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Building system to replace BP6 ?!!!!Need help!

B

BeBumbleBe

Senior member
Well it looks like my BP6 (dual 550mhz Celeron) - built when it was the top of the crop in the summer of '99 - might be reaching the end of its lifespan...Still works fine, but since I soon won't have access to the cheap parts available on the US market, it's time I built a system for the next 3 years ;-)
It's amazing how so much more complicated the market is now than it was 3 years ago...that's why I'd appreciate some help ;-)
Here's what I have:
- CPU: I think I'm set on the P4 2.4B (533mhz) as it looks like the best Intel value right now (I do have another 1ghz AMD system, so I'd like to keep my options open with the new one).
Other Requirements:
- the cheaper the better
- Will be doing a lot of video encoding (DV to mpeg2 and DVD backup), but that's probably covered by the CPU
- as QUIET as possible
- Gaming not important
- Already have a good monitor, video capture card, sound card, DVD and CD-RW

Any input in terms of Cases, Mobo's (overclocking is always nice, can the 2.4B overclock well?), VideoCards, etcMUCH appeciated, TIA
 
If you want to go SMP again dual 1800-2000+ boxes are cheap, fast, and stable as hell.

I had great luck with my Tyan Tiger + dual 1800+ combo.

Viper GTS
 
You're right, I've been wondering about that. I guess with the current speeds, Dual may no longer be as important as it was 3 years ago.
If I remember my previous research any XP1800 would fit the bill right?
Would you choose that over a 2.4b P4 ?
 
the cheaper the better
as QUIET as possible
Click to expand...
I'd stick with a single CPU for those two reasons among others. The 2.4B is a good way to go. For a mobo, I'd go with one based on the Intel i845PE chipset. Lots of good ones available. It depends on what bells and whistles you want with it. Albatron has one for under $100. For ram, it depends on how far you want to push the mem speed if you overclock. That 2.4B should easily go to 150+ FSB, so I'd get memory that will run DDR400 (PC3200). Corsair XMS is very good, but a bit pricey.
 
Yes the 2.4b is looking better all the time.
I was going to go with some Viking PC2700. I don't remember how the 2700 related to FSB, do you just multiply by 8?
It seems you can't leave the RAM alone when overclocking like on the Via chipsets for AMD right?
 
Lets say you go with a 845PE board. The ram mulitipliers work like this:

133 FSB (no overclock)
1:1 = DDR266 (PC2100)
4:5 = DDR333 (PC2700)
3:4 = DDR354 (PC2800)

150 FSB
1:1 = DDR300
4:5 = DDR375
3:4 = DDR400

160 FSB
1:1 = DDR320
4:5 = DDR400
3:4 = DDR425

As you can see, if you overclock and want to get the most out of your mem performance, you need pretty good ram. PC2700 is rated for DDR333.
 
Ah thanks that clarifies it, so it seems the PC2700 would be good up to 167mhz FSB with a 1:1 setting then.
Probably where a good 2.4b would max out anyway at 3Ghz!
If DDR is anything like PC100 used to be it could stand a bit of an overclock too ;-)

Are there cases that are quiet "out of the box", I have my eyes set on a cheap ($68) Antec - http://www.antec-inc.com/en_solution_3700amb.html
 
Hum...decisions, decisions, it seems I could get a system from Dell with a P4 2.4b/256mb/G2MX440 for $629...with the added benefit of not having to pull apart my trusty BP6.
Overclocking is probably not an option though, but the cost is pretty good. Any big drawbacks at getting such a system?
Assuming I pulled apart my BP6 to get the components I need, that's what I'd end up with building a new system:
P4 2.4b - $213
Case - $68
RAM - $70
Video Card - $68
Total - $419!
Er...ok, still makes sense to build it!
 
duh...I guess I had forgotten the RAM in my previous calculation!
Anyway I scored a P4 2.4b C1 stepping and picked up the rest for a total net price of $649 w/tax.
Bad news is I can't get the system to post and since I only have one of each component I will not be able to troubleshoot it without taking it back to the shop. That's where it comes in handy to purchase from the store down the street!
 
feeling a bity lonely here
I'm now up and running (plugging in theP4 power cable helped)!
I'm now humming along at 3ghz...Pretty bewildering!

Thinking of beefing up my system with a few HDs. I'm set on the 5,400rpms though to keep the noise down. Are ther "quiet" 7,200 drives?
I miss the 4 IDE channels of my BP6. Any recommendations for IDE controller cards (don't need RAID) ?
 
Ewwww...5400?? 7200 is the way to go. The Seagate Barracuda IV is a very quiet drive. Why so many drives? If you want quiet, multiple HD's wont help. Just get one big one and partition it up. If you need a PCI IDE card, I've always had good luck with Promise.
 
So 7,200rpm makes a big difference? I'll lookup that Seagate drive you mention.
I guess I like having a small "system" drive where (one or several) OS's reside and then have other drives for Video or mp3's.
I might go the "monlie rack" way too but that's not incompatible with a the Promise card.
 
Up to you. When I build a quiet system, I dont double up on anything if I can help it. I CPU, 1 HD, etc. The Seagate is very quiet. What are you calling a small drive? They are no longer made. New drives have 40 Gig or larger platters. I run a single 120 Gig drive in my system with 3 partitions.
 
Thanks for the info, makes sense.
It seems the Barracuda IV is up to 80gb and then the V picks up. Is it the V you've got?
The 80gb IV is around $100 while the 120gb V is around $165 so it seems it might be more advanced (higher cost per gig).

That Nexus Vantec looks pretty cool for $37, although you can get an el cheapo CPU fan regulator for $7!

NTW - What's the setup of yoour "quet" computer?
 
I have a WD 1200JB drive. Not quite as quiet as a Seagate drive, but hella fast and not noisy at all. I dont know all that much about the Seagates, but every review I see rates them as being very quiet. The V is probably a good bet.

My PC is not really built specifically to be a quiet system. If it were, I'd change a few things, but most people would consider it a quiet rig. All the specs are in the system rigs link below.
 
V is slower than the IV but whisper quiet. As in, sub panaflo level. That harddrive is the single most silent harddrive, ever produced, and undercuts the majority of the 4400 and 5400 RPM harddrives in terms of noise levels. You won't be able to hear a thing!!

The WD1200JB is for speed demon performance at a reasonable noise level. Also highly reccomended.

I'd personally reccomend an intel PE board with a 2.4B. But i'd wait a while to see if hyperthreading filters down the P4 foodchain.
 
I'd just get a Dell so you could keep your old system. There are a bazillion deals for dell desktops, I just got in on a 2.4ghz one for under $700 that has 512mb ram and a GF4 4200.
 
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