**FINAL SPECS ON MY RIG**

[piromaneak]

Hey all, these are the specs on my machine I'll be getting. Need responses tonight as I will be ordering shortly. Please tell me of any compatibility issues, maybe replacement parts for cheaper parts, cheaper at different vendor or anything of that nature. Did not get a chance to pick headphones or monitor yet (As you can see from my other posts) but I need to get the parts moving along before stock is dried up or price points change. Anyway, w/o further ado:

Processor
-----------
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ (Winchester)* ($293)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80717-2

*Using Stock HSF For now but am removing thermal tape and replacing with Shin-Etsu G-751

Motherboard
--------------
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum (nForce 4 Ultra Chipset) ($144)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=241158

Memory
---------
OCZ EL DDR PC-3200 Dual Channel Platinum Rev. 2 (1 GB) ($290)
http://www.monarchcomputer.com/Merchant...PROD&Product_Code=140736&AFFIL=dt&NR=1

Hard Drive
------------
Western Digital Raptor 74 GB (WD740GD) ($186)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=101222-316603

Floppy Drive
--------------
NEC 1.44MB Black Internal Floppy Drive OEM ($8)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=21-152-005&depa=0

Optical Drive
---------------
Plextor PX-716SA 4X Internal Serial ATA Dual Layer DVD Drive Retail ($145)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=173421

Video Card
-------------
HIS RADEON X850XT IceQ II Turbo Video Card ($609)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-161-123&depa=1

Sound Card
--------------
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS GAMER Limited Edition PCI Sound Card ($116)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=29-102-171&depa=0

Power Supply
---------------
OCZ PowerStream 520W Power Supply ($140)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-104-152&depa=0

Case
------
ASUS VENTO 3600 Blue ATX Mid Tower Case ($139)
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=11-173-002&depa=1

Keyboard
-----------
Logitech Elite Keyboard Retail ($31)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=211034

Mouse/Mouse Pad
--------------------
Razer Diamondback Chameleon green ($59)
http://www.razerzone.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1

Razer eXactMat w/ Wrist Rest ($34)
http://www.razerzone.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3

Operating System
----------------------
Microsoft Windows XP Professional Single Full Version OEM ($135)
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=604631

Again, feedback, comments (tasteful), and possible replacements are very much welcome. If you find anything that would be incompatible mostly, or something you might want to see added please let me know. Thank you for your time.

-Dave

 

[nick1985]

looks like a rig that could be built for about $500 less and be about 99% as fast.

 

[piromaneak]

Please be more specific than that... How could I improve it?

 

[KayKay]

Originally posted by: nick1985
looks like a rig that could be built for about $500 less and be about 99% as fast.

agreed. Re check your RAM decision, and maybe rethink the case.
Don't know if you really need a sata burner. Personally think you don't need a raptor.

good luck with your build

 

[nick1985]

you could tone down the CPU to a 3000, and just OC it to 3500 speeds (see sig)

thats -$150

tone that RAM down to regular value 3200. there is little to no speed difference.

thats - $170

a $600 graphics card????


you could easily knock off another $50 on the PSU, $140 for a PSU is insane

thats the ugliest case i have ever come across, truley fugly.

a nice looking coolermaster is much cheaper

thats -$50


i wont nit pick much more, but i would also reconsider that raptor....

 

[Waylay00]

ASUS VENTO!!!!!! You have courage.

 

[ts3433]

Don't bother replacing the pre-applied thermal paste on the stock A64 heatsink. It's actually some really good Shin-Etsu.

You could downgrade various parts like your RAM, video card, DVD-RW (I can get two NEC 3520s for that price), and PSU (you shouldn't need that much in the first place, and if you are set on that, note that the OCZ PowerStreams are basically riced-out Topower PSUs). I'd probably get something like the following:

-2x512MB value RAM ($120-140; A64s typically don't benefit a whole lot from high-end RAM, though I'm not sure if the lower latencies would feel any smoother)
-ATI X800 XL (half the price of what you picked out, with performance near the 6800 GT, but if you want to keep that $600 video card--that's a lot of money to justify spending on that, IMHO, but maybe it's because I'm 14 and must budget accordingly for things like this--go ahead)
-NEC ND-3520A
-Seasonic Super Silencer 400W

I don't particularly like the case, and in that price range it's probably hard to beat Lian Li for quality, but go ahead and keep it if you want.

