀

If you are even considering an OCZ, save yourself a few bucks and get the PC P&C. It is a better quality PS. And it will handle everything you can throw at it.

No point in skimping on the PS as it is the backbone of the entire rig.
 
Intel P4 2.8 Ghz 800 Mhz FSB
512 MB RAM (don't know brand if there is one)
ATI Radeon 9800 PRO 128MB
PSU = DELL crap
CASE = don't remember... too lazy to look it up
MOBO = DELL crap

So that's what I am going from. I know I can't use the 9800PRO since it is AGP. I was just wondering if the 6600GT will be a step up. Also is the 66GT better than an X700? And now turning to pure speculation... how long do you think a 66GT will last. Will it last half as long as the 6800? Or more?
Click to expand...

Yes, the 6600 GT should still be a step up from the 9800 Pro. By way of example, tomshardware shows the 9800 Pro pulling in about 6,000 in 3d-Mark 2003. My 6600 GT gets about 8,800 for the same benchmark (a 6800 Ultra will only get you to about 12,000, which is a good example of why the 6600 GT offers good value...the high-end 6800 cards all cost at least twice as much, but don't offer nearly twice the performance of the 6600 GT). If you go to http://www17.tomshardware.com/search/search.html?category=graphic&words=charts you can look through their VGA charts and make your own comparisons.

But I know for a fact that HL2/Doom3/Farcry can all be played at 1024x768 on the 6600GT.
Click to expand...

I'll second that...I run at 1280x1024 w/ 2xAA and 2xAF on those same titles. No problems with my 6600 GT.

The one thing I will mention, if you go with a 6600 GT, be sure to get one with a guality HSF installed (if you look around you can find reviews that say which card(s) have good cooling mounted on them), or install a third party cooler yourself. When I got my Gigabyte card I had overheating issues even at stock speeds because the HSF was poorly attached, and to fix it I had to mod the fastening system (so that I could screw it down instead of using those crappy spring-clips that it came with) and reattach it myself using AS3 (after which the card overclocked nicely). I think that since this incident, Gigabyte has started using a better HSF on their 6600 GT's.

 
monarch has the ocz 520 powerstream for ~85 after rebate iirc, hands down best psu for that money.

definitely do not skimp on the psu with this board. i thought the x-clio 450 would handle it, which it did at stock. but once i started oc'ing, the board ate it up.

and if you are running the vx make sure you get some cooling if you plan on pumping volts through it.
 
what about a x800xl? that $100 cheaper then the 6800gt and offers the same performance..Best bang for your buck in high end cards..
 
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