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building new system...opinions

N

NeelyMSU

Member
Hey All

I am building a new system and would like your thoughts and opinions on the parts I have spec'd out.

I plan to order from newegg.com.

CPU: AMD 1800+ Retail
RAM: 512MB PC2100 (from Crucial.com was planning 1GB, but prices have climbed :frown: )
MB: Abit KR7A-Raid (tried and true)
Video: Visiontek Xtasy 6564 (Gefore3 Ti200)
HD: 3 * IBM 60GXP 60GB (2 will be in RAID 0) Total of 180GB storage 😀
DVD: Pioneer 16X Slot
Sound: SB Audigy OEM
NIC: Linksys LNE100TX v4
CASE: Antec SX1030
PSU: Enermax EG351P VE 330W (Dual Fan)
Keyboard: MS Natural Pro
Mouse: MS Optical

I plan to overclock, so I'm thinking of getting a SK6 after I set this baby up. I already have a Plextor 16x burner, so I don't think it is worth upgrading to a 24x burner at this time.

I've spent quite some time specing this out and would like to order it soon. I've looked around, but could not find the next time that AMD is due to slash prices. I figure I would just bite the bullet on the RAM and get another 512MB when the prices drop again.

Well, how is it? Do you think it is worth waiting till after Christmas?

Thanks for the advise.
 
looks good as any, may get the KR7A (non raid), and check out the 3ware 6200 (actaully since u have 3 drives, look at the , 6400 i believe it is) over at hypermicro.com , onboard risc processor, upgradeable sdram cache, read reviews over at http://www.storagereview.com .. well just my thoughts , good choices, good luck on the system ..
-neural
 
I would suggest getting the Maxtor ATA 133 hard drives, since the Abit board supports ATA 133. The IBM drives have proved a little unreliable lately (Never had any problems with mine......yet). The Maxtor HDs are also cheaper.
 
I've never used Maxtor drives before, so I am hesitant to use them now. IBM has always had very good drives. With the exception of the 75GXP.
 
ata133, make a quick check a storagereview on the performance of that .. as the interface is capable of it, but the actaul drives have yet to reach an str of 100mB/s .. or even really near 80 .. and if u go that route .. if you want raid, the "ata133" interface will be wasted, as though the chipset on the board supports ata133 .. the software raid chip doesnt .. and i cant think of any raid controllers that do .. ..
and just an opinion, but i think the 60gxp line has been pretty reliable (all brands die) .. i think they have just bout got all the bugs straightened out fromt he 75gxp (well major ones) .. just my thoughts ..
-neural
 


<< Hey All

I am building a new system and would like your thoughts and opinions on the parts I have spec'd out.

I plan to order from newegg.com.

CPU: AMD 1800+ Retail
RAM: 512MB PC2100 (from Crucial.com was planning 1GB, but prices have climbed :frown: )
MB: Abit KR7A-Raid (tried and true)
Video: Visiontek Xtasy 6564 (Gefore3 Ti200)
HD: 3 * IBM 60GXP 60GB (2 will be in RAID 0) Total of 180GB storage 😀
DVD: Pioneer 16X Slot
Sound: SB Audigy OEM
NIC: Linksys LNE100TX v4
CASE: Antec SX1030
PSU: Enermax EG351P VE 330W (Dual Fan)
Keyboard: MS Natural Pro
Mouse: MS Optical

I plan to overclock, so I'm thinking of getting a SK6 after I set this baby up. I already have a Plextor 16x burner, so I don't think it is worth upgrading to a 24x burner at this time.

I've spent quite some time specing this out and would like to order it soon. I've looked around, but could not find the next time that AMD is due to slash prices. I figure I would just bite the bullet on the RAM and get another 512MB when the prices drop again.

Well, how is it? Do you think it is worth waiting till after Christmas?

Thanks for the advise. >>


CPU--fine choice.
RAM--I personally prefer Mushkin and Corsair, but they're pricier. Crucial is a good choice.
MB--Frankly, the nForce chipset looks to be the top Athlon chipset now (especially with TwinBank utilized). Therefore, I'd advise you to go with a Asus A7N266-E
Video--No point in an Xstasy. I'd go for the Asus V8200 (pure would be cheaper) as it has good all around performance and can be overclocked to smash GeForce 3 Ti500 levels. Another option is a Radeon 8500.
HD: Outstanding choice. Why not make all three on RAID 0?
DVD: Good choice.
Sound: nForce integrated
NIC: On Asus A7N266-E board, I believe.
Case: Good choice, though it is most often found with a 300W Antec PSU already installed. Consider an SX1040 as well--it has an Antec 400W PSU.
PSU: I don't like Enermax, the voltage deviation is more than I'm comfortable with on a PSU.
Keyboard: Not bad, but it's not a mechanical keyboard and it's USB (uses too much CPU power)
Mouse: Fine, but again, it's USB.

