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Can someone critique my new setup here and let me know if anything stands out as not a good choice?

B

beer

Lifer
I don't really have any price cap, as I generally keep my machines for about 3 years - I want to know if anything stands out as a choice that doesn't make sense or if there's a better option for anything.

In the three years I'll have this machine, I'll probably upgrade the video card and that's it, as I don't think I'll find it necessary to touch anything else. As such, I generally buy 1 generation old video cards, as I'm not a big gamer, but I do enjoy games like Company of Heroes every now and then - and other games that aren't overly graphics intensive. Please don't suggest a graphics card over $175, as it is unnecessary for what I am looking for, unless the 7600GT is outperformed by something at a similar price point.

Here's what I came up with:


Shuttle XPC SN27P2 AMD Socket AM2 AMD Athlon X2/Athlon FX/Athlon 64/Sempron NVIDIA nForce 570 Ultra Barebone - Retail
Item #: N82E16856101004
-$20.00 Instant
$349.99
$329.99


LINKSKEY LKA-CR15B 19-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader/Writer - Retail
Item #: N82E16820300901
$12.99


LITE-ON 20X DVD?R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model LH-20A1H-185 - OEM
Item #: N82E16827106055
$36.99


CORSAIR XMS2 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TWIN2X2048-6400 - Retail
$40.00 Mail-in Rebate
$254.00
1

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$89.99
1

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Windsor 2.6GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADA5200CSBOX - Retail
$276.00
1

XFX PVT73GUGD3 GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
Item #: N82E16814150182
$30.00 Mail-in Rebate
$145.99

I'd appreciate any feedback.

Thanks
 
what do you plan on doing with it and y not an intel c2d? as most of the sstuff woul dbe fine with it. do tyou have an OS already?


will G.
 
My impression was that the C2D was an inferior performer at a given price point than the X2.
With regards to OS - yes, I'm transferring the license from my old system (3.06 GHz P4) and putting Linux on that system, and making this my primary machine.

I don't do anything fancy. I play games once in a while. I spend 85% of my time on my laptops, this is just something to 'come home to,' - I just my desktops to last three years
 
I have a feeling you would get a better chip out of a Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz than a AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ 2.6GHz, they are about the same price but the C2D from what i hear will run circles around the AMD. Benchies PS let google be your friend


Will G.
 
Originally posted by: beer
My impression was that the C2D was an inferior performer at a given price point than the X2.
With regards to OS - yes, I'm transferring the license from my old system (3.06 GHz P4) and putting Linux on that system, and making this my primary machine.

I don't do anything fancy. I play games once in a while. I spend 85% of my time on my laptops, this is just something to 'come home to,' - I just my desktops to last three years
Click to expand...


So you bought a Prescott (crap chip from day 1 compared to A64), and now you're going to buy an AM2 (crap chip from day 1 compared to Conroe)?

You are on the exact opposite of good CPU purchasing decisions imo.

Dollar for dollar, C2D will beat the pants off AMD, especially in the price range you're talking about. In uber-budget range where respectable $50 Athlon 64 chips come up against garbage Celeron and Pentium D crap is where it is sensible to buy AMD. Especially if you already own more than half the platform (some DDR 400, a 939 mobo, etc).

For a new build like this get Conroe. The only DDR2 platform is Conroe. Conroe is the only good reason to move to DDR2 compared to it's more inexpensive DDR counterparts.

DDR2 NEVER made any difference performance-wise, so the only reason to move to it at all is Conroe which does make a difference. Certainly not worth moving to DDR2 in the AMD camp where the lowest latency and highest performing DDR memory chips are insanely cheap for s939, and similar DDR2 still costs an arm and a leg. Given that 939 chips cost the same as AM2, there's really no reason at all to buy AM2. Given that Conroe is also priced at sub $200 points, when buying a whole new platform, there's no reason not to choose it.
 
Originally posted by: beer
My impression was that the C2D was an inferior performer at a given price point than the X2.
Click to expand...
How on earth did you arrive at that conclusion? The E6400 ($220) is cheaper and performs on par with or better than an FX-62 ($600) out of the box. OC both, and the E6400 will greatly outperform the FX-62.
 
Given a little bit of an OC, the $220 E6400 can run circles around ANY processor out right now.
 
If it hasn't kicked in yet, I'll repeat what everyone said. E6400, which is cheaper than the X2 5200 is a much better choice. And given that these chips OC like crazy, anyone not going the C2D route while building a PC from scratch is well....you fill it in.
 
Thanks for the input. I've switched my config to an Intel based one - Shuttle offers two chassis' as options, and I'm electing to go with the higher of the two for $100 more.

Shuttle SD37-P2-BK-V1 Intel Socket T(LGA775) Intel Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium EE / P Intel 975X Aluminum Barebone - Retail
$419.99

LITE-ON 20X DVD?R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model LH-20A1H-185 - OEM
36.99

OCZ Gold Series 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model OCZ26672048ELDCGE-K - Retail
$227.99

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
$89.99

Microsoft Curve 2000 B2L-00002 Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard - Retail
$14.99

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail
$222.00

XFX PVT73GUGD3 GeForce 7600GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card - Retail
 
If you game at resolutions higher than 1024x768, go for the 7900GS:
$156 - eVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB ($176 - $20MIR)

The OCZ Gold series have been reported to have problems on both intel and amd platforms. If you want to stick with OCZ, go with either their vanilla, SOE, or Platinum editions. Otherwise, there's some Corsair XMS 2GB DDR2-800 for $216 AR, and some Corsair VS 2GB DDR2-667 for $208. However, I'm not sure if buying any high speed ram is in your best intererst, unless the Shuttles can OC. Therefore, just get the cheapest DDR2 kit you can find thats spec'd for 1.8v and made by a brand you trust (ie. Kingston 2GB DDR2-667 KVR667D2N5K2/2G for only $179).
 
wow, that's some useful information. I don't plan on OCing heavily because the small form factor would be more prone to thermal problems, but my requirements call for a smaller chassis over more oc-ability.
 
Thanks for all the advice. I made the changes as recommended here and was out the door for about $1000 + shipping + monitor.

ViewSonic VG2230wm Black 22" 5ms DVI Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail
Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 Conroe 2.13GHz LGA 775 Processor Model BX80557E6400 - Retail
eVGA 256-P2-N624-AR GeForce 7900GS 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 KO Video Card - Retail
Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200KS 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
Kingston 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model KVR667D2N5K2/2G - Retail
Microsoft Comfort Curve Black USB Wired Ergonomics Keyboard 2000 - Retail
LITE-ON 20X DVD±R DVD Burner with 12X DVD-RAM write and LightScribe Technology Black E-IDE/ATAPI Model LH-20A1H-185 - OEM
LINKSKEY LKA-CR15BW 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Internal 3.5" USB Card Reader - Retail
Shuttle SD32G2B SD32-G2-BK-V1 Intel Socket T(LGA775) Intel Core 2 Extreme / Core 2 Duo / Pentium EE / P Intel 945G Barebone - Retail
 
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