Building new system

[Turczinator]

Here is a list of the main components that are currently at the top of my list.

Athlon 64 4000+ 90nm (Retail) - San Diego core
DFI LANPARTY nF4 SLI-DR
Corsair TWINX2048-3200PRO 2048MB DDR400 XMS3200
BFG GeForce 6800 GT OC PCI Express 256MB DDR3
Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 250GB Serial ATA II
Antec P160
Enermax EG565P-VE FMA2.0 SLI 535W
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

I am looking at gaming, photo, and video editing as the primary factors in choosing the components of the system. I not sure if I'll be OCing the system, but if I do it would only be moderately. The only things I am unsure about is if I should go with an Epox or Asus MB in place of the DFI and changing the memory for OCZ. Any input or view points would be helpful.

 

[nick1985]

Get 2 gigs of regular Value RAM. Check out some cheap OCZ stuff. That low latency stuff wont add much performance. This should save you quite a chunk of change, enough to switch that 6800GT for a 7800GT. You will get much better performance if you do this...

 

[Turczinator]

Would the value RAM give me problems if/when I take the system to 4 gig? I've read that the DFI MB can be picky about the RAM used.

 

[d2arcturus]

DFI doesn't like Corsair RAM, get 2GB OCZ Value. Also ditch the 4000 and get a 3800 X2, then just OC it. Used saved cash to get 7800GT like nick said.

Originally posted by: Turczinator
Would the value RAM give me problems if/when I take the system to 4 gig? I've read that the DFI MB can be picky about the RAM used.

No, won't make a difference. Corsair is the mem that DFI doesn't like.

 

[Bona Fide]

If it's a new system, it HAS to be dual-core. No two ways about it.

The A64 X2 3800+ is only a few dollars more.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103562

Pair it with a nice heatsink, and a decent overclock will put you way past the 4000+.

Edit - Don't get the SLI-DR unless you plan on doing intensive overclocking. The MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum SLI is a good choice if you're not gonna be hardcore about OC'ing. Also, that memory is overrated and overpriced. Get OCZ Platinum 2x1GB. And swap out the 6800GT for a 7800GT.

 

[IeraseU]

I strongly second the opinion to go with a dual core, it's doubly important in your case since video/photo editing is one of your top priorties.

 

[d2arcturus]

Originally posted by: IeraseU
I strongly second the opinion to go with a dual core, it's doubly important in your case since video/photo editing is one of your top priorties.

Oh I missed that note on the editing. In that case yeah, X2 is best.

 

[imported_Kensai]

4/10.
X2 3800+ would be better.
2GB OCZ Value ram would also be better.

 

[xTYBALTx]

How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

 

[xTYBALTx]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

 

[Turczinator]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

$1,500 for the components listed.
The X2 and OCZ RAM are good points as is the 7800GT for an extra $75 over the 6800GT with the money saved from switching to OCZ value RAM.
For the 3800 X2 matched with the DFI and the an OC would push it to higher performance then an X2 4200 as shown here. The article has the CPU configured with an ASUS A8N-SLI Deluxe, which maybe an option also. I'll have to look for head to head comparisions between the DFI and the Asus.

Thanks for the input so far, if any one has any more keep them coming.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

Maybe I am just an idiot, bit I didnt see a single test where the 7800GT doubled the performance of the 6800U.

 

[drsafety]

I would ditch the audigy sound card and go with onboard audio. If you intenet on having a soundcard, I would reccomend chaintech av-710. audigy is a ripoff in my opinion.

 

[crimson117]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

Maybe I am just an idiot, bit I didnt see a single test where the 7800GT doubled the performance of the 6800U.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

6800U > 6800GT. And at 2048x1536 BF2 no AA/AF, the 7800GT more than doubles the 6800U: 57.7 to 27.6.

 

[theMan]

heres a link the the ram you should get: http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/m..._ddr_pc_3200_value_series_dual_channel
get a 3800+
get a 7800 gt
unless there is something about the sli-dr that you REALLY need, just get the ultra-d.

 

[Turczinator]

The new list based upon your opinions and further research:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester
DFI LANPARTY nF4 Ultra-D
OCZ Value Series 2GB DDR 400 (PC 3200) DC Kit
BFG GeForce 7800 GT OC PCI Express 256MB DDR3
Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 250GB Serial ATA II
Antec P160
Enermax EG565P-VE FMA2.0 SLI 535W
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

Totals to $1,533 I've left the SB card in and I am still researching if I should go with the onboard sound or another card (Turtle Beach or others).

