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Check out this build please

W

wizdum

Senior member
Howdy folks, It's been awhile since I've posted on these forums but since I recently secured a job in a local computer store I have been getting in touch with my computer enthusiast(geek) side more. Anyway, you can check out my sig to see what I'm running now, and I'm going to sell the tower to my sis for $350. I'm building a new machine for mainly gaming and massive amounts of music storage. I am not rich and am definitely looking to keep things low cost. Well enough talk, here is what I got so far.

Processor: AMD Opteron 144 Socket 939 $205
Video: eVGA 6800GS 256MB PCI-E $179
Memory: Corsair ValueSelect 2GB DDR400(2x1GB) $156
Case: Cooler Master Centurion 5 CAC-T05-UWC Black/Silver w/ 380w PS $90
Optical: BenQ DW1640 $44
Motherboard: Asus A8N-E $110
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 80GB 7200 SATA $63

Total: $847

All prices taken from Newegg and include shipping on each individual item, actual cost may be about 20 dollars lower considering I probably won't buy everything from Newegg.

I am planning on overclocking the shizam out of the Opteron. Basically I need suggestions/criticism for everything. Should I go for the Opteron 144 or something else? Would you downgrade something to upgrade something else? Keep in mind that I don't really want to go over $850, so that is my budget. And I'm really not opposed to a complete system overhaul if you think you can build a better system for the money. Thank you for your time and suggestions!
 
Well, I've heard of the Opteron 144's not oc'ing as well as they used to. Also, do you need OS, monitors, speakers, keyboard, or mouse. You may want to account for that in your price.
 
looks decent, although i'd shop the hard drive from bestbuy/CC/staples and get a larger one for a lower price (how's 200gb for $40?)
 
Forget the ValueSelect.... .look at the PDP Patriot RAM.

You can get much better deals on Hard Drives too.... they are the one thing I wait for sales in B&M stores for. (WooT is a good place to watch also), but you can get a 300 for as low as $.25 per gig.
 
Case: 35 bucks shipped
http://www.xpcgear.com/aluminum.html

Power supply: Forton Power supply 480 watts- 47 bucks shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

AMD 3200+- 166 shipped
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1906532&cmp=OTC-Sh0ppin6

Epox Nforce4 mobo- 84 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123243

Maxtor HD 200GB IDE- 50 dollars AR(easy rebates) after Tax
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1800415&enterthread=y

EVGA 7800GT- 255 shipped AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130256

That gives you 13 dollars to maneuver. if you don't like the case for 35 dollars shipped, pick out a 35 dollar case from newegg and the 13 dollars will cover the horrible shipping charges 🙂.
 
I like your choices.
his is one of the few builds that look nicely researched out and done well.

Asrock 939Dual-Sata2 is worthless, why would agp help hime futureproof?
Gto2 is good, but the 2 are very comaprable, the gs o oced versus gto2 oced and unlocked are pretty much identical.
Value select is great without being generic ram.
I'm assuming you accounted for software and accessories.
As for the hard drive, a sale from a store will get you a better deal but for reliability and quietness, a 7200.7 is awesome, unlike the horriblely unreliable 7200.8s and noisier 7200.9s. It's not as fast as a 7200.9, but you cant have quiet and speed. If you want a middle compromise, look into a samsung drive, average speed, very very low noise and very cool.
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
Case: 35 bucks shipped
http://www.xpcgear.com/aluminum.html

Power supply: Forton Power supply 480 watts- 47 bucks shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

AMD 3200+- 166 shipped
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1906532&cmp=OTC-Sh0ppin6

Epox Nforce4 mobo- 84 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123243

Maxtor HD 200GB IDE- 50 dollars AR(easy rebates) after Tax
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1800415&enterthread=y

EVGA 7800GT- 255 shipped AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130256

That gives you 13 dollars to maneuver. if you don't like the case for 35 dollars shipped, pick out a 35 dollar case from newegg and the 13 dollars will cover the horrible shipping charges 🙂.
Click to expand...



That's a very good build, and no, I don't like the case. I do, however, like that 7800GT. 🙂 You did forget RAM and the total of that is $637, while my budget is $850.
 
Originally posted by: mwmorph
I like your choices.
his is one of the few builds that look nicely researched out and done well.

Asrock 939Dual-Sata2 is worthless, why would agp help hime futureproof?
Gto2 is good, but the 2 are very comaprable, the gs o oced versus gto2 oced and unlocked are pretty much identical.
Value select is great without being generic ram.
I'm assuming you accounted for software and accessories.
As for the hard drive, a sale from a store will get you a better deal but for reliability and quietness, a 7200.7 is awesome, unlike the horriblely unreliable 7200.8s and noisier 7200.9s. It's not as fast as a 7200.9, but you cant have quiet and speed. If you want a middle compromise, look into a samsung drive, average speed, very very low noise and very cool.
Click to expand...


Are you talking about mine or Hacp's? The closest thing I have to a staples or CC is Office Max where I'm at. I'll have to check them out though. Yes I'm accounting for software and accessories, I already have a windows xp license, monitor, keyboard n mouse, speakers, etc etc.
 
Originally posted by: wizdum
Originally posted by: Hacp
Case: 35 bucks shipped
http://www.xpcgear.com/aluminum.html

Power supply: Forton Power supply 480 watts- 47 bucks shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817104953

AMD 3200+- 166 shipped
http://www.clubit.com/product_detail.cfm?itemno=A1906532&cmp=OTC-Sh0ppin6

Epox Nforce4 mobo- 84 shipped
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123243

Maxtor HD 200GB IDE- 50 dollars AR(easy rebates) after Tax
http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=40&threadid=1800415&enterthread=y

EVGA 7800GT- 255 shipped AR
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130256

That gives you 13 dollars to maneuver. if you don't like the case for 35 dollars shipped, pick out a 35 dollar case from newegg and the 13 dollars will cover the horrible shipping charges 🙂.
Click to expand...



