can someone give me one last scan through before I click "BUY!"

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MrChad

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: Markfw900
I like pieces of both systems. Antec case, the DFI motherboard, the 3500+ processor, memory is virtually the same, seagate hard drive, same video card, dell montor.
Click to expand...

The Asus motherboard is pricey. To be honest, I'm not entirely up-to-date on motherboard options for A64 processors. I picked Asus based on rep, but I'm sure there are other excellent (and cheaper) options.
 
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Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
925
0
76
If you must get Intel why not just a 6xx CPU with 64 bit support and regular DDR ram? I would also agree with the others that the raptor isnt worth it and that you need a nicer PSU.
 
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astnfan

Member
Feb 25, 2005
42
0
0
So DDR2 RAM is not going to give me a performance increase over DDR2?

If not, then I might as well just get 2 Gigs of DDR for almost the same price.

Also everyone tells me mixed things about the raptors, are you guys speaking from experience, or from reviews?

 
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astnfan

Member
Feb 25, 2005
42
0
0
Originally posted by: Twsmit
If you must get Intel why not just a 6xx CPU with 64 bit support and regular DDR ram? I would also agree with the others that the raptor isnt worth it and that you need a nicer PSU.
Click to expand...

I read in a few places that performance wise it offers only more cache and 64 bit capabilities. Things that I dont necessarily need at this point for the things I am doing.

 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
2 gigs of ram won't help encoding go any faster, and if you run 4 DIMMs to get that 2 gigs it will run even slower because the RAM will be running @2T command rate.

Raptors have nothing to offer you. You don't need high SDR for encoding, downloading or gaming.
 
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Twsmit

Senior member
Nov 30, 2003
925
0
76
Originally posted by: astnfan
Originally posted by: Twsmit
If you must get Intel why not just a 6xx CPU with 64 bit support and regular DDR ram? I would also agree with the others that the raptor isnt worth it and that you need a nicer PSU.
Click to expand...

I read in a few places that performance wise it offers only more cache and 64 bit capabilities. Things that I dont necessarily need at this point for the things I am doing.
Click to expand...


True the cache doesnt help much, but 6 months from now your hardcore encoding could probably benefit from XP-64bit and some native 64bit programs.


Also DDR2 doesnt really give a performance increase over DDR. I would just get a regular DDR mobo (save money) and regular DDR (save more money)
 
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astnfan

Member
Feb 25, 2005
42
0
0
I have a a student copy of XP pro, which is OEM version, will MS let me upgrade to XP 64 for free?
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
XP64 is free to anyone right now, as its in RC stage.

And Intel 6xx is a failure. Barely anything over 5xx except for SQL. Not even software renderers can take advantage of the 2MB of cache.

Seriously.. If you multitask a lot, and encode a lot, and you get an Intel, I'll be laughing when you're crying four months from now. Toledo is going to kick royal ass.
 
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tallman45

Golden Member
May 27, 2003
1,463
0
0
Thats a great suggestion.

The 3200 will easily OC to 3500 speeds and the X800XL has far more perf than the 6600GT
 
MrChad

MrChad

Lifer
Aug 22, 2001
13,507
3
81
Originally posted by: tallman45
Thats a great suggestion.

The 3200 will easily OC to 3500 speeds and the X800XL has far more perf than the 6600GT
Click to expand...

He's not gaming. There is no need for a faster gaming card.
 
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MrControversial

Senior member
Jan 25, 2005
848
0
0

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Originally posted by: astnfan
101221-316603 Western Digital Raptor WD360GD 36.7GB Serial ATA 10,000RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer and Serial ATA Signal Cable Bundle *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $124.00
Click to expand...
Why? Get the 74G Raptor instead after you shave off money from something else.
80806 Intel Pentium® 4 540 Processor Prescott 3.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, Socket 775, 1MB Cache Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $229.00
Click to expand...
Get a 3000 Winchester and use the money you save to get the 74G Raptor.
240337 Asus P5GD2 Premium 915P P4 800FSB LGA775 DDR2 ATX Motherboard w/audio, Dual Gigabit LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $169.99
Click to expand...
God no! DDR2 isn't necessary right now, get yourself a nice nforce4 ultra board from MSI, Gigabyte or Asus.
85016-33 Corsair VS1GBKIT533D2 1GB Kit DDR2-533 PC2-4200 Value Select Memory Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $178.00
Click to expand...
Stick with regular DDR400 Corsair Value memory.
271006 Logisys PS500MSGN 500W Meshed Green LED ATX/BTX Power Supply Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $36.99
Click to expand...
Ribbon just saved you and I'm going to tell you why. You were going to blow huge cash on critical components and then plug in a cheap-ass PSU to fry it all. Why don't you just wipe your butt with $1000 bill? Now, march back to your shopping cart and throw that thing back on the shelf and get yourself a beefy power supply from a trusted brand like Antec, OCZ, etc. Logisys makes good led fans and cold cathodes, but as far as PSU's go...nuh uh.
Click to expand...
 
