Building new computer

[bladefd]

Hey I was building a new pc and needed some ideas/changes/etc.
http://secure.newegg.com/NewVersion/wis...cWishDetail.asp?WishListNumber=3828928

^ I created that wish list. I am going to overclock the am2 processor by 200 mhz to the speeds of 4600+ so I can save like 80 bucks.

Question 1: I don't know if I want that mobo. I didn't like epox's customer service in the past and I am trying to find some other good mobo that has good customer service. What do you all recommend? I want stability over anything else. STABILITY STABILITY STABILITY.

Question 2: Is that ram good? If I can get something just as good for a cheaper price, it would be cool.

Anyone think I should change some other hardware? If so, tell me the reason why you think that. Also my budget is between 1500 and 1800. I don't really want to go up to 1800 bucks - staying around 1500 bucks will be much better so try not to go too high.

Edit: I am also buying it in about 1 and half months or so. Anyone think the prices will change by then for any of the hardware?

Incase if anyone is lazy to look at that wishlist :

1 Lian Li PC-65B Black Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
$126.99
1 EPoX EP-MF570SLI Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $139.99

1 eVGA 512-P2-N568-AR Geforce 7900GT KO 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail $319.99

1 SILVERSTONE ZEUS SST-ST65ZF ATX12V 650W Power Supply - Retail
$159.99

1 AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Windsor 2000MHz HT Socket AM2 Dual Core Processor $183.00

1 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit System Memory Model F2-6400PHU2-2GBHZ - Retail
$239.99

1 SAMSUNG Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ ME/ 2000/ XP
$5.99

2 Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3200820AS 200GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$155.98

1 NEC 16X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE/ATAPI Model ND-3550A - OEM
$29.25

1 Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value SB0400 7.1 Channels PCI Interface Sound Card - Retail
$64.00

1 Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
$5.99

1 Thermaltake Big Typhoon CL-P0114 120mm Cooling Fan with Heatsink - Retail
$45.99

1 Creative Inspire P7800 90 Watts 7.1 Speaker - Retail
$86.00

Subtotal: $1,563.15

 

[Rommel44]

Buy 320GB seagate instead of 200GB. And you should change RAM - the one you chose will give you just a few percent of extra performance - buy cheaper one and save the money or spend them on something else. Also about PSU I prefer Fortron Seasonic or Enermax.
Try this Mobo: MICROSTAR K9N Ultra-2F - nForce570, DualCh DDR2 800, PCIe x16, SATA II RAID, 2xGLAN, 8ch audio, scAM2 - my friend bought one and is very happy with it( he OCed x2 4200 from 2200 to 2800MHz without problems)

 

[bladefd]

Which RAM would you recommend for around 200 bucks? +-30 from 200.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: bladefd
I am going to overclock the am2 processor by 200 mhz to the speeds of 4600+ so I can save like 80 bucks.

You can overclock it more than that. Probably a lot more.

Question 1: I don't know if I want that mobo. I didn't like epox's customer service in the past and I am trying to find some other good mobo that has good customer service. What do you all recommend? I want stability over anything else. STABILITY STABILITY STABILITY.

Motherboards are tricky animals. They suffer a lot of problems no matter what manufacturer you go with. Generally speaking, Epox makes nice products. I know I love mine.

Question 2: Is that ram good? If I can get something just as good for a cheaper price, it would be cool.

DDR2-800 is not going to offer you much of any performance gains over DDR2-667, which is significantly less expensive. OCZ Value Series and Corsair ValueSelect are both good choices. RAM is generally stable, though, regardless of the manufacturer--as long as you don't try to overclock it, that is.

Anyone think I should change some other hardware? If so, tell me the reason why you think that.

Five suggestions:

1) That case is awfully expensive. You can get a decent unit for under $50. Is it really worth over $90 more just so your box looks a little better?

2) I've never heard of Silverstone, but even if reliable I think it's too expensive. You can get a heck of a Fortron Source unit for $100 or less. In fact, you could get something competent for about $50.

3) You can get a 250GB hard disk for just a few dollars more than the 200GB model you have picked out. If you want enhanced stability, try for two in RAID 1.

4) Lite-on makes a neat little lightscribe burner with RAM support, and it's only a dollar or two more than the NEC.

5) I'd at least try the retail heat sink first to see if you like it. If you do, that's $50 you'll save.

Hope that helps!

