Computer for $1200- Need to have someone answer my last2 questions

[harobikes333]

and the ram???? should I get the Corsair value ram 533??????? its about 9 bucks cheaper^ ^ and with the GPU being 10 bucks

I save about 20bucks

so is that ram ok or is the gskill better?

 

[ribbon13]

No advantage?

Razor thin latency (CAS3) at low speeds is definately to the contrary. Headroom is always good too. Besides that...

DS3
E6600
and not overclocking...

I say bull! Get this ram and thank me later

Seriously, you're more likely to buy a video card upgrade than a RAM upgrade, so get good ram to start with. Especially if you already have the 'upgrade video card' itch.

 

[KungFused]

I'm assuming that, if he's not tweaking settings to overclock, he's also not going to be tweaking his memory's CAS timings. The 533 comes with CAS4 set right out of the package for the same price as the cheap 667 stuff, which is CAS5 out of the package.

Crucial's an excellent name for RAM. I'd go with it over the G.Skill if it's cheaper.

 

[ribbon13]

Actually, I'll bet you cash the SPDs on those sticks are set higher than that... they do that for maximum compatibility for boards with cheap chipsets or low voltage. Anyways, Crucial is Micron... single point of vulnerability. If he is going for budgetness, the Corsair he tried to link earlier is fine.

Burner?

 

[KungFused]

Yeah? I can't find a single stick of DDR2 533MHz with an advertised CAS higher than 4. You might be right, since from post count comparison I think it's safe to say you have a tad bit more experience than me , but I'd be surprised that nobody advertises accurately if budget DDR2 533 SPDs are set to CAS5 by default.

And I had a brain fart on the RAM name -- I meant to refer to that Corsair he linked earlier!

 

[harobikes333]

Ribbon, this computer is going to have to last a long time since I'll be leaving for college next year and my parents won't upgrade/ get a different computer for a long time. Thats why I'm staying away from OCing.

So I should go with Corsair VS2GBKIT533D2 2GB Kit DDR2-533 PC2-4200 Value Select Memory???

unless the Gskill 533 would work a bit better with the CPU at stock..? I haven't an idea.

What advantage do I have with the SATA burner?

Thanks a Million you two!!!!

Hope to hear from you!

PyroHaro

 

[ribbon13]

Nah, what they are saying in advertisements is, the RAM is guaranteed to run at those specs if you set them to it. SPDs being higher is 'fallback' so you can at least boot problematic motherboards. Anyways EPP is supposed promise of bring those days to an end anyway. You want to see fast: Smokin' And it also demonstrates my SPD vs guarantee point.

 

[harobikes333]

um... what??? I thought you guys agreed that if I'm not OCing then all I need is 533 ram... or...?

Was this directed towards KungFused possibly?

Thanks,

PyroHaro

 

[ribbon13]

SATA burn == SATA cable == no IDE cable of any kind == happiness

Yeah, go with the corsair value for a parental unit machine.

 

[Synomenon]

If you rely on any DOS based utilities that you boot off of CD or needs the optical drive, then I suggest you stick with an IDE optical drive.

 

[harobikes333]

Completed Price List!!!
$70 After $20 MIR - Corsair 520W Purchased
$67 - Logitech X-530 5.1 Speaker SystemPurchased

$232 - Intel Core 2 Duo E6600
$264.55 - Acer 20" 8ms DVI Widescreen (including the $14.56 shipping)

$169 - XFX GeForce 8600GT 256MB 128-bit
Are these the same card? aka should I save ten bucks and get it from zzf?
$159 @ zzf
It says 600 for core spead on the zzf one instead of 620... misprint? because the model#s are the same
ribbon, do you agree on the GPU that I should get the zzf one? Just double checking.

$80 - Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 320GB

Cooler Master Centurion
65.98 - Newegg

$23 - Logitech Ultra X Keyboard & MX310 Mouse ComboPurchased
^Note the change
$125 - GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3

$111 - OS: Vista 32bit Home Premium

$68.50 - Corsair 2GB Kit DDR2-533 PC2-4200 Value Select Memory
^just as good as other 533s? if I'm not OCing? if its not really noticeable then nvm

$38 - SAMSUNG Black E-IDE/ATAPI DVD Burner - OEM
vs.
39 - Sony NEC Optiarc Black SATA DVD Burner - OEM
^ So the difference is the Sony has non ribbon cable thus = better case flow and better cable management? and that its a tad slower? y/n? I haven't a clue. I'm just seeing one with 400+reviews and one with 12. You know your stuff though so I'll go with the sony one. Edit: why would I want the IDE if i were to be doing that ( possible that I would..)

