Building the optimal allround AMD system for 1100-1200$

[funkyfoe]

OK, I'm upgrading from an old Celeron machine and have come up with the following configuration based on Anandtech's splendid buying guides and what is readily available on my location in Europe, but I'm not sure if I should go with PCIe today. Also, I'd like a quiet case and although I'm not very much into OC, I wouldn't mind having the option...

Processor AMD 64bit 3200+ cooler BOX(S-939)
Mobo MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum
Memory CORSAIR 2X512MB PC3200 1GB-400 (VS1GBKIT400)
Video Card MSI Geforce 6600 128mb NX6600GT-VTD VIVO (AGP)
System Hard Drive WD 36gb Raptor SATA 10000RPM
Storage Hard Drive MAXTOR 250gb(16mb) SATA or HITACHI-IBM 250gb(8mb) SATA
Optical Drive NEC DVD+RW 3520A
Floppy Drive SONY 1.44
Case ANTEC Sonata 380W or Antec SLK-3000-B with Fortron 400W FSP400-60THN - Passive Power Supply

Grateful for any suggestions, especially on better performing (Kingston?) memory and perhaps an appropriate video tuner for future HDTV use.
Thanks in advance!

 

[Twsmit]

I would dump the raptor, and get a regular NCQ 8MB 250GB drive. Seagate comes to mind, but anything will do. I would then get a 6600GT and a PCIe NF4 ultra board.

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

Yes, the cost of a raptor just doesn't justify its performance. PCI-E will make your system a bit more future-proof, but there isn't really a performance increase from AGP, and AGP still has a pretty long life ahead of it (~3-4 more years is my guess).

 

[Chosonman]

I suggest the CHAINTECH nForce4 Ultra, it was $84 @ Newegg, but the price just jumped up for some odd reason.

Then you could get a PCI-e 6600GT and be ready to insert a PCI-e ugrade later. But that's only a suggestion and won't hurt/improve your system performance much.

The raptors are expensive and won't make a dent in performance. You'd be probably happier with 250 gigs of HD space for the same price in the long run.

 

[Hyperlite]

PCI-E+6600GT or 6800nu

 

[funkyfoe]

Thanks for all the quick & great advice. I'll dump the Raptor and go for a PCI-e mobo instead. Should I go with Chaintech or stick with MSI and a K8N SLI Platinum? Should I buy into SLI if I'm only planning for one GPU? Anybody have a better suggestion than MSI's 6600GT? I'd like to have VIVO...

 

[Twsmit]

Originally posted by: funkyfoe
Thanks for all the quick & great advice. I'll dump the Raptor and go for a PCI-e mobo instead. Should I go with Chaintech or stick with MSI and a K8N SLI Platinum? Should I buy into SLI if I'm only planning for one GPU? Anybody have a better suggestion than MSI's 6600GT? I'd like to have VIVO...

The DFI NF4 are supposed to be the best, but I dont know about avaliability or price in europe. Otherwise the chaintech is probably a good choice for a "budget/sane" person who doesnt need all the bells and whistles. As for the video card, probably cant go wrong with any of the top brands. MSI looks like a fine choice. I would skip on SLI but you will probably want to make sure to get an Ultra (though a regular will offer same performance.... Ultra has more bells and whistles.)

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Great advice on ditching the raptor and spending more on the videocard.

Don't go with SLI if you're not going to use it, and I'd only recommend SLI if you're planning on doing it with 6800s or more, which would mean about $500 spent on video + you'd probably want to spend more on a powersupply than you're already planning.

 

[funkyfoe]

You got it! Thanks guys! Having shopped around a bit, I think I'm settling for this setup:

Processor AMD Athlon 64 3200+ - 2.0 GHz, Cache L2 512K Socket 939
Mobo MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum-54G2 (NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra) - ATX
Memory CORSAIR 1GB (2X512) PC3200-400 (VS1GBKIT400)
Video Card MSI NX6600GT-TD128E - 128 MB TV-Out/DVI - PCI-e
Hard Drive Hitachi 7K250 GB 7200 RPM 8 MB SATA
Optical Drive NEC DVD+RW 3520A
Case Antec SLK-3000-B
Power Supply Fortron 400W FSP400-60THN

Since I couldn't find the Chaintech NF4 Ultra anywhere, I'm going for the WIFI-enhanced version of MSI's Neo4 Platinum. Do you recon I need additional cooling? I couldn't find the NCQ version of the Hitachi drive (seems it hasn't arrived in retail Europe yet), how much do you think this counts in my case? I do a LOT of multi-tasking...

 

[dodgybob]

I would get the antec slk3000b with a seasonic s12 430w psu. Will be very quiet and more importantly has excellent power regulation. Just wish we could buy these things in the uk, no one stocks them

However the ss-401ht 400w is available in the uk and europe. It's an oem seasonic model with no bells and whistle packaging wise but it's a good psu. Seems to be very similar to the s12.
The dfi board is definitely available in the uk so i'm guessing depending where you are in europe it's available.

 

[fishmonger12]

i'd suggest a different 6600gt. unless you're getting a good deal on the msi. anandtech has a review of 6600gt's, look under the video section.