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astnfan

Member
Feb 25, 2005
42
0
0
Ok,

So I will ditch the ddr2 ram, get normal DDR.

I will beef up the PSU and get the 74 Gig raptor

I picked that asus board becuase it built in wifi which i will need.
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
Holy crap!

For the price of the refurb version of that board....

dude, give that list I made a look, and I can add a 802.11g card to it...
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
For now... and barely. please don't be too short-sighted. The slowest Toledo they will release will WASTE, DEVASTATE, and ANIHILATE that Intel rig you specced. Is changing the CPU in 6 months not worthy of that? :confused:
 
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astnfan

Member
Feb 25, 2005
42
0
0
Originally posted by: ribbon13
For now... and barely. please don't be too short-sighted. The slowest Toledo they will release will WASTE, DEVASTATE, and ANIHILATE that Intel rig you specced. Is changing the CPU in 6 months not worthy of that? :confused:
Click to expand...

honestly no,

I am not someone who has to have the absolute best stuff exactly when it comes out.
I need this computer soon, and I need it to last me.

Why not have something that will last me a few years at a reasonable price? I am not biased about AMD or Intel. From what I read in reviews, intel is the better processor than a comparable AMD
 
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cryogenic666

Senior member
Feb 27, 2005
250
0
0
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
Originally posted by: astnfan
honestly no,

I am not someone who has to have the absolute best stuff exactly when it comes out.
I need this computer soon, and I need it to last me.

Why not have something that will last me a few years at a reasonable price? I am not biased about AMD or Intel. From what I read in reviews, intel is the better processor than a comparable AMD
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I'm trying to say. The performance between the particular P4 CPU and the particular A64 CPU is minimal. And if you can take 20 minutes of your time to install a Toledo chip when they come down in price, you'll have SMP, and you can wait even longer before you upgrade.

But the decision is yours, and it won't hurt my feelings any if your make a mistake...err go with Intel. :p Hope you enjoy your new workstation.
 
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astnfan

Member
Feb 25, 2005
42
0
0
ok here are 2 updated versions of my shopping cart

version 1 :

270007 Antec TruePower True430 430W Power Supply Retail *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $76.00

80098-21 Corsair VS1GBKIT400 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Select Memory Retail *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $107.00

110406 Mitsumi 7-in-1 USB 2.0 Media Drive *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $29.00

101222-316603 Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB Serial ATA 10,000RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer and Serial ATA Signal Cable Bundle *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $186.00

240339 Asus P5GD1 915P P4 800FSB LGA775 DDR ATX Motherboard w/Audio, Gigabit LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $108.99

80806 Intel Pentium® 4 540 Processor Prescott 3.2GHz, 800MHz FSB, Socket 775, 1MB Cache Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $229.00

101559 Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160827AS 160GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $99.00

141757 Coolermaster CAV-T03 Cavalier 3 Aluminum Mid Tower Case (Silver) w/Window Retail 1 $62.99

321916 MSI NX6600GT-TD128E GeForce 6600 GT PCI Express 128MB DDR3 Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $179.99

239006 Acer AL1912B 19in Flat Panel LCD Monitor (Black) Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $321.98

172503 NEC ND-3520A 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Bare Drive (Beige) ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $61.99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subtotal $1461.94


version 2

270007 Antec TruePower True430 430W Power Supply Retail *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $76.00

80098-21 Corsair VS1GBKIT400 1GB Kit DDR400 PC3200 CAS2.5 Value Select Memory Retail *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $107.00

110406 Mitsumi 7-in-1 USB 2.0 Media Drive *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $29.00

101222-316603 Western Digital Raptor WD740GD 74GB Serial ATA 10,000RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer and Serial ATA Signal Cable Bundle *** Free 2nd Day *** 1 $186.00

101559 Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3160827AS 160GB Serial ATA 7200RPM Hard Drive w/8MB Buffer ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $99.00

141757 Coolermaster CAV-T03 Cavalier 3 Aluminum Mid Tower Case (Silver) w/Window Retail 1 $62.99

80717-2 AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Processor Socket 939 Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $293.00

321916 MSI NX6600GT-TD128E GeForce 6600 GT PCI Express 128MB DDR3 Video Card w/TV-Out & DVI Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $179.99

239006 Acer AL1912B 19in Flat Panel LCD Monitor (Black) Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $321.98

240419 Asus A8V-E DELUXE Via K8T890 Athlon 64(FX) Skt939 DDR ATX Motherboard w/Auido, Gigabit LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $134.99

172503 NEC ND-3520A 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Bare Drive (Beige) ***Free 2nd Day*** 1 $61.99

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subtotal $1551.94

all opinions are welcome.

thanks again.
 
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ribbon13

Diamond Member
Feb 1, 2005
9,343
0
0
It's a Via chipset!

Why do you insist on Asus? Their quality has gone down the tubes the past year.
 
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