First computer build

[Ataraxy]

Hey all...long time lurker first time poster =)

After a bit of research on these forums i've come up with some specs for the first PC that I intend on building within the next day or two...Let me know if you have any suggestions as to what I should replace or can do without. The primary use for this machine will be gaming.

AMD Athlon 64 3500+ 512k S939 2.2GHz Retail $294
Cooler Master Hyper 6 P4/K8 CPU Cooler $50
MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum NForce3 Ultra Motherboard S939 $131
Corsair XMS Xtreme Memory Speed Series 1GB (512MBx2) PC-3200 $275
Enermax NoiseTaker 470W PSU $75
Maxtor SATAII MaXLine III NCQ 300GB 7200RPM 16MB $300
NEC 16X DVD DL +/- RW 3500A $73
GIGABYTE ATI RADEON X800 XT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, DVI/VIVO, 8x AGP $489

System total $1687

Monitor - Viewsonic VP912B 19" 12ms LCD

My only real question is regarding the video card. I can't seem to find one of those nifty HIS cards so I've been looking for a replacement. From the reading that i've done the higher end x800 XT PE cards all appear to be extremely close in terms of performance, is this true?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Machine350]

That system looks pretty money to me. The only thing I would change is the hard drive. If it were me, I would go with a 72 gig WD Raptor, but I don't store a lot of crap. I've maybe used 20 gigs of my 120 gig maxtor.

 

[Markfw]

Personally, I like the thermaltake Silent Boost K8. Quiet, and performs well.

 

[Machine350]

Originally posted by: Markfw900
Personally, I like the thermaltake Silent Boost K8. Quiet, and performs well.

Second that.

 

[Sentinel]

:thumbsup:

 

[Pollock]

Maybe try the Crucial Ballistix for ram, as that is supposed to be better an excellent performer on the Athlon 64, and probably about the same price.

 

[terraphile]

My reccomendation: Don't get an Lcd. Almost all of them ghost. Instead get a viewsonic g series flat screen crt. It would be a shame to ruin such a great gaming system with ghosting. It you insist on an Lcd though, get BenQ's FP71e+ review here: The ghosting on this panel never becomes a nuisance. http://graphics.tomshardware.c...ay/20041015/index.html.

Other than that, get either the x620 6.1 or z-640 5.1 speakers from amazon. It really improves the experience of games to have direction footsteps and gunshots.

 

[Ataraxy]

After consulting with someone quite knowledgable, i've gone with this setup which is geared specifically for gaming performance and purity.

2x CT6464Z40B 512mb DDR 3200 ram $199
http://www.crucial.com/store/P...CT6464Z40B&cat=RAM

ASUS "A7N8X-E Deluxe" nForce2 Ultra 400 Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket A CPU -RETAIL $86
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=13-131-478&depa=0

XFX nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT Video Card, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, TV-Out/DVI, 8X AGP, Model "PVT40AUD" -RETAIL $409
http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=14-150-073&depa=0

AMD ATHLON XP 2800+ 333MHZ OEM W/O COOLING FAN $84
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=BA03105

COOLER MASTER ATC-210B-AX1 (CLEAR AZURE) ALUMINUM MID TOWER NO POWER SUPPLY 4x5.25" 2x3.5" 4x3.5"(hidden) W/ FRONT USB CONNECTOR & SEE THROUGH SIDE WINDOW $109
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=BA14394

ENERMAX NOISETAKER P EG475P-VE SFMA 470W UL & FCC POWER SUPPLY FOR ATX CASES $79
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=BA19755

WD 36GB 360GD SERIAL ATA 150 10,000RPM 8MB BUFFER HARD $119
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=AA21520

SEAGATE 200GB ST3200822AS SERIAL ATA150 7200RPM 8MB $129
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=AA27440

LITE ON 16X-DVD/48X-CDROM INTERNAL EIDE #LTD-163/166S $24
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=AA13780

LITE ON SOHW1633S 16X/16 DVD REWRITABLE DRIVE W/SW $86
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=AA29730

SONY 1.44MB FLOPPY DRIVE (Bare Drive) $9
http://www.mwave.com/mwave/vie....hmx?scriteria=AA00695

4x Panaflo 80mmx25mm - H series 39.6 CFM $24
http://www.kdcomputers.com/eui...le/47/25/component.htm

4x 3 pin 12 inch extension cables $9
http://www.kdcomputers.com/eui...e/172/66/component.htm

Cooling compound - $6
http://www.kdcomputers.com/eui.../1549/29/component.htm

HeatSink $18.80
http://store.yahoo.com/tai-sol/cgk760172.html

All in all this system runs for close to $1400 before shipping. Hopefully this will help someone else that's looking for a screaming fast pure gaming system, without having to purchase high end parts that will not be much better.

By the way, I ended up going with the vp912b as I've heard good things from a few friends. The 17" benq is sexy at 8ms response time, but just too small for me. I also have the logitech z640's already and they're really great for all sorts of gaming. Good boom for the buck if you ask me.

Cheers

 

[Falloutboy]

not bad final build I would of gone with a semperon 3100 system with a chaintech motherboard. much better performance for only 20 bucks or so more but still not a bad rig

 

[Cawchy87]

I would have went for the nf7 and a 2500 mobile insted of your cpu and mobo. Also would have gotten a thermalright 900A heatsink.

As for monitor i would go for a Mitsobishi (no idea how to spell it) 19" diamondtron

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: Cawchy87
I would have went for the nf7 and a 2500 mobile insted of your cpu and mobo. Also would have gotten a thermalright 900A heatsink.

As for monitor i would go for a Mitsobishi (no idea how to spell it) 19" diamondtron

also agree on the nf7 and mobile combo its what i'm running now. 2.5ghz

but if I was buying today I'd be all over a sempron and a decent overclocking socket 754 board. (they've been known to hit 2.4 pretty easy which will put it right up thier with the 3800

 

[Ataraxy]

I hadn't realized they we're that good. Bear in mind this is my first physical build so I don't have very much knowledge when it comes to overclocking things. I would have never thought that a mobile processor would work better than a desktop processor. I suppose it has something to do with utilizing less power?

 

[Falloutboy]

Originally posted by: Ataraxy
I hadn't realized they we're that good. Bear in mind this is my first physical build so I don't have very much knowledge when it comes to overclocking things. I would have never thought that a mobile processor would work better than a desktop processor. I suppose it has something to do with utilizing less power?

no its the exact same core just the mobiles are the highest quality of the AXP cores so they are overclock alot better. plus they also are unlocked so you don't have to have insanly fast ram to make 2.5ghz+

but in my opinion the sun has set on the AXP line for higherend stuff, since the Sempron 3100 is dipping below 100 and it will blow away any AXP chip (non overclocked)even at stock speeds, and they overclock quite well also.

 

[Ataraxy]

How much of a performance increase are we talking about here? Anything that one would actually notice? Being that it's never too late to do things correctly. Would the above specs work just as well with the sempron /chaintech combo?

Thanks

 

[Falloutboy]

the Sempron 3100 in its stock state is about equal too a a64 2800. if your compairng it too a AXP its somewhere in the neighborhood of a 3200 but most of the time a bit better.

now even with a modest overclock 2.0-2.2ghz its going to best anything you could ever hope to get out of a AXP unless you go insane on the cooling side of things. the bennifit of going with a semperon combo is that you will have some sort of upgrade path albeit not a huge one but still you should be able to hold onto the board for a year or two. (I beleave a64s are maxing out at 3700 on the 754 socket)