That's a very good build, and no, I don't like the case. I do, however, like that 7800GT. 🙂 You did forget RAM and the total of that is $637, while my budget is $850.
Click to expand...


Add the ram and DVD you chose and you get my price. Corsair value select/BenQ DVD burner. There are two rebates involved in my build, but the only one you need to worry about is the EVGA one as the other one is an easy rebate.
 
Originally posted by: wizdum
Ahh I see. One more thing, why would you choose the 3200+ over the Opteron 144?
Click to expand...

Its cheaper, and when you get past 2.4 GHZ, you won't notice much of a difference in performance. If you had the extra $$$, then opteron, but since your on a tight budget, the 3200+ is a better buy. Also, most value mobos only can get up to 300HTT, so getting very high(2.6+) on the 144 would need a better mobo.
 
If you are looking for the Opty check out the combo deal at monarch:
Monarch Link

The mobo you want is 109 and the opty 144 runs for $150 OEM and $180 Retail with HSF. If you go OEM you have to buy a HSF from them. Even with their 13 dollar build fee you are still cheaper at 289 with the retail chip and mobo or 273 with the OEM chip and the cheapo HSF. Just a thought to save you some dough bud.
 
Originally posted by: Boobs McGee
If you are looking for the Opty check out the combo deal at monarch:
Monarch Link

The mobo you want is 109 and the opty 144 runs for $150 OEM and $180 Retail with HSF. If you go OEM you have to buy a HSF from them. Even with their 13 dollar build fee you are still cheaper at 289 with the retail chip and mobo or 273 with the OEM chip and the cheapo HSF. Just a thought to save you some dough bud.
Click to expand...


you are worse off because you get an inferior HS/Fan
 
Originally posted by: Hacp
Originally posted by: Boobs McGee
If you are looking for the Opty check out the combo deal at monarch:
Monarch Link

The mobo you want is 109 and the opty 144 runs for $150 OEM and $180 Retail with HSF. If you go OEM you have to buy a HSF from them. Even with their 13 dollar build fee you are still cheaper at 289 with the retail chip and mobo or 273 with the OEM chip and the cheapo HSF. Just a thought to save you some dough bud.
Click to expand...


you are worse off because you get an inferior HS/Fan
Click to expand...

Newegg: 199(opty 144 retail w/hsf) + 104.99 (A8N-E) = $303.99 before shipping

Monarch 180(opty 144 retail w/hsf) +109.79 = 289.79 before shipping

OR you could knock 30 bucks off the cost by going with the OEM chip for 150.75 at monarch then add the cheapo thermaltake 1770 HSF for 12.75 saving you a net 17 bucks. That leaves you with cash (about 16 bucks) to spend on a better aftermarket HSF. I say this is the best route especially if you were planning on getting a better HSF anyways. I was just trying to help the guy save a few bucks before he pulled the trigger on his purchase.

 
Originally posted by: Boobs McGee
Originally posted by: Hacp
Originally posted by: Boobs McGee
If you are looking for the Opty check out the combo deal at monarch:
Monarch Link

The mobo you want is 109 and the opty 144 runs for $150 OEM and $180 Retail with HSF. If you go OEM you have to buy a HSF from them. Even with their 13 dollar build fee you are still cheaper at 289 with the retail chip and mobo or 273 with the OEM chip and the cheapo HSF. Just a thought to save you some dough bud.
Click to expand...


you are worse off because you get an inferior HS/Fan
Click to expand...

Newegg: 199(opty 144 retail w/hsf) + 104.99 (A8N-E) = $303.99 before shipping

Monarch 180(opty 144 retail w/hsf) +109.79 = 289.79 before shipping

OR you could knock 30 bucks off the cost by going with the OEM chip for 150.75 at monarch then add the cheapo thermaltake 1770 HSF for 12.75 saving you a net 17 bucks. That leaves you with cash (about 16 bucks) to spend on a better aftermarket HSF. I say this is the best route especially if you were planning on getting a better HSF anyways. I was just trying to help the guy save a few bucks before he pulled the trigger on his purchase.
Click to expand...


The new opteron HS/Fans generally perform 1 or 2 degrees below the xp-90 which is very good. Hard to get a decent fan like the opteron one for 17 bucks.
 
Originally posted by: Hacp



The new opteron HS/Fans generally perform 1 or 2 degrees below the xp-90 which is very good. Hard to get a decent fan like the opteron one for 17 bucks.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean I just purchased one of the stock HSF's with the heat pipes off Ebay. Actually with buy it now and shipping it came out to exactly 17 bucks. It has my opty 144 doing 30 at idle and about 41 load @2.4GHz. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't these new heatsinks coming on the X2 and OPTY DC chips only right now? Or are they coming on the SC Opty's as well? I bought my chip OEM so I didn't get the stock HSF with it.
 
Originally posted by: Boobs McGee
Originally posted by: Hacp



The new opteron HS/Fans generally perform 1 or 2 degrees below the xp-90 which is very good. Hard to get a decent fan like the opteron one for 17 bucks.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean I just purchased one of the stock HSF's with the heat pipes off Ebay. Actually with buy it now and shipping it came out to exactly 17 bucks. It has my opty 144 doing 30 at idle and about 41 load @2.4GHz. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't these new heatsinks coming on the X2 and OPTY DC chips only right now? Or are they coming on the SC Opty's as well? I bought my chip OEM so I didn't get the stock HSF with it.
Click to expand...


All opteron chips as well as dual core AMD x2 chips come with the heatpipe hs/fan
 
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