Total: basically 1300, o well I'll pay a bit more

 

[Synomenon]

You won't see a speed difference b/w IDE and SATA dual layer DVD burners. Go with the NEC / Optiarc AD7170A (IDE version):

Black - $30.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827152076

 

[ribbon13]

I have several utility discs that don't have any problems with my Plextor SATA.

either way... head here

 

[Synomenon]

^
Yes. Liggy&Dee's firmware for NEC drives is one of the reasons I keep pushing it.

None of the utilities on the Ultimate Boot CD and my clean boot CD for BIOS updates recognize SATA optical drives. That was back when I tried a Plextor PX-712SA. Maybe these utilities have been updated now though.

 

[Roguestar]

@OP Yes, the RAM you have listed latest will do. Just go for the cheapest set you can find.

Originally posted by: ribbon13
Anyways, Crucial is Micron... single point of vulnerability.

Micron make most of the high-performance memory chips for other "enthusiast"-oriented retailers.

By the way, I'd say go for an SATA DVD-burner; it'll leave IDE ports open for old hard drives or drives you might already have, and they're not appreciably different from PATA burners as they're usually just the same model with a bridge chip for SATA.

 

[Synomenon]

Those bridge chips can cause problems with the drive being detected by some programs. That's a reason I would go with IDE.

 

[ribbon13]

in my experience it's more of certain SATA controller's problem. AHCI

anyway, im sure nero will detect it fine on that motherboard... and im pretty sure nero will be all his parents need.

 

[harobikes333]

Although its for my parents I'll be using it for around a year or so. I'm interested in dvd decoding etc. because I'm hoping to back up my dvd collection. SATA still good prob? [ I'm sorry that I'm beating to death this questions>_<]

And my last question. Do you think I should get that 8600GT from 169@newegg or
159@ zzf

 

[KungFused]

The 8600GT at ZZF is $10 cheaper and is clocked faster = better performance. Grab it at ZZF.

A SATA drive (skinny cable) will be able to rip DVDs just as well as a PATA drive (giant ribbon cable).

 

[harobikes333]

where do you see it has a higher clock speed??? :? I'm confused

I see:
newegg= core clock 620MHz Memory Clock 1600MHz
zzf= core clock 600MHz Memory Clock 1600MHz

 

[KungFused]

The card at ZZF is (or claims to be) the XXX version, which indicates a factory overclock from XFX. XFX's website says that the XXX version has a 620MHz core clock and a 1600MHz RAM clock, versus 540MHz core/1400MHz RAM on the standard version. It looks like the card at NewEgg is probably the XXX version too, though, based on the stats they've listed. Maybe it's just an inaccurate product title.

Either way, the ZZF is as good or better for $10 less.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: Boyo
If your not gaming, don't worry about getting a 8800GTX. Save your money for other parts.

I agree. Get a 7900GTX or 7950GT (SLi on a Card) then wait for second generation DX10 cards to arrive by that time actual DX10 games will have just started to have arrived in enough numbers to gain any sort of attention.

Trust me, you really do not want a first generation DX#? card. I had a 9700pro and by the time any noteworthy DX9 games came out, it was already too slow and the second generation of products was out.

I second this pick...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130056

Or this one..

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130074


EDIT:
But If you must insist on a first generation DX10 card at this moment then the 8800GTS 320MB is the best value going.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130038

Personally, I would wait to see ATi's first DX10 card; it's said to have three times the stream processors of the nVIDIA counterpart. This should bring some real serious performance and price wars between the two companies. in the mean time a cheap DX9 card like a 7600GT will suffice.

 

[Googer]

http://www.dailytech.com/ATI%20Radeon%2...rformance%20Benchmarks/article7043.htm
http://digg.com/hardware/ATI_Releases_M...0_stream_processors_ATI_Radeon_HD_2900

 

[harobikes333]

k Thanks for the info!!

I've now ordered all my parts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[harobikes333]

...I ordered the 8600GT... Should I cancel? !!!?>_< I just placed my order at newegg. should I cancel my order at zzf and get the 7900GS????>_< ?????