I've never heard of the Razer Diamondback (not much of a gamer), so I'll mention the Logitech MX510 if you happen to be right-handed.

 

[Insomniak]

Looks good to go. If you want to save about $150 clams, just get a 3000+ instead of a 3500+ and OC. However, realize that performance is not guaranteed, so it's a bit of a gamble, but most Winchesters do 2.4 without thinking (3800+). Some get as high as 2.7, although they're quite rare. It's up to you. The specs you have look excellent though - should be a very impressive rig.

Only thing I would change is the mouse. I hate Razer. Logitech MX510 or MX1000.

 

[DanDaMan315]

You are wasting money where you don't need to:

Why do you need a SATA DVD burner?

That ram IMO is not worth the tiny preformance upgrade.

Anand has concluded that Raptors give very little preformance improvement.

Never had any experience with HIS, maybe you have.

Other than that it looks like a solid rig.

 

[thespeakerbox]

What kind of speakers are you using for that sound card. You could knock off $100 by picking up an audigy LS instead. You really cant tell the difference unless you got a killer 7.1 system backing it up.

Case.

If youre gonna be using the case alot, id recommend the antec sonata. It's got a much better layout than the asus case, and is much quieter. It looks just as good IMO too, but hey, if you like the alien look, its not a bad case.

And if money is an issue, please, shop around some more. I've seen much lower prices on those components. It's sad to see people throw away money.

 

[CheesePoofs]

You could get a 3200+, loose 200mhz, and save maybe $100. Also, its not worth removing the thermal pad, its suppossed to be very good.

Dont bother with the gaming ram, you will see no performance difference with going with value ram that costs $130 for a gig.

Raptor will give you very small improvement for the money. Get one larger hard drive instead.

x850xt is also a waste of money IMO. an x800xl or 6800gt will give you most of the performance for maybe $300 or $200 less, respectively. You might loose 15% max.

Just get the basic audigy 2 sound card. You will have a hard time noticing a difference between it and the gamer one. I'm using onboard right now and its tough to pick out the problems with it.

An OCZ Powerstream 420W will power your rig just as well as the 520 will, and you will save $40 or more.

Get a different case unless your sure you really like that one.

 

[Generator]

CompUSA has a similiar keyboard for just 5 dollars after rebate.

 

[iamskew]

All kinds of places to save money, but if you got it, then maybe you should spend it, but maybe in different areas. With an A64, you don't need anything more than some value RAM, like corsair value ram for $113@ newegg. That saves you $177.
There's no real need to spend that much money on a 4x plextor dvd burner. Get a 16x NEC 3520A for about $60 and save yourself another $95.
I also think that $609 for a video card is outrageous. Why not knock it down to like a X800XL and save another $250.
The 520W power supply isn't really needed either, but OCZ is quality so I'll let it stand.
I bet you could spend $40 less and end up just as well off though. Also, are you an audiophile? I don't think the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 is necessary either, onboard sound does just fine IMHO, it has stepped up compared to what it used to be. That would save you $116.
BTW, don't forget that you need an operating system if you don't have one already.
Leaving the OCZ power supply, you would save $638 dollars with no real performance loss other than the video card. You could use that extra money to beef up the processor to a 4000+ and still save $400, or go all out, and get a FX-53 chip and keep your X850XT video card for your original price, which you are obviously willing to spend. Or finally, you could instead keep the fancy RAM and get yourself a FX-55.

Hope that helps some, but I doubt it does as it seems from the products you have chosen that you have done your research.

 

[Insomniak]

Dear god, that case IS atrocious. Replace at all costs.