I don't why you'd need 1024mb of RAM as it is--512mb is plenty. 2x256mb PC2100@2-2-2 ECC registered will be fine for awhile.
 
I woudln't go nforce. It has all intergrated stuff, which I assume you don't want. I personally ordered a Abit KR7A (non-raid), Athlon XP1600+, 512 MB DDR from Crucial, and an Alpha PAL8045. I plan to overclock like mad too. SK6 is really good too, check out the Alpha though if ya want. Everything looks great on your system. Great case, I have the SX830 and love it. One thing though, that Daovonnaex said, the Enermax powersupplies sometimes have a fluctiating 5V rail. Good luck building your rig!
 


<< I woudln't go nforce. It has all intergrated stuff, which I assume you don't want. I personally ordered a Abit KR7A (non-raid), Athlon XP1600+, 512 MB DDR from Crucial, and an Alpha PAL8045. I plan to overclock like mad too. SK6 is really good too, check out the Alpha though if ya want. Everything looks great on your system. Great case, I have the SX830 and love it. One thing though, that Daovonnaex said, the Enermax powersupplies sometimes have a fluctiating 5V rail. Good luck building your rig! >>

The integrated APU on the nForce is outstanding (and uses less CPU cycles), and you can easily add a better video card. Also, you can buy an nForce 420 chipset instead of a 420D and eschew the integrated APU (not a smart move, though). However, you are stuck with the integrated GF2 MX.
 


<< I woudln't go nforce. It has all intergrated stuff, which I assume you don't want. I personally ordered a Abit KR7A (non-raid), Athlon XP1600+, 512 MB DDR from Crucial, and an Alpha PAL8045. I plan to overclock like mad too. SK6 is really good too, check out the Alpha though if ya want. Everything looks great on your system. Great case, I have the SX830 and love it. One thing though, that Daovonnaex said, the Enermax powersupplies sometimes have a fluctiating 5V rail. Good luck building your rig! >>

A Vantec 603D HSF has a rating that is virtually equivalent to the Alpha PAL8045, but costs much less (a bit under $20 for the 603D). The absolute best HSF is actually the OCZ Dominator.
 
Hmm...I have used Antec power supplies in the past, in fact, one saved my computer once. Some how there was a power spike and my surge suppressor did not shut off. Instead, my power supply gave it's life to save the rest of my computer. One of the very large capacitors inside blew its top off. The only reason, I have an enermax listed is because that is what comes with the case. Is the flucuating 5v rail a very big issue? I have never heard of this before. I thought Enermax were high quality power supplies? Their high prices were indicate that they are.

Thanks for the help.

 


<< Hmm...I have used Antec power supplies in the past, in fact, one saved my computer once. Some how there was a power spike and my surge suppressor did not shut off. Instead, my power supply gave it's life to save the rest of my computer. One of the very large capacitors inside blew its top off. The only reason, I have an enermax listed is because that is what comes with the case. Is the flucuating 5v rail a very big issue? I have never heard of this before. I thought Enermax were high quality power supplies? Their high prices were indicate that they are.

Thanks for the help. >>

I like the Enermax 550W, but not too many of their other PSUs. An Enermax PSU voltage flux can lead to the destruction of an overclocked Athlon, as Athlons are sensitive chips. If you were using a P4, then Enermax would likely never pose a problem. If you get an Antec SX1040, it should come with a 400W Antec PSU.
 
Ok, I will heed your warning about the enermax psu. Just my luck though, newegg is out of stock on the antec SX-1040. :frown:
 


<< I would suggest getting the Maxtor ATA 133 hard drives, since the Abit board supports ATA 133. The IBM drives have proved a little unreliable lately (Never had any problems with mine......yet). The Maxtor HDs are also cheaper. >>



I can second that.

I haven't had any problems either yet, but I think i'll skip the next generation on my next HD upgrade because of the RMA #'s and known probs.

My RMA has been good so far, though 😉

 
What about rounded IDE cables? Any problems with them? I see most are 24", but the spec for IDE cables is 18". Seems like a good way to increase airflow.
 


<< What about rounded IDE cables? Any problems with them? I see most are 24", but the spec for IDE cables is 18". Seems like a good way to increase airflow. >>

Rounded IDE cables are a nice extra, but they're not too important.
 
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