Building new computer, need opinions/suggestions

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imported_Pressure

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
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Well it's been a long time since my last computer so I'm planning on building a new one. Here's what I've come up with:


Case: Thermaltake Tsunami
Power Supply: OCZ ModStream ATX 520W Power Supply
Motherboard: DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 4000+ (San Diego)
RAM: 1GB OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Platinum Revision 2
Video Card: One of the Nvidia G70 cards (Since they come out earlier and will be easier to get) probably the GTX
Harddrive: 1x 74GB WD740 Raptor
Sound Card: CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS
Floppy Drive: SONY Black 1.44MB 3.5" (for SATA Drivers)
DVD: LITE-ON Black IDE DVD Burner
CD: LITE-ON Black IDE CD Burner
Operating System: Windows XP Pro

I think that's everything. I might have left something out because I'm tired.

Anyways I'm looking for opinions/suggestions on this build.

I don't know much about motherboards but I've heard that is a good one.

I don't really plan on doing anything OCing because I'm a bit unexperienced and uncomfortable with it. Since I won't being doing any OCing will the stock HSF be good enough mixed with Artic Silver 5?

The graphics card I haven't decided on yet. I'm waiting to see what happens when the G70s are released. I would wait until the R520s are out but they'll probably be way too expensive and hard to get. I heard the GTX will come in 512mb and 256mb, if that's true which should I get? I plan on using this for about three more years.

The sound card I'm not sure about. I would like some suggestions for a good gaming sound card.

The floppy drive will just be used for the SATA drivers upon the installation of Windows. After that I'll just keep it there incase I ever need a floppy for a PPT file or something for class.

All opinions and suggestions are welcomed. I want you guys to really help me on this one.

*EDIT: Added OS to list
 
V

vrbaba

Diamond Member
Jul 17, 2003
3,266
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71
do you really need 520w psu? since ur not overclocking..could save some there...450-480 would do fine i think
 
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imported_Pressure

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
200
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I wasn't really sure how much power the new cards would eat up. Since the 450W will work good I'll get that and save money :).
 
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xTYBALTx

Senior member
May 10, 2005
394
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Looks pretty bad ass! :thumbsup:

To answer your question, I think the 512mb card will be better - as you planned on using it for three years right? The 512mb won't come in handy right now, but the next generation of games are always right around the corner!

The stock HSF comes with a layer of "stuff" on it straight from the factory (at least usually right?) - no need to dirty your hands applying Arctic Silver unless you really want to.

Good luck! And what's the current ETA for the G70?
 
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Continuity27

Senior member
May 26, 2005
516
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Are you sure the one hard drive is all you want? No larger, slower, data drive in addition to your Raptor?
 
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Continuity27

Senior member
May 26, 2005
516
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The stock HSF will be good at all but the best overclocks with arctic silver 5, but if you're thinking of trying it out later, a better HSF won't really cost you much more.
 
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imported_Pressure

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
200
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Originally posted by: Continuity27
Are you sure the one hard drive is all you want? No larger, slower, data drive in addition to your Raptor?
Click to expand...

I think 74GB is more than enough room for me right now. Although it might be a good idea to get a little more since applications and games are getting much larger. What would be a good second drive to keep music and stuff on? How would using two hard drives work? Do both need the OS on it or just one?

My fried said the XP-90 was a good cheap HS and I could buy a 10 dollar fan to stick on it to keep the CPU cool. Is that a good choice?

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
Good luck! And what's the current ETA for the G70?
Click to expand...

I believe they're being released around June 21. If not soon after.
 
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The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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You're not OCing so you dont need the XP90.
I'd stick with oOrsair Value Select (or OCZ Value sticks) and save yourself about $30 or so since you're not OC'ing. Latencies only make ~2-3% performance difference.
As for the mobo why the DFI for stock speeds? Stick with the ASUS A8N-E (solid board, but lacks firewire), and the Audigy2 ZS will have the firewire for you. The ASUS should be more reliable in the long run - but I can't really guarantee that anyways.

-The Pentium Guy
 
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Ike0069

Diamond Member
Apr 28, 2003
4,276
2
76
I'd get a different MB and RAM. Those are both made for OC'ing and since you're not, you could save some money there.
The Chaintech VNF4 or the Epox 9NPAJ are very solid boards for <$100. Then get some value RAM.
 
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imported_Pressure

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
200
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I would OC my processor and RAM if I knew how. I'm afraid I'd break something if I try. Are there any good guides out there? I read the one you guys have in the OC section but it confused me. If I could get a good guide I would definitely OC.
 
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MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2004
2,001
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Just don't raise voltage for your first OCing. As long as you don't mess up the voltage and putting in crazy settings, you won't break anything.
If you are confident enough later then try raising voltage bit by bits
 
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The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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That guide confused me too when I first learned to OC. First thing you want to do is start off by increasing the FSB.... I usually increase it to 225, and then to 230, 233, 235, 237... start slowing down

You want to load up Windows and do Prime95 tortue test just to make sure it's stable.

Edit: Like AnnihilatorX said, if you don't want to take any risks... just increase the FSB, you don't have to do any of the following:
If it's not stable, then start increasing the voltage, aka the VCore (search around for what the recommended max voltage is for your processor) and then Prime it to be sure it's stable a that voltage and clock speed.

Once you start getting into high speed, you'll want to mess around with your memory. There's somethign called a Divider, which basically makes it so that your FSB increase does NOT affect the ram speed. I usually set the divider to 1 : 1... aka my DDR400 ram runs at 400mhz no matter what.

As you get even higher, you want to start losening your timings.
Instead of (example) 2-3-3-8 timings, try 2.5 3-3-8 (again, depedns on your board, and memory model) - But I usually don't mess around with the timings anyways.
Looser timings = Increased Stability
Tighter timings = Increased Performance (but not that much)

Yeah there's a risk of breaking something... that's why you start low ;). Try a 200 mhz overclock which shoudln't really do anything to your cpu.
 
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theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
4,386
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0
follow this guide here and if you dont understand something, either google it, or ask us. make sure you read through your mobo manual to see where all the bios settings are.

most important things: before you do anything, turn on your pci lock. VERY important. then, drop your ldt multi to 3x. and if you get above 333 fsb, drop it down to 2x. everything else is right in the guide.

since you are oc'ing, it would be ok to drop down your processor a step. to a 3700+ SD. it will probably oc better than the 4000+, and then you can get some better ram.
 
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imported_Pressure

Senior member
Jun 9, 2005
200
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theMan

Diamond Member
Mar 17, 2005
4,386
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Originally posted by: Pressure
What do you mean by ltd multi? How do you put on PCI lock? Is that a BIOS option?
Click to expand...

all overclocking settings are in the bios. you have to read through the manual, and it will explain where all these settings are.
 
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