 

[piromaneak]

What type of RAM would you guys recommend that would be comperable to performance but cost less than the RAM I have in there then and please provide links...

 

[nick1985]

kingmax 3200 $107 (shipping included

 

[thespeakerbox]

Screw the kingmax and go with the trusted corsair value ram 130@newegg or maybe even the silver geil series 150@outpost.

 

[Insomniak]

Any value ram from a good manufacturer. Suggested brands:

Kingston
GeiL
Mushkin
Corsair
Crucial
PQI
Patriot PDP
OCZ
Samsung

 

[iamskew]

btw, piromaneak, keep us up to date on what you get and how the build goes.

 

[piromaneak]

The RAM I will more than likely change do to the overwhelming response to changing it... Sorry but I'm keeping the Vento for reasons you might not expect... 1) It is one of the few cases with Thermal Port (W/ an actual duct) for the CPU Not that AMDs need it but all the better... I'm going to mod it and put another 80mm fan on the left side for more balanced air flow and screen them to keep bunnies out and maybe put a slot blower or another fan actually in the duct to keep air flowing. I thought about the function before the form trust me, but I think the form looks awesome compared to the drab aluminum boxes you see everyday with the odd paint scheme or acrylic window. I'm keeping the Power Supply that high of wattage because it produces less stress on the PSU itself and all components connected. Think of a guy that can bench 520 picking up a 350 to 375 lbs. weight. Not that hard to do right? Now try to give a guy that same weight that can barely bench 400. More stress put on him to hold that weight? I think it's a nice analogy but hey whatever works. I got the Audigy ZS Gamer not because its a different card (Its the EXACT same card as then entire audigy 2 ZS lineup) the only difference is that it comes with FIVE games and a slew of connectors and whatnot for what? 30 bucks more? why the hell not get it especially if youre a gamer. I didn't forget about the OS, I'll be getting an OEM of XP Pro w/ SP2. Keeping the Raptor because if you read Anandtechs review carefully you would see that the Raptor does indeed provide a moderate speed boost in reading semi-large files and loading programs compared to a 7,200 rpm. They were referring to the RAID 0 of two raptors not being really worth much in the performance dept. And yes I know the Vid Card was a splurge but I had to do it some where and since its a gaming rig, I splurged on the card heh. You need to reward yourself everyonce and awile heh.

EDIT: Also I got the plextor because its a read all write all CD/DVD wise and its SATA in keeping with my SATA HD the raptor... I've moved to rid myself of ribbon cables for good... But I just cant seem to get rid of that damned floppy drive... I wonder when they will finally pitch that thing and make it worthless... It almost is now but you still need it to flash bios, run diagnostics, and all sorts of things.

 

[iamskew]

Then why ask us? Seriously, have fun wasting cash.

 

[Aisengard]

Get a different case. Also go with a 60 dollar DVD burner, and get an eVGA GeForce 6800GT for 200 dollars cheaper. You won't notice a difference. You could also save 50 dollars on your sound card.

Remember, just because it costs more doesn't mean it's better (Take the Intel ExtremeEdition for example)

 

[piromaneak]

I was asking iamskew because I wanted to know opinions and such. I will be replacing the RAM as I felt it didnt give that much performance boost anyway. But I do have almost 4g to spend so I figured why not get (almost) the best in everything. I'm not getting an FX-55 thats for sure... I do have somewhat of a brain intact lol

Also, yes I will keep you guys up to date on how its going... thats why I have this handy dandy laptop here heh... incase my rig runs into trouble. hopefully not (finds wood to knock on)

 

[iamskew]

It doesn't seem to me that you wanted opinions at all, you just want to brag about the dough you have to spend. There's other things to do than buy all those "high end" parts with your money. Take for instance, get another, bigger hard drive. 74 gig is small after windows xp and a few games. Or buy a dell 2405FPW monitor, they're only $900 right now shipped. You've got to be logical sometimes and realize that you're not getting a performance boost for the money you spend.

 

[mcveigh]

replace that plextor!

get a nec 3520a for about $60

it a 16x dual layer durner