 

[Howard]

Too much $$$ for the PSU. If you're going to spend that much on a card, may as well go with the X1900XT.

 

[bladefd]

Originally posted by: Howard
Too much $$$ for the PSU. If you're going to spend that much on a card, may as well go with the X1900XT.

1900XT is better than 7900 GT ? What about the 7900 GTX? I won't order this pc for like 1-2 months so maybe the price will go down by then. I dunno.

Also, what PSU do you all suggest? I want more than 600W psu with dual 12v lines.

 

[Howard]

Yes, the X1900XT is inarguably a better performer than the 7900GT. As for the 7900GTX... Anandtech did a review of that.

Why do you need such a powerful supply?

Maybe you can get some ideas from this build:

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview.aspx?catid=27&threadid=1915764 (my first post)

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

The Fortron Source AX500-A is plenty, and only $95--which is $70 cheaper than the Silverstone, and more reliable to boot!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
The Fortron Source AX500-A is plenty, and only $95--which is $70 cheaper than the Silverstone, and more reliable to boot!

False.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

How so? This review seems to recommend FSP over Silverstone, though I can't find a comparison of the exact models. The AX500-A has stellar reviews all over the net.

 

[Howard]

OK... that review DIDN'T look at the AX500 and DIDN'T look at the ST65ZF yet you use that review as your sole source to back up your claim?

A lot of PSU reviews simply record the reading from the software meter during idle and in an FPS. Hardly comprehensive.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

No, my claim is based on a lot of glowing reviews for the AX500-A and many others citing Fortron Source as a highly reliable PSU manufacturer. Silverstone, on the other hand, is a more recent manufacturer, which, in the only head-to-head comparison with Fortron I could find, loses out. Don't get me wrong, the Silverstone model he had picked out is reliable. It's just that Fortron Source has a proven history behind it.

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: bladefd

Originally posted by: Howard
Too much $$$ for the PSU. If you're going to spend that much on a card, may as well go with the X1900XT.

1900XT is better than 7900 GT ? What about the 7900 GTX? I won't order this pc for like 1-2 months so maybe the price will go down by then. I dunno.

Also, what PSU do you all suggest? I want more than 600W psu with dual 12v lines.

Yes, an X1900XT is better than a 7900GT. It's about as fast as the 7900GTX, but cheaper. Also, you should buy the 700 watt OCZ GameXstream psu. It has more power, is more reliable (comes from a much better company), and will save you $30 over that Silverstone.

 

[Henny]

Why Athlon 64??

I'd go Conroe E6400 w/P5B or DS3 and OC it to around 3.5ghz.

 

[sorenmd]

Originally posted by: Henny
Why Athlon 64??

I'd go Conroe E6400 w/P5B or DS3 and OC it to around 3.5ghz.

HELLZ yeah, I would too.

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
No, my claim is based on a lot of glowing reviews for the AX500-A and many others citing Fortron Source as a highly reliable PSU manufacturer. Silverstone, on the other hand, is a more recent manufacturer, which, in the only head-to-head comparison with Fortron I could find, loses out. Don't get me wrong, the Silverstone model he had picked out is reliable. It's just that Fortron Source has a proven history behind it.

Silverstone is not a PSU manufacturer.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
No, my claim is based on a lot of glowing reviews for the AX500-A and many others citing Fortron Source as a highly reliable PSU manufacturer. Silverstone, on the other hand, is a more recent manufacturer, which, in the only head-to-head comparison with Fortron I could find, loses out. Don't get me wrong, the Silverstone model he had picked out is reliable. It's just that Fortron Source has a proven history behind it.

Silverstone is not a PSU manufacturer.

Their web page strongly implies that they are. If not, who is the manufacturer of Silverstone branded PSUs?

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: hurtstotalktoyou
No, my claim is based on a lot of glowing reviews for the AX500-A and many others citing Fortron Source as a highly reliable PSU manufacturer. Silverstone, on the other hand, is a more recent manufacturer, which, in the only head-to-head comparison with Fortron I could find, loses out. Don't get me wrong, the Silverstone model he had picked out is reliable. It's just that Fortron Source has a proven history behind it.

Silverstone is not a PSU manufacturer.

Their web page strongly implies that they are. If not, who is the manufacturer of Silverstone branded PSUs?

Enhance builds most of their units but their passive unit is an Etasis.