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First Build- A64 Rig

compunk316

Junior Member
Parts are all from Newegg.com. Any better prices to be found or recommendations for better parts?
Thanx

Case

ANTEC Life Style Series Black Case With 380W Power Supply, Model "SONATA"
Item# N82E16811129127

$98.00

CD/DVD Burner

NEC 16X Double Layer DVD±RW Drive, Black, Model ND-3500A BK W/SW, OEM with software
Item# N82E16827152029

$76.00

CPU Thermal Paste / Grease

Arctic Silver Premium Silver Polysynthetic Silver Thermal Compound, Model "Arctic Silver 5", 3.5-gram( 1 cc. ) tube
Item# N82E16835100007

$11.98

CPU Fan + Heatsink

ZALMAN CNPS7000A-AlCu Aluminum + Copper CPU Cooler for AMD XP Socket 462/ 754 and Intel Socket 478 -RETAIL
Item# N82E16835118108

$32.99

Floppy Drive

Samsung Black 1.44MB 3.5inch Floppy Disk Drive, Model SFD321B/LBL1, OEM Drive Only
Item# N82E16821103203

$8.88

Hard Drive

Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model WD740GD, OEM Drive Only
Item# N82E16822144160

$179.00 before $25 Mail in Rebate

Keyboard/Mouse

Logitech Cordless MX Duo USB/ PS/2 104keys -RETAIL
Item# N82E16823126124

$65.00

RAM

Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MB DDR PC-3200 - OEM
Item# N82E16820145479

$79 x 2 = $158.00

Motherboard

MSI nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Athlon 64 Socket 754 CPU, Model "K8N Neo Platinum" (MS-7030) -RETAIL
Item# N82E16813130457

$123.00

Processor

AMD Athlon 64 3200+, 512k L2 Cache, The Only 64-bit Windows Compatible Processor - Retail
Item# N82E16819103483

$204.00

Sound Card

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0244" -OEM
Item# N82E16829102158

$74.99

Video Card

eVGA nVIDIA GeForce 6800GT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, DVI/TV-Out, 8X AGP, Model "256-A8-N344-AX" -RETAIL
Item# N82E16814130203

$369.00


Product total: $1,400.84
Shipping & Handling: $ 0.00
Total (Before tax): $ 1,400.84
 
If you aren't overclocking, I wouldn't change much. You may want to get a more powerful powersupply, though (400+W Quality PSU: Forton, Antec, etc.).

If you are overclocking, I would recommend better RAM and the DFI Lanparty mobo
 
As for the chaintech recommendation, its because some (perhaps many) people have problems with MSI mobos and need to RMA them, oftentimes more than once. The P160 should be pretty quiet since it uses 120mm fans, it has lots of nice features. Only reason why I chose not to get it was that many commented on how the front bezel feels plasticky and "cheap." I personally think the 380W psu should be fine.
yankeesfan: the sonata comes with a 380W antec, so that's quality
 
i would really like to get the dfi lanparty but that's not available yet, even though newegg said they'd have them today.
 
Originally posted by: compunk316
would an asus k8v se deluxe be all right?

Asus K8V se Deluxe is a great motherboard, I had it for a while, however it doesn't have a PCI/AGP lock on it being the 1st generation VIA chipset. I would look at the Soltek nForce3 250Gb board. It is 99 bucks and is an excellent OCer, and looks cool to boot.

Also you need to change you RAM to this. It is the same Corsair Value RAM except it has a better CAS rating of 2.5 instead of 3, so its a little faster, and it already comes in a 1GB pack (1*512). I used this RAM with my ASUS board I just mentioned with a 3200 and OCed it to 220 FSB with no problem.

KD
 
If you're not overclocking get the MSI K8T Neo-FSR board and the 3400+ processor for about the same total cost. If you overclock wait a few days for that DFI board. If you don't feel like waiting the ABIT KV8 Pro v1.1 is another nice option.

Make sure you get the CAS2.5 version of the Corsair Value like kd2777 said.
 
Originally posted by: compunk316
How much do those run? Also, is the Antec P160SW as quiet as the Sonata ? I know it's lighter.[

I built a computer for a friend using the sonata a few months ago, it is really quiet. only sound i could hear without pasting my ear to the case is when teh cd rom was running full speed. dunno about the P260SW though.
 
I am building a system for the sole purpose of video editing/content creation. I know that inyourtale is the route most take for this, but I am an AMD man, I guess. I have everything save the cpu (abit av8 mb socket 939, 1 gig ballistix ram,2x300 gig maxtor 16 meg cache sata hd, 9600 aiw video card). Prices on cpus have suddenly went through the roof, not sure why. Any suggestions would be very welcome.
 
One thing I'll warn with the Sonata case, my BFG GF6800GT card barely fit in the case with the second internal case fan installed. There's like a half-inch of clearance between the fan and the card. Other than that, the case is very nice. (I put in a more powerful power supply, but never actually checked if the one that came with it was insufficient or not.)
 
for video editing/ encoding i'd reccomend socket 939 because it's dual channel makes it better than s754 and pentium 4s. msi k8 neo something s939 and a 3000 or 3200.

otherwise wait and get the dfi and a 2800 on 754 ()maybe some pc 3500 or 3700 ram) and overclock the fsb a lot. the higher memory speed and chip overclocked to a decent speed will give you great encoding performance.

also, do you need a 6800 gt for video editing/content creation?
 
Originally posted by: kd2777
Originally posted by: compunk316
would an asus k8v se deluxe be all right?

Asus K8V se Deluxe is a great motherboard, I had it for a while, however it doesn't have a PCI/AGP lock on it being the 1st generation VIA chipset. I would look at the Soltek nForce3 250Gb board. It is 99 bucks and is an excellent OCer, and looks cool to boot.
KD

But it you do decide to get one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA...em=6712373159&rd=1

Cheap, comes with all accesories, and the guy ships pretty fast.

But that's only if you're getting a 754.
 
i have a recommendation for a motherboard and cpu. um you could go with a skt 939 motherboard and get the new amd athlon 3200+ (skt 939 90nm winchster) cpu, these r running about $208-230. and for the motherbiard get the MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum Audio/GB-LAN/USB/IEEE/SATA/DDR-400/ATX 64 (939) for about $145. going this route will give you long term expansion for the most part, as the skt 754 is coming to the end of it life cycle for highend cpu releases.
 
Looking at you pieces, I would go with the following instead:

Seagate 200GB 7200RPM Barracuda 7200.7 SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3200822AS, OEM Drive Only $115
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=22-148-033&DEPA=0

CHAINTECH "VNF3-250" nForce3 250 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 754 CPU -RETAIL $74
http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=13-152-043&DEPA=0

ANTEC ALUMINUM SERIES SUPER LAN BOY MINI TOWER CASE with Clear Side Acrylic Window and FREE Case Carrying Strap -RETAIL $79.50
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=11-129-145&depa=0

And possibly axe the Audigy, as either the Chaintech or MSI has decent sound. It also doesn't make much sense to get the Retail A64 when you plan on getting an aftermarket cooler. The Raptor in theory is nice, but a 7200RPM SATA drive is just about as good, but now you get over twice as much storage. The Lan Boy is just as quiet, and I dunno....2 120mm low voltage fans are better IMO. Then get something like a Seasonic Super Tornado 400W Power Supply. I'm thinking you want a somewhat quiet PC since you chose the Zalman and Sonata. If you live near a Frys I'd also get their A64 combo deals, as the mobo and cpu are around $250 for a 3200/3000+. Anyways, just my $.02.
 
Steer clear of the MSI board. The Asus K8N-E Deluxe and DFI Lanparty UT are MUCH better boards.

Also, you don't necessarily have to get EVERYTHING from newegg. They usually have the best prices, but you can save some $$ by getting small things like the Arctic Silver 5 elsewhere (saw it for $5.99 shipped, check the Hot Deals forum)

Also, I would personally get a case w/o a PSU in it and spend $40 or so on the Thermaltake Silent Purepower 420W which should give you a little more juice to run that 6800 GT. Maybe even a lil more juice. Make sure the 12V rail is good on that PSU too (I have no clue what a good ampage for the 12V rail is...anyone know??)

Everything else looks good though. Good luck building the system!!

-Kabob
 
If you are going 754, I would definitely wait for the DFI ut lan party board. You will see that it recently rated faster here and does not seem to have some of the inconsistency problem as the MSI. I was planning on the MSI myself for many months, but after reading all the stories here, I am waiting for DFI to come out with their 939, hopefully soon. I purchased most of my other parts in the past few days.

Further, would get rid of the 10,000 rpm hard drive and go with a 200 sata seagate barracuda, 7200rpm 8 cache. I would go for storage and care less about whether a game booted a split second faster with the 10,000 rpm. I purchased two of the seagates as I am going to raid mirror them to back up my photography.

Also, I would recommend you add a Lite-on 16x dvd rom retail for $28. If you want to make cd or dvd copies at the same speed as your NEC will record, it is a good plan.

If you are into digital photography, you may want to get a combo floppy that reads 3.5 inch floppy, but also reads your CF cards.
 
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