 

[xTYBALTx]

Originally posted by: crimson117

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

Maybe I am just an idiot, bit I didnt see a single test where the 7800GT doubled the performance of the 6800U.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

6800U > 6800GT. And at 2048x1536 BF2 no AA/AF, the 7800GT more than doubles the 6800U: 57.7 to 27.6.

Thank you Crimson. :thumbsup:

 

[Fresh Daemon]

AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Manchester
DFI LANPARTY nF4 Ultra-D
OCZ Value Series 2GB DDR 400 (PC 3200) DC Kit
BFG GeForce 7800 GT OC PCI Express 256MB DDR3
Hitachi Deskstar T7K250 250GB Serial ATA II
Antec P160
Enermax EG565P-VE FMA2.0 SLI 535W
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

That's a nice system. My advice on the sound: if you like gaming, take an Audigy 2. They use very little CPU time compared to the competition (translation: more FPS) and according to reviews I've read, the 3D positioning is second-to-none. If you don't game and only want 2.1 sound, go with the Chaintech. If you want 5.1, don't go with the Chaintech because the DACs on the surround channels are lower quality than on the fronts. Good 5.1 non-gaming cards are the M-Audio Revolution and the Audiotrak cards.

This is assuming you have nice speakers to go with it. Most computer speakers are too low-quality to show up any difference in soundcards anyway.

 

[levk80]

MSI K8N Platinum has onboard SB Live - I'm thinking to go with that and maybe get X-Fi later

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: crimson117

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

Maybe I am just an idiot, bit I didnt see a single test where the 7800GT doubled the performance of the 6800U.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

6800U > 6800GT. And at 2048x1536 BF2 no AA/AF, the 7800GT more than doubles the 6800U: 57.7 to 27.6.

Thank you Crimson. :thumbsup:

So because it doubles the 6800U in 1 or 2 tests, out of the dozens that they did, that means you can say it doubles the performance of the 6800GT? the 6800GT performs nearly as good as the 6800U, so the benchmarks would not be that far off from the 6800U. Not very good logic IMO...

I think anyone with their senses would agree that overall, the 7800GT does NOT double the performance of the 6800GT

 

[Braveheart77]

As onboard sound goes, DFI (and Abit if I remember well) uses separete modules for audio chips that even with the ALC880 reduces the cpu use at a minimum. Check this:

http://www.anandtech.com/mb/showdoc.aspx?i=2465&p=27

and you will save some cash for that 7800GT/GTX

 

[xTYBALTx]

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: crimson117

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

Maybe I am just an idiot, bit I didnt see a single test where the 7800GT doubled the performance of the 6800U.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

6800U > 6800GT. And at 2048x1536 BF2 no AA/AF, the 7800GT more than doubles the 6800U: 57.7 to 27.6.

Thank you Crimson. :thumbsup:

So because it doubles the 6800U in 1 or 2 tests, out of the dozens that they did, that means you can say it doubles the performance of the 6800GT? the 6800GT performs nearly as good as the 6800U, so the benchmarks would not be that far off from the 6800U. Not very good logic IMO...

I think anyone with their senses would agree that overall, the 7800GT does NOT double the performance of the 6800GT

KTHXBYE :thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: crimson117

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx

Originally posted by: nick1985

Originally posted by: xTYBALTx
How much money are you looking to spend? As others have said before me, get the 3800+. And if you can, spend the extra $75 and get a 7800GT. It will nearly double the 6800GT's performance.

a 7800GT will double the performance of a 6800GT? :roll:

Y u p.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

Maybe I am just an idiot, bit I didnt see a single test where the 7800GT doubled the performance of the 6800U.

*note that the links compare 7800GT & 6800U.

6800U > 6800GT. And at 2048x1536 BF2 no AA/AF, the 7800GT more than doubles the 6800U: 57.7 to 27.6.

Thank you Crimson. :thumbsup:

So because it doubles the 6800U in 1 or 2 tests, out of the dozens that they did, that means you can say it doubles the performance of the 6800GT? the 6800GT performs nearly as good as the 6800U, so the benchmarks would not be that far off from the 6800U. Not very good logic IMO...

I think anyone with their senses would agree that overall, the 7800GT does NOT double the performance of the 6800GT

KTHXBYE :thumbsup::thumbsup:

Nice argument. :thumbsdown: