Critique my next system

[Ausm]

CASE-

MAXTOP Signature Series Type II Mid Tower PC, Model "CSX-147K2FGRAY" -RETAIL

31.50 with no P.S

Motherboard-

MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset Motherboard For AMD Socket 939 CPU -RETAIL

Specifications:
Supported CPU: Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64FX/64 processor
Chipset: nForce3 ULTRA
RAM: 4x DIMM Supports dual channel DDR266/333/400 Max 4GB
Slots: 1x AGP 4X/8X, 5x PCI
Ports: 2x PS/2, 1x COM, 1x LPT, 8x USB2.0(Rear 4), 1x IEEE1394, 2xRJ45, 1x S/PDIF Out, Audio Ports
IDE: 2x ATA 133 up to 4 Devices
SATA/RAID: 4x SATA RAID with 0,1,0+1
Onboard Audio: ALC850 8-Ch
Onboard LAN: Marvell 88E1111 1000Mbps, Realtek 8110S 1000Mbps
Onboard IEEE1394: 3x ports by VIA 6306

140.00 dollars

Video Card-

eVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6800 Video Card, 128MB GDDR, 256-bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "128-A8-N343-AX" -RETAIL
Specifications:
Chipset/Core Speed: nVIDIA GeForce 6800/325MHz
Memory/Effective Speed: 128MB DDR/700MHz
BUS: AGP 4X/8X
Ports: VGA Out(15 Pin D-Sub) + TV-Out(S-Video) + DVI
Support 3D API: DirectX 9.0c, OpenGL 1.5
Cable/Accessories: Manual, DVI to VGA Adapter, 2 Cables

I am banking on using Rivatuner to unlock the last 4 pipes.

246.00

Power Supply

Antec 480 watt 120mm fan ATX 12V v2.0 power supply, Active PFC, Model "NeoPower" - Retail

127.00

Processor-

AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, Socket 939 Windows Compatible 64-bit Processor - Retail

267.00

Memory-

Patriot Dual Channel Kit 184-Pin 1GB (512MBx2) DDR PC-3200, Low latency 2-3-2-5, Model PDC1G3200LLK - Retail

130.67

Hard Drive-

Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB 7200RPM 16M P-ATA/133 Hard Drive, Model 6B200R0, OEM Drive Only
Specifications:
Capacity: 200GB
Average Seek Time: 9.0ms
Buffer: 16MB
Rotational Speed: 7200 RPM
Interface: ATA 133

106.00

I want to try this drive with the 16mb cache


DVD-Burner-

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Beige, Model ND-3520A, OEM
Specifications:
Write Speed: 16X DVD+R, 8X DVD+RW, 4X DVD+R DL, 16X DVD-R, 6X DVD-RW, 48X CD-R, 24X CD-RW
Read Speed: 48X CD-ROM, 16X DVD-ROM
Interface: ATAPI / E-IDE
Buffer: 2MB

50.00

Comes to about 1,150 w/shipping included.

All constructive suggestions are welcome.


TIA

Ausm

 

[Ausm]

No Suggestions? Come on guys let them rip I choose a crappy case because my system will not be exposed and is on a KVM with several other systems.

thx

Ausm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well... I was going to ask why you decided to go AGP instead of PCI-e. That's my main concern with it...

Also:
Why NF3 vs NF4?
And... the maxtor will probably get some comments.

For the powersupply, what about a Seasonic? I have that one (just paid about $100 for it and I like it a lot. Very quiet.)

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Well... I was going to ask why you decided to go AGP instead of PCI-e. That's my main concern with it...

Also:
Why NF3 vs NF4?
And... the maxtor will probably get some comments.

For the powersupply, what about a Seasonic? I have that one (just paid about $100 for it and I like it a lot. Very quiet.)

There seems to be no Mid ranged PCI-E Nvidia video cards out there but I could be wrong on this.

I have had good luck with Maxtor what hard drive do you suggest I look at?

In regard to the P.S, I like the new Modular Power supplies is the Seasonic higher quality then the Antec?

Thx,

Ausm

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Ausm

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Well... I was going to ask why you decided to go AGP instead of PCI-e. That's my main concern with it...

Also:
Why NF3 vs NF4?
And... the maxtor will probably get some comments.

For the powersupply, what about a Seasonic? I have that one (just paid about $100 for it and I like it a lot. Very quiet.)

There seems to be no Mid ranged PCI-E Nvidia video cards out there but I could be wrong on this.

I have had good luck with Maxtor what hard drive do you suggest I look at?

In regard to the P.S, I like the new Modular Power supplies is the Seasonic higher quality then the Antec?

Thx,

Ausm

For PCI-e, 6600gts are a step down naturally, but they are virtually the same price for PCI-e as AGP.

Looks like 6800 PCI-e cards are on the expensive side.
For $275 though you could get a PCI-e X800XL and it would perform favorably vs the 6800 and almost as well as a 6800gt. There are a couple threads in Hot Deals about where to get it. Maybe Compusa still has it for $272 (not sure, haven't been keeping up)

I think if you're getting a whole new computer PCI-e is a good idea if you want to have more upgrading options in the future.

For HDD, if you're looking for silence I've read Seagate can't be beat. Very good warranties too.

I can't even tell my Seasonic is on right next to it. The retail fan on the A64 drowns it out. Efficiency is very good on the Seasonics.

 

[knightace]

heheh yeah, well I trust your luck will hold out then. What the guy was meaning by that is the numerous cases of them "Burning a hole" in the bottom, and living up to their little name. XD Fireball! I've witnessed it first-hand when I worked as an intern at a high school. Fun fun. lol

Other than that I don't have much to say. You seem to have everything in order. I think you've looked over the requirements quite nicely.

etc - everyone else's posted the important parts already.

 

[IanE]

I'm with YOyoYOhowsDAjello, the Maxtor needs to go and I've always used Seagates, never had a problem. Seagate Baracuda 120GB 7,200rpm is $70 at Best Buy after rebate last time I checked. With the $30 difference you save you can put it towards a PCI-e board and card. However, the current setup (minus the Maxtor) will work quite fine, although I personally feel that you don't need the 939 setup, a 754 setup and at least an AMD 3000+ would work just as well, it wouldn't be that noticable I think, not sure if they make PCI-e for 754, though...

Good luck with the system!

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

I just thought I'd stop by again and let you know that I'm running 6 western digital harddrives in my system right now so I'm not a Seagate fanboy

If I was going to buy one for a new system today, I'd go with Seagate though. If I had to add another one to my current system, I'd have to get another WD because I don't think I could live with two HDD brands in my system (I'm crazy).

 

[Spikesoldier]

try a pci-e/ati x800XL combo

pretty much same performance and you get pci-e too

 

[Ausm]

Thx for the input guys keep it coming!!

Ausm

 

[J Heartless Slick]

My current system has the same motherboard and CPU.

I would recommend installing Window updates before you install the Nvidia drivers.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Quick little alternative system to think about (I don't claim it's perfect, but I'd go with this over your choice in parts):

Maxtop case (kept the same one you picked, I'd go with antec if you wanted to spend more on the case, I didn't want to pick a case for you if there was some specific reason you wanted that one)

NEC DVD burner (mine's working great so far)

Seagate 200 gig

Corsair value ram (you can get something faster if you want to... I think the money is better spent towards getting the X800XL)

Chaintech NF4

Seasonic 430watt (naturally you can get this cheaper like I linked to above, but I gave the newegg link and am using the newegg price for consistency with the rest)

939 3500+

X800XL

comes to $1097 shipped for me.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Quick little alternative system to think about (I don't claim it's perfect, but I'd go with this over your choice in parts):

Maxtop case (kept the same one you picked, I'd go with antec if you wanted to spend more on the case, I didn't want to pick a case for you if there was some specific reason you wanted that one)

NEC DVD burner (mine's working great so far)

Seagate 200 gig

Corsair value ram (you can get something faster if you want to... I think the money is better spent towards getting the X800XL)

Chaintech NF4

Seasonic 430watt (naturally you can get this cheaper like I linked to above, but I gave the newegg link and am using the newegg price for consistency with the rest)

939 3500+

X800XL

comes to $1097 shipped for me.

Ok I am checking these out right now. I never used a chaintech mobo before what Bios do they use?

Thx

Ausm

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Spikesoldier
try a pci-e/ati x800XL combo

pretty much same performance and you get pci-e too

Looking into it thx for the suggestion!


Ausm

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Quick little alternative system to think about (I don't claim it's perfect, but I'd go with this over your choice in parts):

Maxtop case (kept the same one you picked, I'd go with antec if you wanted to spend more on the case, I didn't want to pick a case for you if there was some specific reason you wanted that one)

NEC DVD burner (mine's working great so far)

Seagate 200 gig

Corsair value ram (you can get something faster if you want to... I think the money is better spent towards getting the X800XL)

Chaintech NF4

Seasonic 430watt (naturally you can get this cheaper like I linked to above, but I gave the newegg link and am using the newegg price for consistency with the rest)

939 3500+

X800XL

comes to $1097 shipped for me.

I have to admit Antec cases blow away the maxtop I have built several systems using Antec cases. I wish they sold the Sonata case w/o a P.S.

Ausm

 

[Trente]

Originally posted by: Ausm
I wish they sold the Sonata case w/o a P.S.

Ausm

Why?

The PSU supplied with the Sonata is more than enough for the system you're building.

 

[imported_Kensai]

I'll sell you a Sonata without a PSU.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Originally posted by: Trente

Originally posted by: Ausm
I wish they sold the Sonata case w/o a P.S.

Ausm

Why?

The PSU supplied with the Sonata is more than enough for the system you're building.

This is true.

You could also get an Antec 3000b that is close to the Sonata in specs. Doesn't look as sexy though

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: Kensai
I'll sell you a Sonata without a PSU.

Are you serious?


Ausm

 

[chebner]

I personally feel that you don't need the 939 setup, a 754 setup and at least an AMD 3000+ would work just as well

Don't even consider socket 754 for a few reasons:

1. 1. No upgradability in the future. If you want a new processor in the future, you will have to get a new motherboard
   2. Single channel RAM. I know that current games and other applications show very little benefit using dual channel RAM, but as time goes on games and other apps will use more RAM and you may see more of a benefit using Dual Channel.
   3. Overclockability. I'm not sure if you want to overclock at all but the new A64 cores that use the 90nm process are excellent overclockers. They use less power and run cooler.

Definitely go with a 90nm processor. The 130nm processors may not even be available anymore, but just make sure when you get it that it is 90nm. I have a 130nm A64 3500+ my self. I like it a lot, but the new cores are run cooler, require less power, and overclock better.

For the powersupply, what about a Seasonic? I have that one (just paid about $100 for it and I like it a lot. Very quiet.)

I've never had a Seasonic so I don't know what their like. I do have a NeoPower 480 and would never recommend anything else. The NeoPower is not loud by any stretch of the imagination and is rock solid. As far as quality, the Seasonic may be as high quality as the Antec (I don't know), but it isn't any higher quality. You can't go wrong with the NeoPower.

About noise, if you want a quiet computer, definitely don't go with the A64 retail fan. Get an after market HSF. I have a Thermaltake Silent Boost, it works great and is much quieter than the AMD retail fan I had on my last computer.

As far as the HDD goes. Anything from Seagate, Western Digital, and Maxtor would work well. Seagate and Maxtor are definitely quiter than Western Digital. If you want a higher performance HDD, I would either go with a WD Raptor (I love my 74GB, but a little on the spendy side) or something with a 16MB buffer. If Seagate doesn't offer a 16MB buffer (I don't know that they do) then go with the Maxtor.

 

[Ausm]

Originally posted by: YOyoYOhowsDAjello

Originally posted by: Trente

Originally posted by: Ausm
I wish they sold the Sonata case w/o a P.S.

Ausm

Why?

The PSU supplied with the Sonata is more than enough for the system you're building.

This is true.

You could also get an Antec 3000b that is close to the Sonata in specs. Doesn't look as sexy though

I agree, I have built a couple of computers using that case and it is very high quality. The thing I like the best is the hard drive bays are 90 degress which makes installation and swapping of drives very easy.

Ausm